Cloud Computing: A Comprehensive Guide to Trends and Strategies

Cloud computing is no longer just for the largest enterprises. Moving to the cloud is now cost-effective for even the smallest organizations. However, security in cloud computing can be an entirely new frontier.

Data security in cloud computing is a particular concern. As businesses move their digital assets from their hardware into the cloud, they need to ensure they will be safe. Fortunately, the latest trends help overcome many of the challenges in cloud computing. With solid operational strategies, companies can achieve top-notch security in cloud computing.

What Is Cloud Security?

Cloud security is a specialized cybersecurity field focusing on the unique challenges of cloud computing (Kaspersky, 2023). Whereas traditional network security is focused on securing on-premises networks, such as computers and servers, cloud security requires different strategies.

Most cloud computing environments are made up of shared and virtualized resources. Additionally, cloud resources are theoretically open to more attacks since the services are available over the internet instead of behind a company’s firewall. Today’s cybersecurity professionals need to employ unique strategies and keep up with the latest trends to keep their company’s assets safe.

The Latest Cloud Security Trends

Fortunately, many excellent approaches help address the security issues in cloud computing (Connectria, 2023). Here are a few of the latest cloud security trends in use today.

Zero-trust Security Models

Successful data breaches have historically exploited vulnerabilities that allow privilege escalation. At a high level, this means an attacker accesses a system using the credentials of a standard user, one without limited privileges. They then exploit a flaw that allows them to gain administrative rights with unlimited access to the system’s data and user accounts.

Zero-trust security is a modern cybersecurity approach that no account should be trusted by default. In the zero-trust model, access levels are continuously verified and granted as needed.

The zero-trust approach addresses some of the unique challenges in cloud computing security. All users and devices accessing a server or network go through strong authentication methods, such as MFA (multi-factor authentication), and are then granted the least privileges required to perform specific tasks. If a higher level of access is needed, access control policies are verified before the system grants further privileges.

Containers and Serverless Security

As a company moves to the cloud, they reduce the number of servers and other hardware their IT department has to maintain. Cloud computing efficiently uses today’s powerful processors, fast networks, and massive amounts of storage. Cloud virtual machines allow businesses to run multiple servers on one physical machine.

Containers take that concept a step further. Containers are a lightweight form of virtualization that packages applications and their dependencies in a portable manner. This means that if, for instance, a company wants to run a web server, they no longer have to devote physical or virtual machines to host the server software. A container with only the needed bits runs in the cloud, appearing to the outside world as if it were its dedicated machine. Many containers can run in the same cloud instance for maximum efficiency.

This approach is sometimes called serverless computing or Function as a Service (FaaS). The application-level isolation inherent in serverless computing restricts the attack surface that attackers can exploit. Companies gain cloud network security by not managing multiple servers and operating systems that could be exploited.

AI and Machine Learning for Threat Detection

Because cloud computing provides flexible and scalable infrastructure, it’s a perfect match for artificial intelligence and machine learning. AI and ML algorithms require significant computing power, large amounts of data storage, and the fastest networks. The cloud cost-effectively provides all this.

AI and ML can also provide solutions to security issues in cloud computing. AI and ML analyze user behavior and can alert staff to potential problems, like multiple failed login attempts or unauthorized access. AI-powered threat intelligence platforms process massive amounts of security data to keep a cybersecurity team aware of potential threats.

With the right combination of automation and fast human response, AI and ML enable rapid responses to emerging threats. AI and ML algorithms in the cloud are constantly learning, keeping companies up-to-date with the latest threats.

Blockchain Technology

Blockchain first gained worldwide attention as the ledger behind Bitcoin. But the technology has many other uses. It’s especially well-suited for enhancing data security in cloud computing.

The structure of blockchain is, appropriately enough, a chain of blocks. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block in the chain. This creates a tamper-proof, chronological record of data transactions. Storing metadata (information that describes the characteristics of other data) in a blockchain ledger ensures that data has not been tampered with.

Furthermore, since blockchain offers transparency and auditability, cloud users can be sure of several things about their data. This is partly due to blockchain’s timestamping and notarization features. Combining features adds data security to cloud computing because users can trust the information they are working with.

Strategies to Strengthen Cloud Security

The tools mentioned above add layers of security to cloud computing. However, some proven strategies can further strengthen a company’s security posture (Crowdstrike, 2023). Here is a rundown of some of the most popular:

• Robust Identity and Access Management (IAM) Practices Strict control over user identities and authentication methods helps ensure that only authorized users can access their specific digital resources. Role-based access controls (RBAC) is a subset of IAM focused on associating privilege levels with job functionality, which fits well with the zero-trust model.
• Data Encryption and Secure Key Management Cloud providers frequently offer data encryption services; companies should take advantage of them. Storing, sending, and receiving data in encrypted form adds an extra layer of security that can prevent data loss.
• Continuous Monitoring and Security Incident Response Automated monitoring solutions and robust incident response time can make all the difference when a company’s systems are compromised. It’s one of the best ways to mitigate data loss or stop attacks before any systems are compromised.
• Cloud Workload Protection and Vulnerability Management Regular vulnerability assessments and rigorous patch management help reduce the risk of exploiting cloud systems. Cloud workload protection tools provide a protective layer, monitoring for malicious activity or unauthorized changes to cloud environments.
• Regular Security Audits and Compliance Assessments  Regular security audits and compliance assessments help identify vulnerabilities in cloud network security and human operations. A routine audit schedule also keeps companies in compliance with legal requirements and customer specifications.
• Employee Training and Awareness Programs While an excellent cybersecurity team is needed for every company today, true security requires everyone’s participation. Training and awareness programs for all employees help cut down on human error. A knowledgeable staff is more likely to recognize security incidents when they happen so they can be promptly reported.

Source: eccouncil.org

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What Is Cyber Crime? What Are the Different Types of Cyber Crime?

Cyber crime, as the name suggests, is the use of digital technologies such as computers and the internet to commit criminal activities. Malicious actors (often called “cyber criminals”) exploit computer hardware, software, and network vulnerabilities for various purposes, from stealing valuable data to disrupting the target’s business operations. The different types of cyber crime include:

• Hacking: Gaining unauthorized access to a computer system or account, often to inflict further damage on the target
• Phishing: Impersonating legitimate companies or individuals to trick users into revealing sensitive information
• Malware: Spreading malicious software such as viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware within a device or network
• Identity theft: Stealing personal data such as names, addresses, and social security numbers to fraudulently assume someone’s identity

News headlines are full of high-profile and high-impact cyber crime cases. In May 2021, for example, the U.S. oil pipeline system Colonial Pipeline was subject to a ransomware attack that halted its operations for nearly a week, leading to fuel shortages across the U.S. East Coast (Turton & Mehrotra, 2021). In 2023, the pharmacy services provider PharMerica announced that the personal data of 5.8 million patients—including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers—had been stolen by cyber criminals (Toulas, 2023).

