What is Privilege Escalation? Attacks, Understanding its Types & Mitigating Them

What is Privilege Escalation?

Privilege escalation is a cyberattack technique where an attacker gains unauthorized access to higher privileges by leveraging security flaws, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities in an organization’s system. It is the attempt to elevate access permissions by exploiting bugs, system flaws, human behaviors, configuration oversights, or weak access controls. In most cases, the first penetration attack attempt is not enough to gain the required level of access to data. Attackers then resort to privilege escalations to gain deeper access to networks, assets, and sensitive information.

Privilege escalation attacks are performed to jeopardize business operations by exfiltrating data and creating backdoors. The goal of privilege escalations is to gain complete control over the system or network, with a malicious intent of security breaches, data theft, etc. Threat actors performing these attacks can be external hackers or insiders who start by carrying out a social engineering attack like phishing to gain access to computer networks and systems through credential theft.

As privilege escalation attacks can impact business reputation and continuity, strategic measures should be implemented for prevention, early detection, and mitigation.

Main Types of Privilege Escalations

Privilege escalation can be broadly classified into vertical privilege escalation and Horizontal Privilege Escalation.

Horizontal privilege escalation or account takeover is gaining access to the rights of lower-level accounts with similar privileges, mainly performed to increase the attacker’s sphere of access.

Vertical privilege escalation, or privilege elevation attack, is hacking into a system to gain elevated privilege access beyond what the attacker already has.

Vertical vs. Horizontal Privilege Escalation

Often confused, vertical and horizontal privilege escalations refer to different methods of obtaining higher privileges within a system or a network. Horizontal privilege escalation means obtaining access to the same level of privileges as a user. In contrast, vertical privilege escalation refers to obtaining a higher level of privileges than the user.

In case of a horizontal privilege escalation, a low-level employee with access to sensitive data may use that access to gain the same privileges as a higher-level employee, such as a manager. This enables the attacker to perform actions with the same level of authority as the compromised employee.

On the other hand, vertical privilege escalation refers to the process of gaining higher privileges than the user currently has. For example, a low-level employee may exploit a vulnerability in the system to gain administrative privileges, thus obtaining the ability to perform actions with a much higher level of authority.

Common Types of Privilege Escalation Techniques or Methods

There are various types of privilege escalation techniques that attackers can use to compromise a system. Some of them are discussed below.

1. Social engineering- In this technique, an attacker tricks a user into giving away their credentials or performing actions that grant the attacker elevated privileges. This can include phishing attacks, where an attacker sends an email posing as a trusted entity to trick the recipient into giving away their credentials, thereby giving the attacker access to the system.

2. Pass-the-Hash/Rainbow table attacks- Another technique is the pass-the-hash (PtH) attack, which aims at impersonating a user by using a stolen password hash to create a new session on the same network. To defend against this attack, modern systems must employ robust password management solutions to keep the hash unique between two sessions.

3. Vulnerabilities and exploits- Exploiting vulnerabilities in software and operating systems is another popular method of privilege escalation. Here, attackers exploit unpatched software vulnerabilities, buffer overflow issues, or other backdoors to gain privilege escalation.

4. Misconfigurations- In this attack, the attacker takes advantage of misconfigured systems to escalate their privileges. This can include weak passwords, unsecured network services, open ports, authentic failures, and other misconfigured systems.

5. Kernal exploits- In this technique, the attacker exploits zero-day vulnerabilities in the operating system kernel to escalate their privileges. This poses a serious threat as the kernel gets complete control over the system and can bypass security measures.

Best Practices to Prevent Privilege Escalation Attacks

Privilege escalation attacks can have severe consequences, including theft of sensitive information, disruption of operations, and reputational damage. By implementing strong passwords, restricting access, regularly updating systems, monitoring activity, and having a clear response plan, organizations can reduce their risk of falling victim to privilege escalation attacks. Below are some best practices that must be adopted to prevent and mitigate such attacks:

◉ Principle of least privilege- This measure is required to limit access to sensitive systems, applications, and data to only those who need it.

◉ Patch and update software regularly- Keeping all systems, software, and applications up to date with the latest security patches is essential in fixing known vulnerabilities.

◉ Vulnerability scanning- Attackers find it harder to enter the network when all the IT infrastructure’s components are routinely scanned for weaknesses. Before potential attackers can take advantage of them, vulnerability scans identify misconfigurations, undocumented system changes, unpatched or unsecured OSes and programs, and other problems.

◉ Implement strong passwords- Encourage users to use strong and unique passwords that are more challenging to guess or crack.

◉ Security awareness training- Conducting security awareness training is essential to prevent people in organizations from unintentionally assisting a privilege escalation attack by opening malicious links and attachments. It is also essential to emphasize the hazards and perils of sharing accounts and passwords.

◉ Incident response plan- It is imperative to have a clear incident response plan that outlines the steps to swiftly respond to detected incidents and prevent further exploitation. 

Examples of Privilege Escalation Attacks

Some common examples of privilege escalation attacks are discussed below.

1. Windows Sticky keys– The ‘sticky key’ attack is the most common and fairly easy way of performing a privilege escalation attack. It does not require high technical skill sets. Attackers must have physical access to the system and should be able to boot it from a repair disk. By pressing the Shift key five times, an attacker can gain access to the Command Prompt with administrator privileges, allowing them to execute malicious code.

2. Windows Sysinternals– The Windows Sysinternals tool suite is another common method to conduct a privilege escalation attack. In this case, an attacker first performs a ‘sticky key’ attack to gain a backdoor into the system and then executes “psexec.exe -s cmd” to gain administrator privileges.

3. Process Injection– This privilege escalation attack targets weak processes. This process involves injecting malicious codes into running processes to elevate the privileges of that process.

4. Linux Password User Enumeration– This is another prevalent privilege escalation method where the attacker can use tools to enumerate valid usernames on a target system. Attackers first identify target accounts on a Linux system to carry out this attack by gaining access to the system’s shell. This is mostly performed by exploiting misconfigured FTP servers.

5. Android Metasploit– Android Metasploit refers to using the Metasploit framework to exploit vulnerabilities in Android devices. The Metasploit framework is a popular hacking tool used by attackers that contains a library of known exploits. Attackers can leverage these exploits to perform privilege escalation attacks against rooted android devices.

 

Tools to Protect Your Systems from Privilege Escalation

The use of UEBA, password security tools, and vulnerability scanners can prevent privilege escalation attacks to a large extent. By monitoring user behavior, securing passwords, and identifying vulnerabilities, organizations can reduce their risk of being compromised by a privilege escalation attack.

1. UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics)– UEBA is a security tool that uses machine learning to analyze user behavior and detect anomalous activity. This tool can identify changes in access patterns, attempts to access sensitive information, or escalate privileges. The Exabeam Security Management Platform and the Cynet 360 Platform, powered by UEBA, analyze abnormal account and user behaviors and provide comprehensive solutions to offer organizations real-time visibility into the security landscape.

