Ultimate Checklist for Strengthening Endpoint Security

Ultimate Checklist for Strengthening Endpoint Security

encryption

In todays digital age, securing the endpoints of your network infrastructure is more crucial than ever. aws With cyber threats evolving at an alarming rate, businesses must ensure that their endpoint security is robust and up to date. Here, we explore the ultimate checklist for strengthening endpoint security, providing key steps and considerations that should not be overlooked.

encryption

Firstly, it is essential to understand what endpoint security entails. Endpoints are devices that connect to your network and can include computers, mobile phones, tablets, and other connected devices.

patching

  • analytics
  • remediation
  • behavioral
  • automation
  • sandbox
  • log
  • monitoring
  • authorization
  • endpointsecurityusa
  • spyware
These are often the target of attacks because they serve as entry points to your network.

One of the first steps in strengthening your endpoint security is to ensure all devices are regularly updated with the latest software patches and security updates.

compliance

  • restore
  • redundancy
  • protection
  • network
  • rootkit
  • soar
  • biometrics
  • recovery
  • detection
  • policy
  • dashboard
  • hypervisor
  • breach
Cyber attackers frequently exploit vulnerabilities in software, and keeping software up to date mitigates this risk significantly. However, updates can sometimes be overlooked or delayed, which can pose serious security risks.

Another critical component of the checklist is to implement strong authentication methods. soc This includes using strong passwords and considering multi-factor authentication for additional security.

soc

  1. gateway
  2. server
  3. cybersecurity
  4. token
  5. infrastructure
  6. exploit
  7. hardware
  8. integration
  9. linux
  10. firmware
  11. iso
  12. laptop
  13. audit
  14. privilege
  15. ai
dns patching It's surprising how often simple passwords are the weak link in security!

Moreover, its vital to have a comprehensive antivirus and anti-malware solution in place. These software tools help to detect, quarantine, and eliminate malicious software that might have infiltrated your endpoints. Ensuring that your antivirus software is continuously updated is equally important as new malware variants are constantly being developed.

Educating your employees about cybersecurity best practices is also paramount. Many security breaches are the result of human error, such as clicking on a phishing link or downloading a malicious attachment. Regular training sessions can significantly reduce the risk posed by these kinds of mistakes.

Furthermore, businesses should invest in a reliable and effective endpoint detection and response (EDR) system. EDR systems monitor endpoint and network events and record the information in a central database where further analysis, detection, investigation, reporting, and alerting take place.

compliance

  • pattern
  • traffic
  • security
  • iot
  • kubernetes
  • mobile
  • container
  • compliance
  • ssl
  • resilience
  • ransomware
  • threatintel
  • intelligence
A robust EDR system can be a game changer in identifying and mitigating threats swiftly.

For devices that are no longer in use or are out of service, proper decommissioning is crucial.

patching

  1. identity
  2. edr
  3. orchestration
  4. device
  5. mssp
  6. tls
  7. certificate
  8. virtualization
  9. forensics
  10. trojan
Sensitive data should be securely wiped to prevent unauthorized access, and the devices should be disposed of securely to ensure they do not pose a security risk.

Lastly, its advisable to conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments. These assessments help identify potential vulnerabilities in your network that could be exploited by cyber attackers. Remedial action can then be taken to address these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

To conclude, strengthening endpoint security is an ongoing process that requires attention to detail and an understanding of the evolving cyber threat landscape. Remember, the security of your endpoints is only as strong as the weakest link in your security chain! Dont take any chances; ensure your endpoint security practices are robust and regularly reviewed.

dns

  • privilege
  • ai
  • backup
  • siem
  • assessment
  • tool
  • platform
  • scalability
  • isolation
  • android
Stay safe out there!

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Endpoint Security Services

Read more here also:

For other uses of "Compliance", see Compliance (disambiguation).
"Compliance monitoring" redirects here. For third party monitoring services, see Managed service provider § Compliance monitoring.

In general, compliance means conforming to a rule, such as a specification, policy, standard or law. Compliance has traditionally been explained by reference to deterrence theory, according to which punishing a behavior will decrease the violations both by the wrongdoer (specific deterrence) and by others (general deterrence). This view has been supported by economic theory, which has framed punishment in terms of costs and has explained compliance in terms of a cost-benefit equilibrium (Becker 1968). However, psychological research on motivation provides an alternative view: granting rewards (Deci, Koestner and Ryan, 1999) or imposing fines (Gneezy Rustichini 2000) for a certain behavior is a form of extrinsic motivation that weakens intrinsic motivation and ultimately undermines compliance.