The Impact of Cyber Crime

Cyber crime can affect individuals, businesses, and society in a variety of ways:

• Financial losses: Both individuals and businesses can suffer economic damage due to cyber crime. For example, a cyber attack that steals payment card information can lead to credit card fraud and identity theft.
• Personal effects: After a cyber attack, individuals may need to spend time protecting themselves and preventing further damage. Becoming a cyber crime victim can also be psychologically detrimental, resulting in anxiety and stress.
• Business disruption: Some cyber crimes, such as denial of service (DoS) attacks, are designed to disrupt a company’s operations for as long as possible. This can lead to website downtime, loss of customers and profits, and reputational damage.
• Public safety: Cyber criminals may target critical infrastructure such as power grids or manufacturing plants. This can disrupt essential services and even create risks to public safety.

Statistics on the cost of cyber crime show that it remains a threat to be taken seriously:

• The global average cost of a data breach was $4.45 million in 2023 (IBM, 2023).
• Cyber crime is the world’s third-largest “economy,” after only the U.S. and China (Vainilavičius, 2023).

Organizations of all sizes and industries have been impacted by cyber crime:

• In June 2023, tech giant Microsoft experienced temporary disruptions to its Outlook and Azure computing services after an attack by a cyber crime group called Anonymous Sudan (Bhattacharya, 2023).
• In 2022, the government of Costa Rica declared a state of emergency after many of its devices were infected by ransomware, shutting down essential services (Burgess, 2022).
• A study by Barracuda Networks found that small businesses are three times more likely to be targeted by phishing attacks than large enterprises (Segal, 2022).

How to Prevent Cyber Crime

• Fortunately, there are many effective ways of preventing cyber crime, including:
• Using strong passwords that are lengthy, complex, and not easy to crack.
• Avoiding suspicious links and attachments in email messages.
• Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.

Businesses and individuals can use cyber security measures such as the following:

• Firewalls control incoming and outgoing traffic on a computer network, blocking external threats from entering.
• Antivirus software can detect, quarantine, and remove malicious and suspicious applications.
• Intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems (IDS/IPS) monitor network traffic and system logs to identify and respond to potential threats.

Finally, organizations can hire dedicated cyber security professionals such as:

• Computer hacking and forensics investigators
• Ethical hackers
• Penetration testing professionals
• Network security professionals
• Incident responders
• Cyber security technicians

Certified cyber security professionals have a wealth of knowledge and experience in detecting and responding to cyber attacks. These individuals’ expertise with the latest vulnerabilities, attack techniques, and technologies helps them make invaluable suggestions and recommendations on the best way for businesses to strengthen their IT security posture. Cyber security professionals can evaluate an organization’s security risks, develop strategies for how to avoid cyber crime, and then oversee the implementation of these strategies.

Many organizations have successfully used the expertise of cyber security professionals to prevent cyber crime. For example, massive tech firms such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon are constantly subject to cyber threats. However, these companies employ highly skilled cyber security personnel who have been largely successful in protecting their data and devices from attackers.

Responding to Cyber Crime

When organizations realize that they have become a target of cyber crime, the minutes and hours that follow are critical. Businesses must establish a robust cyber security response plan well before this event. A response plan ensures that organizations can effectively and promptly react to a devastating attack and recover from business disruption.

The steps of this response plan should include the following:

• Identifying and containing the threat: The affected systems should be isolated, shut down, and disconnected from the network.
• Assessing the damage: Cyber security professionals need to determine the scope and severity of the attack.
• Mitigating the vulnerability: The organization should fix any weaknesses that enabled the attack, such as changing passwords or installing security patches.
• Reporting to the authorities: Depending on laws and regulations, this may include law enforcement personnel, regulatory authorities, and any affected customers.

One example of an effective response to cyber crime is the Norwegian industrial company Norsk Hydro (Microsoft). In 2019, cyber criminals managed to infect the Norsk Hydro network with the LockerGoga ransomware, bringing business operations to a halt. Norsk Hydro quickly enlisted the help of seasoned cyber security professionals: Microsoft’s Detection and Response Team (DART). By taking strong, decisive action, Norsk Hydro restored its data from backups without paying the attackers.

The Future of Cyber Crime

Cyber crime is a constant game of cat-and-mouse: cyber criminals constantly invent new attack methods, and cyber security professionals seek to defend against them. So, how is cyber crime evolving, and what can we expect in the future?

The ways in which cyber crime is evolving include:

• Higher damages: Cyber attacks are becoming more damaging to their victims in terms of financial, legal, and reputational risk.
• Greater sophistication: Criminals can leverage new technologies and exploit new vulnerabilities, allowing for more sophisticated attacks. For example, many cyber criminals spend longer performing reconnaissance on their targets, improving the odds of success.

Some potential cyber crime trends to watch out for in 2023 and beyond include: 

• Automotive hacking that seizes control of a user’s vehicle, potentially causing major peril while on the road. Car manufacturers should deploy tools such as IDS/IPS within the vehicle to detect and block attacks (Ivens, 2022).
• The use of generative AI models such as ChatGPT for more realistic and convincing social engineering attacks on a large scale. Cyber security leaders need to use countermeasures to effectively identify AI-produced content and ward off these attempts (Chilton, 2023).
• The growth of cyber crime as a service (CaaS), in which cyber criminals sell their tools and expertise to others. With launching a cyber attack easier than ever for anyone with the funds, following standard cyber security protocols is even more vital (Chebac, 2023).

With new cyber threats continually emerging, it’s critical to anticipate these risks and develop countermeasures in response. This will help organizations respond to cyber attacks more effectively and become a more difficult (and less appealing) attack target in the first place.

Companies need to stay up-to-date on their cyber security measures, such as:

• Patching newly discovered vulnerabilities and weaknesses to prevent attackers from exploiting them.
• Keeping an eye on new data privacy and data security laws and regulations.
• Improving plans for incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity after a cyber attack.

The Role of Digital Forensics in Cyber Crime Investigations

Digital forensics is a branch of forensic science focusing on digital assets and evidence. Digital forensics requires gathering evidence, preserving and analyzing data, investigating cyber attacks, and identifying the perpetrators in cyber crime cases.

Cyber crime cases use digital forensic investigators for activities such as:

• Collecting evidence from hardware, software, network logs, servers, cloud storage, and mobile devices.
• Reconstructing the root cause of and sequence of events following a cyber attack, including the techniques and methods used by the attackers.
• Examining and connecting digital evidence such as IP addresses, tools used, and attacker behavior to determine the perpetrators’ identity.

Digital forensics involves various technical challenges. For example, data may be encrypted, rendering it difficult or impossible to understand without the decryption key. Attackers may also use fake or anonymized identities or technologies like Tor to conceal their location.

