Cybersecurity 101: A Whole New World of Malware Delivery (Clickfix) Michael DeNapoli March 2, 2026 Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link Many customers have asked us here at Pondurance what "ClickFix" is, and how they can protect their organizations against it. This relatively new form of a known technique for malware delivery is becoming extremely popular, so let's dig into it and see what you can do. What is ClickFix? Clickfix is a form of threat activity that attempts to trick a user into running commands on their own devices which give a threat actor access to the system, credential information, or other sensitive stuff. Unlike more traditional phishing or malware that try to get the user to log into a site or run an application, Clickfix instead tries to get the victim to execute commands or scripts directly by pretending that they must perform an action for some reason that does not involve opening a file or running an application. Most commonly, the user will go to a website which has been compromised by a threat actor, the user accidentally mis-types the URL of the site and a threat actor has set up a fake site at the misspelled domain, or a phishing email is delivered to their mailbox. In all three cases, once the user loads the web page, or opens the email a pop-up message (within the browser) tells the user that there is a problem with their machine, with their access to the site, or some other issue that they must fix (hence the "fix" part of the name). In some cases, the message is displayed directly on the web-page or in the email text and the attack doesn't use a pop-up message. Common attack messages are that the user's internet connection is malfunctioning, that their computer has had a virus detected on it, or that the owner of the website requires additional verification before they are permitted to view it. The last format has become extremely popular on compromised and/or fake adult content websites since several countries either have implemented, or are about to implement, age verification before a visitor can view the website itself. Messages indicating "machine verification" or other such ruses are also common across a wide variety of types of websites and services. Instead of instructing a user to download a file (or attempt to automatically start the download of a file), Clickfix attacks instead tell the user that they must perform a "Repair" or "Review" process in order to gain access to the site. Lots of other words are used, but most begin with an "R" in order to make the next step sound legitimate To perform the repair/review/etc., the user is instructed to copy a string of text from a special "verification" or "diagnostic" message (and in some cases copies the text to the clipboard automatically), then press WindowsKey+R on Windows, and paste the text into the system popup that this brings up, then hit Enter. What this is doing is bringing up the Windows "Run Command" prompt (WIN+R), and the string of text is actually a set of commands/scripts that will then run on the user's machine once they press Enter. For most users, if they're told they need to repair or review something with WIN+R, that would seem to make sense. The commands vary depending on the attack: Some will force the system to download and run malware from an online location without using a browser. Others attempt to run commands directly on the machine which steal information like login info and other sensitive data. Newer variants attempt to leverage built-in encoding systems in most Operating Systems (OS) to make it look like the commands are a random string of garbage - but when sent through the Run Command, the string is decoded into the attack commands/scripts and run. For example, the string "dGhpcyBzdHJpbiBvZiB0ZXh0IGNvdWxkIGJlIG1hbGljaW91cw==" in Base64 decodes to "this string of text could be malicious" but the user would only see the garbled text, not the actual message/commands. Once tools in the OS decode the message, it turns back into its original form, and can be executed as a command or script. Is it Only Windows? While Windows has seen the most use of ClickFix in recent times, MacOS and Linux are not immune. In the case of those two OS's, the victim is shown a message saying they must open the Terminal application (which is part of the OS itself) and paste the string of text into that app. On MacOS we've also seen attacks trying to trick a user into dragging and dropping a file of scripts directly onto the Terminal application - usually in the guise of having them install an application that they thought was legitimate, but is in fact malware. Since it is not unusual for legitimate applications to instruct the user to download a file onto the icon for the Applications folder, the social engineering trick of just switching what they drop the file onto works unfortunately well. The end result is the same: Malicious commands/scripts are run on the victim's machine, and the threat actor gains valuable information, installs other malware, gains access to the machine, or all three. So regardless of what OS's you use in your organization, this is a threat you need to be aware of. Haven't I Seen This Before? ClickFix isn't brand new, in fact the attack was first spotted and named in early 2024. Back then, threat actors were attempting to trick a user into opening a specially-crafted Office document (Word, Excel, etc.) which contained the malicious commands and scripting. The "bait" was the same - the user needed to review the instructions in the document in order to perform some necessary action - and the outcome was the same as well. Using documents to launch the attack became harder and harder as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) platforms, Operating Systems, other cybersecurity tools, and Office itself became better at recognizing the attack and blocking it. As with most malware threat actors, they adapted and found new ways to get their jobs done, leading to the current generation of ClickFix that doesn't require the use of documents - especially on Windows. How Can ClickFix Be Stopped? In the case of ClickFix, there are a few things that can be done to stop an attacker from successfully using the technique. Security tools like EDR/anti-malware are getting better at detecting ClickFix - but anti-virus (which only looks at the content of a file downloaded to disk) won't catch it. So upgrading to an EDR is a good idea, especially because that brings with it a significant number of other security benefits. EDR's can't stop all types of ClickFix attack, however - so EDR alone is not enough. The most powerful tool at our disposal is user awareness training. Users do not have to become cybersecurity experts to defend the organization from ClickFix, as spotting it is easy enough for even non-technical folks to do successfully. First, no user should be using the Run Command system in Windows (WIN+R) unless the organization's IT staff is specifically telling them to do so., and not via email - the IT staff should be personally telling them to do it via phone. They should never use it when prompted by a website or email message under any circumstances. While it is possible to disable Win+R completely, it does require the use of Group Policy Objects in either Active Directory or EntraID and also requires that all devices are being managed by AD or Entra - so that might not be an option for every organization. Making users aware that Win+R is not a repair tool and shouldn't be used unless they're in active contact with IT is a good safeguard. Next, regardless of what OS the user has on their device, they should never drag and drop a file onto a Command Window (cmd.exe), PowerShell window, or the Terminal app (macOS and Linux). While these tools exist for valid reasons, they are not something users will have to work with on a regular basis unless they are IT, cybersecurity, or developer staffers. As with WIN+R, any user asked to do this type of operation should only do so when in direct communication (by phone) with IT staff. Finally, if any website, email, or anything else tells a user to try to do either of those things, they should close their browser and immediately contact the IT or Cybersecurity team of the organization. Refusing to follow the ClickFix instructions will prevent them from actually compromising their devices, but it is vital that the technology staff know it happened and follow up to be sure nothing went wrong. That last one can be embarrassing for some users, as they may have encountered the ClickFix message while surfing websites that are against company policy (adult content, gambling, etc.); but it is vital that they report it anyway. Make it well known and understood that no one will get fired over reporting a ClickFix website unless the company finds out they went to that site and didn't report it to IT. This has a double-benefit: it lets the IT team keep the organization safe, and it drastically cuts down on users going to inappropriate sites on company devices - since they'll think twice before taking the chance they see ClickFix and have to admit what site they went to. In summary, security controls can stem the tide of ClickFix attacks to no small degree, but not eliminate them entirely. User awareness is key, and will be equally effective in stopping ClickFix from working due to disabling a key component required for the attack to work: the human factor. About the Author: Michael DeNapoli is a seasoned Senior Solutions Architect with more than 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, solution architecture, and enterprise systems design. Throughout his career, he has led technical strategy, security architecture, and advanced solution development for organizations ranging from emerging security vendors to global enterprises. Michael’s expertise spans cybersecurity operations, cloud architecture, technical sales leadership, security posture management, and identity protection, with a proven track record of guiding clients through complex technology challenges. Today, he brings his deep industry knowledge to Pondurance as a Senior Solutions Architect, helping organizations strengthen their security foundations with clarity and confidence. Featured Posts READ MORE Recognizing Social Engineering in the Age of AI October 14, 2026 Pondurance Named Managed Security Innovation of the Year in 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards October 12, 2026 Why Everyday Cybersecurity Habits Still Matter October 5, 2026

