Synack Launches Veterans Day 2019 Hack to Support Our Nation's Heroes through The Bob Woodruff Foundation

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, Synack and the Bob Woodruff Foundation announced a Veterans Day "hack" designed to raise awareness of the diverse cybersecurity skills of veterans while highlighting the need for nonprofits to be security-conscious. Synack has recruited a group of altruistic veteran security researchers who will check for potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the Bob Woodruff Foundation's online database. These volunteer hackers are also members of the Synack Red Team (SRT), a crowdsourced community of security researchers. They are completing the security test and assessment pro-bono to help raise awareness and support for our nation's veterans through the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

Veterans Still Secure America

While their military service may be over, the outstanding cybersecurity skills of veterans are highly valued in the private sector. Nonprofits can especially benefit from this type of expertise when it comes to digital safety and security. When determining where funds should be allocated, protecting the security of their electronic presence is not always top of mind for organizations focused on fulfilling a charitable mission. But delaying or avoiding security testing can end up costing nonprofits in the long-term.

Not surprisingly, there is evidence that online adversaries have taken notice of nonprofits as a potentially easier target. According to Accenture, the cost of a security breach has gone up 72% in the last 5 years. Further data from the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report says that 43% of small businesses - including many nonprofits - have been targeted.

The Synack Red Team jumped at the opportunity to volunteer in support of the Bob Woodruff Foundation's mission. One SRT member said "Any organization has the capacity to have a safe and secure environment for storing or processing sensitive data, but even the most profitable companies will fail when the basics are not adhered to."

When asked why they chose to participate in the Veterans Day hack, SRT member Niden responded, "As Veterans, we are all in this together. I want nothing more than to support fellow Veterans, especially veteran-run nonprofits." The SRT has some of the best researchers the world has to offer, and the team is growing. Synack runs a Veterans Cyber Program to find top veteran talent to join the Synack Red Team.

BWF navigates a maze of more than 46,000 nonprofits to find, fund and shape innovative programs in communities where veterans, service members, and military families live and work. "Living in a digital world is great when it comes to raising awareness of our mission, but we realize there are dangers online that our business should be prepared for," said Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. "We're glad to enhance our cybersecurity with the help of skilled veteran volunteers."

The Veterans Day 2019 Hack to Support the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) will commence on November 12 and run to November 15.

For more information on the Synack Veterans Cyber Program or working with Synack, please visit https://www.synack.com/press-releases/synack-empowers-americas-veterans-as-cyber-warriors-veterans-continue-their-mission-to-protect-the-american-way-of-life/

About Synack
Synack, the most trusted crowdsourced security platform, delivers continuous and scalable penetration testing with actionable results. The company combines the world's most skilled and trusted ethical hackers with AI-enabled technology to create an efficient and effective security solution. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with regional offices around the world, Synack protects leading global banks, federal agencies, DoD classified assets, and close to $1 trillion in Fortune 500 revenue. Synack was founded in 2013 by former US Department of Defense hackers Jay Kaplan, CEO, and Dr. Mark Kuhr, CTO. For more information, please visit http://www.synack.com.

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation
The Bob Woodruff Foundation was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long-term needs of today's veterans. To date, BWF has invested nearly $70 million to Find, Fund and Shape™ programs that have empowered impacted veterans, service members and their family members, across the nation.

SOURCE Synack