Our phones are a goldmine of private information. Just think of all the financial details, personal messages, banking apps, photos and contact information that live behind that little glass screen.

And if your team use phones for work, they’ll often have access straight into company systems – email, contact lists, network access, file systems. So if they’re not kept as secure as any other device in your workplace, they can become a gaping hole in your cyber security.

Criminals know this, of course, which is why they target us through our phones just as much as they do through our networks and servers. 

But cyber crime isn’t the only concern. Just losing your phone, or having it stolen, can put your data at huge risk.

So, whether you issue company smartphones, or your employees use their own, you should make sure everyone implements some simple security steps to protect your data and avoid disaster.

• Start with making sure your people set up a PIN and a biometric login (like a fingerprint or face scan) to open the device.
• Only install apps from trusted sources to make sure you’re using genuine software.
• And enable Multi-Factor Authentication on all apps that store even a small amount of sensitive data.
• Be careful about where you connect to Wi-Fi. If you work remotely or often connect to public networks, consider using a VPN – a Virtual Private Network – to add another layer of security. You never know who’s monitoring traffic on a public network.
• Finally, ALWAYS make sure your phone is running the latest version of its operating software, and keep all apps up to date. 

 

Smartphones have changed so much about the way we live – at home, and at work – but it’s too easy to take them for granted. And that could be a costly mistake.

If you need help to keep your smartphones safe, just get in touch.

Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

You invest in cybersecurity tools, train your employees, and establish habits that protect your business data from hackers. But is that enough? Will your company survive when it faces a cyberattack? The penetration test has the answer.

The penetration test, also known as Pentest, is a training method that simulates an invasion of the company's systems. It ensures that the company covers all gaps before it's too late.

According to the 2020 Penetration Testing Report, only 3% of companies believe that penetration testing is not important to their security posture.

In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know when performing pen testing, including:

• Why Having a Pentest Is Important For Your Company?
• 5 Excellent Reasons For You To Schedule a Pen Test For Your Company Right Now
• The 4 Most Common Types of Pen testing
• Who Should Run The Penetration Test?
• What Is The Difference Between a Penetration Test And a Vulnerability Scan?
• What Happens After the Pentest?

Why Having a Pentest Is Important For Your Company?

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines the Penetration Test as: “A method of testing where testers target individual binary components or the application as a whole to determine whether intra or intercomponent vulnerabilities can be exploited to compromise the application, its data, or its environmental resources.”

In simple terms, the pentest highlights the company's cybersecurity weaknesses and uncovers vulnerabilities that need to be corrected.

According to The State of Pen testing 2022, these are the 5 most frequently discovered vulnerability categories found in 2021:
1. Server Security Misconfigurations: 38%
2. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): 13%
3. Broken Access Control: 11%
4. Sensitive Data Exposure: 10%
5. Authentication and Sessions: 8%


In this way, pen testing allows the security team and also the IT team to have clarity on the weaknesses of the infrastructure. As a result, professionals can act quickly to address vulnerabilities, according to priorities.

In addition to helping with the structural issue, this type of method also allows testing the company's ability to inform the team of the existence of a threat and also to score the team's response to the incident.

5 Excellent Reasons For You To Schedule a Pen Test For Your Company Right Now

1. Exposes Your Company's System And Infrastructure Vulnerabilities

Through penetration testing, hackers identify vulnerabilities in the infrastructure and also in the system settings. This includes not only technical issues but also user habits, which could be creating breaches for intruders to enter.

 

2. Test The Effectiveness Of Your Cybersecurity Features

Often, the company is confident that its cybersecurity investments are enough. However, this is not always true. The penetration test evaluates security barriers and acts as a black hat hacker would.

Plus, it helps you test whether your Incident Response Plan measures up to combat a real threat.

In this blog post, we have gathered 6 important elements to check before finalizing your Incident Response Plan.

 

3. Helps You Build Really Effective Employee Training

Pentest puts your company's employees in a risky situation. Pentest assesses employee response to social engineering, including phishing and business email compromise attacks. 

According to the Cost of a Data Breach Report 2022, the most common initial attack vectors were compromised credentials at 19% of breaches, followed by phishing at 16% of breaches. The average cost of data breach with a phishing initial attack vector is USD 4.91 million. Testing your employees' responses helps directors identify which behaviors should be improved and which processes need to be polished for the result to be positive.

Going through this experience also sensitizes employees, improving engagement in training.

 

4. Helps Your Company Improve Compliance And Earn Certifications

Cybersecurity is increasingly an important criterion for closing deals. The positive result of a penetration test can be part of your compliance program and also the achievement of important certifications, such as the ISO 27001 standard and the PCI regulations.

 

5. Offers An Action Plan To Improve Your Cybersecurity

After carrying out a penetration test, the company receives a complete report with all the vulnerabilities found, all the errors that must be corrected, and the elements that can be improved, in the hardware and the software. All this is accompanied by an in-depth and specialized analysis, with recommendations that will effectively improve the company's barriers against cyberattacks.

A consistent pentest considers ALL vulnerabilities. As Window Snyder states, “One single vulnerability is all an attacker needs”.

