LATEST UPDATES
Escalating ransomware and social engineering threats demand reinforced cyberdefences for federal government organisations
More than seven in ten ( 71 %) organisations in the federal government sector have admitted to being on the receiving end of a ransomware attack in the past 12 months . ransomware and social engineering should increase pressure on federal government bodies to enhance their cyberdefences and response strategies .
This is according to the latest research by Bridewell , which has surveyed 519 staff responsible for cybersecurity at US CNI organisations encompassing civil aviation , energy , transport , finance and central government .
The survey found 44 % of government organisations cited data loss as a key consequence of a ransomware attack , alongside reputational damage , loss of revenue from downtime and increased insurance premiums ( 43 %).
Failure to deal with ransomware attacks can have serious consequences beyond exposure of confidential government or personal data . Stolen data can be used to influence elections , for example . Poor responses to ransomware incidents also encourage activity from hostile nation-state groups . In addition to the growing ransomware threat , social engineering attacks are also widespread , averaging 17 incidents per year . The dual threat of
The sector is , however , struggling to react quickly to cyberincidents and mitigate the damage they cause . With ransomware and social engineering attacks , the average response time in federal government organisations is seven hours . However , government responses to nation-state attacks ( 8.39 hours ) are slower , albeit quicker than the overall average among US CNI organisations ( 13.91 hours ). This is surprising at a time when nation-state threats continue to escalate , and Russian , Chinese , Iranian and North Korean-affiliated threat actors intensify their efforts in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts .
Starbucks replaces its CEO
Starbucks has announced that Brian Niccol has been appointed chairman and CEO . Niccol will start in his new role on September 9 . Starbucks ’ Chief Financial Officer , Rachel Ruggeri , will serve as interim CEO until that time . Mellody Hobson , Starbucks Board Chair , will become lead independent director .
Niccol currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Chipotle . Since becoming CEO in 2018 , Niccol has transformed Chipotle . His focus on people and culture , brand , menu innovation , operational excellence and Digital Transformation have set new standards in the industry and driven significant growth and value creation . Revenue has nearly doubled , profits have increased nearly sevenfold and the stock price has increased by nearly 800 % during his leadership , all while increasing wages for retail team members , expanding benefits and strengthening the culture .
“ I am excited to join Starbucks and grateful for the opportunity to help steward this incredible company , alongside hundreds of thousands of devoted partners ,” said Niccol . “ I have long-admired Starbucks iconic brand , unique culture and commitment to enhancing human connections around the globe . As I embark upon this journey , I am energised by the tremendous potential to drive growth and further enhance the Starbucks experience for our customers and partners , while staying true to our mission and values .”
Laxman Narasimhan is stepping down from his role as CEO and as a member of the Starbucks board with immediate effect . During his tenure , he improved the Starbucks partner experience , drove significant innovation in its supply chain and enhanced its store operations .
www . intelligentcxo . com
7