Looking Back at 2024’s Most Significant Cyberattacks
Welcome to this month’s edition of the Zero Trust Cybersecurity Newsletter. Instead of our usual Cyber Risk Roundup, we’re looking back at 2024’s most significant cyberattacks, which exposed critical vulnerabilities across industries like healthcare, energy, transportation, and communications. From ransomware crippling essential services to nation-state campaigns targeting vital systems, this year highlighted the urgent need for stronger defenses.
Top 5 Cyberattacks of 2024
⚡🌊 Volt Typhoon Campaign: Chinese state-sponsored hackers infiltrated U.S. energy grids and transportation networks, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities and “living off the land” techniques.
🏥💸 Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack: Ransomware compromised data from 100 million individuals, forcing UnitedHealth to pay a $22 million ransom.
🔥🏰 Palo Alto Networks Firewall Vulnerability: A CVE Palo Alto Networks' PAN-OS allowed attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative control, posing significant risks to affected organizations.
✈️💸 Port of Seattle Ransomware Incident: The Port of Seattle refused to pay a $6 million ransom, showcasing the operational fallout of ransomware.
🏦 Finastra Data Breach: Compromised credentials led to the theft of 400GB of financial data, underscoring third-party risks.
The Year VPNs Failed 2024 proved that VPNs are no longer a secure remote access solution. Critical flaws in Ivanti and Fortinet VPNs were exploited in major breaches, leaving enterprises vulnerable to nation-state and ransomware attacks. Replacing legacy tools with modern, zero-trust alternatives is essential.
As cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication, adopting zero-trust principles, enforcing MFA, and modernizing outdated systems are key to securing critical infrastructure.
Read the full 2024 Cyber Risk Review to learn more. Keep scrolling for cyber guides, deep dives, and upcoming events.
Highlights
Defending Legacy Infrastructure: How Xage Stops Threats Like Salt Typhoon
The Salt Typhoon campaign exposed how legacy systems with weak authentication can be exploited for long-term network compromise. Discover how Xage’s modern security solutions—like strong authentication, micro-segmentation, and real-time monitoring—protect legacy infrastructure without costly upgrades or disruptions.
Xage XPAM: Taking Security Beyond Legacy PAM Limitations
Last month, Xage launched Extended PAM (XPAM) to address gaps left by legacy PAM, providing protection from day one, greater coverage, and superior total cost of ownership. Learn more and watch a demo of the solution in our blog.
User-First Security: The Key To Effective Cyber Tech Stacks
Usability plays a critical role in cybersecurity, emphasizing that complex and cumbersome tools often lead users to bypass security protocols, increasing vulnerability. By prioritizing user-friendly, consolidated solutions and involving end users in tool selection, organizations can improve security compliance and reduce risks stemming from human error.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Brief: Enhancing Security using Single Application Mode
Xage Zero Trust Access with Single Application Mode strengthens remote desktop security by enforcing zero-trust and least-privilege principles, allowing users to interact only with predefined applications. This approach minimizes the attack surface, prevents lateral movement within networks, and ensures compliance through strict access controls and robust authentication mechanisms.
Events
Ditch Legacy PAM: How Xage Is Changing the Rules of Privileged Access
Enterprise Strategy Group’s Todd Thiemann and Xage Security’s Vishal Gupta join this webinar to discuss attack trends, challenges with legacy PAM, and what sets aside Xage’s modern approach to Extended PAM.
Xage Returns to S4x25
This year, Xage is thrilled to return to the renowned S4 Conference in Tampa, FL, as an official S4 Lounge Sponsor. We’re excited to unveil some innovative plans for our lounge experience, designed to engage and delight attendees—stay tuned for updates as the event approaches! Join us on Wednesday at the Outdoor Lounge, where we’ll be hosting an experience you won’t want to miss.
Xage Security In the News
Forbes, Politico, and more
Xage has garnered significant attention in the press this year! Visit our press page to explore the latest mentions and publications