IT Security Stories to Watch: AT&T Data Breach, World Cup Web Attacks

AT&T (T) was a hacking victim, the 2014 FIFA World Cup‘s website and related websites were hit with DDoS attacks last week, and HP (HPQ) introduced new data protection solutions. Those were three of the big security headlines managed service providers (MSPs) should be looking at this week.

Controlling security threats can be problematic for MSPs that do not devote the necessary time and resources to learning about the short- and long-term impact of these issues.

Preparation is key, which is reflected in each of this week’s IT security stories to watch.

Here are four IT security stories MSPs should keep an eye on this week:

1. A new AT&T data breach
Target apparently isn’t the only big-name company to be affected by a data breach.

BGR reported AT&T last week confirmed hackers accessed personal data that belonged to some of its customers for almost two weeks in April. The data included social security numbers and phone records.

“We recently learned that three employees of one of our vendors accessed some AT&T customer accounts without proper authorization,” AT&T Executive Director for Media Relations Mark Siegel told Re/code. “This is completely counter to the way we require our vendors to conduct business. We know our customers count on us and those who support our business to act with integrity and trust, and we take that very seriously. We have taken steps to help prevent this from happening again, notified affected customers and reported this matter to law enforcement.”

Restaurant chains Domino’s Pizza and P.F. Chang’s also reported last week they were victimized by hackers.

2. World Cup website security issues
The World Cup kicked off (no pun intended) last week, and several websites associated with the event already have been hit by distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.

ZDNet noted the official government World Cup website had been down for more than a day, along with the sites of some host states.

More World Cup Web attacks could be on the horizon too.

Numerous hackers have said they will continue to target World Cup websites and are posting regular updates about their Web attacks on Twitter under the hashtags #OpHackingCup and #OpWorldCup.

3. HP unveils Atalla solutions
HP’s Discover conference in Las Vegas last week included the launch of HP Atalla solutions, designed to safeguard sensitive data stored in cloud, mobile and on-premises environments.

“As organizations embrace the New Style of IT, protecting sensitive information as it moves within and outside the enterprise becomes more critical than ever before,” Art Gilliland, senior vice president and general manager of HP’s enterprise security products, said in a prepared statement. “Building on decades of leadership in information protection, we are now extending the scale and power of HP Atalla’s encryption technology from the data center to the cloud – safeguarding data regardless of where it resides.”

HP Atalla Solutions provide advanced protection for data stored on-premises and in the cloud, as well as confidential emails, electronic health records and payment information, according to the company.

4. Halon Security Launches Inumbo.com 2.0
Firewall and email security appliance provider Halon Security today introduced Inumbo.com 2.0 for MSPs.

Inumbo.com 2.0 delivers a “contract-free, pay-as-you-go cloud anti-spam email service designed from the ground up for hosting providers and MSPs,” according to Halon Security.

“Email security vendors are missing the mark when it comes to understanding hosting and service providers’ unique security challenges, so we are taking the same technology our enterprise clients enjoy to ensure a private and secure email system – and giving it away for free,” Halon Security CEO Jonas Falck said in a prepared statement. “Inumbo.com 2.0 is designed to be maintenance free.”

The company added Inumbo.com 2.0 offers hosting providers and MSPs new ways to deliver their own cloud, hybrid or on-premise solution.

What do you think will be the biggest IT security stories for MSPs this week? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, via Twitter @dkobialka or email me at [email protected].