The FTC introduced new cybersecurity standards auto dealerships must implement. Learn the Safeguards rule and how you can achieve compliance. Safeguards Rule: 9 Steps to Compliance for Auto Dealerships Pondurance November 1, 2022 Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link Automobile dealerships collect and store large amounts of consumer data, including Social Security numbers, bank account information, and credit applications, so it’s no wonder that they’re prime targets for cyberattacks. The average ransomware payout for a dealership is $228,125, up 8% from first quarter of 2021, according to a 2022 CDK Global cybersecurity study . The threat of costly attacks weigh heavily on dealerships as they take the necessary steps to become compliant with the Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information (Safeguards Rule) part of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The Safeguards Rule has imposed compliance regulations on financial institutions since 2003 to protect consumer data from misuse and reduce the risk of a data breach. The federal law requires financial institutions — including auto dealerships that offer financing or leasing agreements to consumers — to develop, implement, and maintain a cybersecurity program with safeguards in place to protect consumer data. In December 2021, the Federal Trade Commission amended the Safeguards Rule to mandate new, more complex cybersecurity standards and procedures for financial institutions by the Dec. 9, 2022, deadline. The CDK Global cybersecurity study shows that only 47% of dealerships are well prepared to be compliant. The Safeguards Rule requires that dealerships complete nine specific steps for their cybersecurity programs: Step 1: Designate a qualified individual Your dealership must identify a “qualified individual” who is responsible for the oversight, implementation, and enforcement of the cybersecurity program. The qualified individual can be an employee, such as a chief information security officer (CISO), or an employee of an affiliate or a service provider, such as a virtual CISO . Step 2: Conduct a risk assessment Your dealership should conduct a written risk assessment that identifies the internal and external risks to consumer data and assesses the safeguards currently in place to control those risks. A risk assessment allows your dealership to pinpoint and analyze every asset on your network that may be vulnerable to cyber threats. The rule also requires that your dealership follow up by performing periodic risk assessments to reexamine and reassess those risks as the cyber landscape evolves. Step 3: Implement controls Once the risk assessment is complete, your dealership must design and implement safeguards to control the risks identified. The rule specifies eight different ways to implement controls, such as using data encryption, adopting multifactor authentication, and employing policies and procedures to monitor and log the activity of users . Step 4: Monitor and test effectiveness Your dealership must regularly test or monitor the effectiveness of the key controls. And for information systems, your dealership must either perform continuous monitoring or conduct annual penetration testing and biannual vulnerability assessments . Unpatched vulnerabilities are one of the primary sources of access for cyberattackers to steal consumer data, harm systems, install malware, and more. In fact, 60% of all breaches are the result of unpatched vulnerabilities. Step 5: Train employees Your employees need to know how to execute your cybersecurity program and what they can do to keep consumer data safe from cyberattackers. Your dealership must provide security awareness training, keep employees updated and informed about changing cyber threats, and use qualified employees, affiliates, or service providers to manage and oversee the program. Currently, only 54% of dealerships offer employee training, according to the CDK Global cybersecurity survey. However, that number is up from 31% in 2021. Step 6: Oversee service providers Your dealership must choose skilled and experienced service providers to safeguard your consumer data. The rule requires that your dealership take care in selecting and contracting with capable service providers and periodically assess the risk and adequacy the providers may pose to your dealership. Many organizations are turning to managed detection and response (MDR) service providers to protect their data against the threat of cyberattacks. Technological research and consulting firm Gartner projects that 50% of all organizations will use MDR services by 2025. Step 7: Stay current As the cyber landscape changes, your dealership must change with it. The rule requires that your dealership evaluate and adjust its cybersecurity program based on the results of your monitoring and testing. Step 8: Create an IR plan Your dealership should have a written incident response (IR) plan in place, and the rule now requires it. An IR plan is a set of instructions that prepares your dealership to rapidly respond to a threat, minimize damage and loss, and prevent future compromise. The IR plan must include detailed information about your goals, internal response processes, roles and responsibilities of personnel, internal and external communications, remediation process, documentation and reporting of an incident, and evaluation and revision following an attack. Step 9: Report to the board Your qualified individual must regularly or annually report to your board of directors or governing body. The written report must include the overall status of the cybersecurity program, your compliance with the law, and any material matters related to the cybersecurity program. Learn more about proactive cybersecurity solutions Your dealership collects and stores large amounts of consumer data, and compliance with the Safeguards Rule can help assure that the data stays safe in the event of a cyberattack. Take the steps needed to get in compliance, and if you need assistance with the requirements, you can partner with a qualified security service provider for help. Pondurance can perform a risk assessment to evaluate your cybersecurity risk and recommend policies and procedures to address your risk. We also can supplement or function as your cybersecurity team with our MDR and IR services . We operate as an expert partner to our clients to help them reduce their exposure to risk with services designed to prioritize their most critical risks at implementation and evolve with their business needs. Discover how Pondurance can help you become fully compliant. Get Your Cyber Risk Assessment Now. Featured Posts READ MORE Recognizing Social Engineering in the Age of AI October 14, 2026 Pondurance Named Managed Security Innovation of the Year in 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards October 12, 2026 Why Everyday Cybersecurity Habits Still Matter October 5, 2026

