Sai Huda is a globally recognized cybersecurity expert and author who warns that the top three cyber threats in 2021 are ransomware, cloud misconfigurations, and supply chain compromise. He advises businesses to be alert for new variants of ransomware that can quickly find and encrypt critical data. Cloud misconfigurations are also a major threat if businesses fail to properly configure security in the cloud. Further, supply chain compromises like the SolarWinds hack can allow attackers access through software updates.

1. Sai Huda

2. Globally recognized cybersecurity expert and best-selling author,
Sai Huda, says the top three cyber threats that all organizations
need to be on heightened alert for in 2021 are ransomware, cloud
misconfigurations exploit and supply chain compromise.

3. Sai Huda advises businesses on cyber risk management and is a
frequent keynote speaker at major industry conferences. He is
also the author of the best-selling book “Next Level
Cybersecurity: Detect the Signals, Stop the Hack.” In this ground-
breaking book, Sai Huda reveals 15 signals that provide early tip-
offs to cyberattacks and a seven step method to implement an
early warning and detection system to stop a cyber attack in time
and prevent loss or damage.

4. Sai Huda is warning businesses worldwide to be on heightened
alert for ransomware, especially new variants that are
programmed to scan for keywords that indicate mission critical or
highly sensitive data so that critical data can be found quickly.
Then the ransomware will exfiltrate a copy, then it will encrypt
and lock down access to the data and demand a ransom payment.
The attacker will then release a portion of the data publicly to
extort the victim to pay the ransom. Phishing and unpatched
vulnerabilities are the two main ways the attacker is able to insert
ransomware.

5. He is also warning that cloud misconfigurations are another major
threat as businesses move to the cloud but fail to configure
properly all of the systems and services the cloud provider makes
available. The cloud provider is responsible for security of the
cloud, while the business itself is responsible for security in the
cloud. Cloud configurations require specific know-how to prevent
and detect a cyber attack. Otherwise, there will be many doors
and windows open for an attacker to exploit and break in.

6. Supplier compromise is also another major threat, especially
software providers, as evident with the recent SolarWinds supply
chain compromise, where the attackers inserted a backdoor
malware into the software update process at the supplier and with
one fell swoop, as thousands downloaded the software update,
the attacker gained entry undetected into thousands or
organizations worldwide. So a compromise at a supplier can be
the backdoor into the organization.

7. Regardless, there will be signals of the attackers and in his book
Sai Huda reveals the signals that organizations must be on the
look out for to prevent becoming victim to ransomware, cloud
misconfigurations exploit or supply chain compromise.