Archive for March 6, 2025

Other World Computing Helps Power the Future for Mac Users with Thunderbolt Solutions for New Apple Mac Studio and MacBook Air

Posted in Commentary on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

 Other World Computing today announced the compatibility of its OWC Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 solutions with the new Apple MacBook Air and Mac Studio, respectively. With these cutting-edge OWC solutions, Mac users are empowered to unlock the full potential of their new Apple products, and enjoy a new era of speed, reliability, connectivity, and creativity.

OWC’s full suite of Thunderbolt 5 solutions, which are perfect for the new Mac Studio, include:

●     The OWC Envoy Ultra is the first and fastest Thunderbolt 5 portable SSD – built for those who refuse to slow down.

●     The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub is the perfect compact connectivity solution for even more Thunderbolt 5 ports.

●     The OWC Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) Cable is the only cable you’ll ever need. Built for the speed, power, and compatibility of the new Mac Studio.

In addition, OWC offers a line of Thunderbolt 4 solutions, which are perfect for the new MacBook Air: 

●     The OWC Thunderbolt Hub enables you to add three Thunderbolt 4 ports and one USB port to expand your connection possibilities.

●     The OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock enables you to add three Thunderbolt 4 ports and four USB ports, as well as Ethernet, audio, and card reader functionality to the new MacBook Air.

●     The OWC Express 1M2 is an ultra-fast, compatible, and reliable portable USB4 NVMe SSD. You can build your own or choose ready-to-run solutions. The Express 1M2 is also the perfect external storage solution for smaller-capacity MacBook Airs.

●     The OWC Envoy Pro FX is a universally compatible, portable SSD for Thunderbolt and USB devices, offering performance of up to 2800MB/s in a crushproof and waterproof case.

●     The OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Display Adapter enables two external displays on the new MacBook Air, eliminating the factory limitation of only a single display.

●     The OWC Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) Cable is a Thunderbolt 5-certified cable for universal use with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, and USB-C-equipped Macs, iPads, and iPhones.

●     OWC USB-C Travel Docks enhance connectivity on the go with multiple USB ports, HDMI connections, and Ethernet support.

More information on OWC’s full line of Thunderbolt solutions, including storage, docks, card readers, and more, is available on owc.com.

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KnowBe4 Wins Cybersecurity Company of the Year at the 2025 teissAwards

Posted in Commentary on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

KnowBe4, the world-renowned cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, today announced that it has been awarded first place in this year’s teissAwards Cybersecurity Company of the Year category for enterprise organisations.

The teissAwards celebrate excellence in cyber and information security, recognising the outstanding contributions of vendors and technologies over the past year.

Winning first place in the Cybersecurity Company of the Year category underscores KnowBe4’s commitment to innovation, product development, and addressing the human element in cybersecurity. It also reflects the organisation’s dedication to improving cyber resilience by placing the customer at the heart of its operations.

Over the past 12 months, KnowBe4 has consistently integrated advanced AI-driven capabilities into its platform, providing organisations with an innovative approach to managing human risk in real-time. This enhancement highlights KnowBe4’s ongoing commitment to adapting its offerings to meet the evolving demands of the security landscape, particularly in addressing vulnerabilities stemming from human error.

For more information on the teissAwards, please visit here. For more information on KnowBe4, please visit here.

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Quorum Cyber Receives Microsoft Security Excellence Awards Trifecta 

Posted in Commentary with tags on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

Quorum Cyber today announced it is a Security MSSP of the Year, Data Security & Compliance Trailblazer, and Security Changemaker award finalist in the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards. The company was honored among a global field of industry leaders that demonstrated success across the security landscape during the past twelve months. 

At the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards on April 28, 2025, Microsoft will celebrate finalists in nine award categories honoring partner trailblazers, solution innovators, customer and technology champions, and changemakers. This is the sixth year Microsoft is recognizing partners for their outstanding work in the security landscape. All finalists are members of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), an ecosystem of independent software vendors (ISVs) and managed security service providers (MSSPs) that have integrated their security products and services with Microsoft’s security technology. 

MISA was established to bring together Microsoft leaders, ISVs, and MSSPs to work together to defeat security threats and make the world a safer place. The industry veterans in MISA and Microsoft will vote to select the winners of the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards, providing an opportunity for colleagues to honor their peers for delivering exceptional work to our shared customers.

