How Automation Helps Prevent Fraud

Fraud Awareness Week is a good time to pause and take a hard look at the risks businesses face every day. Fraud isn’t going anywhere—whether it’s identity theft, ransomware, or phishing, cybercriminals are always finding new ways to take advantage of vulnerabilities.

One of the best ways to fight back is by using tools that make things easier. Combining compliance rules with automation platforms like Blink helps you stop fraud before it happens, react quickly when it does, and stay on top of regulations without added stress. 

This week, we’re going to break down how automation can help industries like healthcare, finance, government, and private businesses tackle fraud head-on.

Protecting Healthcare Against Identity Theft

Healthcare databases are a jackpot for cybercriminals. They’re full of sensitive information like social security numbers, medical records, and insurance details—exactly what’s needed for identity theft or to sell on the dark web.

This is why protecting patient information is important. Regulations like HIPAA are in place to make sure this data stays secure. Specifically, HIPAA Section 164.312(b) mentions tracking access to patient records and logging activity. Tracking unauthorized access attempts when they happen is also a good idea.

Here’s a workflow you can create with Blink to help with this:

1. Using an Azure AD integration, Blink monitors login system(s) for unusual behavior, such as repeated failed logins or attempts from unapproved locations.

2. When something suspicious is detected, it alerts your compliance team via Slack.

3. The team can act quickly, locking the account or requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA) to restore access.

4. Every action is logged automatically to ensure compliance without extra effort.

Stopping Invoice Fraud in the Financial Sector

Scams like business email compromise (BEC) are a favorite trick of cybercriminals when targeting companies in the financial sector. They pose as vendors or account managers, using fake invoices and urgent requests to trick finance teams into sending payments.

Here’s a Blink workflow that can help you catch and stop this fast:

1. When a new email arrives, Blink automatically retrieves the email details.

2. Blink scans the content for keywords indicating urgency (commonly associated with BEC attacks) and flags invoices above a predefined financial threshold.

3. A notification is sent to a dedicated Slack channel to alert the finance team for immediate review.

4. Each step is logged for audit purposes, facilitating compliance with NIST standards through integrations like Jira.

Defending Government Agencies from Spear Phishing

Government agencies are prime targets for spear phishing—emails designed to trick employees into giving away sensitive information or downloading malware. These attacks can lead to data breaches or the serious compromise of systems.

To address this issue, FISMA mentions continuous monitoring as a key component of any federal agency's information security program. This makes automation an important strategy for protecting sensitive government data.

Blink provides an effective solution for this:

1. When a new email is received, Blink extracts the sender's domain and IP address.

2. Blink scans the sender's details against trusted blacklist providers, such as AlienVault, to identify potential threats.

3. If the sender is flagged as malicious, Blink sends a Slack notification to the IT team, prompting immediate action.

4. Every step is logged to ensure compliance with FISMA and other regulatory requirements.

Protecting the Private Sector from Ransomware

Ransomware is one of the most serious cyber threats in 2024, especially for private businesses. It’s usually deployed through phishing emails, compromised supply chains, or unpatched vulnerabilities. 

Once it gains access to a network, it locks down systems and demands payment, leaving companies to choose between paying up or losing important data.

The NIST CSF offers a good approach towards tackling ransomware, focusing on detection, containment, and recovery. The detect and respond pillars are especially effective in defending against these attacks.

Here’s how Blink helps automate ransomware defenses while staying aligned with NIST CSF:

1. Blink keeps an eye on endpoints for suspicious activity, like unauthorized file encryption or unexpected changes to key directories.

2. If it spots ransomware-like behavior, Blink immediately isolates the affected endpoint by cutting off its network access.

3. It then kicks off an automated workflow to restore clean backups, replacing any encrypted files.

4. Every step is logged in Slack for compliance and post-incident analysis, making it easier to understand and address the attack.

Take Action Against Fraud With Blink Ops

With automation, you can stay ahead of fraud, react quickly when something goes wrong, and meet compliance requirements without the headaches. 

From protecting healthcare data to stopping fake invoices or catching ransomware early, Blink makes it simple to fight back.

Don’t wait for fraud to happen. Start using Blink and see how easy it is to protect your business and stay one step ahead of the cybercriminals.