2. Password security tools– One of the most common privileges escalations methods is cracking or guessing passwords. Password Auditor and Password Manager Pro are popular password security tools that offer a comprehensive password management solution and help individuals and businesses save and store their passwords securely. They also make the task of remembering complex passwords easy and encourage the use of unique and strong passwords for different accounts.

3. Vulnerability scanners– Vulnerability scanners are automated tools that scan a system, network, or application for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that could be exploited for privilege escalations. Using vulnerability scanners will help organizations identify weaknesses, find coding bugs and get remediation guidance to mitigate security flaws before they are exploited. Invicti and Acunetix are two of the popular vulnerability scanners that can be used to detect security vulnerabilities.

4. Privileged Access Management (PAM) software solutions- PAM software solutions mitigate privileged access risks. PAM solutions protect organizations against privilege escalation attacks by identifying, monitoring, and detecting unauthorized access to sensitive information. JumpCloud, Ping Identity, and Foxpass are popular PAM solutions.

Privilege escalations can be a major security concern as they allow attackers to control the system and access sensitive information. While the use of these tools helps in the early detection and mitigation of privilege escalation attacks, it is important to note that these tools should be used as a part of a comprehensive security strategy and not relied upon as a sole solution.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Why CEH Practice Exam Is Essential for Exam Prep

The CEH certification is widely acknowledged as a high-quality standard in ethical hacking, and it's frequently used by employers who want to hire professionals in this field. It's also a valuable qualification for professionals working in related areas, such as network and cybersecurity, who wish to demonstrate their expertise and understanding of the best practices in the field. To achieve this EC-Council certification, one must pass an exam, which can be prepared for by utilizing training courses, study guides, CEH v12 PDF materials, and the CEH practice exam.

What is CEH Certification?

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program is intended to aid individuals in developing their skills in ethical hacking and penetration testing. Ethical hacking involves simulating cyber-attacks on computer systems, networks, and web applications with the aim of detecting and correcting vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious hackers.

How to Pass CEH Certification Exam?

The certified ethical hacker certification program is a fundamental course that is carefully designed to provide candidates with comprehensive training in the latest black and grey hacking techniques. This program aims to educate individuals on how to penetrate organizations, analyze potential threats, and assist companies in securing their systems.

Here are some tips to ace your CEH exam!

1. Construct a checklist that contains various CEH Syllabus Topics

The certified ethical hacker certification program is a fundamental course that is carefully designed to provide candidates with comprehensive skills in the latest black and grey hacking techniques. This EC-Council certification aims to educate individuals on how to penetrate organizations, analyze potential threats, and assist companies in securing their systems.

2. Take CEH Practice Exam

Reviewing test modules is a great approach to evaluating your comprehension and time management abilities. The CEH Practice exam can significantly alter the course of your learning journey by providing valuable feedback on your advancement and identifying areas that require further attention. Consistent practice with CEH practice questions can likely enhance your ability to solve problems in a short period of time.

Enhance Your Understanding by Joining the CEH Community

Engaging in group study with fellow exam takers, instructors, and individuals who have already completed the certification can be a beneficial experience. CEH community members share informative posts worldwide, providing practical and theoretical knowledge on various topics. Additionally, forums provide an opportunity to ask questions regarding any areas you may be struggling with.

3. Refer to Recommended Study Materials to Maximize Your Learning Potential

Candidates have access to comprehensive study guides to prepare for their exams, so there is no need for excessive preparation. To learn about the necessary resources for the exam, visit the official website or CEH community spaces. Study guides provide a list of topics to cover, making it easier to gather study materials and simplify the learning process.

4. Understand the CEH Exam Structure

The official EC Council website provides crucial information concerning the exam and preparation. By visiting the website, you can acquire knowledge about the exam format, syllabus, mark weightage, and other relevant aspects that could impact your results. Familiarizing yourself with the exam format will enable you to structure your answers in the most appropriate manner.

5. Enroll in Training Courses

Merely relying on self-study materials may prove to be challenging when attempting to pass the exam. Enrolling in a certified ethical hacker course can be a beneficial way to hone your hacking skills and improve your understanding of the CEH certification. Selecting a suitable course can be a valuable addition to your skillset and resume.

Reasons Why CEH Practice Exam Is Important In Exam Preparation

1. Makes You Familiar with CEH Exam Structure

Repetitive actions yield improved outcomes. Practicing for the CEH exam will aid in understanding the question patterns and types, gain familiarity with the CEH syllabus, and grasp the passing score requirements.

2. CEH Practice Exam Identifies Your Weak Areas

Without knowing our weaknesses, it becomes difficult to gauge our progress or regression. CEH practice exams can pinpoint your areas of weakness, enabling you to adjust your study strategy accordingly and achieve the desired outcome.

3. CEH Practice Exam Improves Speed and Accuracy

The true assessment of your speed for the Certified Ethical Hacker exam can be determined by taking the CEH practice exam. The CEH v12 exam is a timed, computer-based test that consists of 125 questions to be completed within 240 minutes. Practicing is the key to enhancing your speed and precision.

4. Predict Your Score

One aspect of preparing for the online CEH v12 exam is to take a practice exam. The purpose of this is to determine the lowest percentile that you might score. If your scores are consistently decreasing, it is advisable to reassess your study approach and aim to improve your scores.

5. Enhance Your Probability of Getting a High Mark

Ultimately, the goal of your hard work is to achieve a high score. Consistent practice with the CEH practice exam can aid in achieving this goal. Moreover, it can enhance your writing speed, minimize careless errors, and boost your likelihood of obtaining a high score.

Conclusion

Obtaining the CEH certification can be a significant accomplishment for your career in hacking. Hence, it is crucial to make every effort to excel in your examination. Adopting the appropriate strategies and techniques can help you achieve success. Consistent practice is the most effective way to retain information in your mind. To summarize, practice extensively to further enhance your skills.

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C|EH Opens Doors to Multiple Job Roles in Cybersecurity

Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) is a qualification offered by EC-Council that is considered an entry-level certification in cybersecurity. C|EH training covers a range of topics, from penetration testing to forensic investigations, and can lead to a number of different job roles in the cybersecurity field.

Is a Career in Cybersecurity in Demand?

Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand and fastest-growing career fields today. Cybersecurity jobs are expected to increase in the coming years as the number and sophistication of cyberattacks continue to rise. (Central Michigan University, n.d.)

Despite the high demand for cybersecurity workers, there is a significant shortage of qualified candidates (Lake, 2022). This skills gap presents an excellent opportunity for those considering a career in cybersecurity.

There are many reasons why a cybersecurity career is a good choice. It is an exciting field that is constantly evolving, and no two days are ever the same. It is also a well-paid profession, with average salaries far above the national average.

What Are the Careers in Cybersecurity?