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PKI Solutions Announces First and Only Vendor-Agnostic Solution for HSMs

Posted in Commentary with tags on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

 PKI Solutions is excited to announce a significant advancement in cryptographic security management: PKI Spotlight’s Multi-HSM Monitoring, the industry’s first, and ONLY, vendor-agnostic solution for Hardware Security Modules (HSMs). For the first time, organizations can gain unified, real-time visibility into both nCipher (Entrust) and Luna (Thales) HSMs, including on-premises and cloud-based deployments (Luna DPoD and nCipher HSM as a Service).

In an era where enterprises operate with increasingly complex and diverse cryptographic infrastructures, PKI Spotlight addresses a critical need—ensuring seamless monitoring, availability, and compliance for HSMs from multiple vendors. Previously, organizations had to rely on disparate, proprietary monitoring tools, resulting in operational silos and limited visibility. Now, with PKI Spotlight’s latest innovation, security teams can monitor HSM availability, configurations, and usage through a single, intuitive interface without needing to provide credentials for your HSMs.

Key Benefits of PKI Spotlight’s Multi-HSM Support:

  • Real-Time HSM Monitoring: Track the operational status of nCipher and Luna HSMs instantly, receive immediate alerts for any failures, and proactively address performance issues.
  • Configuration & Firmware Oversight: Maintain compliance by monitoring firmware versions and configuration settings and identifying inconsistencies that could pose security risks.
  • Partition Utilization Insights – Optimize resource allocation by gaining deep visibility into partition usage to ensure efficient cryptographic operations.

Gartner recognizes PKI Spotlight as the only PKI posture management solution on the market. It continues to lead the way in enterprise security innovation. While some HSM vendors offer proprietary monitoring tools, PKI Spotlight is the only commercial solution to bridge the gap between monitoring multiple HSM vendors, delivering unparalleled visibility and control.

Organizations looking to enhance their HSM strategy can experience the power of PKI Spotlight firsthand. Request a demo today and discover how real-time monitoring and actionable insights can transform your cryptographic security operations.

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Comparitech Has A Ransomware Roundup: A short but busy February

Posted in Commentary with tags on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

Comparitech researchers have published a ransomware roundup for the month of February. Although it may be the shortest month of the year, February 2025 actually turned into one of the busiest months for ransomware attacks over the last year or so. 

Key findings include: 

  • 959 attacks in total — 41 confirmed attacks
  • Of the 41 confirmed attacks:
    • 20 were on businesses
    • 8 were on government entities
    • 7 were on healthcare companies
    • 6 were on educational institutions
  • Of the 918 unconfirmed attacks:
    • 824 were on businesses
    • 11 were on government entities
    • 40 were on healthcare companies
    • 21 were on educational institutions
  • The most prolific ransomware gangs were Clop (323), RansomHub (95), Akira (80), Play (47), and Qilin (43). RansomHub and Qilin had the most confirmed attacks out of these claims with six and four, respectively

For full details, the study can be read here: https://www.comparitech.com/news/ransomware-roundup-february-2025/

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Outpost24 Research on Multi-Stage EncryptHub Malware Campaign

Posted in Commentary with tags on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

Outpost24’s KrakenLabs has released research on a new EncryptHub multi-stage malware campaign.

While previous reports have begun to shed light on the operation of this rising criminal entity, Outpost24’s KrakenLabs investigation has gone a step further, uncovering previously unseen aspects of their infrastructure, tooling, and behavioral patterns.

Through a series of operational security (OPSEC) missteps, EncryptHub inadvertently exposed critical elements of its ecosystem, allowing Outpost24 to map their tactics with unprecedented depth.

Their lapses include directory listing enabled on key infrastructure components, hosting stealer logs alongside malware executables and PowerShell scripts, and revealing Telegram bot configurations used for data exfiltration and campaign tracking.

These mistakes provided a unique vantage point into their operations, enabling Outpost24’s researchers to dissect their attack chain and methodologies in ways that have not yet been publicly detailed.

You can read the research here.

