The Attack
Recent global research [security.com] indicates that “Ransomware attacks continued to trend upwards in 2024, rising by 3% compared to 2023, underlining the resilience of this particular cyber threat. ”The surge in ransomware activity was despite some major setbacks faced by two of the biggest threat actors. Law enforcement actions in late 2023 and early 2024 targeted two of the most prominent ransomware groups, LockBit and Noberus, leading to a temporary slowdown in attacks during the first quarter. However, this decline was short-lived, as ransomware operations quickly regained momentum, escalating significantly in the latter half of the year.

Ceres Fruit Processors, established in 1976, is a leading producer of fruit  juice concentrates and purées. The company uses globally benchmarked processes to deliver flavourful and wholesome value to its customers. In response to energy supply challenges in a vulnerable and intermittent supply landscape, NEC XON was tasked with providing a fully integrated solution using innovative technologies.

NEC XON recently demonstrated its considerable cybersecurity capabilities by thwarting a potential ransomware attack targeting a major mining group. The incident began when NEC XON's xCTEM (Extended Continuous Threat Exposure Management) platform identified that credentials for a privileged account, capable of accessing remote services such as VPN, were being sold by an Initial Access Broker (IAB). These credentials were likely to be purchased by ransomware operators known for human-operated ransomware attacks, posing a significant threat to the mining firm's operations.

Maintaining uninterrupted internet connectivity is essential to business operations these days. As NEC XON and other Midrand businesses discovered in February 2024, natural disasters leading to infrastructure failures can disrupt critical communication channels. However, the NEC XON team had an ace up its sleeve - a Low Earth Orbit-based (LEO) low-latency satellite access solution provided by Eutelsat OneWeb, which it had signed a distribution agreement with late in 2023.

In the volatile cybersecurity landscape, the ability to anticipate and prevent cyber threats is paramount. With sensitive data at stake, especially in industries like healthcare, proactive measures are essential to safeguarding against potential breaches. ​