The 4 Most Common Types of Pen testing

There are different types of penetration tests that can be performed. Below, we list 4 main ones:

1. External Pen Test

In this type of test, ethical hackers, together with an experienced cybersecurity team, are hired by the company to perform the penetration test focusing on the website and network servers that are external to the company.

2. Internal Pen Test

This test involves exercises that start from the company's internal network. It starts from the access of an internal person to the company, such as an employee, to simulate an internal threat.

3. Blind Pen Test Or Closed-Box Pen Test

In this test, the hacker performing the exercise does not receive any information about the company other than his name. To carry out the invasion, the professional seeks data from open sources. However, the company is aware of the pen testing.

4. Double-Blind Pen Test

This test is a more advanced version of the Blind Pen Test. In this case, in addition to the hacker not having any information about the organization, almost no one in the company knows that the test is being carried out. In this way, the exercise really assesses the internal capabilities to respond to a threat.

 

Who Should Run The Penetration Test?

When the company has an internal cybersecurity team, it is common for the internal team to carry out periodic tests to identify the effectiveness of security policies. However, the ideal way to carry out this procedure is carried out by an external team, which does not know the internal processes of the company. 

Find out more about the Penetration Test here

The team is usually composed of "ethical hackers". Experienced professionals, who think like cybercriminals and are able to look for blind spots in company cybersecurity.

Despite its importance, a recent survey revealed that 88% of businesses review security risks on their own, rather than using a vulnerability management solution.

 

What Is The Difference Between a Penetration Test And a Vulnerability Scan?

Vulnerability scanning is widely used to verify the security level of an institution. It scans your systems and IT infrastructure thoroughly, identifying any known vulnerabilities and reporting their level of criticality.

Pentest does a similar job. However, through a team of ethical hackers, it is possible to put these vulnerabilities to the test and identify how far a hacker can go within the current context.

These two features must be used together to ensure that the company has good cybersecurity backing.

 

How Often Should Penetration Tests Be Performed?

As seen above, vulnerability scanning is a complementary test to pen testing. It has the advantage that it can be automated, which allows it to be carried out more frequently. Scanning can be done daily or weekly, for example.

The penetration test, on the other hand, needs more preparation time, as it involves hiring a specialized team.

There is no ideal frequency for performing the penetration test. This will depend on the characteristics of the company, its size, and its available budget. The ideal is to get the support of a specialized security consultant, who will assess the business and identify the ideal frequency.

In addition to periodic tests, it is recommended to carry out a new process every time there is a considerable change in the company. For example change of physical address, hiring new employees, software change, relevant software, and infrastructure upgrades.

Regulations and certifications related to the company's sector must also be taken into account. Some organizations must follow specific standards for performing security tests.

An interesting aspect of the penetration test is that it doesn't have to be done on a large scale. It is possible to perform focused tests more frequently, in areas that the company deems to be more critical. While broad and comprehensive testing is performed annually, testing focused on priority areas can be done every quarter, for example.

Retaking the test is also important. After testing and fixing the most critical vulnerabilities, it is common to carry out a new exercise to ensure that the changes were sufficient. This test is usually more agile and quick. There are tools that help in its conduct, identifying the most critical points pointed out in the previous report.

 

What Happens After the Pentest?

What happens after the penetration test is more important than the test itself. The professionals involved in the test prepare a report with all the findings and also an action plan that includes the next priority steps. The company needs to take the findings and recommendations seriously.

The security and development team need to work together to fix the vulnerabilities.

The State of Pen testing 2022 reveals that the median number of days teams needed to fix vulnerabilities is 14, but there are situations where they take 31 days or longer. However, the study also reveals that teams are struggling to fix and prevent the same vulnerabilities for at least the past 5 years in a row.

The most critical changes should be prioritized, but low-risk vulnerabilities should not be overlooked.

Employee training should also be updated according to perceived vulnerabilities in relation to the human risk factor.

 

Conclusion

Performing penetration tests within the company offers fundamental self-knowledge for the organization. With reporting data, security and development professionals can identify the highest-priority vulnerabilities.

In this article, we have highlighted the importance of pen testing, the 4 main types of penetration tests, who should perform the exercise, the difference between pen testing and vulnerability scan and also what should be done after the penetration test.

 

Need help testing your cybersecurity?

Do you need help running a penetration test in your company? CyVent and 24by7 offer Penetration Testing Services.

Our experts are on hand to help you with:

• In-depth penetration testing, including black box, gray box, and white box tests
• Verification of overall security posture, including assessments of your network, wireless network, and cloud environment
• Assessment of employee response to social engineering, including phishing and business email compromise attacks
• Identification of potential vulnerabilities to ensure compliance and reduce operational and reputational risks

 

If you want more information, book a call on  https://www.cyvent.com/assess-company-cyber-threats/ 

 

 

 

 

 

Incident Response Plan is the #1 defense strategy to prevent a major crisis when it comes to cybersecurity. After all, as Jamie Ward famously says, “Cyberattack is not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’”.

