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Headlines

During a talk on Wednesday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte discussed cyberespionage with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The Netherlands has attributed a recent incident of cyber espionage to Chinese state-backed actors, revealing a breach in its military network. This public attribution marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations, already strained over disputes regarding high-tech exports.

Rutte affirmed the Netherlands' stance, openly addressing the cyberattack on their Ministry of Defence and attributing it to China. On Tuesday, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed similar complaints made recently by Western powers, saying, "It is pure political maneuvering for the United States and the United Kingdom to rehash the so-called cyberattacks carried out by China and to sanction Chinese individuals and entities.”

The Pentagon has released a document proposing a new strategy to fortify cybersecurity across the defense industry. Dubbed the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Strategy (PDF), it seeks to increase cooperation between the Defense Department and defense industry stakeholders, a move it hopes will safeguard critical information from a rising tide of threat actors.

The strategy highlights four goals, “Strengthening DOD's governance structure for U.S. defense industrial base cybersecurity; enhancing the cybersecurity posture of the U.S. defense industrial base; preserving the resiliency of critical defense industrial base capabilities in a cyber-contested environment; and Improving cybersecurity collaboration between DOD and the U.S. defense industrial base.”

The NHS has received a dire threat from INC Ransom, a ransomware group that plans to release a vast trove of data stolen during a cyber attack on a Scottish health board. NHS Dumfries and Galloway had previously warned of a potential breach compromising significant amounts of patient and staff information.

INC Ransom has pledged to disclose three terabytes of data unless its demands are met. While they've already published a "proof pack," showcasing confidential patient details, including medical records, the value of the data to cybercriminals remains uncertain. Despite efforts by authorities and healthcare officials to contain the situation, fears persist over the potential ramifications for affected patients and the wider healthcare system.

Interesting Read

Nancy Liu, writing for SDX Central, outlines the cybersecurity war that will determine so much of the next decade: CrowdStrike vs. Palo Alto Networks. In the current wave of consolidation in the industry, these two stand as pillars — each one offering its own vision of what constitutes a truly secure platform.

Of course, things aren’t staying nice. The companies’ CEOs now trade barbed comments, and their respective companies do battle for the future of the industry. Learn more about the philosophical and strategic divide between these two behemoths with this interesting read.

Employment Tip: Problem-Solving Skills Are Number One

In cybersecurity, the ability to encounter complex problems and provide tailor-fit solutions is the most sought-after ability. Why not emphasize those moments on your resume and cover letter? Many fail to communicate their unique problem-solving skills, instead focusing on simple names of roles and dates of employment. Go above and beyond by showing off your ability to address problems as they arise — making you indispensable to any company.

For the latest openings in cybersecurity careers, check CybersecurityHQ.

Stay Safe, Stay Secure.

The CybersecurityHQ Team