Some high-profile cyber crime cases solved with the help of digital forensics include:

• Silk Road: “Silk Road” was an infamous marketplace on the Dark Web where users bought and sold many illicit goods and services. In 2013, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation identified the marketplace’s founder and shut it down by examining a trail of digital evidence (CBS News, 2020).
• Lapsus$: The Lapsus$ ransomware gang was responsible for many high-profile attacks on tech companies such as NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Samsung. In 2022, London police arrested seven teenagers believed to be connected to the gang after a digital forensic investigation (Peters, 2022).

Becoming a digital forensics investigator can be an exciting, dynamic, and rewarding career choice. Many digital forensics investigators are motivated to help combat the rise in cyber crimes while protecting individuals and organizations and ensuring justice.

Training and education are crucial for a career path in digital forensics. Many digital forensics investigators have a formal education background, with degrees in computer science, information technology, or cyber security. Others learn on the job or obtain digital forensics certifications to validate their skills and knowledge.

The skills and knowledge required for digital forensics in cyber crime investigations include:

• Familiarity with evidence handling procedures to ensure that digital evidence is admissible in legal cases
• Cyber security fundamentals such as networking, operating systems, malware, and common vulnerabilities
• Proficiency in digital forensic software such as Encase, FTK, Autopsy, and Wireshark
• A strong understanding of the legal and ethical issues surrounding digital forensic investigations
• Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity when analyzing complex IT environments and connecting pieces of evidence

The Role of C|HFI in Digital Forensics Investigations

Obtaining certification is an excellent way to get started in the fast-paced and rewarding field of digital forensics. EC-Council’s C|HFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator) program is the only comprehensive, ANSI-accredited, lab-focused, vendor-neutral digital forensics course on the market.

Students in the C|HFI program learn to conduct real-world investigations and investigate security threats using cutting-edge digital forensics tools and technologies. After receiving the certification, graduates will enter a growing job market with many opportunities:

• Between 2021 and 2031, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the role of information security analyst will grow by 32 percent (U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, 2023), and the role of forensic science technician will grow by 13 percent (U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, 2023).
• The average salary for a digital forensics investigator is over $83,580 in the U.S. (Glassdoor, 2023) and over £36,347 in the United Kingdom (Glassdoor, 2023).

Source: eccouncil.org

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Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis: What, Why, and How to Learn

What Is the Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis?

The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis is a cybersecurity framework that helps organizations analyze cyber intrusions. The model was first proposed by Sergio Caltagirone, Andrew Pendergast, and Christopher Betz in a 2013 U.S. Department of Defense technical report titled “The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis” (Caltagirone et al., 2013).

The main objectives of the Diamond Model are to identify specific attackers, understand the tactics, threats, and procedures they use, and more effectively respond to cyber incidents as they occur.

Just as there are four points in a diamond, the Diamond Model has four key components: adversaries, infrastructure, capabilities, and targets. These components also have various links or relationships (such as adversary-victim, adversary-infrastructure, and victim-capability).

Unlike many other cybersecurity frameworks, the Diamond Model heavily focuses on the task of attribution: identifying those responsible for a cyber incident. The Diamond Model is also a highly flexible schema and can be applied to everything from advanced persistent threats (APTs) to ransomware attacks.

How Does the Diamond Model Work?

As mentioned above, there are four main components of the Diamond Model of Intrusion:

• Adversary: The attacker or group responsible for a cyber incident.
• Infrastructure: The technical resources or assets the adversary uses during the attack (e.g., servers, domains, and IP addresses).
• Capability: A method, tool, or technique the adversary uses during the attack (e.g., malware or exploits).
• Victim: The individual or organization the adversary targets during the attack.

There are also various relationships between these components, including:

• Adversary-victim: The interaction between the attacker and target. This relationship concerns questions such as why the attacker selected this target and the attacker’s motivations and objectives.
• Adversary infrastructure: The attacker uses various technical resources and assets. This relationship concerns how the attacker establishes and maintains its cyber operations.
• Victim-infrastructure: The target’s connection to the attacker’s technical resources. This relationship concerns the attacker’s use of various channels, methods, and vectors against the target.
• Victim-capability: The target’s connection to the attacker’s tools and techniques. This relationship concerns specific tactics and attack signatures used against the target.

What Are the Benefits of Using the Diamond Model?

The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis offers advantages such as:

• Holistic understanding: The Diamond Model examines the technical aspects of a cyberattack and the human and organizational aspects (in the form of the adversary and victim).
• Structured analysis: The Diamond Model provides a clear, organized way for cybersecurity experts to structure and process data relating to cyber threats and attacks, making it easier to collaborate and share information.
• Incident response and threat intelligence: The Diamond Model offers benefits both for threat intelligence (before an attack) and incident response (after an attack), helping analysts collect and analyze valuable data.

The Diamond Model is particularly skillful at visualizing and understanding complex attack scenarios. By modeling the relationships between adversaries, victims, infrastructure, and capabilities, the Diamond Model helps cyber analysts see how the different elements of a cyberattack interact with and influence each other. The Diamond Model condenses large amounts of data into a simple diagram, making exploring different links and patterns easier.

What Are the Key Attributes Within Each Element of the Diamond Model?

Each element of the Diamond Model possesses different attributes that include valuable additional information. For example, below are some key attributes of the adversary element:

• The adversary’s identity, name, or pseudonym.
• The adversary’s motivations and objectives (e.g., financial gain or corporate espionage).
• The adversary’s technical capabilities, skills, and knowledge.
• The adversary’s tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• The adversary’s attribution indicators (pieces of evidence that link the adversary to a particular group, such as code similarities or similar tactics).

Below are some key attributes of the infrastructure element:

• The geographic locations, IP addresses, and domains of servers in the adversary’s command and control infrastructure.
• The communication protocols used (e.g., HTTPS or DNS).
• Domain registration details (e.g., the registration date and name of the registering party).
• The websites or servers hosting malware or phishing scams.
• Abnormal traffic patterns indicating communication with the adversary’s command and control systems.

How Does the Diamond Model Align with Other Cybersecurity Frameworks?

The Diamond Model is notably distinct from other cybersecurity frameworks such as Lockheed Martin’s Cyber Kill Chain or MITRE ATT&CK. However, the main differences between the Diamond Model and other cybersecurity frameworks are as follows:

Diamond Model vs. Cyber Kill Chain: Whereas the Diamond Model concentrates on the relationships between adversaries and victims, the Cyber Kill Chain focuses on the stages of a cyberattack, from surveillance to carrying out the attack’s objectives.

Diamond Model vs. MITRE ATT&CK: Unlike the Diamond Model, the MITRE ATT&CK framework focuses much more on detailing the adversary’s TTPs, mapping specific tactics to defensive strategies.

As a result, the Diamond Model can work in tandem with other frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK and the Cyber Kill Chain. Each framework focuses on different components or elements of a cyberattack, helping analysts obtain a holistic picture of the incident.