In this article, we'll walk you through the critical elements for the security team when creating a new plan or updating existing plans. Including:

• Why having a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan is important
• 4 Examples of the best Cybersecurity Incident Response Plans 
• The 6 Key 'Must Haves' in every Incident Response Plan
• The post-incident response plan

Why Having A Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan Is Important

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan (CIRP) as: “The documentation of a predetermined set of instructions or procedures to detect, respond to, and limit consequences of a malicious cyber attack against an organization’s information system(s).”

Having a CIRP cannot be underestimated by companies. Research shows that companies that prepare to deal with the effects of a cyberattack efficiently have a considerably lower average loss.

According to The Cost of Data Breach Report 2022, the average cost of a breach for businesses with incident response (IR) capabilities is 58% lower than those without IR capabilities. Breaches at organizations with IR capabilities cost an average of $3.26 million in 2026, compared to $5.92 million from organizations with no IR capabilities.

 

 

So why do businesses with incident response plans have lower breach costs? Having a complete and up-to-date CIRP implies constantly passing on information to employees and offering training. This helps to create an organizational culture that favors the recognition and prevention of cyber threats. 

Another aspect is that by directing efforts to prevent attacks, it is possible to have more clarity on the cybersecurity gaps that are being left. That means you can correct them before they are found by criminals. All this allows an incident to be corrected much more quickly and efficiently.

However, not all companies have a plan. According to a survey by shred-it, 63% of C-level executives and 67% of small businesses in the U.S. do not have an incident response plan.

Another problem is that many plans are not done completely and consistently. For example, many security leads just focus on the most critical incidents. Yet, any fragility or risk to an endpoint must be defended vigorously to prevent a loophole allowing criminals from accessing valuable information. 

A consistent cybersecurity plan considers ALL vulnerabilities. As Window Snyder states, “One single vulnerability is all an attacker needs”.

 

4 Examples of The Best Incident Response Plans

Here are four of the best examples we’ve pulled together that you can use as a blueprint to guide your planning for possible attacks.

Michigan Government Incident Response Plan

Computer Security Incident Handling Guide - NIST

Incident Response and Management: NASA Information Security Incident Management

Cyber Incident Response Plan - Government of Victoria, Australia

 

The 6 Key 'Must Haves' In Every Incident Response Plan

When it comes to creating a robust cybersecurity incident response plan, there are six key aspects that need to be included:

1. Prioritize Incident Levels

Prioritizing the incident level of an attack is critical to quickly identify the risk of the attack. This involves understanding which systems are critical to the functioning of your business and understanding the different types of user risk interactions. As seen in the Human Factor Report 2022 diagram below.

 

 

 

2. Complete Visibility of All Your Company's Systems And Resources

Clarity is a key aspect of the incident response plan. Knowing all the assets and resources that the company has is important when defending them. In addition, having complete visibility into the company's up-to-date data is critical to knowing where to act and in what way. Therefore, access to detailed and real-time data on the functioning of the company's systems is essential. With this, an attack can be identified more quickly.

 

3. Define Incident Response Plan Responsibilities

Establish those responsible for each stage of the plan, providing their level of authority and the list of responsibilities. This step is important because it allows people to act faster.

Create a full-time team to handle incident response or train staff to be on call. Professionals must have sufficient authority and responsibility to make the necessary decisions quickly.

Quick response to incidents is crucial on holidays and weekends because there is often a reduction in company protection. We know that Ramsonware is detonated every day of the week, as seen in the data below from RiskRecon.

 

4. Security Partners

Asking for help is no shame. On the contrary. Having reliable suppliers can prevent huge damage to the company. Therefore, it is important that these partners are mapped and that the team responsible for cybersecurity has easy access to the list. These contacts may include government security officials, privacy regulatory authorities, audit committees, press offices, etc.

 

5. Easy Access to CIRP

Another key point is to ensure that all employees and people relevant to the company have access to the CIRP. There's no point in putting together an incredible and complete plan if no one knows it exists. It is also important to consider a backup so that the document is accessible even if the internal servers are compromised.

 

6. Constant Training

Employees must be trained and have clarity on the steps that must be followed in the event of a threat, as well as their responsibility in attack situations. Training is best delivered little and often, just as software and systems must be updated periodically to stay ahead of the latest threats.

 

The Importance of Simulated Attacks

One of the best ways to equip employees with the skills to respond to attacks is with simulated attacks. They are designed to test everything that was established in the plan and delivered in training.

One of the most effective training programs is the Red Team Exercises, which simulate the conditions of an attack to identify vulnerabilities in your company's system. This type of exercise is critical to testing an incident response plan before it is done by a real hacker.

 

Why You Need A Post-incident Response Plan

A post-incident response plan helps the company to be more protected from the next attack. 

This involves documenting everything to form history and feed a repository that will help the company to be more prepared for future attacks. Including the actions that were taken, the protocols that were made, and the measures that effectively eradicated the incident.

There are several CIRP frameworks. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is one of the most recognized and includes four steps:

1. Preparation
2. Detection & Analysis
3. Containment Eradication & Recovery
4. Post-Incident Activity

The unique part about the NIST approach is it foresees a non-linear action. That is, the plan must always be revisited and updated according to new information, new threats, and new skills of the team.

