Security News > 2021 > June > Good news for pentesters and network admins: US issues ransomware guidance asking biz to skill up security teams
The memo, from deputy national security advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger, said the private sector has a "Critical responsibility" to protect their businesses against ransomware.
"Much as our homes have locks and alarm systems and our office buildings have guards and security to meet the threat of theft, we urge you to take ransomware crime seriously and ensure your corporate cyber defenses match the threat."
Publication of the memo came after two devastating and high-profile ransomware attacks.
More recently, Ireland's nationalised health service was forced to close down its IT systems after a "Human-operated" Conti ransomware attack.
On Thursday, the Biden Administration issued guidance to US attorney's offices instructing them to coordinate investigations with a central task force, based in Washington DC. "To ensure we can make necessary connections across national and global cases and investigations, and to allow us to develop a comprehensive picture of the national and economic security threats we face, we must enhance and centralize our internal tracking," said the note, which was obtained by Reuters.
Ransomware attacks went up almost five fold in volume in 2020 compared to the prior year, or so said Bitdefender's Consumer Threat Landscape Report.
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