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Sam Erdheim Appointed as Head of Marketing at Radiant Logic

Posted in Commentary with tags on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

 Radiant Logic has announced the appointment of Sam Erdheim as the company’s new Head of Marketing. In this role, Erdheim will leverage his extensive experience in cybersecurity and enterprise software marketing to drive brand awareness, demand generation and strategic growth. 

With over 20 years of experience in marketing and product management, Sam Erdheim brings a wealth of knowledge to Radiant Logic. He has held marketing leadership roles at GuidePoint Security, Fidelis Security, and AlgoSec. Erdheim is widely recognized for his expertise in developing and executing marketing strategies that align with organizational goals, particularly in the fast-evolving cybersecurity and technology sectors.

In his new position, Erdheim will oversee all aspects of Radiant Logic’s marketing efforts, from digital and content marketing to public relations and brand positioning. He will work closely with the executive team to enhance customer engagement, improve go-to-market strategies, grow channel partnerships and further solidify Radiant Logic’s position as a leader in the identity security posture management space.

To learn more about Radiant Logic’s new Head of Marketing, visit: https://www.radiantlogic.com/blog/radiant-logic-welcomes-sam-erdheim-as-head-of-marketing/

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Canada’s Digital Workplace Maturity Trails Global Peers, Raising Security and Productivity Concerns Says Zoho

Posted in Commentary with tags on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

Zoho Corporation today announced the findings of its “Trends in Digital Workplace Transformation” study, which surveyed 4,900 employees globally to assess their businesses’ digital workplace transformation (DX) maturity. The survey also included 300 Canadian respondents. 

The Zoho Workplace team developed a comprehensive digital workplace transformation maturity model as part of the survey methodology that measured two key areas: workplace indicators (digital tools and processes) and employee performance indicators (productivity, collaboration, and security preparedness). 

The study reveals that Canadian businesses are falling behind globally, with productivity weaknesses and slow tool adoption hindering progress. The report, based on survey data across multiple industries and company sizes, finds that 40% of Canadian organizations are stuck at an early transformation stage, while top-performing global counterparts move ahead. 

Process Inefficiencies Bring Down Canadian Digital Transformation Maturity 

The study ranks Canadian digital transformation maturity at 59.9%, below the global average of 62.2% and second-to-last when compared to other regions including India (64.6%) and Asia (63.2%) which have the highest maturity levels. The U.S. average score is 61%.  

Despite access to digital tools, limited integration, weak security protocols, and inefficient workflows are preventing companies from reaching higher digital workplace transformation maturity. 

  • Manual task delegation: 85% of companies still rely on manual task delegation over automation.  
  • Sector struggles: Hospitality (56%), logistics (53%), and retail (58%) fall behind tech (66%) and finance (62%). 
  • Company size matters: Small and medium businesses (58%) lag behind larger firms (63.5%). 
  • Unmet expectations: Only 15% of employees feel workplace tools fully meet expectations 

Key Security Gaps Fuel Vulnerabilities 

Many Canadian businesses remain vulnerable due to weak security measures and lack of awareness, according to the study. While larger enterprises and tech firms have made strides in security adoption, small businesses, remote teams, and customer-facing roles continue to face high risks. 

  • Only 46% of Canadian businesses enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA), biometrics, or one-time passwords (OTPs) for system access. 
  • Less than 30% of remote workers receive secure access policies, such as VPN encryption or device authentication. 
  • 30% of organizations implement physical security controls (ID badges, restricted zones), leaving the majority exposed to insider threats. 

Many employees remain untrained and unprepared for cyber threats, increasing the likelihood of breaches:

  • Fewer than 38% of employees have received cybersecurity awareness training. 
  • Only 19% of employees have ever reported a security incident through official channels. 
  • 28%

take proactive measures against phishing or social engineering, such as verifying identities before sharing information. 

A Path Forward: Integration, Automation & Security Overhauls 

With reference to Zoho’s maturity model, to advance from Level 2 (Standardization) to Level 3 (Structured Operations), companies need to adopt integrated digital suites, automate workflows, and enforce stronger security measures. The study estimates: 

  • Advancing from Level 2 to Level 3 takes 3–5 years and costs $250–500 per employee annually. 
  • Reaching Level 4 (Optimized Digital Operations) requires 10+ years and $500–1000 per employee annually. 

The full results of the “Trends in Digital Workplace Transformation” study are available for download here.