A cybersecurity career can offer a challenging and exciting opportunity to make a difference. Here are just a few of the most popular types of cybersecurity jobs:

◉ Cybersecurity/Information Security Analyst: Identifies potential threats to an organization’s computer systems and networks and develops plans to protect against those threats.

◉ Cybersecurity Engineer: Designs, implements, and maintains security solutions to protect an organization’s computer systems and networks.

◉ Cybersecurity Consultant: Advises organizations to protect their computer systems and networks from attack.

Which Is the Best Career in Cybersecurity?

Your abilities, interests, the job market, and future trends should all be taken into account when deciding which cybersecurity career is appropriate for you.

Each role within cybersecurity requires a different skill set. For example, an information security analyst is responsible for identifying security risks and vulnerabilities, while a cybersecurity engineer designs and implements security solutions. A penetration tester tries to find ways to circumvent security controls, while a security architect designs overall security plans. A security operations center analyst monitors and responds to security incidents.

How C|EH Helps You Start Your Career in Cybersecurity?

EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) credential is the perfect way to start your career in cybersecurity. C|EH is a globally recognized standard for ethical hacking and demonstrates your ability to find and exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems. The credential is highly valued by employers and can help you land a job in this growing field.

C|EH covers many topics, including network security, web application security, database security, and more. The exam is challenging, but it is well worth the effort.

How Are the C|EH v12 Modules Mapped to Cybersecurity Job Roles?

The Certified Ethical Hacker version 12 (C|EH v12) program is a comprehensive, hands-on ethical hacking and information systems security course that covers all the latest hacking techniques, tools, and methodologies. The C|EH v12 modules are mapped to specific cybersecurity job roles to provide individuals with the most comprehensive and up-to-date training possible. This allows individuals to gain the skills and knowledge needed to protect organizations from cyberthreats.

The following list includes some of the most common job roles and the corresponding C|EH v12 modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Ethical Hacking

Designed for candidates new to the field of ethical hacking, this module covers the basics of ethical hacking, including its history, definition, and purpose. It also introduces the different types of hackers and their motivations.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and security administrator.

Module 2: Footprinting and Reconnaissance

This module covers footprinting techniques that can be used to gather information about a target system or organization and methods for footprinting specific types of systems, such as web servers, email servers, and DNS servers.

Job roles: Security analyst and penetration tester.

Module 3: Scanning Networks

This module covers network scanning techniques that can be used to identify live systems, open ports, and running services. It also covers methods for bypassing firewalls and IDS/IPS systems.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and security administrator

Module 4: Enumeration

This module covers enumeration techniques that can be used to gather information about users, groups, and resources on a target system. It also covers methods for gaining access to password-protected resources.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and security administrator

Module 5: Vulnerability Analysis

This module covers vulnerability analysis techniques that can be used to identify vulnerabilities in systems and applications. It also covers methods for exploiting vulnerabilities to gain access to systems and data.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and security administrator

Module 6: System Hacking

This module covers system hacking techniques that can be used to gain access to systems. It also covers methods for escalating privileges once access has been gained.

Job roles: Security analyst and penetration tester.

Module 7: Malware Threats

This module covers malware concepts and types of malware. It also covers methods for identifying and removing malware from systems.

Job roles: Security analyst, malware analyst, and incident response specialist.

Module 8: Sniffing

This module covers sniffing concepts and methods for capturing and analyzing network traffic. It also covers methods for detecting and countering sniffing attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and network administrator.

Module 9: Social Engineering

This module covers social engineering concepts and methods for carrying out social engineering attacks. It also covers methods for recognizing and protecting against social engineering attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and security awareness officer.

Module 10: Denial-of-Service (DoS)

This module covers DoS attack concepts, types of attacks, and methods for identifying and mitigating such attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, network administrator, and system administrator.

Module 11: Session Hijacking

This module covers session hijacking concepts and methods for preventing such attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and network administrator.

Module 12: Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots

This module covers evasion techniques that can be used to avoid detection by IDS, firewall, and honeypot systems. It also covers methods for detecting and countering evasion attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and network administrator.

Module 13: Hacking Web Servers

This module covers web server hacking concepts and methods for compromising and securing web servers to protect against attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and security analyst.

Module 14: Hacking Web Applications

This module covers web application hacking concepts and methods for compromising and securing web applications to protect against attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and web administrator.

Module 15: SQL Injection

This module covers SQL injection concepts, methods for exploiting SQL injection vulnerabilities, and countermeasures that can be used to prevent SQL injection attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and database administrator.

Module 16: Hacking Wireless Networks

This module covers wireless hacking concepts, methods for compromising wireless networks and strengthening hardening wireless networks to protect against attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and network administrator.

Module 17: Hacking Mobile Platforms

This module covers mobile platform hacking concepts and methods for compromising and strengthening mobile devices and applications to protect them against attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and mobile device administrator.

Module 18: IoT and OT Hacking

This module covers IoT and OT hacking concepts and methods for compromising and strengthening IoT and OT devices to protect them against attacks.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, network administrator, and cyber defense analyst.

Module 19: Cloud Computing

This module covers cloud computing concepts, security issues related to cloud computing, and methods for securing data in the cloud.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, and cybersecurity consultant.

Module 20: Cryptography

This module covers cryptography concepts, methods for implementing cryptographic solutions, cryptographic attacks, and how to counter them.

Job roles: Security analyst, penetration tester, network administrator, and system administrator.

C|EH is Not Just Pentesting or Ethical Hacking

C|EH is a comprehensive security discipline certification that encompasses all aspects of securing information systems. It covers everything from network security and risk assessment to application security and penetration testing.

Pentesting is an important part of C|EH, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. Ethical hacking is also a vital component of C|EH. Ethical hackers use their skills to help organizations assess and improve their security posture. They do this by identifying vulnerabilities and exploits that attackers could use.

C|EH v12 is Mapped to 20 Job Roles in Cybersecurity

The C|EH v12 program has been mapped to 20 job roles in cybersecurity. Each of these cybersecurity jobs has a specific focus within the cybersecurity field. The 20 job roles that are mapped to the C|EH v12 program are as follows:

1. A Mid-Level Information Security Auditor performs audits of systems to ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
2. Cybersecurity Auditors conduct information systems audits to ensure compliance with security policies and procedures.
3. A Security Administrator develops, implements, and maintains security measures to protect computer networks and data.
4. IT Security Administrators oversee the development and implementation of security policies and procedures for an organization’s IT infrastructure.
5. Cyber Defense Analysts analyze network traffic and system logs to identify potential security threats.
6. Vulnerability Assessment Analysts identify and assess vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks.
7. A Warning Analyst analyzes intelligence information to determine if there are any potential threats to an organization.
8. An Information Security Analyst 1 monitors organizational compliance with security policies and procedures.
9. Security Analyst L1 conducts security assessments of computer systems and networks.
10. Infosec Security Administrators develop, implement, and maintain security measures to protect an organization’s information assets.
11. A Cybersecurity Analyst at level 1, level 2, & level 3 performs security analysis of computer systems and networks.
12. Network Security Engineers design and implement security solutions for computer networks.
13. SOC Security Analysts analyze data from security monitoring tools to identify potential security threats.
14. A Security Analyst conducts security assessments of information systems and provides recommendations for improving security.
15. Network Engineers design and implement computer network solutions.
16. Senior Security Consultants provide expert advice on cybersecurity risk management and mitigation strategies.
17. An Information Security Manager oversees an organization’s development and implementation of security policies and procedures.
18. Senior SOC Analysts analyze data from security monitoring tools to identify potential security threats and recommend mitigation strategies.
19. A Solution Architect designs and implements solutions for complex technical problems.
20. Cybersecurity Consultants provide expert advice on cybersecurity risk management and mitigation strategies.