Likewise, after an attack, the plan must be updated. This can be taken a stage further by exchanging incident breach experiences with other companies can help your organization to be more prepared.

Here are some questions that can help when it comes to updating the plan after an attack:

• What attack was carried out and at what exact moment did it take place?
• What was the cybercriminal's entry point?
• Who perceived the threat and at what time?
• What was the first act after the incident was detected?
• How was the team informed about the problem? What was the team's reaction?
• What steps were taken to combat the problem? Who led this process?
• What were the positives and negatives of the responsible team approach? What is the lesson in preparing for the next incident?
• How can we prepare ourselves not to leave gaps and not suffer from this type of vulnerability in the future?
• Can any tool or system help us detect this type of vulnerability and respond more quickly to this type of attack in the future?
• What aspects, learned from this incident, can we include in staff training so that staff is better prepared?

 

Conclusion

Research shows that having a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan (CIRP) significantly reduces the cost of a cyberattack on a company. However, many companies don’t have a robust plan in place or fail to update them consistently. To be effective, a CIRP must be constantly revisited and updated.

In this article, we have highlighted the importance of having an incident response plan, best practice examples of incident response plans, the 6 key 'must haves' in every Incident Response Plan, and why you need a post-incident response plan. 

 

Need help creating your CIRP?

Need help creating a cybersecurity incident response plan? CyVent has access to the leading IR solutions. We rigorously curate our approved partners and monitor all stages of implementation. We also carry out training and tests that will raise the level of your company's response and make it more prepared to face threats.

CyVent experts are on hand to help you create the plan, train your employees, and choose the right tools to protect your business.

If you want more information, book a call on  https://www.cyvent.com/assess-company-cyber-threats/ 

 

 

 

 

Endpoint protection is one of the central elements of any cybersecurity strategy. Many experts consider endpoints to be one of the weakest security link within an enterprise, giving hackers easy access to an organization's data. In fact, 51% of IT professionals consider their organizations ineffective at surfacing threats because their endpoint security solutions are not effective at detecting advanced attacks. So we’ve pulled together everything you need to know to ensure you can build an effective endpoint security policy.

In this article, you will discover:

• Why do Endpoints matter?
• The Top 3 Endpoint challenges
• The 6 critical elements you need for an effective Endpoint strategy

Why do Endpoints Matter?

An endpoint is any physical device that connects a user to a network. Examples of endpoints include computers, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, servers, printers, and scanners, among others. 

Many companies overlook the breadth of endpoints. It is common to see companies install endpoint protection systems on their corporate computers, but they may omit the many other devices, including IoT.

With the increase in remote work, the number of endpoints has grown and made it more difficult for managers to track them. According to the report Take A Proactive Approach To Endpoint Security, 76% of IT security decision-makers indicated their firm’s use of endpoint devices increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same report indicates that 66% of respondents believe securing modern business environments requires a proactive approach to endpoint resilience.

To make matters worse, there are still other data indicating that many companies do not provide the devices to their employees, making it even more difficult to control the endpoints. According to SailPoint, in 2020 1 in 3 U.S. employees (33%) stated that they use their own computer and smartphone to enable remote work, while only 17% use a computer and smartphone owned by their employer.

An endpoint policy will establish security parameters that all devices connected to the company's network must follow. In addition, it offers managers a centralized console where they can access the corporate network to monitor, investigate and act on incidents.

3 Critical Endpoint Security Challenges:

 

1. New Devices, New Threats

With the evolution of technologies, new gadgets are often invented and popularized. The problem is that most of the time manufacturers are not concerned with security devices. Often the protection of these devices is weak and they become an easy target for hackers.

 

2. Endpoint Repairs Policy

Repairs are also an area that deserves attention from the company. When going to repair, gadgets can often be accessed by malicious agents, or become vulnerable to hacker attacks. A policy for managing items in need of repair is also important.

 

3. Limited Access

The company needs to have a strict policy regarding endpoints that have access to business data. Only gadgets that have been verified and configured with the security policies of the business can have access to the system. Otherwise, the endpoint security policy is at risk.

 

Endpoint Security Needs To Be Aligned With the Company's Global Cybersecurity Strategy

Endpoint security must be combined with other cybersecurity strategies, such as network security. It's important to remember that endpoint security is not the same thing as antivirus. 

Antivirus is one component of an endpoint security strategy, which is made up of many other elements. Antivirus has the mission to protect the endpoint itself, be it a computer or a smartphone. Whereas Endpoint Security's mission is to protect the entire network, which is interconnected. To combat threats, you need to invest in a holistic approach to security.

 

The 6 Critical Elements You Need For An Effective Endpoint Strategy

1. Keep Operating Systems Up To Date

Keeping device systems up to date is a simple task, but it makes a difference for a security policy. Updates fix system weaknesses and flaws that can lead to major vulnerabilities. This is true even for non-traditional endpoints, such as smart devices and sensors.

 

2. Use The Principle of Least Privilege

Restricting server access is also a good alternative to protecting the network that connects the endpoints. Employees should have access to basic servers, accessing servers with more important information only when necessary.

