Enterprise Technology Spotlight: security, network function virtualization

Everyone is interested in security this week with the launch of the 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report. This is the industry’s most comprehensive report using data from 67 contributors, analysing more than 100,000 security incidents and 2,260 breaches across 82 countries.

Additionally, as the industry continues to embrace software defined networking and network function virtualization (SDN/NFV), we announced plans to deploy OpenStack in five data centers in the US. This is a key part of Verizon’s plan to build a next-generation network.

The headlines are below:

Most hacks take minutes to do – and weeks to discover

In 93 percent of security incidents where data was stolen systems were breached in a matter of minutes, but in more than 80 percent of cases, companies didn’t notice the breach for several weeks or more. Vigilance is key to preventing data breaches, according to the 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report. (CNBC)

Email “most popular phishing tool”

Cyber thieves are using email, rather than more sophisticated hacking tools, to breach organizations and search for valuable data because email phishing continues to prove successful. Thirty percent of phishing emails were opened by people targeted, according to the 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report. That’s an increase from the previous year. (BBC)

Credentials, credentials, credentials: Enterprises still failing at security basics

According to the 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report too often network access is secured by only a single-factor authentication, making it easy for hackers to breach the network and gain access to sensitive information. Enterprises need to invest in multi-factor authentication. (ComputerWorld Australia)

Verizon taps Red Hat and OpenStack for it NFV

New applications are highlighting the need for high-performance, flexible networks. Verizon is investing in SDN/NFV to build a foundation for a cloud that services customer needs anywhere, anytime and in any app. (ComputerWorld)