Reducing Cyber Risk with the Microsoft Tools You Already Have Pondurance, Michael DeNapoli February 2, 2026 Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link Midmarket organizations overwhelmingly rely on Microsoft Windows and Office 365/Microsoft 365 to run their businesses. Email, documents, collaboration, identity, and endpoints are tightly integrated into these platforms. That convenience, however, also makes them a frequent target for attackers. The good news is that security tools are available in many organizations’ existing Microsoft 365 environments, including Microsoft Defender, for protecting endpoints, identity, and other key areas. When properly configured and with supporting processes in place, these tools help reduce cyber risk and organizations respond faster when something goes wrong. This Q&A with Michael DeNapoli, a senior solutions architect at Pondurance, explores how midmarket organizations can better protect Windows and Microsoft 365 environments by making smarter use of what they already own, and where external detection and response support can add value. This article is the first in a series on improving cybersecurity and reducing breach risks with the tools you already have—and how a trusted partner like Pondurance can help. Why are midmarket organizations especially vulnerable to Microsoft-focused attacks? Michael: The answer is largely about scale and predictability. Most midmarket organizations use Windows on endpoints and Office 365/Microsoft 365 for email and collaboration. Attackers target what they know will be there. MacOS certainly continues to gain traction in the business world, but Windows is going to be present in nearly every organization. When threat actors go after Windows and Microsoft applications, they are not making a judgment about the security maturity of a specific organization. They are playing a numbers game. Midmarket organizations often face additional constraints. Many operate with small IT teams that must balance security with daily operational demands. Dedicated security roles may not exist, and even when security tools are licensed, they are not always fully configured or consistently maintained. Attackers understand this reality and design their campaigns accordingly. What types of vulnerabilities are most common in Windows and Microsoft 365 environments? Michael: Most successful attacks exploit ordinary weaknesses rather than rare or highly technical flaws. Outdated operating systems, unpatched applications, and unmanaged third-party software remain common entry points. Endpoints that are not regularly updated create opportunities for attackers to gain a foothold. Microsoft is responsible for securing the Microsoft 365 cloud itself, but organizations remain responsible for securing the devices, tenancies, and users that access those services. If an attacker gains control of a workstation, they often do not need to exploit Microsoft 365 directly. They can simply use the applications that are already running and authenticated. Vulnerabilities also extend beyond technology. User behavior, update discipline, and internal processes all play a role. When users install unapproved software, delay updates, or hesitate to report mistakes, risk increases even if the underlying platform is well designed. What types of attacks succeed most often in Microsoft environments? Michael: Business email compromise remains the most common and effective attack against Microsoft-centric organizations. Email addresses are easy to discover, and passwords are often reused. Without strong authentication controls and the ability to recognize unusual user behaviors, attackers who obtain credentials can quietly access sensitive communications and data. Once inside an email account, attackers can read confidential messages, download files, create inbox rules to hide activity, and impersonate trusted users. Because email sits at the center of most business processes, even a single compromised account can expose a large amount of sensitive information. Ransomware is a close second. These attacks often begin when a user is tricked into running malicious software. Or, they may be tricked into following convincing instructions that fraudulently appear to come from Microsoft itself, or another legitimate and/or trusted source. In other cases, attackers gain remote access and deploy ransomware directly. While ransomware is not exclusive to Microsoft environments, Windows endpoints are a common entry point simply because they are so widely used. What general steps can IT and security teams take to mitigate the risk of these attacks? Michael: One of the most effective steps is also one of the least glamorous: keeping systems and applications consistently updated. Many organizations already license tools such as Microsoft Intune as part of their Microsoft 365 subscription. Intune can help manage updates in a way that minimizes disruption. Updates can be scheduled, users can be prompted with clear deadlines, and reboots can occur overnight rather than during working hours. When updates are predictable and automated, resistance tends to drop. Users are far more likely to comply when they understand what is happening and when it will occur. User training also plays an important role, but expectations must be realistic. Training should focus on helping users recognize common warning signs rather than trying to turn them into security experts. Mistakes will still happen. The goal is to reduce the number of successful attacks and ensure that users report issues quickly when something feels off. Perhaps most important is creating an environment where users feel safe speaking up. When employees know they can report a mistake without fear of punishment, security teams gain valuable time. Early reporting allows passwords to be reset, tokens to be rotated, and access to be reviewed before real damage occurs. While repeated disregard for security is a disciplinary issue, the occasional mistake shouldn’t put an employee in fear of losing their livelihood. How can organizations in Microsoft environments use their existing security tools to improve cybersecurity—and how does Pondurance MDR help organizations optimize these tools? Michael: First of all, there’s Microsoft 365 (M365) Defender , which has many features to increase cybersecurity resilience. These capabilities include blocking emails with foreign character sets and emails from known malicious senders; removing scripts and other executable code from emails; and blocking any attachment types that aren’t necessary for users to receive in an email (like EXE, IMG, DMG, and SVG files—all of which are routinely used in attacks). Pondurance continually watches for new threat intelligence, advising customers on new file types to block, new features which can be turned on, and other information about how to configure Office 365/Microsoft 365 and M365 Defender for the best security while still allowing users to get their work done. Second is Microsoft Defender XDR , which requires ongoing maintenance and configuration—the days of “set it and forget it” endpoint defenses are long gone. As new forms of attacks are discovered, new ways to use existing attacks emerge, and how we use endpoints themselves change, configuration and settings for Defender XDR must also be updated. For example, file junction points—long seen as a safe and normal part of Windows—are now considered to be too dangerous to allow unrestricted use. Pondurance can advise on and even assist in the configuration of Defender XDR over time. Threat research, lessons learned from incident response operations, and what Pondurance currently assists our customers with all contribute to how we can help make sure Defender XDR is working at its best. Finally, organizations using Entra ID alone, or in a hybrid configuration with on-premises Active Directory , can take advantage of native features like multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and user application portals. Entra ID can work with third-party tools that offer these features. However, many organizations don’t know that much of this functionality is already available to them with their Entra ID licensing. Using Entra ID to its fullest also allows MDR providers like Pondurance to monitor identity use (and misuse) in near-real-time, and to take actions such as locking accounts and resetting credentials when unusual or outright malicious activity is discovered. What is your primary takeaway for midmarket organizations that rely on Microsoft tools to run their business? Michael: Windows and Office 365/ Microsoft 365 are foundational tools for most organizations, and they are not inherently the problem. Risk increases when tools are misconfigured/not configured, updates are delayed, processes are inconsistent, or users are afraid to speak up when an inevitable mistake occurs. Organizations in Microsoft environments that effectively use their available security tools, focus on keeping systems current, and encourage early reporting of security incidents are far better positioned to avoid or limit the impact of cyber threats. Defend your Microsoft environment against malicious attackers with Pondurance MDR. Get the solution guide. Michael DeNapoli is a seasoned Senior Solutions Architect with more than 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, solution architecture, and enterprise systems design. Throughout his career, he has led technical strategy, security architecture, and advanced solution development for organizations ranging from emerging security vendors to global enterprises. Michael’s expertise spans cybersecurity operations, cloud architecture, technical sales leadership, security posture management, and identity protection, with a proven track record of guiding clients through complex technology challenges. Today, he brings his deep industry knowledge to Pondurance as a Senior Solutions Architect, helping organizations strengthen their security foundations with clarity and confidence. Featured Posts READ MORE Recognizing Social Engineering in the Age of AI October 14, 2026 Pondurance Named Managed Security Innovation of the Year in 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards October 12, 2026 Why Everyday Cybersecurity Habits Still Matter October 5, 2026