What Are Some Real-World Examples of Using the Diamond Model?

The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis has been used effectively in practical, real-world use cases. For example, cybersecurity analysts Meghan Jacquot and Kate Esprit used the Diamond Model to analyze the LAPSUS$ ransomware and hacking group. (Esprit and Jacquot, 2022) They used the framework to collect information about the adversary (LAPSUS$) and its infrastructure, capabilities, and victims:

• Infrastructure: Open-source hacking tools, Telegram, underground forums
• Capabilities: Social engineering, DDoS attacks, stolen certificates, credential dumping, etc.
• Victims: Companies in the telecommunications, software, technology, and gaming industries

The Diamond Model was also used by researchers John Kotheimer, Kyle O’Meara, and Deana Shick at Carnegie Mellon University. In their case study “Using Honeynets and the Diamond Model for ICS Threat Analysis,” these researchers examined how adversaries interacted with industrial control system honeynets (fake networks designed to lure attackers) and mapped these interactions to the different components of the Diamond Model. (Kotheimer et al., 2016)

Source: eccouncil.org

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Cloud Defense 101: Enhancing Data and Application Security for the Modern Enterprise

Cloud security threats are inevitable due to the scope and breadth of cyber threats. The reliability of the cloud is a huge advantage for businesses, but it also brings new challenges associated with regulatory compliance and data storage. Security has always been a top priority when it comes to cloud computing. The overall need for security controls is one of the primary reasons organizations still face hiccups when migrating toward cloud solutions.

With the enterprise workload being spread across various virtual environments, the security team needs to approach cloud security carefully and look for ways to improve the security posture of applications and data. This article addresses some of the key considerations of which threats persist in cloud applications and data and how businesses can protect their assets, starting from understanding risks, implementing security solutions and frameworks, securing access, standard security management, and much more.

Security Threats for Cloud Data and Application

Though the benefits of the cloud are evident, many organizations still need to learn about the security risks involved. Here are some potential threats that security teams need to be aware of to develop a holistic security solution for their cloud-based applications.

• Misconfigurations: Cloud environments are challenging to manage, particularly in multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Misconfigurations have become one of the leading causes of cloud security breaches. Commonly occurring with authentication mechanisms, misconfiguration impairs identity and access management.
• Bots and Automated Attacks: Bots and malicious scanners are a fact of life when exposing any service to the Internet. As a result, any cloud application must account for these threats by implementing security measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection software (Check Point, 2022).
• Cryptographic Failures: Data security can be compromised by issues such as encryption failures for passwords or in the transport layer, insufficient randomness, weak encryption algorithms, and keys.
• Unsecure Design: Application design is the key to stable operations and security, so it must be managed effectively from the beginning of the software development process. The shift to virtual environments and multi-cloud architectures only increases the pressure on secure design development.
• Broken Authentication: A vulnerability in OWASP’s top 10 list, broken authentication allows for the use of weak passwords, which can be susceptible to brute-force attacks and similar attacks. These stolen credentials can lead to security breaches.
• Data Integrity Failures: Continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines can help prevent malware attacks across all connected applications. Any failure to verify the integrity of these channels may lead to malware attacks.
• Social Engineering: A weak human link in the security chain is most frequently targeted for credentials theft.
• Exposed Credentials: The process of account hijacking involves the exposure of credentials, which provides threat actors with access to and authority over a compromised account.
• Account Hijacking: Most of the listed attack vectors attempt to steal data or credentials related to cloud applications. A compromised account can provide threat actors with access to sensitive information and control of cloud assets.
• API Vulnerabilities: As one of the common data-sharing mechanisms, API is a highly targeted element, especially among cloud applications.
• Lack of Visibility into Cloud Environments: Hybrid and multi-cloud environments make it more difficult for security teams to manage cloud security risks due to configuration complexity, monitoring challenges, and access control limitations.
• Misuse of the Cloud Platform: An analogy to phishing activities, open cloud sources can be exploited by attackers to upload malware on online forums using cloud services as a file-hosting solution.
• Inadequate Physical Security Measures: As part of the shared responsibility model, the cloud service provider (CSP) is responsible for the physical security of its assets and should include planning for power outages and natural disasters.

Security Solution and Framework

Security capabilities must be developed to secure a virtual environment with the nature of cloud operations in mind. Data and assets need to be protected end-to-end across multiple cloud-native platforms and hybrid environments. Thus, security teams are encouraged to adopt various solutions and policies to ensure agile security. The possible frameworks that could be adopted to protect cloud-native assets are listed as follows:

• Cloud Access Security: As part of identity-driven security, enforcement and verification points between cloud data and users are deployed to authenticate users and protect traffic with firewalls and intrusion detection mechanisms.
• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): Web application firewalls (WAFs) are deployed at the network layer to help protect web applications from threats by detecting and identifying abnormal behavior and anomalies signatures.
• Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP): These solutions are designed to provide more targeted protection for applications than whole-web application firewalls, which protect an organization’s entire web application infrastructure. RASP can detect even unknown attacks based on their impact on the protected application.
• Cloud Penetration Testing: Web application penetration testing (WAPT) is one of the most robust approaches used to assess the security of cloud applications, as it allows security teams to uncover hidden vulnerabilities before threat actors can identify and exploit them. Implementing penetration testing during DevOps allows developers to identify security problems associated with application functionalities (Khasim, 2023). Popular tools for WAPT include Burp Suite, AppScan, Qualys, Metasploit, and Acunetix.
• Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP): This solution provides capabilities for monitoring security threats in cloud workloads and protection against malware on all types of applications deployed across multiple cloud service providers.
• Security Model for DevSecOps: Aimed at incorporating itself during the DevSecOps process, specific models assess the vulnerability or a threat’s potential for damage, reproducibility, exploitability, ease of discoverability, and its impact on users to prioritize their handling. Security implementation in DevSecOps should include parameters and tactics that detect, manage, and prevent faults by developing frameworks that involve inputs from developers and security experts (Kudrati, 2023).
• Web Application & API Protection (WAAP): It is a cloud-native security solution that combines the functionality of different security solutions and frameworks for holistic security for the cloud. It combines WAFs and RASP with other solutions and allows security teams to automate, scale, and monitor its application smoothly.
• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): This framework helps visualize risks, assess threats and respond to incidents in different types of cloud infrastructure. Continuous Security and Privacy Monitoring (CSPM) provides a holistic solution for cloud asset security by enabling continuous compliance monitoring and policy creation for desired states of cloud infrastructure (Alvarenga, 2022).

Cybersecurity Best Practices in the Cloud    

Securing cloud applications requires the involvement of different cybersecurity strategies. Implementing best practices in the security policy will not prevent every attack, but it can significantly lower risks and help businesses shore up their defenses. Thus, enterprises aiming at lowering risk should understand and implement these cybersecurity best practices.