Regulatory compliance describes the goal that organizations aspire to achieve in their efforts to ensure that they are aware of and take steps to comply with relevant laws, policies, and regulations.[1] Due to the increasing number of regulations and need for operational transparency, organizations are increasingly adopting the use of consolidated and harmonized sets of compliance controls.[2] This approach is used to ensure that all necessary governance requirements can be met without the unnecessary duplication of effort and activity from resources.

Regulations and accrediting organizations vary among fields, with examples such as PCI-DSS and GLBA in the financial industry, FISMA for U.S. federal agencies, HACCP for the food and beverage industry, and the Joint Commission and HIPAA in healthcare. In some cases other compliance frameworks (such as COBIT) or even standards (NIST) inform on how to comply with regulations.

Some organizations keep compliance data—all data belonging or pertaining to the enterprise or included in the law, which can be used for the purpose of implementing or validating compliance—in a separate store for meeting reporting requirements. Compliance software is increasingly being implemented to help companies manage their compliance data more efficiently. This store may include calculations, data transfers, and audit trails.[3][4]

Standards

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The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and its ISO 37301:2021 (which deprecates ISO 19600:2014) standard is one of the primary international standards for how businesses handle regulatory compliance, providing a reminder of how compliance and risk should operate together, as "colleagues" sharing a common framework with some nuances to account for their differences. The ISO also produces international standards such as ISO/IEC 27002 to help organizations meet regulatory compliance with their security management and assurance best practices.[5]

Some local or international specialized organizations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) also develop standards and regulation codes. They thereby provide a wide range of rules and directives to ensure compliance of the products to safety, security or design standards.[6]

By nation

[edit]

Regulatory compliance varies not only by industry but often by location. The financial, research, and pharmaceutical regulatory structures in one country, for example, may be similar but with particularly different nuances in another country. These similarities and differences are often a product "of reactions to the changing objectives and requirements in different countries, industries, and policy contexts".[7]

Australia

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Australia's major financial services regulators of deposits, insurance, and superannuation include the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).[8] These regulators help to ensure financial institutes meet their promises, that transactional information is well documented, and that competition is fair while protecting consumers. The APRA in particular deals with superannuation and its regulation, including new regulations requiring trustees of superannuation funds to demonstrate to APRA that they have adequate resources (human, technology and financial), risk management systems, and appropriate skills and expertise to manage the superannuation fund, with individuals running them being "fit and proper".[8]

Other key regulators in Australia include the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) for broadcasting, the internet, and communications;[9] the Clean Energy Regulator for "monitoring, facilitating and enforcing compliance with" energy and carbon emission schemes;[10] and the Therapeutic Goods Administration for drugs, devices, and biologics;[11]

Australian organisations seeking to remain compliant with various regulations may turn to AS ISO 19600:2015 (which supersedes AS 3806-2006). This standard helps organisations with compliance management, placing "emphasis on the organisational elements that are required to support compliance" while also recognizing the need for continual improvement.[12][13]

Canada

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In Canada, federal regulation of deposits, insurance, and superannuation is governed by two independent bodies: the OSFI through the Bank Act, and FINTRAC, mandated by the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, 2001 (PCMLTFA).[14][15] These groups protect consumers, regulate how risk is controlled and managed, and investigate illegal action such as money laundering and terrorist financing.[14][15] On a provincial level, each province maintain individuals laws and agencies. Unlike any other major federation, Canada does not have a securities regulatory authority at the federal government level. The provincial and territorial regulators work together to coordinate and harmonize regulation of the Canadian capital markets through the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA).[16]

Other key regulators in Canada include the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for food safety, animal health, and plant health; Health Canada for public health; and Environment and Climate Change Canada for environment and sustainable energy.[17]

Canadian organizations seeking to remain compliant with various regulations may turn to ISO 19600:2014, an international compliance standard that "provides guidance for establishing, developing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining and improving an effective and responsive compliance management system within an organization".[18] For more industry specific guidance, e.g., financial institutions, Canada's E-13 Regulatory Compliance Management provides specific compliance risk management tactics.[19]

European Union

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Regulatory compliance in the European Union (EU) is governed by a harmonized legal framework designed to ensure consistency across member states while allowing for national implementation. EU compliance regulations cover various industries, including consumer product safety, financial services, environmental protection, and data privacy.

