February 11, 2025

The OPM Security Debacle: Rogue Servers, Data Risks & What’s Next

13 minutes

In this episode of Cyberside Chats, Sherri and Matt dive into a shocking new cybersecurity controversy at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). A rogue email server, installed outside normal security controls, has raised alarms about data security risks to millions of federal employees.

We compare this developing situation to the infamous 2015 OPM hack, in which state-sponsored attackers stole the personal records of over 22 million individuals. Are we witnessing history repeat itself—this time with even more catastrophic consequences?

Topics Covered:

Flashback to 2015: How weak security and stolen credentials led to one of the worst data breaches in U.S. history.

The New OPM Scandal: How an unauthorized email server could open the door to ransomware, espionage, and phishing attacks.

Cybersecurity Risks: Data exfiltration, credential theft, security bypassing, and compliance failures.

Lessons for IT Leaders: How to detect rogue devices, enforce Zero Trust policies, and prevent a breach before it happens.

If the rogue OPM server isn’t secured, millions of federal employees could face serious risks. Listen to learn more. Do you think history is repeating itself with cybersecurity lapses going unchecked? What do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Tune in again next Tuesday for another episode of Cyberside Chats!

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