• Robust Cloud Security Policy: Developing and implementing an effective cloud security policy that defines access and authentication as well as integrates various security solutions across the entire cloud architecture.
• Identity Access Management (IAM): Cloud applications are designed to be accessed by users from any global location, network, or channel. An Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategy is essential to allow for broader business security processes. A holistic approach to IAM can protect cloud applications and improve the overall security posture of an organization (Snyk, 2021).
• Data Privacy and Compliance: Data privacy, application security, and compliance are crucial for protecting end-users of cloud-native applications. Compliance with other security controls helps protect the privacy of application users.
• Understanding Threat Actors: To formulate effective security policies and actions, it is necessary to understand your adversaries and their modes of operation. As a part of threat intelligence, one should get a sense of the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) used by malicious actors to develop a proper security response.
• Automated Security Testing: Automating some of the testing processes, such as vulnerability scanning, will reduce the burden on security teams and ensure secure software builds before deployment.
• Threat Monitoring: As the threat landscape continues to change and evolve, continuous real-time monitoring for cyber threats and post-deployment of cloud applications allows organizations to leverage threat intelligence to stay ahead of malicious actors (Divadari, 2023).
• Monitor the Attack Surface: Continuous visibility into all cloud assets and workloads, coupled with proactive threat hunting, will make it more challenging for adversaries to hide and escalate the attack.
• Critical Data: Identifying and managing critical data and applications will allow security teams to design robust cybersecurity plans and manage assets effectively based on their levels of criticality and sensitivity.
• Decreasing Exposure Risks: A cloud environment can be made more secure by improving visibility and limiting attack surfaces through continuous assessment and removal of unwanted applications and workloads.
• Insider Threats: Organizations should aim for greater visibility into their cloud networks, processes, and applications to reduce their risk of insider threats. They should regularly review their security controls and network admin activities.
• Encryption: As cloud applications obtain and transfer data across different devices through API, encrypting data while it is being processed, transmitted across the network, or stored allows for protecting sensitive data. Data encryption can help reduce the risk of a cloud application leaking sensitive information.
• Security training: Organizations should develop training programs to train employees to detect and avoid social engineering attacks. Secure human links in the security chain will limit the options for threat actors, increasing their costs for the attack (Shrama, 2023).
• Endpoint security: Endpoint security solutions protect less-secure endpoints and deny attackers access to cloud assets and data through these devices.
• Create regular backups: Loss of data can cause irreparable harm to enterprises, so it is important to use secondary sites for data storage. Traditional storage, or protecting the secondary storage solution to cloud backups for sensitive data and mission-critical files, will help businesses restore operations quickly.
• Cloud forensic: Conducting a cloud security incident investigation after a breach allows security teams to determine how the attack happened and why, which helps prevent future incidents. This may also be necessary for compliance reasons.

Comprehensive Strategy for Cloud Application Security

Security threats for cloud infrastructure, data, and especially applications have great potential to cause severe damage and disruption to the business. Recently, many organizations have embraced DevOps as part of their agile software development process. However, traditional DevOps and its corresponding infrastructure typically do not protect cloud-native applications. Thus, cloud security is critical for organizations leveraging the cloud as part of their software development and deployment process.

Cloud security is a process-oriented service, and any implementation of security mechanisms will differ based on its specific use case. As cloud technology becomes more prevalent, the attack surface will expand to include cloud-native applications. The security framework should also evolve to protect these applications and associated data. The current state of cloud technology is a mix of various workloads, assets, and platforms spread across virtual and hybrid environments. As such, cloud security service providers need to address a wide range of issues.

The listed security solutions and frameworks are common elements that can be combined with other factors to create a more comprehensive security policy for holistic cloud-native security. The listed best practices are guidelines for developing an effective cloud security service for any business. A thorough understanding of the aforementioned cloud security threats will help analysts stay vigilant when protecting virtual environments.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Best Practices for Cloud Incident Response (E|CIH)

Organizations of all sizes are moving to the cloud because of increased agility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. However, with these advantages come new risks and challenges that must be managed. Incident response is one of the most important but often overlooked aspects of cloud management.

This article discusses best practices for cloud incident response. Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise with a complex architecture, following these guidelines can help you protect your data and infrastructure and quickly recover from any cloud incidents.

Cloud Incident Response Framework

There is no one-size-fits-all approach for responding to incidents in the cloud. The cloud is a complex and ever-changing environment, so how you respond to an incident will vary depending on the situation. That is why it’s important to have a well-defined cloud incident response plan in place.

The framework consists of four key components: preparation and follow-on review, detection and analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery. Each component includes a set of best practices that should be followed to respond effectively to a cloud incident.

1. Preparation and follow-on review are critical to the success of any incident response effort. Organizations should take time to plan for how they will detect and investigate incidents and identify who will be responsible for each task. They should also establish procedures for regularly reviewing their incident response processes to ensure they are effective.
2. Detection and analysis are the first steps in responding to a cloud incident. Organizations should have systems and procedures to detect incidents quickly and collect data. They should also be able to analyze this data to determine the root cause of the incident and identify any potential indicators of compromise.
3. The next steps in responding to a cloud incident are containment, eradication, and recovery. Organizations should take steps to contain the spread of an incident, eradicate its cause, and then recover from the incident. They should also put procedures in place to prevent future incidents from occurring.
4. A post-mortem is the final step in responding to a cloud incident. Organizations should conduct a post-mortem analysis to learn from their experience and improve their incident response processes. This analysis should include a review of what went well and what could be improved, as well as recommendations for future action.

Not every incident will be the same, so a cloud incident response plan must be flexible. By having a well-defined plan in place, you can be prepared to deal with anything that comes your way.

Best Practices for Cloud Incident Response

For cloud incident response, there are best practices that organizations should follow to ensure data is collected and processed efficiently, standardized for preservation, and analyzed holistically. To get started, here is what you need to do:

• You need to know where your data comes from to identify potential incidents and threats. This means knowing which systems are generating data and understanding how that data is being generated. Once you have this information, you can start collecting data prudently — collecting only the necessary and relevant data for your investigation.
• After you have collected the relevant data, process it efficiently. Remove redundant or irrelevant data and organize the remaining data so it is easy to analyze.
• Once you have collected and processed the data, you must preserve it in a standardized format. You must ensure that the data can be easily accessed and reviewed.
• To get the most out of your data, analyze it holistically by looking at it from multiple angles to identify patterns.
• As you collect more data and become more experienced in analyzing it, you will need to refine and sharpen your toolset. This means constantly updating your tools and techniques to ensure that you can identify incidents and threats effectively (Campbell, J. 2022).

Cloud Incident Management Process

When an organization moves to the cloud, many changes need to be made to maintain the same security and uptime expected from on-premises infrastructure. One such change is how incidents are managed.