Learn more about how Pondurance's eVMP program helps its customers to better track and analyze vulnerabilities. HOW IT WORKS Cut through the noise & get the clarity for proactive exposure management Continuous, Real-Time Detection Continuously monitor for new vulnerabilities on individual devices — eliminating the need for complex network scans and credentials. Risk Prioritization Quantify the likelihood and impact of each exposure and vulnerability. More accurate triaging of higher risk exposures helps you focus on eliminating highest risk threat vectors to reduce cyber risk. Holistic View Get a centralized view of vulnerabilities alongside other security data when used in conjunction with Pondurance MDR. Incorporate enhanced threat intelligence and analysis for shorter dwell times. Deep Insight Our cloud-based platform gives you visibility and insight into assets, their level of external exposure, and their known vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity Playbook Mid-market organizations remain highly vulnerable to data breaches. This new playbook lays out how you can eliminate breach risks. DOWNLOAD PLAYBOOK HOME / SOLUTIONS / EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY MANAGEMENT MANAGED EXPOSURE AND VULNERABILITY SERVICE Prioritize the exposures that put your business at risk With continuous visibility and contextualized threat intelligence, your team can focus remediation efforts where it matters most. GET A DEMO DOWNLOAD INFO SHEET » CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE & VULNERABILITY MANAGEMENT Monitor attack surface & vulnerabilities to eliminate breach risks Limited visibility into systems and data that are exposed to the public internet creates inherent risks to your external attack surface. With 52,000 known, reported systems vulnerabilities, it's a herculean challenge to stay on top of patching the ones that represent the highest risks. The Pondurance Exposure & Vulnerability Service empowers you to understand and monitor your external attack surface exposure, continually monitor to detect new vulnerabilities, and use this improved visibility to identify and eliminate the highest risk threats. +35% of smaller organizations struggle to ensure cyber resilience — World Economic Forum Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 Challenges & Pain Points Limited visibility Inundated/overwhelmed with tens of thousands of known vulnerabilities Dynamic nature of ever-changing risks and attack surface exposures Challenging to distinguish highest risk exposures How Pondurance Exposure & Vulnerability Service Can Help Visibility to understand and monitor attack surface Continually monitor and detect new vulnerabilities Clarity to focus on limiting external attack surface and patching most significant vulnerabilities Adopt a continuous threat exposure management (CTEM) methodology PONDURANCE EXPOSURE & VULNERABILITY FEATURES Holistic view of attack surface exposure and known vulnerabilities Pondurance Exposure Index™ Agent Based Scanning Greater Visibility All-in-one Cloud-Native Platform Pondurance Exposure Index™ Our proprietary scoring method measures the likelihood and impact of exploitation, probability of exploitation, and exploitation maturity via world-class threat intelligence feeds WHY PONDURANCE Pondurance is the only MDR solution built to eliminate breach risks Consumer-class user portal Track tickets, view real time metrics, and collaborate with SOC analysts through a single, streamlined and intuitive user interface. With a glance at your dashboard, you’ll see the most relevant information about your networks. Rapid implementation Get up and running fast. Pondurance integrates with your existing security stack, minimizing downtime and disruption. We can meet you where you are in your cybersecurity journey, and adapt or scale our services as your needs mature in the future. Visibility across entire attack surface Get 360-degree visibility in our consumer-grade user portal. Ingest data from your entire attack surface — endpoints, network, identity, apps, cloud, and IoT — and view it in one centralized dashboard. Access to trusted advisors Our trusted security advisors become an extension of your team, rounding out any gaps in your internal security resources. From a virtual CISO, to our expert analysts and threat hunters, to certified consultants for risk assessments, compliance audits, and more, we work to provide everything and everybody you may need to eliminate breach risks and ensure cybersecurity and data privacy compliance. Proprietary risk analytics Cut through noise to surface the highest-risk threats first. As a modern MDR solution, Pondurance correlates telemetry across all potential threat entry points and incorporates world-class threat intelligence to better validate and contextualize alerts. Our proprietary Pondurance Exposure Index™ provides continuous threat exposure management (CTEM). Integrate with existing infrastructure We believe you shouldn't have to rip out tools and technologies you've already invested in and are happy with. The cloud-native Pondurance Platform integrates any existing EDR tools you have, and ingests logs from hundreds of existing network, identity, cloud, app and IoT systems. The result is rapid and easy implementation — without creating security gaps or overlapping capabilities. GET A FREE 30 MIN DEMO REAL CUSTOMER STORIES “For a midsized organization, Pondurance MDR services play a crucial role in bolstering the capacity of security teams.” — Manager, IT Security and Risk Management, Retail REAL CUSTOMER STORIES “They immediately proved their value and earned our trust due to their immense expertise and guidance throughout the entire process.” — Steve Long, CEO, Hancock Health REAL CUSTOMER STORIES “Having a 24/7 SOC with Pondurance actively looking for IoC’s and threat hunting (with their knowledge of what is happening with other customers) gives us peace of mind without having to staff that skillset in-house” — Manager of IT Operations and Security, Insurance See what Pondurance can do for you Let us help you envision how Pondurance can eliminate breach risks for your organization with a quick, personalized demo. We promise, no hard sell. First name Last name Business Email By submitting this form I agree with the Pondurance Terms of Use and Privacy Policy GET A DEMO We will never sell your data SEE WHAT TO EXPECT STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions Frequently asked questions Comparison campaign Arctic Wolf PHI FAQs General 1. Is alert triage purely automated — or does a human SOC analyst add insight? Every alert in the Pondurance platform is reviewed and triaged by a certified, U.S.-based SOC analyst who understands your unique risk profile and then works directly with your team. Automation supports our process — but real humans add the insight and context needed to reduce false positives and alert fatigue. 2. What happens when a threat is detected in your environment — and how fast? When a threat is detected, our SOC analysts jump into action. We immediately validate the threat to minimize false positives, contextualize it based on global threat intelligence, prioritize it based on your unique risk, and take immediate action to disrupt and contain it when possible. Then, we alert your team with actionable next steps. Unlike some providers, we don’t just send alerts — our SOC analysts help your team contain and resolve threats in real time. 3. Will you have direct access to dedicated U.S.-based SOC analysts? With Pondurance, you interact directly with the certified SOC analysts who are monitoring threats to your environment 24/7. They’ll get to know your name, your business, and your unique risk profile. While a “concierge” model sounds nice, it's really just a way to reduce the number of certified analysts and reduce the ratio of SOC analysts to customer accounts. 4. Can the vendor support your overall compliance and risk management needs? Pondurance was built to help mid-market organizations who handle PHI and PII meet all their cybersecurity needs and regulatory requirements, without straining internal resources. These organizations need more than MDR for threat detection, analysis and remediation and top-tier digital forensics and incident response (DFIR). Our full suite of advisory services — including risk assessment, penetration testing, compliance audits, and more — ensure you can eliminate risk efficiently and effectively, with one trusted provider. 5. How do you ensure you’re not overpaying for capabilities you don’t need? Pondurance tailors your solution based on size, risk, and existing tools you’re already using. Our flexible, volume-based pricing means you only pay for what you need — not bloated features you’ll never use. Unlike some providers who will sell you a one-size-fits-all “black box” MDR. Our platform includes unlimited user seats, your team can scale and collaborate freely — without tracking licenses or worrying about rising costs.