 

3. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

In addition to controlling access, managers can limit access to important information through a private network or VPN, ensuring information privacy.

 

4. Attention To All Existing Threats

No matter the type of threat: malware, phishing, social engineering… The Endpoint Security policy must protect all potential threats that could interfere with the internal network. Therefore, the security policy must provide for constant updating, to always be aware of new threats.

 

5. Controlled Tests

Sending controlled tests allows you to identify the extent to which your company is susceptible to attacks. In addition, fictitious attacks give clues to where the biggest vulnerabilities are and which aspects of cybersecurity the company should strengthen.

 

6. Qualified And Constant Training of Employees

Keeping employees trained and on the lookout is critical to ensuring a functional end-to-end cybersecurity strategy. Attacks by criminals are increasingly sophisticated. Users need to know the importance of following Endpoint Security and not connecting personal devices to corporate networks. 

 

Conclusion

Endpoints remain a weak point for most companies, especially with the increase in remote work. This makes it even more difficult for IT professionals to control the behavior of their employees. 

This article has highlighted the key challenges related to endpoints, including the emergence of new devices, the device repair policy, and user access control. To effectively combat all risks, the endpoint security policy must be aligned with the company's other cybersecurity strategies to cover all potential risks.

Although endpoint control is essential for an effective cybersecurity policy, more than half of  organizations lack in-house expertise and resources around endpoint protection. If this is the case for your business, CyVent experts are on hand to assist in the diagnosis, strategy, and implementation of an endpoint security policy for your business.

 

If you want more information, book a call on  https://www.cyvent.com/assess-company-cyber-threats/ 

 

In recent days, the world has been on alert because of a new zero-day threat that allows Remote Code Execution (RCE). 

Vulnerability CVE-2021-44228 in the Apache Log4j library has been assigned a CVSS severity level 10 of 10. It enables unauthenticated remote code execution and leaves vulnerable numerous Java applications that use this library to log error messages around the planet.

 

Apache Log4j is part of the Apache Logging Project, a very popular library among Java developers for its ease of error logging. That's why many companies use it, including Red Hat, Apple iCloud, Amazon, Tesla and Twitter.

 

The easiest way to avoid the vulnerability is upgrading the log4j version to the updated version. The Apache Log4j Security Vulnerabilities page provides an analysis of different scenarios and  possible workarounds.

 

From that, we make some additional recommendations :

 

1.

Knowing your risk appetite and acting on this information in a timely manner is critical to ensure that your cyber protection resources are commensurate with your level of exposure and risk appetite.

 

Would you like some help with that? CyVent is currently offering a free report that provides a summary of your organization's security risk rating using RiskRecon’s cyber risk assessment technology.

It’s a quick and hassle-free report that’s part of one of the top third-party risk management platforms to manage your supply chain connections. No need to fill out questionnaires, invest staff time, or provide access. Request yours: https://resources.cyvent.com/en/free-risk-report 

 

2.

Make sure your systems are monitored 24/7. Even small businesses are constantly under attack.  If you don’t have a dedicated in-house cyber security team, our team of experts and partners is quick and talented. CyVent offers a comprehensive managed security service that covers endpoints, network, emails and training that is truly SaaS, without long term commitments or pre-payments. As soon as a new threat or vulnerability is identified, the service can take action to keep your company safe.

See more: https://resources.cyvent.com/corvid-cyber-defense

 

3.

Have an audit methodology for your systems. In a case like this, it is necessary to perform a complete scan of practically every system in a company. Having a methodology for documenting and correcting the findings is very helpful. This involves having a systems review order, including markings for cases where a Log4j was found, and also a log of all attempted attacks.

 

4.

It is a fact that there are very few tools to pre-empt zero-day vulnerabilities. What can really make a difference is rigorous process, thorough preparation, a well-trained employee population, an up-to-date security stack and a dedicated team committed to the safety of the company.

 

We are glad to know that all of our partners have done an exemplary job in handling this crisis with thorough follow-up and constant updates to help our customers get around the problem.

 

“Who is that in the trenches by your side?
– And does it matter?
– More than the war itself.” 
Ernest Hemingway

 

________

Edmundo LLopis, CTO, Senior Advisor

Understanding that data is the new oil, security measures are not just a good idea, but a must have to keep organizations and sensitive information safe. Managed Security Services Providers (MSSP) offer remote monitoring and management of IT security functions delivered via shared services from remote security operations centers.
Does your organization consider hiring and working with a MSSP?

Hiring a MSSP can bring great benefits to your organization, since it offers trained staff to deal with the daily-basis security issues. You may want to hire a MSSP for numerous reasons such as:

• restricted IT budgets
• not having an IT Security team
• avoiding the herculean job of staying on top of the new and extreme sophisticated cyber threats.
  
  

How to evaluate and choose a MSSP?

 

Cyber Security is hard work, and choosing a MSSP is a delicate balance. Below you can find 5 points that will help you and make this important decision easier.

1. Are they qualified?

This is a crucial point. You must evaluate the qualifications of the MSSP and their technical team. Make sure that the MSSP has plenty of experience in your work field and certifications.