How Has C|EH Become a Benchmark for Hiring Managers?

C|EH has become a benchmark for hiring managers for several reasons. First, C|EH allows hiring managers to identify potential candidates early in the hiring process. Second, C|EH is an impartial and objective assessment of candidates’ qualifications. Finally, C|EH provides a standardized score that can be used to compare candidates’ qualifications across different organizations.

When used correctly, C|EH can help ensure that only the best candidates are hired for critical positions within an organization. This, in turn, can lead to improved organizational performance and profitability. Therefore, it is no surprise that C|EH is quickly becoming the standard assessment tool for hiring managers worldwide.

Source: eccouncil.org

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The Blueprint for Securing the Hybrid Cloud: Essential Cloud Security Training

Instead of restricting themselves to only one cloud provider, many organizations are choosing a so-called “hybrid” cloud approach. In hybrid cloud computing, a single business uses multiple computing environments, including at least one public cloud. A hybrid cloud setup may combine multiple public and private clouds or the cloud and on-premises infrastructure.

While the hybrid cloud has many applications and benefits, it also presents additional security complications. Knowing how to protect hybrid cloud environments is crucial to cloud security training. This article will outline a blueprint for securing the hybrid cloud.

4 Benefits of the Hybrid Cloud

Cloud computing has gone from being a cutting-edge technology to a best practice for businesses of all sizes and industries. The 2022 Flexera State of the Cloud survey found that all companies who responded were using at least one public or private cloud, and 80 percent of companies have a hybrid cloud environment (Flexera, 2022).

With the vast majority of businesses now using the hybrid cloud, what are its applications and advantages? Below are just a few benefits of a hybrid cloud setup:

◉ Flexibility: A hybrid cloud allows an organization to choose the most appropriate infrastructure for each workload or application. For example, one application might be more efficient or cost-effective in the cloud, while another is required to run on-premises due to regulatory compliance issues.

◉ Scalability: A hybrid cloud allows an organization to easily scale its resource consumption up or down in the cloud as needed. This can be useful during periods of unexpectedly high demand or when the organization no longer needs certain resources.

◉ Availability and disaster recovery: A hybrid cloud can limit the damages and business disruption in the event of downtime or disaster. If one cloud environment is temporarily unavailable, others can pick up the slack.

◉ Integration: A hybrid cloud allows companies to easily integrate their existing on-premises infrastructure with a public cloud. This can be useful for organizations that want to leverage the cloud while maintaining ultimate control over certain aspects of their IT infrastructure.

3 Hybrid Cloud Security Training Challenges

The hybrid cloud has additional security challenges that may not be present in other environments, such as a single cloud provider or an on-premises setup. Below are some unique concerns that hybrid cloud users should be aware of during cloud security training:

◉ Standardizing policies and procedures: AWS security questions will differ from Azure security and GCP security issues. Businesses that use multiple cloud providers in their hybrid cloud environment must consider how their security policies and procedures will carry over between these providers. As much as possible, security protocols should be standardized across each cloud and between the cloud and on-premises.

◉ Monitoring and observability: Monitoring is an essential practice for businesses that use the cloud, helping detect and respond to events. However, different providers offer their own tools for monitoring the events inside a cloud environment: Amazon CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, and Google Cloud Monitoring, to name a few. Users of the hybrid cloud need a way to integrate and observe all these logs and data simultaneously.

◉ Compliance issues: Data privacy and security regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA restrict how businesses can collect, process, store, and analyze sensitive personal information. They also enact harsh penalties in the event of a data breach (GDPR, 2019). With data potentially flowing between multiple clouds in a hybrid cloud environment, organizations must protect this information from a potential cloud data breach while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and standards.

The Blueprint to Secure the Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid cloud environments are more technically complex than a single cloud, making them harder to protect. Businesses should follow the hybrid cloud best practices below for cloud security training:

1. Deal with interoperability: Interoperability—the ability of IT resources in different clouds to communicate and work together—is a crucial concern for the hybrid cloud. A robust solution for hybrid cloud security will consider the system’s interoperability when configuring and monitoring assets across the organization’s cloud landscape.

2. Use automation: The hybrid cloud typically occupies a larger footprint than a single cloud or on-premises environment, making manual observation impossible. Automated tools can produce and analyze logs, scanning for vulnerabilities and anomalies, while the human IT team focuses on the bigger picture.

3. Exercise the principle of least privilege: The larger footprint of the hybrid cloud also leads to more significant concerns about identity and access management. Organizations must ensure that users can only access the resources necessary to do their jobs across the hybrid cloud environment, a concept known as the principle of “least privilege.”

4. Keep processes uniform: With multiple cloud environments, it’s easy for organizations to have divergent security configurations—for example, neglecting to apply changes across all providers. To strengthen cloud security, processes and policies should be kept as uniform as possible across the entire hybrid cloud.

5. Use data protection and compliance: Organizations must comply with any data privacy and security regulations that concern them, such as HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, or PCI DSS. To avoid data leakage, information should be protected with techniques such as encryption, which is a cloud security best practice (Puzas, 2022). This is especially true for a hybrid cloud setup, where information may be frequently transferred between cloud providers.

6. Secure endpoints and workstations: The more endpoints connected to the hybrid cloud, the larger the attack surface becomes. Computers, mobile phones, routers, and other devices that use the hybrid cloud should all be protected with security tools such as firewalls and EDR (endpoint detection and response) software.

7. Create backup and disaster recovery strategies: The cloud is already the favored solution for backing up information because cloud providers store data in multiple physical locations. Businesses should take advantage of the additional resilience and reliability of the hybrid cloud to store essential data with multiple cloud providers and to develop a disaster recovery plan that can account for this setup.

How to Secure a Hybrid Cloud Environment

The hybrid cloud has many advantages, but hybrid cloud security presents several challenges that must be surmounted. Still, by following a robust hybrid cloud security blueprint, organizations can protect their hybrid cloud environments and dramatically lower the risk of cyberattacks.