Learn more about Pondurance's MDR Incident Assurance Guarantee — included for all Pondruance MDR clients. WHAT'S INCLUDED Our assurance guarantee is how we stand behind the quality of our MDR technology and people MDR INCIDENT ASSURANCE GUARANTEE We are so confident of our MDR we guarantee it When you adopt the Pondurance MDR, you have our commitment that we’ll help eliminate your breach risks through rapid threat detection and response. Our Assurance Guarantee The Pondurance MDR Incident Assurance Guarantee is how we back up the quality and effectiveness of our MDR. If you have a qualifying breach incident on our watch, we’ll provide data forensics and incident response services to resolve the situation up to a value of $2M. HOME / MDR INCIDENT ASSURANCE GUARANTEE Priority Response If you have a potential breach incident, our DFIR team will be there on a priority basis. No paperwork to slow things down. 5 hours of support You will receive up to 5 free hours from our DFIR team to determine the facts related to the incident and if it qualifies for our Incident Assurance Guarantee. You can also use these hours instead for any of our cyber advisory services. Assurance Guarantee Details If the incident represents a qualifying breach1 the DFIR team will continue providing incident response services up to a value of $2M towards resolution of the incident. For detailed terms download the information sheet. DOWNLOAD INFO SHEET ELIGIBILITY All of our MDR customers are eligible for this guarantee Pondurance takes protecting our MDR customers from breach risks seriously. That’s why you are all eligible for our Incident Assurance Guarantee. The only requirement for an incident to qualify is that Pondurance was fully operational and had visibility into activity related to the suspected event based on a source of traffic we were given monitoring access (i.e., we were monitoring events from endpoints and logs where the threat was detected but we failed to properly diagnose or overlooked the event). Guarantee terms and conditions apply. To activate coverage, call the Pondurance Breach Hotline 24/7/365 at 888-385-1720 or email our DFIR team . Want to learn more? CONTACT SALES EXPLORE MDR

Your signature has not been completed on this document Signature Declined YOU HAVE DECLINED TO PROVIDE YOUR SIGNATURE ON THIS DOCUMENT. Check out the latest from Pondurance Pondurance Blog LEARN MORE Case Studies LEARN MORE Video Library LEARN MORE

Learn more about how Pondurance's eVMP program helps its customers to better track and analyze vulnerabilities. OUR APPROACH The expertise you need to strengthen cybersecurity and compliance decision making Assess Security Risks Using our proprietary risk-based security assessment methodology, we can provide you with focus on your highest risk cyber vulnerabilities. Implement & Repeat Our certified team of experts will carry out each engagement with thoroughness and competence. We are trusted by midmarket organizations in virtually all industries. Trusted on-going Guidance Receive monthly threat intelligence briefings, on-going strategic advisory, or even retain us to function as a vCISO for your organization at a fraction of the cost. Create a Holistic Plan Then we’ll advise you on key services to eliminate breach risks such as penetration testing, regulatory compliance audits, red team exercises, and even an outsourced SOC. Ready to talk? Speak with one of our professional services Sales Advisors TALK TO SALES HOME / SOLUTIONS / ADVISORY SERVICES ADVISORY SERVICES vCISO and deep cybersecurity bench to assess risk & ensure compliance The trusted partner you need to understand breach risks and demonstrate regulatory compliance. TALK TO AN EXPERT DOWNLOAD INFO SHEET » WORLD CLASS CYBERSECURITY TALENT Manage and mature your security posture for a fraction of the cost of a C-suite headcount Pondurance is your trusted security advisor for all things cybersecurity. We complement your internal efforts, filling gaps in any and all areas of the cyber lifecycle. We have your back so that you can sleep better at night. Because you can’t do it all, Pondurance’s large security advisory services staff of highly regarded and certified professionals, along with CISOs-in-residence, provide whatever you need to ensure broad security protection and regulatory compliance. Using a proprietary risk-based methodology, we ensure organizations of all sizes and risk profiles are able to provide appropriate cybersecurity protections at an affordable price. Challenges & Pain Points Experienced leadership is critical to protect the organization and meet regulatory compliance requirements Top-level security leadership is rare and challenging to hire and retain Smaller orgs may not have capacity for a full time CISO How Pondurance Advisory Services Can Help Accelerate security program maturity Access to a team of experts Improve compliance and avoid penalties Reduce security risk and business continuity Decrease overhead cost of hiring a full-time CISO ADVISORY SERVICES CAPABILITIES Risk-based guidance from a certified team of cybersecurity experts vCISO Services Incident Response Planning Penetration Testing Application Security Testing Red Team Exercise Policies & Standards Compliance Assessments vCISO Services Every midmarket-sized organization needs a top notch CISO to Protect them from cyber breaches and other harms. To drive critical initiatives, carry out enterprise-wide risk analyses, and oversee cybersecurity programs. Our award-winning vCISO service gives you a dedicated, part time CISO that knows your technical and regulatory environments. WHY PONDURANCE Pondurance is the only MDR solution built to eliminate breach risks Consumer-class user portal Track tickets, view real time metrics, and collaborate with SOC analysts through a single, streamlined and intuitive user interface. With a glance at your dashboard, you’ll see the most relevant information about your networks. Rapid implementation Get up and running fast. Pondurance integrates with your existing security stack, minimizing downtime and disruption. We can meet you where you are in your cybersecurity journey, and adapt or scale our services as your needs mature in the future. Visibility across entire attack surface Get 360-degree visibility in our consumer-grade user portal. Ingest data from your entire attack surface — endpoints, network, identity, apps, cloud, and IoT — and view it in one centralized dashboard. Access to trusted advisors Our trusted security advisors become an extension of your team, rounding out any gaps in your internal security resources. From a virtual CISO, to our expert analysts and threat hunters, to certified consultants for risk assessments, compliance audits, and more, we work to provide everything and everybody you may need to eliminate breach risks and ensure cybersecurity and data privacy compliance. Proprietary risk analytics Cut through noise to surface the highest-risk threats first. As a modern MDR solution, Pondurance correlates telemetry across all potential threat entry points and incorporates world-class threat intelligence to better validate and contextualize alerts. Our proprietary Pondurance Exposure Index™ provides continuous threat exposure management (CTEM). Integrate with existing infrastructure We believe you shouldn't have to rip out tools and technologies you've already invested in and are happy with. The cloud-native Pondurance Platform integrates any existing EDR tools you have, and ingests logs from hundreds of existing network, identity, cloud, app and IoT systems. The result is rapid and easy implementation — without creating security gaps or overlapping capabilities. GET A FREE 30 MIN DEMO REAL CUSTOMER STORIES See what happened when… Threat actors gained entry to a U.S.