December 2024 ended the year with serious cybersecurity concerns. Major companies and institutions reported data breaches. Attackers targeted banks, hospitals, state systems, and retailers. Each incident exposed customer information, caused downtime, or created legal and financial problems.
For Utah businesses, these incidents show why cybersecurity must be a top priority. If your company stores customer data, handles payments, or uses cloud-based tools, you are a potential target. Businesses that use managed IT services or external IT support should review their defenses and make sure vendors follow security best practices.
This article covers the major breaches from December 2024, explains how they happened, and outlines clear steps that Utah companies can take to reduce risk.
1. SRP Federal Credit Union Breach
Date Reported: December 19
Records Exposed: Social Security numbers, bank accounts, license numbers
Attack Type: Ransomware
People Affected: Over 240,000
Hackers accessed customer data from SRP Federal Credit Union between September and November. The group responsible claimed to have stolen 650 gigabytes of personal and financial records. The credit union offered identity protection to affected members after confirming the breach.
Key Risk: Financial institutions are popular targets because they hold valuable personal and account data. Cybercriminals use this data to commit identity theft or resell information online.
Action for Utah Businesses: Banks, credit unions, and lenders in Utah should apply software patches quickly, monitor system activity, and secure vendor access.
2. Ascension Health Breach
Date Confirmed: December 20
Incident Date: May 2024
Data Exposed: Patient records, lab results, insurance data
People Affected: 5.6 million
Ascension operates hospitals and medical facilities across the country. In May, a ransomware group accessed sensitive healthcare data. The breach interrupted hospital operations. By December, the full scale of the attack was reported.
Key Risk: Medical records have long-lasting value. Hackers target hospitals because their systems must stay online. This makes hospitals more likely to pay ransom.
Action for Utah Businesses: Clinics, dentists, and healthcare providers should store patient data with encryption. Use secure backups and restrict access to medical records.
3. Rhode Island Government Breach
Date Reported: December 15
Systems Affected: SNAP and Medicaid enrollment
Data Exposed: Social Security numbers, income data
Impact: Hundreds of thousands of residents
Hackers broke into Rhode Island’s benefit system and demanded a ransom. The state shut down key systems. Government services were unavailable for days while teams worked to restore data access and assess damage.
Key Risk: Local and state agencies often run older systems that lack security updates. Hackers know these agencies provide essential services and may pressure them to pay quickly.
Action for Utah Organizations: State offices, counties, and cities in Utah should perform regular IT security assessments. All systems should be monitored for unauthorized access or changes.
4. Krispy Kreme Online Ordering Breach
Date Confirmed: December 11
Issue Detected: November 29
System Affected: Online ordering
Impact: Revenue loss and customer service delays
Krispy Kreme confirmed a breach in its online platform. The issue affected digital orders and customer payments. Stores stayed open, but the outage slowed revenue and created customer complaints.
Key Risk: Retail and restaurant systems are often connected to payment data. Hackers use this entry point to access customer information or install ransomware.
Action for Utah Businesses: Restaurants and retail shops should apply security patches on all point-of-sale systems. Make sure online ordering platforms use HTTPS and two-factor login systems.
5. Automation Personnel Services Lawsuit Settlement
Settlement Date: December 24
Breach Year: 2020
Settlement Amount: $1.375 million
A data breach from 2020 resulted in a class-action lawsuit. The settlement was finalized four years later. It covered stolen job applicant and employee records. The company paid to resolve legal claims related to the breach.
Key Risk: The effects of a breach may last years. Legal fees, regulatory fines, and lost trust can continue long after the original attack.
Action for Utah Businesses: HR records must be secured. Use encrypted storage and limit who can access job applications and employee files. Delete data that is no longer needed.
6. LoanDepot Ransomware Breach
Date Disclosed: December 2024
Group Responsible: Alphv (BlackCat)
People Affected: 16.9 million
Data Stolen: Names, financial account numbers, contact details
LoanDepot, a major mortgage company, experienced a ransomware attack that stopped operations for nearly two weeks. Hackers took customer data and demanded ransom. The company confirmed the theft and began contacting affected individuals.
Key Risk: Mortgage lenders store financial, legal, and identity data. This information can be used for fraud, phishing, or blackmail.
Action for Utah Businesses: Real estate companies, lenders, and financial consultants must secure client records. Always use encryption and verify that vendors follow cybersecurity best practices.
What These Incidents Have in Common
Every breach listed above involved one or more of the following problems:
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Outdated software
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Lack of multi-factor authentication
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Poor vendor monitoring
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Delayed response
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Weak data backup practices
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No incident response plan
These are common problems. They are also preventable with good planning and support.
What Utah Businesses Should Do Right Now
1. Check Your Vendor List
Make a list of all companies and tools that connect to your systems. Check if they follow security practices like encryption, secure login, and regular updates.
2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Enable MFA for all logins. This adds a second step to each login and stops many attacks. It’s simple and effective.
3. Monitor Systems 24/7
Use cybersecurity tools that check for signs of attack. These include failed logins, strange traffic, or unusual file changes.
4. Train Your Team
Employees should know how to spot phishing emails, create strong passwords, and avoid unsafe links.
5. Back Up Important Data
Use secure, encrypted backups. Store backups separately from your main system. Test your backups monthly.
6. Create a Response Plan
If an attack happens, you need a fast plan. Decide who to contact, how to stop the damage, and how to restore operations.
How Managed IT Services Improve Security
Many Utah businesses do not have a full-time IT team. Managed IT services solve that problem. A trusted provider gives you full access to cybersecurity tools, support, and guidance—without hiring internal staff.
Benefits of managed IT services:
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System monitoring
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Security patching
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Cloud protection
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Backup and recovery
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Vendor risk assessment
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IT support for your team
With the right provider, your business can stay secure, work faster, and avoid costly downtime.
How Maise Technology Can Help Your Utah Business
Maise Technology provides IT support, cybersecurity, and managed IT services for businesses across Utah. We help you find weak points, improve protection, and respond fast to security issues.
We work with businesses in:
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Finance
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Healthcare
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Legal services
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Education
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Retail
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Government
Whether you need help with compliance, backups, or network protection, we have the experience and tools to support you.
📞 Schedule a Free Cybersecurity Risk Review
Your business may already be exposed. Don’t wait for an attack.
Call Maise Technology at 888-624-7383 to request a free cybersecurity risk assessment. We will review your current systems and provide clear steps to improve protection.
Or visit www.maisetechnology.com to learn more.
Summary: Cybersecurity is a Business Requirement
Data breaches are no longer rare. They are frequent, costly, and dangerous. Utah businesses need clear, simple protection that works.
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Secure your vendors
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Train your staff
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Monitor your systems
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Work with professionals
With strong cybersecurity, your business can keep customer data safe, avoid legal risk, and stay online during uncertain times.
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