It was a much quieter news cycle than last week, with awards and deals taking centre stage, although there was a small number of product announcements.
Proofpoint announced a definitive deal to acquire Normalyze as it looks to expand its human-centric security platform. The terms of the deal were not announced, and it expects it to close in November, subject to normal conditions.
Alation launched Alation Anywhere for Google Chrome. The new extension will enable Alation users to search, preview, and retrieve critical metadata from Alation without leaving their browsers. The extension enables users to use advanced filters and extract data from sources such as Snowflake’s Snowsight, PowerBI, and Looker within their browser.
Armis Security closed a Series D funding round, raising $200 million. The funding round was led by the company’s two top investors, General Catalyst and Alkeon Capital, along with existing investors Brookfield Technology Partners and Georgian. It values the company at $4.2 billion as it hints at an IPO.
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and GBK Collective have published a study on adopting Generative AI in the USA. The report “Growing Up: Navigating Gen AI’s Early Years” (registration required) has some surprising results. For example, 72% say they use GenAI at least once a week, up from 37% in 2023.
BlueVoyant
BlueVoyant has been ranked 17th in the Top 250 MSSPs for 2024, according to MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance resource. It showcases the company’s leadership in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and the company is up 29 spots from 2022.
Milan Patel, BlueVoyant’s global head of Managed Detection and Response, said, “We are proud that BlueVoyant has continued to move up the ranks year after year in the Top 250 MSSPs list. This recognition highlights our dedication to providing cutting-edge SOC automation and expert-led solutions. Our innovative approach has significantly expanded our customer base, positioning us at the forefront of next-generation security operations.”
FBI
The FBI Atlanta Division is warning the public that cybercriminals are gaining access to email accounts by stealing cookies from a victim’s computer. “Remember-Me cookies” are tied specifically to a user’s login and often last for 30 days before expiring. This type of cookie helps a user log in without having to keep putting in their username, password, or multifactor authentication (MFA).
Forescout
Forescout Technologies, Inc has published the “Unveiling the Persistent Risks of Connected Medical Devices” report. It builds on “The Riskiest Connected Devices in 2024” report from June, and analyzes more than 2 million devices across 45 healthcare delivery organizations (HDOs) during the last week of May 2024.
The findings reveal a growing risk from connected medical devices, with the most vulnerable listed as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) workstations and Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), pump controllers and medical information systems.
“The increasing prevalence of IoMT devices has introduced new cybersecurity risks, and cybercriminals are taking advantage to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain through ransom payments or the sale of patient data on the dark web,” said Barry Mainz, Forescout CEO.
National Cyber Security Centre
Businesses and other organisations have been urged to boost their defences as the Cyber Essentials programme celebrates its tenth year. The National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Essentials scheme protects against the most common cyber attacks and appetite for certification continues to grow, with over 40,000 certifications issued in the past 12 months.
Alongside the agreement, new research into the impact of Cyber Essentials was published, which found that certified organisations are more protected against cyber threat, more cyber risk aware, more compelled to improve their cyber resilience further, and encouraged to cultivate more cyber secure supply chains.
