Ransomware isn’t just getting faster; it’s getting smarter. Attackers now move laterally within 48 minutes, on average—increasing the breakout time by 22%. This is quite a stark difference from the 8 hours and 12 minutes it takes security teams, relying solely on manual processes, to contain them. What’s fueling hackers’ rapid lateral movement? Cybercrime forums. Despite law enforcement crackdowns, underground markets are thriving, with ransomware operators sharing tactics, selling exploit kits, and automating attacks. Even novice threat actors can now easily deploy sophisticated ransomware. Escalation in cyber threats means organizations have less than an hour to detect, analyze, and contain…
Nick Ascoli
Nick Ascoli
Nick Ascoli is a Senior Product Strategist at Flare and an experienced threat researcher who is recognized for his expertise in data leaks, reconnaissance, and detection engineering. Nick is an active member of the cybersecurity community contributing to open-source projects, regularly appearing on podcasts (Cyberwire, Simply Cyber, etc.) and speaking at conferences (GrrCON, B-Sides, DEFCON Villages, SANS, etc.)
As malicious actors increasingly create cybercriminal business models, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face a changing cyber threat landscape. Today, being a cybercriminal no longer requires advanced technical skills, expanding the number of attackers and their attack capabilities. Unlike larger corporations, SMBs often lack the financial and staffing resources necessary to implement robust security programs and defend against cyberattacks. To protect themselves and their customers, SMBs need to understand how they can cost-effectively implement threat intelligence into their security programs. Current Cybercriminal Threat Landscape As SMBs expand their digital operations, they open themselves up to the same risks as any…