2. What should they offer?

Hiring a MSSP who offers a multi-layer security system is paramount. Make sure they offer the following protections:

• Identify vulnerabilities consistently by routinely scanning the footprint in order to identify potential security gaps and fix them;
• Network security with next-gen firewalls, threat prevention and detection (IPS/IDS);
• Endpoint protection with the most advanced AI Driven capabilities;
• Security Operations Center (SOC) working around the clock - 24/7/365;
• Block malicious and phishing emails;
• Training users regularly to identify phishing and raising the awareness of Cybersecurity in your organization.

3. How do they handle your data?

It is important to understand where your sensitive data is stored. How do they handle it? Be assured the MSSP takes data protection seriously and that they understand the data regulations involved. The ideal MSSP provider will safely store your data and make sure it can not be commingled with the data of other companies to whom they provide services.

4. Can they provide a leading-edge cybersecurity service?

Security threats are becoming more complex and sophisticated and MSSP providers should upgrade their footprint to provide leading-edge protection. At CyVent, we are pleased in offering Haven, from Corvid Cyberdefense.

5. What are their references?

As a matter of fact, Corvid Cyberdefense team is a Military-grade cyber security company with the best professionals in its field and they service the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

 

See more and schedule some time to speak with one of our experts: https://www.cyvent.com/products

 

The rapid increase in digital third-party relationships contributes to escalated cyber risk. With service outsourcing, companies need to grant access to the system to partners or organization’s supply-chain, which puts confidential business information, financial transactions and sensitive employee and customer data at risk.

The problem is not new , Target is just one of countless examples. In 2013, Target’s security breach occurred from e-mails sent to Fazio Mechanical, one of the companies affiliated with Target, that lead to the leak of 70 million customer data and 40 million bank information. Year after year, companies are exposed to more risks from their business relationships, weakened by poor safety standards of other companies.

According to the Ninth Annual Cost of Cybercrime Study (Accenture, 2019),
61% of organizations have experienced an IoT security incident and 67% observed an increase in security breaches in the last five years. Another shocking fact is that over half of all companies have experienced a third-party breach yet only 16% are able to mitigate those risks (Ponemon Institute. Data Risk in the Third-Party Ecosystem. 2018).

This type of threat is not always malicious. Most of the time, it is caused by negligent behavior. According to a recent report conducted by the Ponemon Institute, negligent behavior is the most costly to companies annually, even though its cost per incident is lower. On the other hand, criminal behavior is less frequent, although it costs approximately 3x more per incident.

The problem involves the entire company, since relations with third parties are present in services that involve logistics, sales, customer support, marketing, among many others. In addition, each company has a partner management model. Thus, the solution needs to be adaptable to different realities.

How to manage your business relationships securely?

In order to avoid commercial relations problems with third parties, the company needs to adopt strict security standards, which involve the choice of its partners and their cyber security management. Compliance and security standards must also be extended to third-party companies.

The Ponemon Institute's “Data Risk in the Third-Party Ecosystem” analyzed companies that were successful in avoiding the third-party data breach and named best practices to reduce incidence of third-party data breaches:

* Evaluation of the security and privacy practices of all third parties
* An inventory of all third parties with whom you share information
* Frequent review of third-party management policies and programs
* Third party notification when data is shared with Nth parties
* Oversight by the board of directors

To meet these protocols effectively, we need to have the support of technology. There are currently several tools on the market that offer risk analysis and protection from third parties. The challenge, however, is to find the most complete and adapted tool to the needs of your company.

At CyVent, we are confident to appoint RiskRecon, a Mastercard company. It’s the only solution that automatically provides risk prioritization and continuous monitoring.

Why choose RiskRecon?

We are thrilled to be RiskRecon partners. RiskRecon automatically collects security information from vendors, partners and your own enterprise to help you understand how well each organization manages their digital footprint.

 

It provides risk-prioritized ratings based on issue severity and the system value at risk. The platform data is independently certified to be 99.1% accurate. The accuracy is achieved by a combination of patent-pending machine learning automation and analyst quality control.
The system evaluates over 40 security criteria across 9 domains. The impact of all vulnerabilities is analyzed to produce a cyber risk score.

There’s a direct correlation between RiskRecon scores and actual data breaches. Based on a sample of 46,000 Companies, entities with a score of “C” experience a 3x higher frequency of breaches than those with a score of “A”.

All assessment details are visible to you and your vendors, and RiskRecon provides a report that includes a summary of your organization's current cybersecurity posture at no additional fee. In addition, the platform automatically produces action plans to highlight only issues that exceed your company’s risk policy.

With all this information, you can easily keep your business secure from businesses that aren’t. It allows you to select new vendors faster, prioritize your third-party assessments based on RiskRecon-rated vendor performance, focus your vendor assessments on areas where you know they violate your risk requirements, improve your M&A analysis and more.

See more and schedule some time to speak with one of our experts: https://www.cyvent.com/en-us/prevent-your-company-from-third-party-risk-with-riskrecon

Machine learning, deep learning, generative adversarial networks and other AI technologies have burst onto the cybersecurity scene over the last year. Software vendors and MSSPs are scrambling to bring their particular flavor of AI cyber security to market and claim their stake as industry leaders.