-based healthcare organization’s shared human resources account using compromised user credentials. REAL CUSTOMER STORIES “Pondurance provided an all encompassing MDR solution in a cost effective package that gives us peace of mind as a true extension of our security staff.” — Manager of IT Operations and Security, Insurance REAL CUSTOMER STORIES “For a midsized organization, Pondurance MDR services play a crucial role in bolstering the capacity of security teams.” — Manager, IT Security and Risk Management, Retail REAL CUSTOMER STORIES “They immediately proved their value and earned our trust due to their immense expertise and guidance throughout the entire process.” — Steve Long, CEO, Hancock Health REAL CUSTOMER STORIES See what happened when… A large hospital’s system was infiltrated as a result of search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning and a remote access trojan went undetected by EDR. See what Pondurance can do for you Let us help you envision how Pondurance can eliminate breach risks for your organization with a quick, personalized demo. We promise, no hard sell. First name Last name Business Email By submitting this form I agree with the Pondurance Terms of Use and Privacy Policy GET A DEMO We will never sell your data SEE WHAT TO EXPECT STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions Frequently asked questions Comparison campaign Arctic Wolf PHI FAQs General 1. Is alert triage purely automated — or does a human SOC analyst add insight? Every alert in the Pondurance platform is reviewed and triaged by a certified, U.S.-based SOC analyst who understands your unique risk profile and then works directly with your team. Automation supports our process — but real humans add the insight and context needed to reduce false positives and alert fatigue. 2. What happens when a threat is detected in your environment — and how fast? When a threat is detected, our SOC analysts jump into action. We immediately validate the threat to minimize false positives, contextualize it based on global threat intelligence, prioritize it based on your unique risk, and take immediate action to disrupt and contain it when possible. Then, we alert your team with actionable next steps. Unlike some providers, we don’t just send alerts — our SOC analysts help your team contain and resolve threats in real time. 3. Will you have direct access to dedicated U.S.-based SOC analysts? With Pondurance, you interact directly with the certified SOC analysts who are monitoring threats to your environment 24/7. They’ll get to know your name, your business, and your unique risk profile. While a “concierge” model sounds nice, it's really just a way to reduce the number of certified analysts and reduce the ratio of SOC analysts to customer accounts. 4. Can the vendor support your overall compliance and risk management needs? Pondurance was built to help mid-market organizations who handle PHI and PII meet all their cybersecurity needs and regulatory requirements, without straining internal resources. These organizations need more than MDR for threat detection, analysis and remediation and top-tier digital forensics and incident response (DFIR). Our full suite of advisory services — including risk assessment, penetration testing, compliance audits, and more — ensure you can eliminate risk efficiently and effectively, with one trusted provider. 5. How do you ensure you’re not overpaying for capabilities you don’t need? Pondurance tailors your solution based on size, risk, and existing tools you’re already using. Our flexible, volume-based pricing means you only pay for what you need — not bloated features you’ll never use. Unlike some providers who will sell you a one-size-fits-all “black box” MDR. Our platform includes unlimited user seats, your team can scale and collaborate freely — without tracking licenses or worrying about rising costs. STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions How do we get 24/7 coverage from your managed detection and response services? Pondurance’s security analysts are U.S. citizens based in the U.S. We work in shifts to operate 24/7. Our security operations centers are powered by highly skilled analysts, threat hunters, and incident responders that are always available to respond. We know it’s difficult to find and retain the right security talent, but we are able to compete for the best talent in the industry. We make our experts available to you with our services. Why should I choose Pondurance MDR over other services? There are many providers on the market and many options when shopping for a cybersecurity solution. With Pondurance MDR: Your data is your data, you have full access to it at all times. This means you get access to the same SIEM tools as our analysts. We provide guided personalized recommendations tailored to your specific cybersecurity needs, we’re not one size fits all! All of our analysts are US citizens and our SOCs are based in the US. Your data will never leave the US border. Our strong cybersecurity consulting practice enhances your MDR because we know the difference between compliance and security. We integrate with your existing security control investments so you don’t need to rip and replace! We will also provide end-to-end management of leading endpoint detection and response platforms, like Crowdstrike and SentinelOne. If you want more information on how we can fit with your current set up, reach out to us to talk to an expert, no hard sells. We promise! How long does MDR take to implement? We know that you want to get up and running with managed detection and response quickly! Once you sign up with us, you will be assigned to one of our implementation teams with both project management and technical professionals. They will quickly and efficiently get you up and running in about 4-6 weeks. During this time, we provide all tools, analytics, cloud setup and account access as well as walk you through internal deployments of hardware and virtual components including log forwarders and agents. You’ll be up and running quickly and will enjoy the added security of Pondurance MDR! Can we use our own endpoint detection and response vendor with your services? When you sign up for our managed detection and response services, you have a couple of options for managed endpoint detection and response vendors. You are welcome to keep your existing solution as we can ingest data from leading EDR platforms and create alerts. OR you may want to use one of our endpoint detection and response solutions that provides real time analysis conducted by trained individuals who can find things that tools tend to miss. Either way, your endpoint data is covered with our MDR services. Can you log data from on-premises and cloud? Yes! We can ingest data across endpoint, network, log and cloud environments. This includes: Remote laptops, tablets, mobile devices and desktops Data centers Machines in your office Data from cloud environments like AWS, Azure and Google Cloud Platform Software-as-a-Service data And Office 365 data We call this 360° visibility as we can ingest any data you would like us to monitor for a potential threat! With this added security, you will truly have a modern security program.