The cloud incident management process is a set of guidelines for responding to and managing incidents in cloud-based systems. These guidelines help ensure that incidents are handled efficiently and effectively, and that data is protected.

Cloud incident management begins with monitoring. Monitoring tools can detect issues and potential problems before they cause major disruptions. By monitoring metrics, analysts can identify issues early and take steps to prevent them from becoming full-blown incidents.

Cloud incident management aims to resolve incidents quickly and minimize the impact on users and business operations. To do this, it’s important to integrate alerting and monitoring with existing systems to quickly identify and fix problems before they cause major disruptions.

It is also important to work with cloud providers to keep data safe. Cloud providers have tools and processes in place to help prevent data loss. But they can only do so much; organizations should ensure their data is backed up and protected.

Finally, logs can provide valuable information about what happened during an incident. They can help organizations troubleshoot problems and prevent them from happening again.

The cloud incident management process is critical to maintaining a secure and reliable cloud environment. By following this process, organizations can minimize the impact of incidents and keep their systems running smoothly (Bramhe, R. 2022).

Incident response is one of the most important aspects of protecting your cloud environment. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can create a framework that will help you quickly and effectively respond to any cloud incidents that occur. A well-defined process will make it easier for your team to handle an incident, minimizing its impact on your business.

The EC-Council’s Certified Incident Handler (E|CIH) program is designed to provide incident handlers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively respond to and manage computer security incidents. The program covers various topics, including incident response methodology, incident handling tools and techniques, and incident management. The E|CIH program is a great way for incident handlers to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their jobs.

Source: eccouncil.org

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What Is Identity and Access Management?

Identity and Access Management (identity access management or IAM) is vital to any cybersecurity strategy. It’s also often misunderstood. Instead of being one activity, IAM is a practice encompassing technology, business processes and policies, and organizational techniques.

So, what is Identity and Access Management? It depends on the organization and its tools, but IAM encapsulates how companies control user accounts, passwords, and access levels. It’s a framework comprising several elements that manage computer system identities.

There are four components of an IAM system:

• User management
• Authentication
• Authorization
• Identity governance

Businesses use IAM because it gives them fine-grained control over users and access. Most companies have several electronic systems, applications, servers, cloud apps, and other resources that require privileged identity management. Access to sensitive data requires strict controls, and IAM systems are often the best solution.

Key Concepts of Identity and Access Management

All IAM systems, whether straightforward or complex, share key concepts like authentication and authorization. Authentication concerns how users can log on to an account, such as with a password or access token, while the authorization module controls which resources users can access.

Users gain authorization based on their role in the organization or their group. This makes authorization one of the most critical parts of an IAM system because it controls who can access which systems.

Identity governance is the other critical component of IAM, defining how an organization manages user roles and permissions. It ensures that users have the correct access level and provides methods to audit user access levels. The auditing function of user governance is crucial, as it allows an organization to validate its security and policies.

Benefits and Advantages of IAM

Thanks to their many benefits, Identity and Access Management have become a standard part of IT security strategies. Managing users, passwords, and system authorization can quickly become problematic, especially in large enterprises with many users and resources. However, IAM tames the complexity of these processes by providing a centralized method for user access control.

Organizations gain operational efficiency with IAM systems because they only manage their users and authorization levels from one location. Identity management also provides a framework for enforcing security and access control policies. For example, financial document and application access is typically limited to finance teams and high-level managers. Organizations grant access based on employee roles and group memberships, passing authentication and authorization responsibilities to the Identity and Access Management system.

Regulatory compliance is another benefit of this system. Compliance would be challenging to maintain and prove without IAM, especially in large organizations. Data privacy regulations require companies to protect user data privacy, and IAMs offer a standardized method to show compliance. Identity and Access Management systems also keep records readily available for auditing by providing access control mechanisms with paper trails.

The reporting capabilities of IAMs simplify the process of validating compliance with regulations and customer requirements. The alternative of trying to manage manual compliance and enforcement of security policies would be difficult, if not impossible, to maintain long-term.

Implementing an IAM System

Most organizations already have a basic identity management system, whether or not they recognize it as such. For instance, an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Control) directory or Active Directory server might provide centralized user and password management. However, these solutions often lack the comprehensive features of an Identity and Access Management system.

A successful IAM deployment requires careful consideration of the existing identity management or authorization and access control systems. As you develop an identity access management roadmap that aligns with your business goals, you must ensure it’s compatible with existing technology — or provide a smooth path to phasing out those systems.

As with most IT implementations, your organization would review proposals and sales pitches from multiple vendors. Keep in mind your company’s security strategy, regulatory and customer requirements, and ability to customize a system to suit your organization. The chosen solution should offer an integration strategy so current systems can work with the IAM.

Common Challenges in IAM

Organizations often struggle with managing their user identities as they implement an IAM. Most companies have user accounts for employees, contractors, customers, and external partners, among other types. Defining the roles and access around these various levels can be time-consuming and tedious until the IAM system is fully implemented.

Overcoming the challenges of IAM implementation can be seen as a balancing act. You are trying to manage security, external requirements like regulations, customer requirements, and the user experience. Assessing the minimum requirements for each side can help strike a balance.

The most successful IAM deployments undergo rigorous testing before being promoted into everyday use. A pilot program with your most technical users can give you valuable insight into how well the IAM system works. Communicating the reasons for the implementation and offering proper training will help smooth out the changes for end users. You could include a “What is Identity Management?” section in the training session to help explain why your company decided to implement IAM security.

Best Practices for Effective IAM

After conquering any implementation hurdles, it’s time to implement IAM best practices. This stage includes, if possible, implementing automated user provisioning and de-provisioning. As a feature in many Identity and Access Management systems, user provisioning and de-provisioning can help ensure the prompt granting and revoking of user access.

Implement stronger authentication methods in the IAM to increase your organization’s security posture. Some possibilities include two-factor authentication (2FA), biometrics, hardware tokens, and other traditional password options.

Continue to educate users long after your implementation, and expect that newly onboarded team members or users may still ask, “What is IAM?” Routine training keeps everyone up to date on what identity access management is and how IAM security benefits the company. A key component of IAM is enforcing your organization’s security policies. Users should know the policies and how your IAM fits the overall strategy.

Source: eccouncil.org

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SOC Analyst: A Career Worth Considering (C|SA)

Information security is one of the most rapidly growing fields in the world, and Security Operations Center (SOC) analysts are at the forefront of this movement. If you’re considering a career in information security, a SOC analyst role should be at the top of your list.

What is a SOC?

A SOC is a physical or virtual facility that organizations use to centralize and oversee their security efforts. A SOC team typically includes analysts, engineers, and other security professionals who work together to identify, investigate, and resolve security incidents.

The term “security operations center” can refer to various security-related groups within an organization. Sometimes, a SOC may be a group of people within the larger security organization responsible for monitoring and responding to security incidents. In other cases, a SOC may be its own distinct organizational unit with its own budget, staff, and facilities.

