The odds are stacked in favor of increasingly bold and sophisticated cybercriminals, as MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment learned back in September. This means organizations need multiple layers of defense and heightened vigilance against cyberattacks.
MGM Resorts, which owns and operates multiple hotels/casinos in Las Vegas, including the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and Luxor, along with other properties around the country, reported a “cybersecurity issue affecting some of the company’s systems” on Sunday, Sept. 10 in a social media post.
The issue prompted MGM to take some of its systems offline while it dealt with the intrusion and worked with law enforcement. As a result, guests could not use digital hotel room keys, casino gaming was shut down, bars and restaurants could only accept cash, and MGM hotels could not accept new reservations, per news and social media reports. As of Monday, Sept. 11, MGM said systems were again “operational,” but reports of business disruption—and disgruntled guests—continued over the coming weeks.
Considering this large-scale incident, it’s evident that no organization is immune from cyberattacks, subsequent business interruptions and related losses. As such, organizations should make it a priority to assess their current risk management practices and adjust as needed to help foster a strong cybersecurity program. This may entail adopting both technical and operational safeguards (e.g., updated threat detection software, advanced access controls, routine staff training and in-depth cyber incident response planning).
Contact RMC Group for more cybersecurity solutions for your business at 239-298-8210 or rmc@rmcgp.com.
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