The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) establishes a unified safety framework for consumer products across the EU, requiring manufacturers to conduct risk assessments, maintain traceability documentation, and meet safety compliance standards before placing products on the market.[20][21] The GPSR applies to all consumer products made available in the EU unless covered by sector-specific regulations, such as medical devices or food products. The regulation extends to products sold through e-commerce platforms, requiring online marketplaces to ensure that only compliant products are listed. Fulfillment service providers are also included as economic operators, making them responsible for product safety compliance in certain cases.

For business compliance, the EU’s regulatory approach is guided by the New Legislative Framework (NLF) and various sector-specific directives and regulations. Businesses must comply with EU product conformity assessments and affix the CE marking to indicate compliance with essential safety and performance standards.[22]

Financial compliance is enforced through regulations such as the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which set strict requirements for financial transparency, consumer protection, and data security.

The EU Legislation Compliance framework ensures that organizations operate within the legal boundaries of EU directives, helping public and private entities manage regulatory risks efficiently.[23]

Companies operating in the EU must stay updated on evolving compliance requirements, as non-compliance can lead to fines, product recalls, or restrictions on market access.

The Netherlands

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The financial sector in the Netherlands is heavily regulated. The Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank N.V.) is the prudential regulator while the Netherlands Authority for Financial Markets (AFM) is the regulator for behavioral supervision of financial institutions and markets. A common definition of compliance is:'Observance of external (international and national) laws and regulations, as well as internal norms and procedures, to protect the integrity of the organization, its management and employees with the aim of preventing and controlling risks and the possible damage resulting from these compliance and integrity risks'.[24]

India

[edit]

In India, compliance regulation takes place across three strata: Central, State, and Local regulation. India veers towards central regulation, especially of financial organizations and foreign funds. Compliance regulations vary based on the industry segment in addition to the geographical mix. Most regulation comes in the following broad categories: economic regulation, regulation in the public interest, and environmental regulation.[25] India has also been characterized by poor compliance - reports suggest that only around 65% of companies are fully compliant to norms.[26]

Singapore

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The Monetary Authority of Singapore is Singapore's central bank and financial regulatory authority. It administers the various statutes pertaining to money, banking, insurance, securities and the financial sector in general, as well as currency issuance.[27]

United Kingdom

[edit]

There is considerable regulation in the United Kingdom, some of which is derived from European Union legislation. Various areas are policed by different bodies, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA),[28] Environment Agency,[29] Scottish Environment Protection Agency,[30] Information Commissioner's Office,[31] Care Quality Commission,[32] and others: see List of regulators in the United Kingdom.

Important compliance issues for all organizations large and small include the Data Protection Act 2018[33] and, for the public sector, Freedom of Information Act 2000.[34]

United States

[edit]

Corporate scandals and breakdowns such as the Enron case of reputational risk in 2001 have increased calls for stronger compliance and regulations, particularly for publicly listed companies.[1] The most significant recent statutory changes in this context have been the Sarbanes–Oxley Act developed by two U.S. congressmen, Senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Michael Oxley in 2002 which defined significantly tighter personal responsibility of corporate top management for the accuracy of reported financial statements; and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is an agency of the United States Department of the Treasury under the auspices of the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign states, organizations, and individuals.

Compliance in the U.S. generally means compliance with laws and regulations. These laws and regulations can have criminal or civil penalties. The definition of what constitutes an effective compliance plan has been elusive. Most authors, however, continue to cite the guidance provided by the United States Sentencing Commission in Chapter 8 of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.[35][36]

On October 12, 2006, the U.S. Small Business Administration re-launched Business.gov (later Business.USA.gov and finally SBA.Gov)[37] which provides a single point of access to government services and information that help businesses comply with government regulations.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) was created by Congress to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. OSHA implements laws and regulations regularly in the following areas, construction, maritime, agriculture, and recordkeeping.[38]

The United States Department of Transportation also has various laws and regulations requiring that prime contractors when bidding on federally funded projects engage in good faith effort compliance, meaning they must document their outreach to certified disadvantaged business enterprises.[39]

Challenges

[edit]

Data retention is a part of regulatory compliance that is proving to be a challenge in many instances. The security that comes from compliance with industry regulations can seem contrary to maintaining user privacy. Data retention laws and regulations ask data owners and other service providers to retain extensive records of user activity beyond the time necessary for normal business operations. These requirements have been called into question by privacy rights advocates.[40]

Compliance in this area is becoming very difficult. Laws like the CAN-SPAM Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act in the U.S. require that businesses give people the right to be forgotten.[41][42] In other words, they must remove individuals from marketing lists if it is requested, tell them when and why they might share personal information with a third party, or at least ask permission before sharing that data. Now, with new laws coming out that demand longer data retention despite the individual’s desires, it can create some real difficulties.