Survey Methodology 

The questionnaire was designed to evaluate key performance indicators (productivity, collaboration, security preparedness) and workplace indicators (tools, processes, employee experience, and change). It aimed to assess the alignment of workplace tools and processes with organizational goals and employee expectations. 4,900 employees globally, including 300 Canadians, were surveyed to assess their businesses’ digital workplace transformation (DX) maturity. 

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DH2i, Microsoft, and SUSE to Present Two Sessions on Secure, Resilient AI and Data Platforms at SUSECON 2025

Posted in Commentary with tags on March 6, 2025 by itnerd

DH2i has announced its participation in SUSECON 2025, taking place March 10-14 in Orlando, Florida. DH2i, alongside technology leaders from Microsoft and SUSE, will present two sessions focused on building secure, resilient data platforms. The first, an in-person breakout session at the conference, will showcase how to optimize SQL Server 2025 and SUSE Rancher to create a unified, scalable data platform across containers, physical, and virtual machines (VMs) with DH2i’s DxEnterprise. The second, a pre-recorded session made available at the conclusion of the conference, will provide a step-by-step guide to deploying highly available AI applications using SUSE AI & BCI, Microsoft SQL Server, and DH2i DxEnterprise.

In-Person Breakout Session:

  • Date/Time: Thursday, March 13th, 11:00 am – 11:50 am ET
  • Presenters:
  • OJ Ngo, CTO and Co-Founder, DH2i
  • Abduallah Mamun, Senior Product Manager | Azure Data, Microsoft
  • Terry L. Smith Director, Global Alliances Solutions, Suse
  • Session Title: “Harnessing SQL Server 2025 and SUSE Rancher for a Unified Data Platform Across Containers, Physical, and Virtual Machines with DH2i’s DxOperator”
  • Abstract: Build a data environment that is cross-platform, spanning across virtual machines, physical machines, and containers in different environments. In this session, we will deploy SQL Server containers across Azure Kubernetes Service and other Kubernetes platforms using the DH2i Operator, managing the entire deployment with SUSE’s Rancher. With the release of SQL Server 2025, we will also showcase the vector search capability, enabling semantic search natively for your databases. If you are a database developer, engineer, or administrator looking to modernize your data estate, this session is for you. We will highlight new developer features in SQL Server 2025, making it easier to work with JSON, Parquet, and traditional relational data within the same environment. Additionally, we will cover how SUSE Rancher can be used to manage and administer Kubernetes clusters, ensuring efficient and streamlined operations in an all-Kubernetes environment. Join us to discover best practices, tips, and tools for optimizing your SQL Server container deployments in a hybrid cloud landscape.

Pre-Recorded Session (Viewable after SUSECON):

  • Presenters:
  • OJ Ngo, CTO and Co-Founder, DH2i
  • Amit Khandelwal, Principal Product Manager | Data Platform – SQL Server, Microsoft
  • Terry L. Smith Director, Global Alliances Solutions, Suse
  • Session Title: “How to Build a Secure and Resilient Production Environment for Your AI Applications”
  • Abstract: In today’s AI-driven world, swift and seamless transitions from development to enterprise deployment are essential, along with reliable high availability (HA) for databases supporting AI apps. In this demo-packed session, Ngo, Khandelwal, and Smith will guide IT teams step-by-step in building a comprehensive solution architecture for deploying enterprise AI at scale. They will use SUSE AI & Base Container Image (BCI) for a secure, feature-rich foundation, Microsoft SQL Server as a flexible and secure database backbone, and DH2i DxEnterprise for infrastructure-agnostic HA/DR. Attendees will leave with an actionable framework for building highly available, production AI apps on the SUSE platform using Microsoft SQL Server and DH2i, and an understanding of the benefits of SUSE tools like Rancher, NeuVector, and StackState.

SUSECON, taking place from March 10-14 in Orlando, promises to be a must-attend event for IT professionals, developers, and business leaders eager to explore the latest advancements in open-source solutions. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and the future of enterprise technology, the conference will feature a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, and engaging breakout sessions. Attendees will gain insights into topics such as cloud-native transformation, edge computing, and containerization while networking with industry leaders and peers. To learn more, please visit: https://www.suse.com/susecon/.

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