Network Security Awareness During Global Cyber Threats

i-NETT, formerly Voice Smart Networks, published this content following a 2017 press release addressing the rise of large-scale global cyber attacks affecting small and mid-sized businesses.

At the time, ransomware and network-based attacks were increasing in frequency and geographic reach. Many SMBs lacked the internal resources or patch management discipline required to respond quickly to emerging threats. As a result, outdated systems often became entry points for attackers.

Ryan Mulvany, then Vice President of Sales and Marketing, shared guidance focused on helping organizations understand how global attacks impacted local networks. The emphasis was placed on awareness, system maintenance, and the importance of proactive security practices rather than reactive response.

One widely referenced example during this period was the WannaCry ransomware attack. The attack affected hundreds of thousands of systems across more than 150 countries, exploiting unpatched Windows operating systems. Many impacted organizations had delayed updates and security patches, a common issue among resource-constrained SMB environments.

This documentation highlighted the need for consistent system updates, vulnerability management, and layered security controls to reduce exposure to future breaches. It reflects how threat education and infrastructure hygiene became critical components of network protection strategies.

These principles continue today within i-NETT’s broader security and compliance approach, which addresses modern threat landscapes through structured security planning and risk management.