While AI has quickly become table stakes for an effective security posture, some of it can also seem to be overhyped in some respects. In this post, we’ll aim to cut through the superlatives and provide a few thoughts on the role of artificial intelligence in cyber security.

Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security Does Not Replace Traditional Tools

By claiming that AI will replace traditional tools while lowering labor costs and probably making coffee at the same time, some advertising has put AI on a pedestal that it may not have achieved yet.

Here are some things that AI cyber security definitely will not replace. Security teams will still need to keep around:

• Employee training and a security-sensitive culture
• Smart policies and processes
• Qualified architects, managers, engineers, and analysts
• Rock-solid, layered infrastructure with effective controls around it

If you find yourself saying, “Wait, that’s 95% of my security program,” you’re right. Artificial intelligence in cyber security is a complement to a well-run cyber framework, not a replacement for it.

Must-Ask Questions When Evaluating AI Cyber Security Tools

We all have seen that technology can be promoted with grand promises backed by sometimes disappointing results. To avoid a dud in your AI implementation, you may want to sit down with your security team and your vendor rep to go over a few questions:

• How do your AI algorithms actually work? How mature is the technology? What are its blind spots?
• How well does it avoid false positives and false negatives?
• How do you measure the incremental benefits and the expected ROI?
• How will it protect us from insider threats?
• What’s your definition of ‘real-time’?
• Which attack vectors, file type, operating systems do you cover?
• How frequently does it need to be updated?
• How does it handle APT’s, zero-days and zero-hours?
• What outside support are we going to need to implement and maintain this?
• How much additional training will we need to use this effectively?
• Does it produce usable reports that actually mean something?
• What results have your other clients seen from it?
• Does it outperform what I already have, or will it be just another software bloating up my network?

Pitfalls to Avoid When Implementing an AI Cyber Security Solution

Adding software to your organization’s toolkit is rarely a trivial matter, and even less so when you’re dealing with AI. Here are some potential mistakes when deploying an AI cyber security tool:

• Expecting a “set-and-forget” solution that will replace the whole security program: See the first section of this post.
• Thinking that an in-house developed solution will be best-in-show without exploring other available options.
• Expecting that the AI tool won’t require any customization or integration.
• And possibly the most delicate one: Thinking it’ll all work out on automatic pilot without specialized AI expertise on your team or assistance from AI safety experts.

The fact of the matter is that it is no longer viable to delay implementation of robust AI cyber security tools. Bad actors have already started using AI.

A talented cybersecurity team and company-wide awareness trainings go a long way. Artificial intelligence in cyber security simply brings a needed support structure that can assist your teams to prevent attacks and accelerate mitigation if needed. As businesses undergo the digital transformation, it is imperative they also leverage new developments in cyber capabilities and include them in their thinking from the very beginning of their process. Cyber security cannot be an after-thought.

CyVent is a Certified Partner of global leaders in augmented intelligence applied to cybersecurity. Our cutting edge, AI-driven solutions help organizations transition from the classic remediation approach to security to a more pre-emptive posture, which ultimately increases prevention, decreases times-to-resolution and automates cybersecurity operations. 

Click here to contact us if you would like learn more about the role of artificial intelligence in cyber security.

CISOs and Board members face a balancing act as they look to build out strong security programs. What tools are truly worth the investment versus the costs of a damaging cyber attack? Though well-known, the potential repercussions of a data breach are still alarming. By some estimates, cybercrime damages were set to reach $6 trillion by 2021.

For both CISOs and Board members a thorough cybersecurity strategy is a critical way to address risk and promote business health and longevity. The risks at stake, in addition to regulatory scrutiny as well as compliance concerns - think GDPR - are motivating Boards to take a closer look, and they’re turning to CISOs for insight. The challenge for CISOs is selecting the best tools from a sea of offerings, and then working with the Board and senior execs to deploy them within the organization.

By calculating cybersecurity ROI, CISOs can quantify the value of a new security project to Board members, demonstrate how it aligns with the business’ overall strategic goals, and foster faster decision-making.

Calculating ROI for Cybersecurity

At a basic level, one way of calculating cybersecurity ROI involves taking the average cost of an incident and multiplying that number by how many incidents a business might experience in a given time frame. With an approximation of potential costs, companies can then assess whether the price of the solution and the reduction in incidents it will bring is worth the investment.

Of course, there are many more factors that come into play, which is why calculating cybersecurity ROI is notoriously challenging. The equation also has to represent issues at stake beyond dollars and cents, including potential loss of intellectual property, loss of reputation, and business disruption. There are numerous formulas for calculating cybersecurity ROI, and much research has been done on the subject. How to Measure Anything in Cybersecurity Risk by Douglas W. Hubbard and Richard Seiersen is a highly-recommended resource for an in-depth exploration.

The bottom line is that breaches are expensive. Calculating cybersecurity ROI starts a conversation about whether investing upfront to prevent a major disruption outweighs the small probability of a significant breach and its ensuing costs.