Money laundering and terrorist financing pose significant threats to the integrity of the financial system and national security. To combat these threats, the EU has adopted a risk-based approach to Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) that relies on cooperation and coordination between EU and national authorities. In this context, risk-based regulation refers to the approach of identifying and assessing potential risks of money laundering and terrorist financing and implementing regulatory measures proportional to those risks. However, the shared enforcement powers between EU and national authorities in the implementation and enforcement of AML/CFT regulations can create legal implications and challenges. The potential for inconsistent application of AML regulations across different jurisdictions can create regulatory arbitrage and undermine the effectiveness of AML efforts. Additionally, a lack of clear and consistent legal frameworks defining the roles and responsibilities of EU and national authorities in AML enforcement can lead to situations where accountability is difficult to establish.

Financial compliance

[edit]

The U.K. Corporate Governance Code (formerly the Combined Code) is issued by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and "sets standards of good practice in relation to board leadership and effectiveness, remuneration, accountability, and relations with shareholders".[43] All companies with a Premium Listing of equity shares in the U.K. are required under the Listing Rules to report on how they have applied the Combined Code in their annual report and accounts.[44] (The Codes are therefore most similar to the U.S.' Sarbanes–Oxley Act.)

The U.K.'s regulatory framework requires that all its publicly listed companies should provide specific content in the core financial statements that must appear in a yearly report, including balance sheet, comprehensive income statement, and statement of changes in equity, as well as cash flow statement as required under international accounting standards.[45] It further demonstrates the relationship that subsists among shareholders, management, and the independent audit teams. Financial statements must be prepared using a particular set of rules and regulations hence the rationale behind allowing the companies to apply the provisions of company law, international financial reporting standards (IFRS), as well as the U.K. stock exchange rules as directed by the FCA.[46] It is also possible that shareholders may not understand the figures as presented in the various financial statements, hence it is critical that the board should provide notes on accounting policies as well as other explanatory notes to help them understand the report better.

