Ransomware has ascended, by some estimates, to a $1 billion industry. Although the FBI advises against paying ransoms, some organizations see it as the quickest way to recovery. Michael Viscuso of Carbon Black says that the larger problem is a failure to defend networks.

From worsening ransomware attacks to deepened concerns about external digital risk, former AT&T CISO Ed Amoroso says 2018 will be a challenging year, and security teams need to be building out their resiliency plans to prepare for what's ahead.

This episode of the ISMG Security Report is devoted to producer/host Eric Chabrow's recollection of the evolution of cybersecurity news and analysis during his nine years at Information Security Media Group. Chabrow is retiring after 45 years in journalism.

Ensuring the integrity of data generated and emitted by medical devices is a growing concern as cyber threats advance, says cybersecurity expert Kevin Fu, who also discusses concerns about consumer-wearable health devices.

A look ahead at five trends that should have a significant impact on cybersecurity in 2018 is featured in the final ISMG Security Report for 2017. Cybersecurity and privacy thought leader Christopher Pierson forecasts the likely occurrences.

Following the success of Russian offensive cyber operations, other countries will likely be testing their capabilities, says FireEye's Bryce Boland, who predicts nation-state attacks will become more common in 2018.

Since the massive data breach of credit bureau Equifax, the U.S. Congress has become more interested in the causes of data breaches. Australian security expert Troy Hunt, who recently traveled to Washington to share his insights with a House committee, discusses what he told lawmakers in this in-depth interview.

The international payments system is largely based on the three-decades old SWIFT messaging system. But cyberattackers have exploited weak controls employed by banks to make fraudulent transfers. Nick Armstrong of Identitii discusses a path forward for securing payments made with legacy systems.

Exploring Samuel Visner's vision - patterned after the Manhattan Project and moonshot - for collaborating to create innovative ways to improve cybersecurity leads the latest edition of the ISMG Security Report. Also featured: a report on legislation designed to improve the security of U.S. elections.

In an information technology environment where personnel are taking on increasingly complex responsibilities, the key to ensuring security is still awareness training, says former U.S. CISO Gregory Touhill, who says he'd put his last dollar on it.