Benefits of Calculating Cybersecurity ROI

CISOs and boards benefit from calculating cybersecurity ROI as it helps them determine the value of an offering for their unique security environment. Many organizations already have upwards of twenty cyber tools in place. Why invest in another? Vendors regularly contact CISOs with solutions claiming to be the answer for new and emerging attack methods. Once the technical due diligence is done, determining ROI gives CISOs a method for evaluating a product, prioritizing among different options, determining what level of peace of mind it will bring, and what problems it will solve.

The next step for CISOs is to communicate their rationale to the board. Executives feel a growing responsibility for cybersecurity decisions, with regulatory, reputational, and business risk weighing heavily on their minds. The CISO’s voice is critical for communicating the reality of cyber risk and providing the leadership team with the information they need to make informed cybersecurity decisions. CISOs understand the board’s motivations and concerns and dedicate more time to craft a message that clearly articulates how cybersecurity fits into overall business strategy.

Embracing Security Tools with Proven ROI

No single cybersecurity solution can solve all of an organization’s security challenges. A layered approach is the best way to defend the entire attack surface. Recent advances in cybersecurity technology do offer powerful ROI and are resolving some of security professionals’ biggest challenges: the sheer volume and sophistication of attacks, the dwell time of many breaches, the high rates of false positives, the resources required for incident response, and the cyber skills gap.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation provide some of the highest cost savings opportunities in comparison to other technologies. Overall, AI is extremely adept at reducing the number of security incidents. As attackers begin to adopt AI, organizations that already have AI-based tools in place will be better able to stop them. In the immediate term, the rise of deep learning AI has already started to significantly move the needle towards preemption and the reduction of false positives, allowing security teams to focus on responding to only the most dangerous threats.

Automation streamlines the management of incidents that do penetrate a company’s defenses. When an attack is detected, workflows are already documented and automated, allowing IT teams to be more productive and efficient.

The cybersecurity landscape is truly complex. At CyVent, our mission is to support CISOs as they select and sort through the different offerings on the market. Calculating cybersecurity ROI helps prepare for the coming environment where the fight will be AI vs AI and companies that do not have the appropriate AI talent and tools may be at a disadvantage.

If you have questions about the tools on the market, we’re here with guidance and advice. Get in touch with our team.

Responding to Cybersecurity Threats: How to Assess Your Tools and Cyber Strategy

Cybersecurity is in crisis. Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and pervasive. Bad actors have access to all the latest technology and tools, including artificial intelligence, for free or very little cost. They have endless time and resources to send out millions of cyberattacks – and need only a single successful attack to reap a windfall. It’s asymmetric warfare, and the attackers’ tools just keep improving.

In response, dozens of new cybersecurity providers seem to enter the market every day. Artificial intelligence, new tools and easy access to information mean that innovation keeps accelerating daily. With cybersecurity threats regularly making headlines, and pressure on companies to secure their data (and customers’ data) growing, new cybersecurity providers barely need to advertise to gain customers’ attention. For the same reasons, venture capitalists are eager to fund cybersecurity firms. The traditional big players in the market are rushing to upgrade their outdated packages. It’s a noisy marketplace, and companies trying to protect their data and systems are confused about how best to do so.

How Companies Are Addressing Cybersecurity Threats

Companies have responded to the crowded cybersecurity marketplace in different ways. Some just bury their heads in the sand, deciding to deal with incursions when they occur, or to hope that they’re too small to be worth targeting with a cyberattack. Others are spending way too much money on cybersecurity, experimenting with every new product that hits the market.

Many companies believe that they already have all the tools they need to combat cybersecurity threats, but haven’t properly patched their existing systems, which need regular updates to combat ever-changing cyber threats. On top of that, many companies experience dozens of little attacks every day, from all sides, and it’s hard to know where to put resources.

But burying your head in the sand or sticking with old tools that don’t counteract today’s cybersecurity threats is simply not an option. And throwing money at whatever strikes a chord isn’t an effective strategy, either.

What Is an Effective Strategy for Managing Cybersecurity Threats?

Resolving the cybersecurity crisis starts with an honest cyber vulnerability assessment, either by your internal experts or by outside experts.

Ultimately, this cyber vulnerability assessment should give you a map of where your company is in terms of cybersecurity. Next, you’ll need a map of where you’re going. Your experts should prepare a plan that:

• Closes your cybersecurity gaps over time
• Analyzes the financial risks of not closing gaps and prioritizes closing the gaps that put the company at the most risk
• Includes a company cybersecurity policy that every employee is expected to follow (much like a dress code or conduct policy)

This cyber vulnerability assessment and plan give you a framework for cybersecurity decisions. Armed with an understanding of your risk profile, your budget, your weaknesses and the consequences of various breaches, your experts should be able to recommend cybersecurity investments that will provide the best ROI for your company. The key is to remain true to this framework, even as new cybersecurity threats rear their ugly heads. Certainly, you want to maintain some flexibility, with strategies adjusting as truly required. But stick with what you know to be important to your business, and let that lead your investment decisions.

Wondering about your ability to respond to cybersecurity threats? Schedule a free, confidential assessment today.