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Regulatory compliance.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Compliance, Technology, and Modern Finance by Tom C. W. Lin :: SSRN".
  2. ^ Silveira, P.; Rodriguez, C.; Birukou, A.; Casati, F.; Daniel, F.; D'Andrea, V.; Worledge, C.; Zouhair, T. (2012), "Aiding Compliance Governance in Service-Based Business Processes", Handbook of Research on Service-Oriented Systems and Non-Functional Properties (PDF), IGI Global, pp. 524–548, doi:10.4018/978-1-61350-432-1.ch022, hdl:11311/1029233, ISBN 9781613504321
  3. ^ Norris-Montanari, J. (27 February 2017). "Compliance – Where does it fit in a data strategy?". SAS Blogs. SAS Institute, Inc. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  4. ^ Monica, A.D.; Shilt, C.; Rimmerman, R.; et al. (2015). "Chapter 4: Monitoring software updates". Microsoft System Center Software Update Management Field Experience. Microsoft Press. pp. 57–82. ISBN 9780735695894.
  5. ^ Calder, A.; Watkins, S. (2015). IT Governance: An International Guide to Data Security and ISO 27001/ISO 27002. Kogan Page Publishers. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9780749474065.
  6. ^ n.a. "Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspections". TÜV Rheinland.
  7. ^ Malyshev, N. (2008). "The Evolution of Regulatory Policy in OECD Countries" (PDF). OECD. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  8. ^ a b Pearson, G. (2009). "Chapter 2: The regulatory structure". Financial Services Law and Compliance in Australia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 20–68. ISBN 9780521617840.
  9. ^ "Regulatory Responsibility". ACMA. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  10. ^ "What we do". Clean Energy Regulator. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  11. ^ Weinberg, S. (2011). "Chapter 13: International Regulation". Cost-Contained Regulatory Compliance: For the Pharmaceutical, Biologics, and Medical Device Industries. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 227–258. ISBN 9781118002278.
  12. ^ CompliSpace (14 April 2016). "Compliance Standards ISO 19600 and AS 3806 – Differences explained". Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  13. ^ "AS ISO 19600:2015". Standards Catalogue. Standards Australia. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  14. ^ a b International Monetary Fund; Financial Action Task Force (December 2008). Canada: Report on Observance of Standards and Codes - FATF Recommendations for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism.cite book: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ a b International Monetary Fund (August 2016). Canada: Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism. International Monetary Fund. ISBN 9781475536188.
  16. ^ Lee, R. (2003). "Chapter 6: Promoting Regional Capital Market Integration". In Dowers, K.; Msci, P. (eds.). Focus on Capital: New Approaches to Developing Latin American Capital Markets. Inter-American Development Bank. p. 168. ISBN 9781931003490.
  17. ^ Smyth, S.J.; McHughen, A. (2012). "Chapter 2: Regulation of Genetically Modified Crops in USA and Canada: Canadian Overview". In Wozniak, C.A.; McHughen, A. (eds.). Regulation of Agricultural Biotechnology: The United States and Canada. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 15–34. ISBN 9789400721562.
  18. ^ International Organization for Standardization (December 2014). "ISO 19600:2014". Standards Catalogue. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  19. ^ Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (14 November 2014). "Revised Guideline E-13 – Regulatory Compliance Management (RCM)". Government of Canada. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  20. ^ "EU's General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR): A New Era for Consumer Protection". European Commission. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  21. ^ "EU Consumer Goods: General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR)". U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  22. ^ "Product Compliance". European Commission. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  23. ^ "EU Legislation Compliance". Interoperable Europe. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  24. ^ The Handbook of Compliance & Integrity Management. Theory & Practice, Prof. S.C. Bleker-van Eyk & R.A.M. Houben (Eds.), 2017 Kluwer Law International.
  25. ^ "Regulatory Management and Reform in India" (PDF). OECD.
  26. ^ "India Inc has poor record in regulatory compliance | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
  27. ^ "Who We Are". www.mas.gov.sg. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  28. ^ "Do you need to be FCA authorsied? | FCA application process". Harper James. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  29. ^ "Check if you need an environmental permit". GOV.UK. 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  30. ^ "Waste management licence (Scotland) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  31. ^ "Information Commissioner's Office". GOV.UK. 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  32. ^ "Care Quality Commission". GOV.UK. 2024-06-25. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  33. ^ "Data Protection Act 2018". August 19, 2024.
  34. ^ "Freedom of Information Act 2000". August 19, 2024.
  35. ^ "Special Reports and Discussions on Chapter Eight". USSC.gov. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010.
  36. ^ The Ethics and Compliance Initiative (ECI). "Principles and Practices of High Quality Ethics & Compliance Programs". pp. 12–13. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  37. ^ "Explore Business Tools & Resources". Business.USA.gov.
  38. ^ "OSHA Law & Regulations | Occupational Safety and Health Administration". www.osha.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  39. ^ "Compliance with Diversity Goals Remain Lacking". Archived from the original on June 3, 2024.
  40. ^ "Compliance Challenge: Privacy vs. Security". Dell.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-26. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  41. ^ Francis, L.P.; Francis, J.G. (2017). Privacy: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press. p. PT102. ISBN 9780190612283.
  42. ^ Dale, N.; Lewis, J. (2015). Computer Science Illuminated. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 388. ISBN 9781284055924.
  43. ^ "UK Corporate Governance Code". Financial Reporting Council. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  44. ^ "LR 1.5 Standard and Premium Listing". FCA Handbook. Financial Conduct Authority. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  45. ^ "LR 9.8 Annual financial report". FCA Handbook. Financial Conduct Authority. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  46. ^ "FCA Handbook". Financial Conduct Authority. Retrieved 31 July 2018.

 

 

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In computer security, a threat is a potential negative action or event enabled by a vulnerability that results in an unwanted impact to a computer system or application.

A threat can be either a negative "intentional" event like hacking or an "accidental" negative event or otherwise a circumstance, capability, action, or event (incident is often used as a blanket term).[1] A threat actor who is an individual or group that can perform the threat action, such as exploiting a vulnerability to actualise a negative impact. An exploit is a vulnerability that a threat actor used to cause an incident.

