Security News > 2021 > February > Enterprises Warned of Growing Risk Posed by Initial Access Brokers

Enterprises Warned of Growing Risk Posed by Initial Access Brokers
2021-02-23 18:34

The services provided by a class of cybercriminals known as initial access brokers are increasingly sought-after and the risk posed to enterprises is growing, according to digital risk protection company Digital Shadows.

Initial access brokers breach as many organizations as they can, but instead of using that access to steal data or cause disruption themselves, they sell access to other threat actors, including ransomware operators and nation-state groups.

Digital Shadows has been monitoring initial access brokers for years, but the company says the coronavirus pandemic that hit the world in 2020 boosted their popularity.

These cybercriminals often gain access to an organization's network through RDP and VPN connections, which in many cases doesn't even require advanced skills.

"The dramatic increase in remote working coupled with ransomware's commercial success has been a perfect storm of opportunity for initial access brokers," said Rick Holland, CISO at Digital Shadows.

He explained, "These actors are cashing in because of the flourishing demand and their specialization. They concentrate on one aspect of the cybercriminal ecosystem, gaining access to your network, and they do it very well. They then pass the baton on to other criminals and move on to their next target. Due to their ability to successfully compromise organizations of all sizes, initial access brokers' prominence has increased within the cybercriminal underground."


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