Joint NCSC-DHS-CISA advisories and a warning from the FBI have recently highlighted activities of nation-state-backed groups targeting organizations focused on COVID-19 research. The goal is to obtain information for their domestic COVID-19 research efforts.

Security leaders at research organizations need to better understand the motivations and methods of these attackers. That will allow them to better inform stakeholders of the risks, identify data likely to be targeted, and adjust their defenses appropriately.