How can companies get started with hybrid cloud security training? Cloud providers like Google offer certifications, such as Google Cloud security engineer, but these programs are only intended for learning about a single cloud solution—not a hybrid cloud setup that uses multiple providers.

Businesses need a hybrid cloud security program that is both vendor-neutral and vendor-specific. Students should learn about general cloud security practices, technologies, frameworks, and principles without reference to any one provider. However, they also need practical, vendor-specific knowledge to apply what they’ve learned in the real world.

Source: eccouncil.org

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C|EH Compete (CTF) A Practice Ground for Ethical Hackers

The newly launched version of EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH v12) is upgraded with a new learning framework that aims to provide candidates with holistic training and an interactive way to learn ethical hacking. It consists of four main pillars: Learn, Certify, Engage, and Compete.

Just like athletes need to practice and compete in events to stay in shape, ethical hackers need regular opportunities to constantly test their skills. Through C|EH Compete, participants can compete in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, a valuable resource for honing your ethical hacking techniques. In the blog, we’ll explore what CTF is all about, how you can participate, and how C|EH v12 can help give you a competitive edge.

What is a CTF in Cybersecurity?

A CTF is a security competition where participants must find and exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and applications. The goal is to capture sensitive data, known as “flags,” hidden throughout the system.

The rules vary depending on the contest, but each team receives a set of challenges, which must be solved before moving on to the next. The challenges are designed to test different areas of security, such as cryptography, web security, and binary exploitation.

The team that completes the most challenges in the shortest time is the winner (ENISA, 2022).

What Is the CTF Process?

The challenges in a CTF competition can vary greatly in terms of difficulty and scope. Some challenges require a deep understanding of a particular area of computer security, while others may be much simpler and only require basic knowledge.

One of the most popular types of CTF competitions is the Jeopardy-style format. Teams are presented with various challenges in different categories, such as forensics, cryptography, and web exploitation.

Is CTF a Game?

Yes, CTF is a game – and a very popular one at that. It has become so popular that there are now CTF events being held worldwide.

They are not traditional games but competitions with the primary goal of demonstrating skills in various areas of computer security. This can include everything from finding vulnerabilities in software or systems to developing exploits or tools to help others do the same.

While elements of fun and gamesmanship are involved, CTFs are all about learning and self-improvement at the end of the day. They provide an excellent way for newcomers to get started in the infosec world and for experienced professionals to stay sharp.

One of the best things about CTF is that it’s not just for professional hackers; anyone can participate. Many people participating in CTF events are not particularly interested in hacking – they just enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to learn new things.

If you’re serious about learning and honing your skills, then there’s no better way to do it than with a CTF.

What Skills Do I Need for CTF?

To be a successful Capture the Flag (CTF) player, you need a wide range of skills. Let’s look at some of the important ones below:

◉ The ability to think like a hacker: You need to be able to see beyond the obvious and find creative ways to exploit systems.

◉ Strong technical skills: Good working knowledge of penetration testing and hacking tools and techniques is essential, as is being experienced in using them.

◉ Familiarity with Scripting languages: Scripting languages, such as PowerShell, can give you an extra edge in automating tasks or writing custom tools.

◉ Good teamwork skills: CTF is often played in teams and being able to work effectively with others is crucial to success. Communicating clearly, taking direction, and collaborating on strategies can make all the difference in a CTF match (Khaitan, 2022).

Where Can I Practice CTF?

CTFs are all about finding and exploiting vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive data or take over control of the system. EC Council’s C|EH Compete is a great place to start if you’re new to the world of CTFs. With C|EH Compete (CTF), ethical hackers can practice their skills in a safe and legal environment and compete with their peers, rank on the leaderboard, and gain respect within the community. This platform offers a variety of challenges that will test your abilities and help you become more job ready.

What makes C|EH Compete stand out is that it’s not just for experienced hackers. If you’re new to hacking, you can still participate in the events. Beginner-friendly events will help you get started and learn the basics. You can also join more advanced events once you feel more confident.

How Ethical Hackers Will Benefit from C|EH Compete

Cybersecurity professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve and keep their skills sharp will benefit from C|EH Compete. C|EH v12 offers comprehensive training, hands-on labs, cyber ranges, certification assessments, cyber competitions, and opportunities for continuous learning in one comprehensive program.

Ethical hackers looking to progress their skill set and knowledge will find that C|EH Compete offers the perfect opportunity. Through comprehensive training and assessments, they can develop their skills further and keep up to date with the latest cybersecurity trends. In addition, by participating in competitions and challenges, ethical hackers can put their skills to the test against their peers.

How CTF Is a Competition-Based and Continuous Learning Platform

C|EH helps individuals learn and improve their cybersecurity skills. The program offers new challenges every month. It is an excellent way for individuals to learn about new cybersecurity threats and how to defend against them. Additionally, the platform provides a great opportunity for individuals to network with other security professionals and exchange ideas.

How Ethical Hackers Will Be More Job Ready With C|EH Compete CTF

The C|EH program has been designed to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to identify, assess, and mitigate risks posed by digital threats.

It’s a unique opportunity for ethical hackers to showcase their skills in a safe and legal environment. The competition pits teams of ethical hackers against each other in a race to find vulnerabilities in digital systems and earn points.

The C|EH Compete CTF is a great way for ethical hackers to gain experience and hone their skills. They can compete with their peers, rank on the leaderboard, and gain respect from their colleagues. It is also an excellent opportunity for employers to identify talented individuals who can help them mitigate risks posed by digital threats.

C|EH v12 is the only program with a CTF competition as part of its exam. This makes it unique among ethical hacking certifications, and it gives C|EH holders a significant advantage when competing for jobs or contracts that require experience with CTFs. As hackers become more sophisticated, it’s important for businesses to have employees who are trained in ethical hacking techniques. C|EH v12’s new learning framework makes it easier for security professionals to earn their certification and stay ahead of their adversaries.

Enroll in EC Council’s C|EH v12 program to become an industry-ready certified ethical hacker. The new learning framework prepares students for the certification exam in a comprehensive and engaging way to help candidates retain information and apply it in real-world scenarios. It also features updated content on emerging threats, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and cryptography. These are all areas where CTFs are being used to test security, so it’s important for ethical hackers to be up-to-date on these topics. So, what are you waiting for? Start your journey to becoming a certified ethical hacker!

Source: eccouncil.org

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What Is Fog Computing? Importance, Applications, and Everything You Need to Know (C|EH)

Fog computing is an important trend to understand for anyone working in or planning to work in technology. It has many potential applications, from industrial and manufacturing settings to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. But what is fog computing, and how does it differ from cloud computing? Let’s take a look.

What Is Meant by Fog Computing?

Fog computing is a form of distributed computing that brings computation and data storage closer to the network edge, where many IoT devices are located. By doing this, fog computing reduces the reliance on the cloud for these resource-intensive tasks, improving performance and reducing latency (TechTarget, 2022).