Learn about the telltale signs of phishing and how to report phishing to safeguard your company. Training To Prevent Phishing Attacks Pondurance October 4, 2024 Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link Threat actors are constantly attempting to infiltrate the networks and systems of companies in all industries. In past years, most cyberattacks started when a threat actor exploited a vulnerability on a company’s network. But today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reports that more than 90% of all successful cyberattacks start with a phishing email. A phishing attack begins when an email user receives an email from someone claiming to be a known, trusted source and is deceived into providing credentials or sensitive personal information, such as passwords or bank account numbers. This year, the Pondurance team has seen a substantial increase in phishing emails with a financial lure, especially involving tax rebates and refunds. Also, malware delivered via phishing emails — attacks that are initiated through email links and attachments that lead to a malicious website — is on the rise. Such phishing emails can be convincing, especially with the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI). In past years, an email user could often identify a phishing email by its awkward language and poor grammar. But AI services, such as ChatGPT, are now using more convincing language and proper grammar in the email text, making phishing emails harder to detect. That’s just one reason why annual phishing awareness training for employees is more important than ever. Phishing awareness training can help employees identify phishing and learn how to report suspicious activity. Identify phishing Every day, employees receive dozens or even hundreds of emails and spend only a brief time determining whether to respond, save, or discard each of those emails. If one of them is a phishing email, it’s a quick hit. Once a phishing email is open, the median time to click on a malicious link is 21 seconds and only another 28 seconds for the user to enter any requested data, according to the Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report . That means that the median time for a user to be deceived by a phishing email is less than a minute. With such a short trigger time, it’s necessary that employees are properly trained to know how to identify phishing. To stay safe, Pondurance recommends that email users watch out for the following telltale signs of phishing: An email address that’s not quite right. For example, IRS@gmail.com or getyourrefund@hotmail.com would not be emails from the IRS. Also, threat actors use slight differences in spelling to trick you, so carefully examine the email address. An unfamiliar email address from a familiar sender. If you don’t recognize the email address, you should not respond without first checking it out. Urgent language. If an email sender tells you to act quickly or offers an emotional appeal for action, think twice before responding. Shortened URLs. Do your due diligence to make sure that a shortened URL is one used by the company or sender. Links in email copy. Always hover over the link first to make sure it is taking you to a legitimate site. Also, never click on the “unsubscribe” link of a suspicious email. Suspicious attachments. Never open an attachment from an unknown sender and be cautious about any email attachment sent to you. Unusual tone or language from a familiar sender. AI has helped threat actors with the text of their emails, but you may still see some bad grammar and typos in phishing emails. If so, proceed with caution. Any request for login credentials, money, personal information, or financial information. You should never provide this information because legitimate organizations typically will not ask for it via email. Report phishing If you suspect phishing, it’s important to report it to safeguard your company from possible exploitation by a threat actor. Your company should have cybersecurity protocols in place for how to report a suspicious email, and employees should follow those protocols. If there is no specific plan in place, you should report the email as phishing using the “report” button in the toolbar or settings. Then, delete the email. There are also numerous ways for a company to report the suspicious email to an agency that can conduct an investigation into the phishing attack. You can contact CISA , the Federal Trade Commission , the Anti-Phishing Working Group , or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center to take further action with authorities. Conclusion With more than 90% of cyberattacks starting with a phishing email, staying vigilant against phishing attacks should be a priority for every company. Implementing annual phishing awareness training can teach employees how to identify and report phishing to prevent a malicious attack. Learn more about how to combat phishing at your company. How To Prevent Phishing in O365 Checklist. Featured Posts READ MORE Recognizing Social Engineering in the Age of AI October 14, 2026 Pondurance Named Managed Security Innovation of the Year in 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards October 12, 2026 Why Everyday Cybersecurity Habits Still Matter October 5, 2026

The healthcare industry faces the most expensive data breaches. Learn healthcare data breach costs, impacts, and solutions in this blog. Healthcare Tops List for Cost of a Data Breach, Again Pondurance August 25, 2022 Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link In today’s evolving cyber landscape, each industry has experienced its share of data breaches. No organization, regardless of size, industry, or current in-house capabilities, is immune from the possibility of a successful cyberattack. In past years, healthcare has topped the list as the industry with the highest average cost of a data breach. Now, IBM Security’s newly released Cost of a Data Breach Report 2022 reveals that healthcare is the most costly industry for the 12th consecutive year. The report shows findings on the average cost of a breach and discusses the leading factors that can contribute to higher costs, such as dwell time and heightened compliance requirements. Average cost of a breach The average data breach for organizations in the healthcare industry increased from $9.23 million to a total of $10.1 million, according to the report. That’s a substantial increase of $870,000, or 9.4%, since last year’s report and 41.6% since the 2020 report. By contrast, the financial industry came in a distant second for highest average cost, averaging $5.97 million. Across all industries, the average total cost of a data breach was an all-time high of $4.35 million, a 12.7% increase since 2020. Dwell time Cybercriminals can remain undetected in a network for months or even years. A long dwell time , which is the time frame between the initial unauthorized access and containment of the breach, provides a greater opportunity for cybercriminals to cause harm to a network and compromise patient data. In 2022, the average dwell time was reduced from 287 days to 277 days for a year-over-year decrease of 10 days, according to the report. The report also shows that breaches taking more than 200 days to identify and contain cost an average of $4.86 million, but breaches taking fewer than 200 days cost an average of $3.74 million. The longer dwell time cost an average of $1.12 million. “The longer the dwell time, the greater the potential impact,” said Lyndon Brown, Chief Strategy Officer at Pondurance. “But there are steps your healthcare organization can take to reduce dwell time and minimize the impact to your network. Modern managed detection and response services can provide prevention, detection, and threat hunting, and integrated incident response to protect your healthcare organization against such threats. The goal should be to detect unauthorized access in minutes.” Heightened regulation and compliance requirements As you know, the healthcare industry must follow strict regulation and compliance requirements to avoid penalties. The report looks at how costs accrued following a data breach and finds that high data protection regulatory environments, such as healthcare, tended to continue to accrue data breach costs in later years. On average, organizations in high regulatory environments accrued 45% of breach costs in the first year, 31% in the second year, and 24% more than two years after the initial breach. However, in low regulatory environments, 66% accrued costs in the first year, 26% accrued costs in the second year, and only 8% accrued costs more than two years after the breach. The report concludes that legal and regulatory costs may have contributed to the higher costs in later years. “Healthcare organizations have complex compliance and privacy requirements, and those requirements mean cybersecurity partners must have extensive knowledge of the regulations, and associated systems,” said Brown. “Pondurance’s experts have that depth of experience to navigate healthcare compliance issues and safeguard sensitive patient information against a data breach. We’ve been there, done that.” Improving Your Bottom Line The cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, and as the report reveals, the cost of a data breach continues to rise for the healthcare industry. But there are ways to protect your healthcare organization from the high cost of a data breach. Learn how to improve your cybersecurity bottom line in our webinar. Featured Posts READ MORE Recognizing Social Engineering in the Age of AI October 14, 2026 Pondurance Named Managed Security Innovation of the Year in 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards October 12, 2026 Why Everyday Cybersecurity Habits Still Matter October 5, 2026

