Good afternoon —
It's been almost one year since the ransomware attack on cloud-hosting provider Cloudstar disrupted service and operations for many in the title insurance industry. For many, this attack served as a wake-up call that even their encrypted cloud storage providers are not immune to security threats.
According to the American Land Title Association, at the time of the attack, Cloudstar operated six data centers in the U.S. and served more than 42,000 users. The attack left hundreds of title companies and lenders unable to conduct transactions or close loans.
The service provider brought in third-party forensics experts Tetra Defense to conduct the investigation and assist Cloudstar in its data recovery efforts. Tetra Defense finished its investigation in early October, allowing Cloudstar to onboard new clients and welcome back those who had temporarily left.
Some of the firms affected by the attack moved their business to closing software provider Qualia, which was offering firms impacted by the hack free access to its Qualia Core system for three months. Other closing software providers, such as SoftPro and RamQuest, as well as title firms like Mid South Title, also offered their help and assistance to affected title companies.
Nearly a year later, many questions remain, including who exactly was behind the attack?
I am currently reporting and writing a feature discussing the impact the ransomware attack had on the title insurance industry and how it has changed how title firms secure their data. In addition, I am looking at the effect the attack had on other cloud services and software providers.
And, I would love to hear from you, even if you wish to remain anonymous in the article. Whether or not your firm was affected by this particular attack, did it serve as a cautionary tale? How has your cybersecurity changed as a result? Email me at brooklee@hwmedia.com.
Until next week,
Brooklee Han
Real Estate and Title Industry Reporter
brooklee@hwmedia.com
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