Mist computing takes cloud fog computing even further by bringing computation and data storage even closer to the edge, often using devices such as mist computing servers, which are low-power servers that can be deployed in large numbers.

Why Is Fog Computing Used?

There are several reasons why fog computing is used:

◉ To improve latency and performance: Because fog nodes are often deployed at the network edge, closer to the IoT devices themselves, they can substantially reduce the processing time and enhance performance for applications that demand low latency.

◉ To improve decision-making: It can help improve decision-making in real-time as fog computing allows for real-time data collection and analysis from IoT devices.

◉ To reduce costs: Fog computing can also help reduce costs associated with data storage and analysis. This is because, by bringing computation and data storage closer to the network edge, fog computing reduces the amount of data that needs to be transmitted back to a central location for processing.

What Are the Four Types of Fog Computing?

Fog computing is a term for technology that extends cloud computing and services to the edge of an enterprise’s network. It allows data, applications, and other resources to be moved closer to, or even on top of, end users.

The four main types of fog computing are mentioned below.

◉ Device-level fog computing runs on devices such as sensors, switches, routers, and other low-powered hardware. It can be used to gather data from these devices and send it to the cloud for analysis.

◉ Edge-level fog computing runs on servers or appliances located at the edge of a network. These devices can be used to process data before it is sent to the cloud.

◉ Gateway-level fog computing runs on devices that act as a gateway between the edge and the cloud. These devices can be used to manage traffic and ensure that only relevant data is sent to the cloud.

◉ Cloud-level fog computing runs on servers or appliances located in the cloud. These devices can be used to process data before it is sent to end users.

Where Is Fog Computing Needed?

There are many potential applications for fog computing, including:

◉ Connected cars — collecting and processing data from sensors in real-time to enable features such as autonomous driving and infotainment.

◉ Smart cities — monitoring traffic flows, managing public transportation, optimizing energy use, and more.

◉ Industrial IoT — enhancing efficiency and safety in factories, power plants, mines, and other industrial infrastructure.

◉ Connected health — supporting remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and other healthcare applications.

◉ AR/VR — enabling low-latency, high-quality augmented and virtual reality experiences.

Fog computing can be used to support a wide range of applications that require data to be processed at the edge of the network. In many cases, moving compute and storage resources closer to the data source improves performance and reduces costs. For example, connected cars generate a significant volume of data that needs to be analyzed in real-time to enable features such as autonomous driving.

Who Uses Fog Computing?

Fog computing is often used in cases where real-time response is needed, such as with industrial control systems, video surveillance, or autonomous vehicles. It can also be used to offload computationally intensive tasks from centralized servers or to provide backup and redundancy in case of network failure.

Components of Fog Computing

Some of the key components of cloud fog computing include the following:

◉ Edge devices: These are the devices located at the edge of the network, closest to the data source. Edge devices include sensors, PLCs (programmable logic controllers), and gateway routers.

◉ Data processing: Data processing is done locally on edge devices rather than sent to a central location for processing. The result is improved performance and reduced latency.

◉ Data storage: Edge devices can store data locally rather than sending it to a central location for storage. This improves security and privacy, as well as reduces latency.

◉ Connectivity: Fog computing requires high-speed connectivity between edge devices and the rest of the network. This is achieved through wired or wireless means.

Why Is Fog Computing Beneficial for IoT?

The internet of things (IoT) is a system of interconnected devices, sensors, and software components that share data and information. The power of the IoT comes from its ability to collect and analyze massive volumes of data from various sources. This data can be used to improve efficiency, optimize operations and make better decisions.

Fog computing in IoT is a decentralized computing model that brings computation and data storage closer to the edge of the network. In other words, fog computing moves processing power and data storage away from centralized server farms and into local networks where IoT devices are located.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Fog Computing?

There are several advantages to using a fog computing architecture:

1. Reduced latency: By processing data at or near the edge of the network, fog computing can help reduce latency.

2. Improved security and privacy: By keeping data and applications closer to the user, fog computing can help improve security and privacy.

3. Increased scalability: Fog computing can help increase scalability as more resources may be added at the edge of the network.

There are also several disadvantages to using a fog computing architecture:

1. Limited resources: Because fog computing relies on devices at the edge of the network, there may be limited resources available. This can impact performance.

2. Complex architecture: Fog computing can be complex to implement and manage because of the distributed nature of the architecture.

3. Limited coverage: Because fog computing is still a relatively new technology, there may be limited coverage in terms of devices and locations that support it (HiTechWhizz, 2022).

Fog vs. Edge Computing

Edge computing, a distributed computing model, processes data and applications at the edge of the network, close to the data source. By contrast, in the traditional centralized model of cloud computing, data and applications are stored in a central location and accessed over the network.

The main difference between fog and edge computing is that fog computing extends cloud services and connectivity to devices at the edge of the network. In contrast, edge computing brings computation and data storage closer to devices at the edge of the network.

What Is Heavy.AI?

Heavy.AI is a powerful artificial intelligence platform that enables businesses and developers to easily build and deploy AI-powered applications. Heavy.AI is built on top of the popular TensorFlow open-source library, making it easy to get started with deep learning and neural networks. With Heavy.AI, you can quickly train and deploy your custom models or use one of the many pre-trained models available in the Heavy.AI marketplace.

How Is Heavy.AI Related to a Fog Computing Solution?

Heavy.AI also offers a fog computing solution that can be used to manage and process data from IoT devices at the edge of the network. This solution can improve the performance of IoT applications by reducing latency and ensuring data is processed locally.

iFogSim is also an open-source fog computing simulator that can evaluate the performance of different fog computing architectures. iFogSim includes a library of modules that can simulate various aspects of fog computing, such as network topologies, device types, and application characteristics.

Aspiring ethical hackers can get certified through EC-Council’s C|EH course. The comprehensive C|EH course covers a wide range of topics related to ethical hacking, including network scanning, enumeration, social engineering, denial-of-service attacks, web application attacks, SQL injection, buffer overflows, and much more.

Source: eccouncil.org

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A Sneak Peek into the EC-Council CHFI Certification Salary

Due to the increasing technological sophistication of cyber criminals and their more frequent distribution of malicious code to computers around the globe, the online world has become a perilous environment. Companies worldwide hire cyber crime experts who can think creatively to prevent network intrusions, identity theft, data theft, and other related crimes. Among the most highly sought-after certifications for cyber crime specialists in today's world is the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator - CHFI certification.

Obtaining the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certification enables professionals to acquire expertise and understanding in particular security areas of computer forensics, such as Password Cracking Concepts, log capturing tools, wireless attacks, network traffic, Access Data FTK, and numerous other related topics.

Why Is EC-Council CHFI in Such High Demand?

The CHFI certification is granted by EC-Council, also recognized as the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants. It's a comprehensive and thorough certification program that equips experts with the skills to identify and respond to hacker attacks using a variety of evidence-gathering techniques, reporting the crime, performing audits, and implementing necessary measures to prevent future attacks.

