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- The VRC Newsletter (June 12)
The VRC Newsletter (June 12)
⚠️ AI Is Fueling Cyberattacks — Are You Prepared?
The New Frontier of Cyber Risk: AI-Powered Attacks
Cybercrime has entered a new era—one defined by speed, scale, and artificial intelligence. With the rise of generative AI, cybercriminals are now more equipped than ever to deploy highly convincing phishing campaigns, launch sophisticated ransomware attacks, and exploit identity spoofing with deepfake technology. The line between what’s real and what’s fake is increasingly blurred, putting businesses in every industry at greater risk.
AI’s Role in the Rise of Next-Gen Attacks
Here’s what the latest data tells us:
Over 3.4 billion phishing emails are dispatched daily, with AI-driven phishing attacks having surged by over 4,000% since 2022. *
In 2024, approximately 82.6% of all phishing emails analyzed exhibited some use of AI. Furthermore, 76.4% of all phishing campaigns utilized polymorphic tactics, leveraging AI-generated variations to bypass traditional security measures. *
Global ransomware incidents experienced a record-breaking surge in Q1 2025, with publicly reported cases increasing by 126% year-over-year. While specific total economic loss projections can vary, the average cost of a ransomware attack is estimated to be between $5.5 million and $6 million in 2025. *
AI-driven automated scans have reached unprecedented levels, with 36,000 scans per second recorded globally in 2024, marking a 16.7% year-over-year increase. This surge in scanning activity, combined with over 1.7 billion compromised credentials circulating on underground forums in 2024, fuels advanced attacks and highlights the critical need for robust security measures. *
Cybercriminals are leveraging generative AI to craft flawless scam emails, deepfake audio of executives, and even fully synthetic identities. These tools make traditional detection methods, like grammar checks or email filters, far less effective. The threat landscape is evolving faster than many organizations can adapt.
Traditional Defenses Are No Longer Enough
Spam filters, endpoint detection, and basic security awareness training can no longer stand alone. Organizations need to build muscle memory for cyber crises and implement forward-looking cybersecurity frameworks.
That’s where VanRein Compliance steps in. To bridge the readiness gap, we offer two essential services:
✅Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercises
These are expert-led, scenario-based simulations that walk your team through real-world AI-powered incidents like deepfake impersonation, phishing escalations, or data exfiltration. They test communication pathways, decision-making under pressure, and overall incident response.
Why you need it:
Train key personnel to respond to AI-driven threats.
Identify and resolve gaps in your incident response plan.
Fulfill regulatory expectations for preparedness under ISO 27001, HIPAA, and NIST CSF.
What you get:
Custom AI-threat scenarios.
Real-time injects.
Post-exercise reporting with actionable remediation.
✅NIST Cybersecurity Audit
Our NIST audit evaluates your current cybersecurity posture using the NIST CSF and related Special Publications, ensuring your defenses are aligned with current threats including those enhanced by AI.
Why you need it:
Verify if your controls meet evolving cyber standards.
Address vulnerabilities that AI attackers exploit.
Strengthen policies and documentation before an audit.
What you get:
Risk-based gap analysis.
Remediation roadmap.
Audit-ready documentation.
📬 Already a VRC client? We can bundle our proactive services saving you money and time!
Staying Ahead of the Curve
AI attacks will only grow in number and sophistication. Organizations that succeed will be those who plan, simulate, and proactively audit their defenses.
Be ready before it’s real. VanRein Compliance helps your team prepare for tomorrow’s cyber threats today. Schedule a Tabletop Exercise or Start a NIST Audit Readiness Review.
ATSI 2025 Conference
VanRein Compliance is proud to announce that our Co-Founder and CEO, Rob Van Buskirk, will be speaking at this year’s ATSI Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ!
As the TAS industry rapidly evolves, AI is becoming both a powerful tool and a growing compliance challenge. Rob will take the stage to share key insights on how Telephone Answering Service (TAS) providers can navigate the shifting landscape and future-proof their operations.
📅 Session Details:
📌 Topic: AI and Compliance in 2025: What TAS Owners Need to Know
🎙️ Speaker: Rob Van Buskirk, Co-Founder & CEO, VanRein Compliance
🗓️ Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
⏰ Time: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM PT
📍 Location: ATSI Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ
We look forward to connecting with attendees, sharing valuable insights, and continuing our mission to empower compliance-first organizations.

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Deepfakes in the Workplace: It’s Time to Train Smarter
A voice that sounds like your CEO. A face that looks like your CFO. A video call that feels completely real—but isn’t.
Welcome to the deepfake era of cybercrime.
What once seemed like science fiction is now a genuine security threat. Deepfakes are no longer limited to social media pranks or political misinformation. They’ve entered the workplace. Fraudsters are using AI-generated voices, faces, and videos to impersonate executives, trick employees, and manipulate systems with chilling accuracy.
🔎 The Evolving Phishing Threat
Phishing is no longer just suspicious emails riddled with grammar mistakes. With generative AI tools now widely accessible, attackers can create:
Voice-cloned phone calls
Hyper-personalized messages
Deepfake videos
Fake login portals that mirror your own systems
In fact, a 2024 Proofpoint study found that 73% of CISOs believe deepfake attacks will target their organizations within the next year, and just 36% feel their organization is unprepared to cope with a targeted cyber attack.
These attacks aren’t just theoretical. Real-world cases, ranging from fraudulent CEO calls to falsified Zoom meetings, have already resulted in millions of dollars in losses worldwide. And the only thing standing between your team and a convincing scam may be their awareness and preparation.
🧠 Don’t Just Train, Simulate!
VanRein Compliance believes that true phishing awareness doesn’t come from watching a webinar once a year. It comes from practice, seeing what an attack looks like and knowing what to do when it hits.
That’s why our Phishing Awareness Campaigns are designed with realism in mind. From email simulations and spoofed messages to newer AI-driven threats like deepfake impersonations, we help your team:
Learn how to identify social engineering tactics
Recognize signs of voice and video manipulation
Spot subtle red flags that are easy to miss in the moment
React with confidence and report threats promptly
Every simulation is followed by a team debrief, risk insights, and targeted microlearning. Our goal? Not to catch your team off guard but to build their muscle memory for when the real thing arrives.
📬 Already a VRC client? We can bundle our trainings and proactive services saving you money and time!
If you’re unsure whether your organization is ready for the next generation of phishing attacks, we invite you to schedule a Phishing Risk Diagnostic Session with us.
Your employees are your first line of defense. Make sure they’re equipped to detect the difference between what’s real—and what’s been faked.
With VanRein Compliance’s help, you can:
Train smarter with cutting-edge simulations
Elevate your team’s response capabilities
Build resilience against social engineering, impersonation, and AI-enabled fraud
We’ll walk you through current threat trends, review common vulnerabilities, and demonstrate how our custom training and simulation program strengthens awareness without overwhelming your team.
Deepfakes are already here. Smart organizations are already preparing.

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