Regardless of its size or scope, the primary goal of a SOC is to help organizations better protect their critical assets and data. To do this, SOC teams use various tools and techniques to detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents.

SOC teams often are the front line of an organization’s defense against cyberattacks. As such, they play a vital role in helping organizations mitigate the impact of security incidents. In many cases, SOC teams are also responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures.

The term “security operations center” is sometimes used interchangeably with “computer security incident response team” or CSIRT. While both groups are responsible for responding to security incidents, CSIRTs typically have a more limited scope, focusing solely on incidents involving computers and computer systems.

It’s important to note that a SOC is not the same as a “security control room” (SCR). A security control room is typically a physical space where security personnel monitor CCTV cameras and other security systems. While SOC teams may use control rooms, they are not limited to them.

What Does a SOC Do?

A SOC analyst is responsible for securing an organization’s network and systems. They work to identify and prevent security threats and respond to security incidents when they occur.

Security operations analysts use various tools and techniques to carry out their duties. They may use intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to monitor network traffic for suspicious activity. They may also use honeypots, which are simulated system vulnerabilities used to attract and track attackers.

SOC analysts also have a strong understanding of common hacking techniques and how to defend against them. They keep up to date with the latest security news and advisories to quickly identify new threats.

In addition to their technical skills, security operations analysts must have strong communication and interpersonal skills. They must work well in a team environment and share information effectively with other security team members.

SOC analyst positions typically are in large organizations with a dedicated security team. However, smaller organizations may also have SOC analyst positions, which generalist IT professionals with some security experience may fill.

Why SOCs Play a Vital Role in Organizations’ Security

SOC security is essential to organizations. These security operation analysts form a highly focused, dedicated team in a centralized location to monitor and respond to security threats. 

Organizations rely on SOC reporting to protect their systems and data from attacks. SOCs also help organizations meet compliance requirements by providing visibility into their security posture. Furthermore, they help organizations manage risk by identifying and responding to potential threats before they can cause damage.

SOCs are an essential part of any organization’s security. Organizations should consider establishing a SOC if they don’t already have one. Doing so will help them protect their systems and data from attack and meet compliance requirements.

There are many benefits to having a SOC, including the following:

• Improved detection and response times to incidents
• Better coordination between different teams within an organization
• Increased visibility into the organization’s overall security posture
• More efficient use of resources

SOC Analyst Career: Growth, Salary, Jobs & Future Outlook 

A SOC analyst is responsible for developing and maintaining an organization’s security operations center. The SOC is a central location where security personnel monitor and respond to security events. The security operations analyst ensures that the SOC operates efficiently and effectively (Fruhlinger, J, 2020).

SOC analyst jobs are relatively new and have been created in response to the increasing need for organizations to have a dedicated team to manage their security operations. As the number of cyberattacks has increased, so has the need for SOC security.

SOC analyst jobs are highly technical, and analysts must have a strong understanding of network security and computer forensics. In addition, analysts must communicate effectively with other members of the organization and with external stakeholders.

SOC analyst jobs offer a great deal of career growth potential. Analysts capable of effectively managing the SOC can move into senior positions within the organization, such as SOC manager, director, or even chief security officer (CSO).

SOC analysts may find the job challenging at times but also rewarding since they contribute significantly to an organization’s security. They’re critical in the fight against cybercrime, and organizations that don’t have a dedicated SOC team are at a disadvantage when it comes to protecting their networks and data. 

The average salary of a SOC analyst is $ 96,426 per year (Salary.com, 2022).

SOC analyst jobs are in high demand, and the position is worth considering if you have an interest in computer security and want a career that will be in demand for years to come. The salary range for SOC analysts is excellent, and the job satisfaction rating is high. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career, consider becoming a SOC analyst. 

Source: eccouncil.org

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5 New Cybersecurity Challenges Chief Security Officers (CSOs) Should Be Aware of in 2023

If you’re a chief security officer (CSO), chief information security officer (CISO), or other cybersecurity leader, your job is never dull. Technology is constantly evolving, as are the threats to an organization’s data and intellectual property. No chief security officer can rest on their laurels because each year brings new challenges. And 2023 is shaping up to be one of the most challenging years yet.

Here are five of the top new cybersecurity challenges for a chief security officer in 2023—and what you can do about them. If you’re not a cybersecurity leader yet but hope to be one someday, you can still enjoy this look at 2023’s top CISO challenges.

The 5 Most Recent Cybersecurity Threats That CSOs Need to Know About

From the cloud and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to data regulations, the top cybersecurity threats for a chief security officer in 2023 reflect current trends in technology and the world at large, including:

Security Control Gaps Due to AI and Cloud

2023 will likely go down as the year that AI went mainstream. The popularity of ChatGPT, Google Bard, and other interactive chatbots brought the power of AI, large language models, and machine learning to even non-technical users. While these developments have mostly been a net positive for the world, bad actors have also discovered the power of AI. With many cybersecurity tools and apps now using machine learning algorithms, it can be difficult to tell whether AI is good or bad for security professionals (Greer, 2023).

A chief security officer in 2023 can expect to see more realistic phishing emails and other social engineering attacks, thanks to machine learning’s ability to mimic human speech. The speed at which AI operates has also led to an increase in automated exploits. Hackers can simply input a few parameters, watch AI perform automated vulnerability scanning, and then generate custom code to exploit those weaknesses.

At the same time, the enterprise shift to the cloud has been accelerated ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased prevalence of remote work that started in 2020

is in full swing in 2023, creating another control gap for chief security officers. Cloud environments can be particularly vulnerable to data breaches if they are improperly secured. A cloud platform’s identity and access management (IAM) can suffer from weak authentication methods and misconfiguration. A chief security officer in 2023 must adapt modern tools and solutions to close gaps between AI and the cloud.

Multicloud Adoption and Cloud Data Breaches

The shift to the cloud is so accelerated that many CSOs are now faced with securing a multicloud environment. However, each new cloud app or platform is also a potential new attack vector, making cloud data breaches one of the most pressing concerns in 2023.

One of the bigger hurdles for multicloud infrastructures is the difficulty of enforcing policy across different cloud apps or platforms. Security teams also may not get proper training on each new service, potentially leading to an increase in cloud data breaches. Even in the best cases, meeting compliance requirements across multiple clouds can be complex and requires careful planning.

A chief security officer should always be heavily involved in the process of evaluating new apps and platforms. That way, they can understand the security implications of bringing new systems online. The CSO should ensure that security considerations are a part of any new project’s budget so that a multicloud adoption doesn’t mean added data breaches.

Threat of Litigation with New Governing and Data Norms

While each new cloud service or platform brings new cybersecurity threats, that may be the tip of the iceberg. In the years since the European Union passed the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), other governments have passed several information privacy laws. Employee or customer data exposed in a data breach could violate these regulations, leading to the threat of litigation.

