Network gear manufacturer Belden last week reported that it was hit by outside attackers who accessed its company data servers.
In a statement, the company said the incident involved unauthorized access and copying of some current and former employee data, as well as limited company information about some business partners.
The security issue did not impact production lines at Belden manufacturing plants, quality control or shipping. Belden said once its IT professionals detected unusual activity in some company servers, staff activated its incident response plan, deployed teams of internal IT specialists, and engaged leading third-party cybersecurity forensic experts and other advisors to identify and mitigate the incident’s impact.
While the investigation continues, the company believes it has stopped further unauthorized access of personal and business partner company data. Belden has been working with regulatory and law enforcement officials to investigate the matter and has contacted business partners impacted by the incident.
Kacey Clark, threat researcher at Digital Shadows, said since attackers have reportedly compromised employee data and company information, those affected should watch out for potential spearphishing emails.
“Based on the reporting, Belden is currently investigating the breach, and details on how to protect potentially affected network hardware are likely forthcoming,” she said. “In the meantime, organizations should ensure that all of their hardware and software is up-to-date regarding security patches.”
