Cyber Brief: Exploited access paths and recovery confiden

Cyber reporting on 16 January continues to highlight how attackers and operational disruption exploit trust, indirect access and gaps in preparedness. Exploited access paths remain a common entry point, supplier relationships continue to widen attack surface and recovery confidence gaps are prolonging impact when incidents occur. These themes reinforce the need for consistent oversight rather than reactive fixes.

Exploited access paths remain a common entry point

Security reporting published today highlights continued exploitation of trusted access paths rather than direct attacks against hardened systems. Attackers are increasingly leveraging compromised credentials, exposed remote services and inherited permissions to gain access that appears legitimate.
In several incidents reviewed, attackers delayed activity after initial access to avoid detection, blending into normal user behaviour. This approach allowed extended dwell time before discovery, increasing the scale of impact once malicious activity escalated.
The reporting reinforces that initial access is often gained through weak governance around access rather than technical failure.

Why it matters
Exploited access paths bypass traditional controls. Strong identity governance and monitoring reduce attacker dwell time.

Source
The Register

Supplier access continues to widen organisational exposure

Reporting today reinforces that supplier and third-party access remains a significant source of risk. Even limited external access can create disproportionate exposure if permissions are not clearly scoped, time-bound or reviewed regularly.
In incidents reviewed, attackers used compromised supplier credentials to access downstream environments, often without triggering alerts. Once inside, lateral movement and data access were possible using legitimate connections.
The reporting highlights that supplier risk is not just a contractual issue. It requires ongoing technical oversight and ownership.

Why it matters
Supplier access expands attack surface. Regular reviews and clear ownership reduce third-party risk.

Source
Reuters

Recovery confidence gaps continue to extend disruption

UK-focused reporting today highlights that many organisations still struggle with recovery confidence during incidents. While detection capabilities have improved, teams often lack certainty around restoration sequencing, decision-making authority and escalation paths.
In several cases reviewed, systems were technically recoverable but operational uncertainty delayed restoration. Limited rehearsal and outdated plans contributed to extended downtime.
The reporting reinforces that recovery effectiveness depends on preparation and coordination, not just tooling.

Why it matters
Recovery confidence reduces disruption. Regular exercising improves response speed and clarity.

Source
Computer Weekly

Today’s Key Actions

1. Review identity and access controls for inherited or over-permissive access.
2. Audit supplier access and enforce time-bound permissions.
3. Monitor for anomalous behaviour across trusted accounts.
4. Validate recovery roles, escalation paths and dependencies.
5. Exercise recovery plans to test assumptions.

Secarma Insight

The themes from today’s reporting reinforce a consistent message. Cyber incidents rarely succeed through technical sophistication alone. They exploit trusted access, indirect connections and gaps in recovery preparation. Organisations that maintain discipline across access governance, supplier oversight and recovery planning are far better positioned to limit impact.

Get in touch with us to prioritise your next steps and strengthen your security posture.