For example, in early 2022, the United Kingdom government announced plans to update its cybersecurity framework. The revised legislation is expected to expand the type of cyber incidents that must be reported to regulators (Ivory et al., 2023).

This is especially concerning when you consider that cyber attacks are getting more sophisticated with the use of AI and machine learning algorithms, deep fake technology, and advanced phishing attacks. For companies with a presence in multiple jurisdictions, the chief security officer now has to become an expert in data security laws and evolving societal norms around data usage.

Catastrophic Weather Events Impacting the Business Continuity

Every year has its fair share of extreme weather events, but 2023 has had more than its fair share. From Cyclone Freddy in February to the unprecedented wildfires in Hawaii in August, not a month has passed without a catastrophic event (Rao, 2023). This shifts the chief security officer’s concern from the virtual world to the physical one. Each extreme

weather event disrupts power, cellular communications, and internet access, posing a grave threat to business continuity.

Beyond the disruptions lie other headaches for CSOs. Cybercriminals might even take advantage of the chaos around weather disasters and ramp up phishing and social engineering attacks. Data centers and off-site backup locations might become compromised, leading to serious concerns about data safety.

More than ever, CSOs must invest in disaster recovery, ensuring that cybersecurity and data availability plans are in place. Backup and redundancy for critical systems should be in place, with response plans tested. It also wouldn’t hurt for cybersecurity teams to add weather monitoring to the alerts that their teams already receive. Extra preparation time can make all the difference in the case of catastrophic weather events.

IoT and 5G Security Gaps

The rollout of the 5G network represented one of the most significant upgrades ever to global internet connectivity. The increased speed, bandwidth, and capabilities of 5G are all positive developments. The technology has also led to an increase in the number of connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The number of 5G IoT connections is expected to increase from 17 million in 2023 to 116 million by 2026 (Juniper Research).

However, IoT devices have their own set of security concerns. Many use unprotected APIs for easy sharing of data, but this creates potential risks for enterprise data. Weak authentication methods are common among lower-cost IoT devices. Even worse, some IoT devices are set up outside the IT department and still use default passwords, leaving them wide open to attackers.

As IoT installations become larger with the advent of 5G, it’s time for CSOs to start plugging the security gaps. Procedures should be implemented to keep firmware updated, and APIs should be protected with strong authentication. Security software vendors are also adding IoT-specific features to their packages, which security teams should investigate.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Popular Cyberthreat Intelligence Feeds and Sources – Explained

Threat intelligence has become incredibly popular in recent years. This is largely a result of how sophisticated and pervasive cyberthreats have become. To identify and protect against these attacks, enterprises increasingly turn to threat intelligence and analysts. This blog sheds light on two well-known cyberthreat intelligence feeds and how they can help your organization protect itself from cyberattacks.

What Are Threat Intelligence Feeds?

Threat intelligence feeds are a vital part of any organization’s security posture. They provide real-time information on the latest threats, allowing organizations to identify and respond quickly to attacks (Wigmore, 2021).

Read More: 312-85: EC-Council Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA)

Many types of threat intelligence sources are available, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Finding a feed that meets your organization’s needs is the most important thing.

• One of the most popular threat intelligence feeds is the IP blacklist. This feed provides a list of known malicious IP addresses involved in attacks. You can prevent attacks by blocking these addresses before they even start.
• Another popular type of threat intelligence feed is the domain blacklist. This feed provides a list of known malicious domains that are often used in phishing attacks. By blocking these domains, you can protect your users from being tricked into giving away their passwords or personal information.
• The third type of threat intelligence feed is the URL blacklist. This feed provides a list of known malicious URLs that are often used in web-based attacks. You can protect your users from being redirected to malicious websites by blocking these URLs.
• Finally, the fourth type of threat intelligence feed is the email blacklist. This feed provides a list of known malicious email addresses that are often used in spam or phishing attacks. By blocking these email addresses, you can protect your users from receiving unwanted emails.

Organizations should carefully consider their specific needs when choosing a threat intelligence feed. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, so finding a feed that meets your organization’s specific requirements is essential. However, all four of these feeds can provide valuable information that can help protect your network from attack.

Types of Threat Intelligence Feed Formats

The type of threat intelligence feed format that you choose will have a big impact on how effective your overall security strategy is. Here, we look at some of the most popular formats to help you make the best decision for your organization.

STIX and TAXII are two of the most prevalent threat intelligence feed formats. STIX, which stands for Structured Threat Information eXchange, is a structured language for exchanging cyber threat intelligence. TAXII, which stands for Trusted Automated eXchange of Indicator Information, is a protocol to exchange cyber threat intelligence over HTTPS.

Open loC is another popular format for storing and sharing threat intelligence. It uses JSON-LD to describe indicted activities in a machine-readable format.

MAEC, or Malware Attribute Enumeration and Characterization, is an XML-based language that describes malware in great detail (Cooper, 2022).

All of these formats have their strengths and weaknesses. STIX and TAXII are both well-suited for exchanging large amounts of data but may need help to parse for some users. Open loC is easy to parse but does not provide as much detail as STIX or TAXII. MAEC is very detailed but can be challenging to use for exchange purposes.

Your organization’s best threat intelligence feed format will ultimately depend on your specific needs and goals. For example, STIX and TAXII are good options if you need to quickly exchange large amounts of data. If you need to parse data easily, Open loC is a good choice. And if you need very detailed information, MAEC is a good option. Choose the format that best meets your needs, and you’ll be well on your way to an effective security strategy.

Understanding STIX and TAXII

When used together, STIX and TAXII can help organizations share threat intelligence more effectively, allowing them to defend themselves better against cyberattacks. Below we’ll take a closer look at STIX and TAXII, how they work, and why they’re so important for cybersecurity.

What is STIX?

STIX stands for Structured Threat Information Expression. It’s a language for expressing cybersecurity threat information in a standardized way. This allows different organizations to share threat intelligence more effectively, making it easier to defend against cyberattacks.

STIX consists of an information model and a set of XML schemas. The information model defines the data types represented in STIX, while the XML schemas define how that data should be structured.

STIX is designed to be flexible, so it can be used to represent any threat information. This includes information about attacks, malware, vulnerabilities, and indicators of compromise.

What is TAXII?

TAXII stands for Trusted Automated eXchange of Indicator Information. It’s a set of protocols for exchanging cybersecurity threat information. TAXII is built on top of STIX, so it can be used to exchange any threat information that can be represented in STIX.

TAXII consists of two parts: a transport layer and a message layer. The transport layer defines how messages are exchanged between TAXII clients and servers, while the message layer defines the format of those messages.

TAXII uses HTTPS to encrypt and authenticate all message exchanges. This ensures that only authorized TAXII clients and servers can exchange messages and that those messages are protected from eavesdropping and tampering.

Source: eccouncil.org

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