After obtaining the EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator certification, professionals acquire additional qualifications as they are capable of fulfilling the diverse standards of CNSS 4011-4016 Federal Security Certification Training. Consequently, companies are willing to provide attractive remuneration packages to qualified candidates.

CHFI Certification Salary

Professionals with EC-Council CHFI certification can expect to earn an annual salary between $85,000 and $120,000 on average.

Individuals with over five years of experience in managing challenging projects and working in the same industry can anticipate receiving higher salary packages. The remuneration not only depends on their experience but also on the type of employer and their specific skills or expertise.

Companies are looking for individuals who hold a CHFI certification to manage diverse areas of cybersecurity, which include conducting investigations on cybercrime, assessing digital evidence, securing and analyzing electronic crime scenes, retrieving erased files, utilizing techniques such as Steganalysis, managing logs, and investigating email-related crimes.

Positions Available for EC-Council CHFI Certified Professionals

Starting roles for individuals with CHFI certification consist of positions such as information security analyst and forensic computer analyst, both with an average minimum salary of $53,717 and $37,340, respectively.

Intermediate and advanced level job positions consist of Security Engineer, Information Security Engineer, and IT Director.

What Distinguishes CHFI From Other Cybersecurity Certifications

EC-Council CHFI certification primarily focuses on analytical methods, forensic tools, and different procedures utilized in detecting, safeguarding, preserving, and analyzing computer forensic evidence. The fundamental objective is to equip certified professionals with the ability to implement various computer investigation and analysis techniques to identify potential legal evidence.

The CHFI certification program has received accreditation from the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) and the National Security Agency (NSA). Additionally, the National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF) recognizes the certification as a requirement for professional competency.

As the internet remains an integral part of society and cybercrime continues to increase, CHFI certification provides numerous opportunities for professionals. With cybersecurity becoming a growing concern for organizations worldwide, individuals with Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certification can anticipate a future of career growth and advancement.

Related Read: CHFI Certification Value: Why You Need the Certification?

Who Can Benefit From Acquiring CHFI Certification?

The group of professionals who should pursue CHFI certification includes:

IT managers

Law enforcement personnel

e-Business Security professionals

Legal professionals

Systems administrators

Insurance, Banking, and other professionals

Government agencies

Defense and Military personnel

Looking for CHFI Certification?

To earn CHFI certification, passing the CHFI exam is a requirement, which assesses knowledge in areas such as gathering, analyzing, and presenting digital evidence; computer and network forensics; investigating cybercrime; and understanding legal aspects related to forensics.

Prior to attempting the CHFI exam, you shoud meet CHFI certification requirements. It is advisable to have a minimum of two years of experience in information security or a related field. Additionally, familiarity with digital forensics tools and techniques is also suggested.

To get ready for the CHFI exam, you can enroll in a CHFI training course, which can be done either in person or online. EC-Council provides authorized CHFI training courses, along with several other resources like study guides and practice exams, to aid in exam preparation.

After successfully passing the CHFI exam, you will obtain the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certification that remains valid for three years. To sustain your certification, you need to either earn continuing education credits or retake the CHFI exam before the expiration date.

Join the ranks of Computer Hacking Forensic Investigators – start your journey now!

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Performing Cloud Forensics Under Cloud Computing Security

Digital forensic investigators need to understand how cloud computing security works to assess evidence properly. When data is stored in the cloud, certain compliance and security measures must be considered.

Read More: 312-49: Computer Hacking Forensic Investigation

Forensic examiners need to be aware of these measures to ensure they can collect real evidence from the cloud. Additionally, they must know the potential implications of performing a forensic examination on data located in the cloud. No longer are hackers content to sit at their computers and steal personal data or disrupt systems; now, they are targeting cloud computing systems to gain access to sensitive information or wreak havoc on a larger scale.

This blog discusses the importance of investing in cloud security measures and the awareness among forensic professionals to tackle cloud security concerns.

What is Cloud Computing Security?

Cloud computing security is the measures to protect data and systems accessed and stored via the internet. Because cloud-based systems are often open and accessible to anyone with an internet connection, they can be more vulnerable to attack than traditional or on-premises systems. However, there are several steps that businesses can take to protect themselves.

By understanding both the security features of the cloud and the challenges associated with conducting forensics under these conditions, examiners can better protect their investigations and maintain the integrity of any evidence collected.

Cloud Forensic Process Flow

The first step in any forensic investigation is to identify the scope of the incident. This includes determining what happened when it happened, where it happened, and how it happened. Once the scope of the incident has been determined, the next step is to gather evidence. Evidence can come from many sources, including system logs, application data, user data, and third-party data.

After the evidence has been gathered, it must be analyzed to determine what happened and who was responsible. This analysis can be done manually or with the help of specialized software. Once the analysis is complete, a report can be generated that documents the investigation findings.

The cloud forensic process flow is designed to help investigators collect, preserve, and analyze data in a cloud computing environment. By following this process, investigators can more effectively determine what happened and who was responsible for an incident.

Cloud Computing Security Techniques for Evidence Acquisition

Cloud services have grown exponentially in recent years, making them an attractive target for hackers and criminals. As a result, there is a need for forensics investigators with a solid understanding of how to acquire and analyze evidence from these types of environments.

There are several ways to acquire evidence from the cloud, but the most common and effective methods include network traffic mirroring, packet capture, and flow log data collection.

◉ Network traffic mirroring involves replicating all of the traffic passing through a particular point in the network so that it can be analyzed later. This is an important tool for investigating potential security incidents, as it allows analysts to see exactly what was happening on the network at the time of the incident.

◉ Packet capture capabilities give analysts access to all the data in individual packets passing through the network. This data can be used to reconstruct what happened on the network and identify any suspicious or malicious activity.

◉ Flow log data can create network traffic behavioral models. This data can be used to identify anomalies in network traffic patterns that could indicate a security incident. Flow log data can also be used to track data movement within an organization’s network, making it a valuable tool for managing data security.

◉ Hibernating a workload is another useful technique for evidence acquisition. When a workload is hibernated, all of its state information is preserved so that it can be resumed later. This includes any open files, active connections, and running processes.

◉ Capturing IaaS OS and data drives can provide analysts with access to critical evidence that may be required for an investigation.

Once data has been collected, it will need to be analyzed to extract useful information. This process can be challenging because cloud data are often unstructured. As a result, investigators will often need to use a combination of manual analysis and automated tools to make sense of the evidence.

Cloud computing forensics and cloud computing security are complex and rapidly evolving fields. However, by understanding the basics of evidence acquisition and analysis, investigators can be better prepared to deal with the challenges they might face. (SearchSecurity, 2022)

Does Cloud Forensics Impact Cloud Computing Security?