Cyber Requirements for PHI are updated for the first time in a decade | Pondurance White House Strengthens Cyber Requirements for Health Data for First Time in 10 Years Pondurance January 14, 2025 Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link The White House recently released updated regulations outlining requirements for organizations to better protect the security of personal health information (PHI) entrusted to health providers, third parties, insurers, and others that handle such sensitive data. This draft version of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NMPR), issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and added to the Federal Register on January 6, 2025, represents the first significant update to the HIPAA Security Rule in over 10 years. This update comes as the pace of incidents involving PHI of patients in U.S. healthcare and business associate organizations continues to grow. In 2024, there were 703 data breaches of PHI impacting over 500 patients reported to HHS through their Office for Civil Rights (OCR), representing a record 184 million compromised records--an increase of 9.4% from the prior year. Source: HIPAA Journal, The Biggest Healthcare Data Breaches of 2024 January 7, 2025 Healthcare data, and the organizations entrusted with PHI--such as healthcare providers, insurance companies, payment processors, and health tech organizations-- and others, that are entrusted with PHI remain one of the most highly targeted sectors by cybercriminals and hackers. There are numerous reasons for this, but the top considerations: Patient data is valuable to criminals both for sale on the dark web and for direct use in perpetrating medical and healthcare payment fraud. Healthcare organizations cannot operate effectively when their technical operations are disrupted, making them prime targets for ransomware attacks. Strategies to protect against ransomware are therefore crucial. Health data must be easily accessible and shared broadly within the healthcare setting to provide quality medical care, making the use of distributed and broadly accessible systems a requirement and a vulnerability. The new proposed HIPAA Security Rule, promulgated by HHS brings the requirements up to current standards for practical cybersecurity best practices. These include the requirement that PHI be encrypted, both at rest and in motion, that systems use multifactor authentication (MFA), and that both HIPAA-covered entities and business associates carry out preventative actions to monitor and improve their security posture at least once per year. These actions include security risk assessments, penetration tests, and HIPAA compliance audits. For these reasons, organizations that manage health data are increasingly turning to managed detection and response (MDR) providers like Pondurance, especially within the context of MDR healthcare services. Empowering them with tools, technologies, and skilled personnel to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to cybersecurity risks with managed security services, HIPAA-specific advisory, technical and compliance services, and cyber insurance forensics. Additionally, they gain access to a top-tier forensics and a security incident response (IR) team that can be on-call with an incident response retainer agreement, supported by a robust incident response security framework. Having a comprehensive IR plan in place is crucial for organizations to effectively handle incidents as they arise. Click here to see a demo of the leading Pondurance MDR platform or to speak with one of our advisors about our HIPAA Compliance solutions or to get a quote for our quick-start incident response retainer. Featured Posts READ MORE Recognizing Social Engineering in the Age of AI October 14, 2026 Pondurance Named Managed Security Innovation of the Year in 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards October 12, 2026 Why Everyday Cybersecurity Habits Still Matter October 5, 2026

Pondurance MDR focuses on proactive cybersecurity: hunting and defending against attacks before they happen. Learn how in this blog. Pondurance’s Approach to MDR Pondurance March 17, 2022 Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link In January 2022 alone, Google identified nearly 2 million phishing sites, according to Cybersecuritymate. The statistic shows how frequently cyberattackers use phishing as a means to breach company networks like yours. Increasingly, companies are moving to managed detection and response (MDR) and proactive cybersecurity to protect themselves from phishing attacks and other cyber exploits, such as ransomware and business email compromise. But is one MDR provider different than any other provider? In Chapter 6 of our new eBook Managed Detection and Response (MDR) for Dummies , we discuss what makes us different: our MDR philosophy and our comprehensive cybersecurity service. We explain how we use humans as the driving force for combating cyber threats, integrate our services with your existing technology and team, and offer 360-degree visibility to proactively hunt for and defend against attackers. Talented humans Pondurance believes people are the most important component of any comprehensive cybersecurity service. Human attackers must be confronted by human defenders . We explain how our humans-first approach to MDR integrates human intervention and problem-solving into nearly every step of the process. As you may well know, companies are facing a global shortage of experienced cyber professionals. But Pondurance is well staffed with seasoned analysts, threat hunters, and other security experts to monitor and analyze data 24/7. In addition, it’s a priority for our teams to build strong relationships and have clear, open communication with our clients. Integrated technology Your company may already have technology and people in place, and we believe you shouldn’t have to throw out these existing tools and teams. Instead, we build on what you have, minimizing the impact to your business as we get your MDR service up and running. Our monitoring and reporting systems work with SIEMs and can integrate with existing endpoint detection and response and network detection and response solutions. Also, our MDR service is designed to integrate the policies and processes, including any industry-specific compliance requirements, that your company currently has in place. Full visibility The attack surface is expanding, endpoints are multiplying, and new technology is creating security blind spots for companies. Today, more than ever, you need a holistic view of internal systems and security tools to properly defend against cyberattacks. We use 360-degree visibility to see the big cybersecurity picture. Pondurance covers networks and endpoints, closely monitors SIEM logs and cloud infrastructure, detects threats and develops response policies on cloud platforms, and provides log analysis and monitoring. In addition, we discuss the thoroughness of our visibility procedures and how it sets Pondurance apart from other security services in the market. Conclusion As threats from phishing, ransomware, and business email compromise increase, you may be looking for an MDR or proactive cybersecurity service provider that stands out in the crowd. Learn more about our MDR philosophy and comprehensive cybersecurity service and how Pondurance provides the talented humans, integration, and visibility that separates our MDR solution from other providers. Featured Posts READ MORE Recognizing Social Engineering in the Age of AI October 14, 2026 Pondurance Named Managed Security Innovation of the Year in 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards October 12, 2026 Why Everyday Cybersecurity Habits Still Matter October 5, 2026

Insights from Ball State's Cybersecurity Journey Pondurance August 1, 2025 Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Copy link In the latest episode of the E&I Podcast , Cooperatively Speaking, listeners are taken deep into the pressing cybersecurity challenges faced by organizations today and the proactive strategies necessary for enhancing security postures. Hosted by Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services , with insights from experts Toby Coffman, Chief Information Security Officer at Ball State University, and Ron Pelletier, founder of Pondurance, this discussion reflects the evolving landscape of cyber threats and underscores the crucial need for organizations—especially mid-market businesses with limited resources—to adopt innovative approaches to defense. Understanding the Cybersecurity Landscape A significant theme throughout the conversation is the inconsistency in how organizations respond to cybersecurity threats. Many struggle due to limited staffing and tight budgets, which can lead to reactive rather than proactive security measures. This inconsistency not only heightens vulnerability but also complicates the overall security landscape. The experts highlight the importance of partnering with vendors who understand the unique needs of clients, particularly in a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environment, where personal devices can introduce additional risks. Gaining Visibility into Network Threats The need for improved visibility into network threats emerged as a vital point of discussion. By enhancing transparency, organizations can build confidence in their ability to manage incidents effectively. Having a reliable incident response team that is prepared to act swiftly—especially during off-hours—is essential. This readiness can prevent minor incidents from escalating into significant threats, ultimately safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity. Behind-the-Scenes Incident Response An enlightening aspect of the podcast is the exploration of what happens behind the scenes when security alerts are triggered. The experts paint a vivid picture of the fast-paced, coordinated response efforts undertaken by security operations teams . These teams must quickly assess threats, triage incidents, and manage them effectively, ensuring that clients experience minimal disruption. This agile approach is critical in today’s environment, where cyber threats can emerge without warning. Developing a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy The conversation also emphasizes the necessity of developing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. For organizations with tight budgets, this can seem like a daunting task; however, it’s essential for building a robust security framework. A defense-in-depth strategy that combines technological solutions with policy development and employee training is recommended. Such an approach not only addresses current vulnerabilities but also fortifies the organization against future threats. The Importance of Continuous Improvement Ultimately, the podcast stresses the need for continuous improvement in cybersecurity practices. Organizations are encouraged to regularly evaluate their vulnerabilities and invest in proactive measures that bolster their defenses. By fostering a culture of collaboration and strategic planning, organizations can navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape more effectively and remain resilient against evolving threats. Tune In for More Insights This episode of the E&I Podcast, From Pen Testing to Protection: Ball State’s Cybersecurity Journey , offers valuable insights and expert advice for organizations aiming to enhance their cybersecurity posture. It serves as a call to action for all businesses to reevaluate their strategies and ensure they are well-prepared to face the future of cybersecurity. Don’t miss the chance to learn how to safeguard your organization from emerging threats—tune in for a deeper dive into these crucial topics! Listen to the full podcast Featured Posts READ MORE Recognizing Social Engineering in the Age of AI October 14, 2026 Pondurance Named Managed Security Innovation of the Year in 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards October 12, 2026 Why Everyday Cybersecurity Habits Still Matter October 5, 2026