In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the specter of ransomware looms larger than ever before. Once considered merely an IT issue, ransomware has since evolved into a pervasive threat, affecting individuals, businesses and governments alike. The sophistication of ransomware actors continues to grow, posing significant challenges for defenders. As a senior consulting director of Unit 42, the threat intelligence and incident response division of Palo Alto Networks, I have a unique perspective into the myriad ways in which our daily lives are affected by malicious cyber attacks and ran ..read more

The Department of Defense (DoD) is on a relentless mission to fortify its networks with a comprehensive, no-fail Zero Trust architecture. This approach demands robust security solutions that simultaneously navigate the complexities of classified environments (meeting FedRAMP and IL5 requirements) while keeping pace with the ever-evolving threat landscape. At Palo Alto Networks, we understand the unique challenges faced by the DoD. We've been a trusted partner for over a decade, securing classified environments with solutions like Strata firewalls and Prisma Cloud. But, our commitment goes beyo ..read more

For over 40 years, the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) has demonstrated a long track record of providing forward-looking private sector advice to the President of the United States on the most critical issues at the nexus of technology and national security. On March 7, the NSTAC issued its latest series of recommendations in a new report, Measuring and Incentivizing the Adoption of Cybersecurity Best Practices (2024). The report makes dozens of recommendations for government policymakers, ranging from the establishment of a Cybersecurity Measurement ..read more

Palo Alto Networks reaches a significant milestone as our commitment to comprehensive security achieves the largest number of StateRAMP marketplace approved cybersecurity offerings. In its commitment to be the state and local government's cybersecurity partner of choice, Palo Alto Networks provides unparalleled support for organizations with dedicated investment in providing tools for a safer and more secure digital world. Understanding State & Local Security Needs Cyberthreats to public sector infrastructure are proliferating at a concerning rate. State and local government agencies, scho ..read more

The cloud is here to stay. It’s no longer a buzzword or the new tech kid on the block. Cloud technologies are used by organisations and individuals alike, providing scalable on-demand computing on a global scale. As a result, governments across the world are deploying cloud services at scale, and the capabilities are at the heart of most digital transformation journeys. In the UK, the Government published the Cloud First Policy nearly 11 years ago. Since then, we have seen the publication of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Cloud Security Principles and the 5 Cloud Essential Character ..read more

Palo Alto Networks Participates in White House Quantum Security Roundtable; Selected to U.S. Cyber Center of Excellence for Post-Quantum Cryptography. Every day, the security of billions of global digital transactions, from email and online banking to internet-connected medical devices, relies on a time-tested form of encryption called public key cryptography. But, the arrival of encryption-breaking quantum computers (possibly as soon as within a decade) will undermine this foundational cryptographic underpinning of modern cybersecurity. As a U.S. Government advisory warned, organizations ever ..read more

We are honored to partner with the Polish Government as part of its Polish Cybersecurity Partnership Program (PWCyber) program to help expand the country’s national cybersecurity capabilities, enhance its cyber defenses, and increase public awareness of the growing threat landscape in the digital era. Geopolitics, critical infrastructure connectivity, cybersecurity regulations and rapid advances in AI have propelled cybersecurity to the top of the list when it comes to assessing risks for government and businesses. The WEF Global Risks Report 2024 listed cybersecurity in the top 10 of global r ..read more

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CAM), it’s clear that the threat landscape we face today is unlike anything we’ve seen in years past. With the prominence of artificial intelligence and the reliance on cloud networks in our world today, the cybersecurity tools of the past, are no longer enough. We need new solutions and technologies, and to invest in a highly skilled workforce to take on the looming challenges ahead and secure our world. Evolving Challenges in Cybersecurity As our workspaces continue to move online, Unit 42 data shows that 80% of exposures ..read more

How State and Local Governments Help Secure Our World Twenty years after Congress declared October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, much has changed, but not the need for broad collaboration to help us keep pace with the threats before us. As the global workforce becomes increasingly remote, dispersed and cloud-dependent, the attack surface for threat actors to target is greater than ever before. Securing our world requires more than focusing exclusively on our national government and major corporations. We must secure our schools, hospitals, small businesses and first responders. Unfortunate ..read more

Ransomware attacks have evolved over the years from a threat primarily targeting individuals with modest ransom demands, to a sophisticated form of cybercrime that now jeopardizes large companies, government agencies and critical infrastructure. It's increasingly common to hear of a major corporation, educational institution or local government falling victim to a ransomware attack, in addition to the incidents that make national headlines. These attacks have far-reaching implications, affecting everything from critical public services, like hospitals, disruptions in supply chains, and even ta ..read more