Garda

Russian Firms Accumulate Digital Clutter: 35% of Corporate Files Unused for Years, Weak Passwords Expose Sensitive Data

A study by Russian cybersecurity firm Garda examined more than 157 terabytes of data and over 511,000 user accounts across more than 100 companies. Researchers found that approximately 35% of files in corporate repositories had not been accessed for more than five years, while duplicate data could occupy another 35% of storage volume. In several industries, up to one-third of stored content consisted of personal photographs, videos, and archives unrelated to business operations. More than 33% of accounts used critically weak passwords or credentials that had not been changed for extended periods, and numerous contractor and temporary employee accounts remained active despite being unused for over 90 days. Direct access permissions bypassing security groups were widespread, allowing broad access to folders containing passport scans, client registries, and database exports. Garda recommends automated inventory, classification, centralized access management, and lifecycle automation to reduce risks instead of manual cleanup.

CrossTech Solutions Group Rebrands as GardaTech and Completes Integration into IKS Holding

CrossTech Solutions Group has announced its rebranding to GardaTech Solutions Group, marking the final stage of its integration into the IKS Holding ecosystem. The company will now operate under the IKS Security vendor direction, focusing on insider threat prevention, access management, confidential data control, and container environment protection. GardaTech joins existing entities Garda and Bastion to deliver a complete security lifecycle covering product development, integration, and ongoing support for banks, government agencies, and critical information infrastructure. CEO Rifkat Zagitov confirmed that all accumulated expertise and existing products will remain intact while benefiting from expanded resources and market reach. The rebranding is not a superficial change but the culmination of a larger corporate consolidation aimed at offering customers unified security solutions without the need for multiple contractors.