Cloud forensics uses investigative techniques to collect, preserve, and analyze data stored in a cloud computing environment. Cloud forensics aims to obtain evidence that can be used in a court of law to prove or disprove a hypothesis about what happened in a particular case. (Jariwala, D., 2013)

Cloud forensics is important for several reasons:

◉ First, the use of cloud services is growing at an unprecedented rate. The benefits of cloud computing, such as cost savings, flexibility, and scalability, drive this growth. However, as more businesses move their data and applications to the cloud, they also expose themselves to new risks.

◉ Second, the nature of cloud computing makes it difficult to collect evidence using traditional forensic methods. For example, data in the cloud is often spread across multiple physical locations and stored on servers owned by different organizations. This makes it difficult to obtain a complete picture of what happened in a particular incident.

◉ Third, the way cloud services are delivered can make it difficult to collect evidence. For example, many cloud providers offer their services using a “pay as you go” model, which means that customers only pay for the resources they use. This makes it difficult to track down who was using a particular service at the time of an incident.

◉ Fourth, the growing use of encryption in cloud computing can make it difficult to collect evidence. Encryption can prevent investigators from accessing data even with the proper legal authorization.

◉ Fifth, cloud providers are often reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in investigations. This is because they may be concerned about such cooperation’s impact on their businesses.

◉ Finally, cloud forensics is important for cloud computing security because it can help organizations improve their security posture. Organizations can change their systems and processes to prevent similar incidents by understanding how they occur and what evidence is available.

Source: eccouncil.org

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6 Common Cloud Security Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Cloud computing has become an IT best practice for businesses of all sizes and industries, providing greater flexibility and reliability while cutting costs. However, cloud security remains a significant concern for many enterprise decision-makers.

In a 2022 survey of security professionals at large firms, 81 percent reported a cloud security incident in the past year. In addition, more than half of respondents said they believed that cloud security risks were higher than security issues for on-premise IT (Townsend, 2022).

Many cloud data breaches and attacks trace back to just a few of the most common cloud security mistakes. This article will discuss six of the biggest cloud security errors, from misconfigurations to poor security practices, and how to address each.

6 Top Common Mistakes That Can Result in Cloud Security Threats

In recent years, news headlines have displayed cautionary tales of companies that failed to pay enough attention to cloud security, suffering severe financial, legal, and reputational damages. Even the most basic mistake can result in a devastating cloud data breach.

In October 2017, for example, the cybersecurity risk management company UpGuard discovered that the consulting and management firm Accenture had left at least four cloud storage buckets in Amazon Web Services unsecured, which anyone with the address could download (UpGuard, 2017). The contents included passwords, API access keys, and software configuration settings that were then leaked onto the Dark Web and used to extort the affected individuals.

The good news is that being aware of possible cloud security threats is the first step to bolstering your cyber defenses. Once you know the common cloud security mistakes businesses make, you can begin to protect against them.

1. Misconfigurations

Misconfigurations might occur when setting up, provisioning, and managing cloud resources, with drastic consequences for cloud security. According to the National Security Agency (NSA), cloud misconfigurations are “the most prevalent cloud vulnerability” (National Security Agency, 2020). They can lead to everything from compromised accounts to denial of service susceptibility.

Cloud environments potentially contain hundreds or thousands of software applications, hardware devices, and other IT assets. With such a large attack surface, it’s easy for users to misconfigure assets such as a storage bucket, security group, or firewall. Attackers can then exploit this vulnerability to enter or spread throughout the environment.

Your business must establish proper change management and monitoring processes to prevent misconfigurations from becoming cloud security threats. This includes regularly reviewing and updating access controls, amending security settings, and testing and auditing security configurations for correctness.

2. Over-Permissioned Cloud Resources

Cloud resources can also have too many permissions. Sometimes, this happens accidentally, such as using the default security configurations without fine-tuning it to a specific cloud environment or understanding the consequences. For example, a container running in the cloud might receive host permissions, giving it access to resources elsewhere on the machine that should be off-limits.

You can avoid over-permissions cloud resources by following a cybersecurity principle known as “least privilege” (Gegick & Barnum, 2013). In this principle, users and roles are granted only the access rights explicitly needed for their job. If attackers hack into a user account or steal its credentials, following the principle of least privilege will limit the damage they can do.

3. Insufficient Credential Management

Another major cause of cloud security threats is inadequate credential management. For example, passwords may be too weak, easily guessable, or shared between multiple users. Even more advanced methods that rely on digital credentials, such as tokens and secrets, can fail if unauthorized individuals gain access.

Organizations should implement strong password policies to prevent credential management issues, making these passcodes unique and hard to guess. The best approach is to store credentials in a secure password manager and protect secrets and security tokens with strong access controls. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible, which requires users to verify their login attempts through another medium, such as text, email, or mobile app.

4. Insecure APIs

APIs (application programming interfaces) are tremendously useful for cloud computing, enabling different cloud systems and resources to exchange information. However, if an API is not secured correctly, it can become a cyberattack vector. For example, hackers could exploit weaknesses in an insecure API to gain unauthorized access to data and resources.

Securing an API requires implementing proper authentication and authorization controls. API best practices include using HTTPS and secure protocols such as OAuth and OpenID Connect. Monitoring APIs for unusual activity can also help detect API-based cloud security attacks.

5. Poor Security Practices

Beyond the issues mentioned, businesses can fall prey to several poor cloud security practices. For example, system administrators might neglect to keep software up-to-date or tweak security configurations as necessary. In addition, users might inadvertently expose data in cloud storage or work with sensitive and personal data in a way that violates regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Organizations should draft and enact a comprehensive cloud security plan to strengthen their cloud security practices, ensuring that all users adhere to it. Document contents may include education and training programs, security assessments, and strategies for responding to and mitigating security incidents.

6. Failing To Understand the Shared Responsibility Model

In cloud computing, the shared responsibility model defines the responsibilities of both the cloud service provider (CSP) and the customer for securing the cloud environment. The CSP is generally responsible for securing the cloud infrastructure, including handling physical and network security concerns. Meanwhile, the customer is responsible for securing the cloud environment; this includes configuring the operating system and applications and implementing access controls.

Failing to understand the shared responsibility model can lead to cloud security problems. For example, negligence and lax permissions could result if the customer believes that the CSP is responsible for access controls. To resolve this issue, businesses should understand their responsibilities under this model and tackle vulnerabilities that surface from a lack of comprehension.

How Can You Master Cloud Security Concepts with the C|CSE Program

Master cloud security implementation and management with a first-of-its-kind certification that is both vendor-neutral and vendor specific. EC-Council’s Certified Cloud Security Engineer (C|CSE) is a hands-on learning certification that offers practical learning of tools, security practices, and techniques used to configure popular cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and GCP. Industry experts curated the C|CSE curriculum to address the challenges organizations face in ensuring cloud security and enabling candidates to become job ready.

Source: eccouncil.org

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