Phenomenology

[edit]
A basic model of system threats
A basic model of system threats

The term "threat" relates to some other basic security terms as shown in the following diagram:[1]

A resource (both physical or logical) can have one or more vulnerabilities that can be exploited by a threat agent in a threat action. The result can potentially compromise the confidentiality, integrity or availability properties of resources (potentially different than the vulnerable one) of the organization and others involved parties (customers, suppliers).
The so-called CIA triad is the basis of information security.

The attack can be active when it attempts to alter system resources or affect their operation: so it compromises Integrity or Availability. A "passive attack" attempts to learn or make use of information from the system but does not affect system resources: so it compromises Confidentiality.[1]

OWASP: relationship between threat agent and business impact

OWASP (see figure) depicts the same phenomenon in slightly different terms: a threat agent through an attack vector exploits a weakness (vulnerability) of the system and the related security controls causing a technical impact on an IT resource (asset) connected to a business impact.

A set of policies concerned with information security management, the Information security management systems (ISMS), has been developed to manage, according to risk management principles, the countermeasures in order to accomplish to a security strategy set up following rules and regulations applicable in a country. Countermeasures are also called security controls; when applied to the transmission of information are named security services.[2]

The overall picture represents the risk factors of the risk scenario.[3]

The widespread of computer dependencies and the consequent raising of the consequence of a successful attack, led to a new term cyberwarfare.

Nowadays the many real attacks exploit Psychology at least as much as technology. Phishing and Pretexting and other methods are called social engineering techniques.[4] The Web 2.0 applications, specifically Social network services, can be a mean to get in touch with people in charge of system administration or even system security, inducing them to reveal sensitive information.[5] One famous case is Robin Sage.[6]

The most widespread documentation on computer insecurity is about technical threats such as a computer virus, trojan and other malware, but a serious study to apply cost effective countermeasures can only be conducted following a rigorous IT risk analysis in the framework of an ISMS: a pure technical approach will let out the psychological attacks that are increasing threats.

Threats classification

[edit]

Threats can be classified according to their type and origin:[7]

  • Types of threats:
    • Physical damage: fire, water, pollution
    • Natural events: climatic, seismic, volcanic
    • Loss of essential services: electrical power, air conditioning, telecommunication
    • Compromise of information: eavesdropping, theft of media, retrieval of discarded materials
    • Technical failures: equipment, software, capacity saturation
    • Compromise of functions: error in use, abuse of rights, denial of actions

Note that a threat type can have multiple origins.

  • Deliberate: aiming at information asset
    • spying
    • illegal processing of data
  • Accidental
    • equipment failure
    • software failure
  • Environmental
    • natural event
    • loss of power supply
  • Negligence: Known but neglected factors, compromising the network safety and sustainability
[edit]

Recent trends in computer threats show an increase in ransomware attacks, supply chain attacks, and fileless malware. Ransomware attacks involve the encryption of a victim's files and a demand for payment to restore access. Supply chain attacks target the weakest links in a supply chain to gain access to high-value targets. Fileless malware attacks use techniques that allow malware to run in memory, making it difficult to detect.[8]

Common Threats

[edit]

Below are the few common emerging threats:

Threat classification

[edit]

Microsoft published a mnemonic, STRIDE,[9] from the initials of threat groups:

Microsoft previously rated the risk of security threats using five categories in a classification called DREAD: Risk assessment model.

The spread over a network of threats can lead to dangerous situations. In military and civil fields, threat level has been defined: for example INFOCON is a threat level used by the US. Leading antivirus software vendors publish global threat level on their websites.[10][11]

Associated terms

[edit]

Threat agents or actors

[edit]

The term Threat Agent is used to indicate an individual or group that can manifest a threat. It is fundamental to identify who would want to exploit the assets of a company, and how they might use them against the company.[12]

Individuals within a threat population; Practically anyone and anything can, under the right circumstances, be a threat agent – the well-intentioned, but inept, computer operator who trashes a daily batch job by typing the wrong command, the regulator performing an audit, or the squirrel that chews through a data cable.[13]

It is important to separate the concept of the event that a threat agent get in contact with the asset (even virtually, i.e. through the network) and the event that a threat agent act against the asset.[13]

OWASP collects a list of potential threat agents to prevent system designers, and programmers insert vulnerabilities in the software.[12]

Threat Agent = Capabilities + Intentions + Past Activities

These individuals and groups can be classified as follows:[12]

  • Non-Target Specific: Non-Target Specific Threat Agents are computer viruses, worms, trojans and logic bombs.
  • Employees: Staff, contractors, operational/maintenance personnel, or security guards who are annoyed with the company.
  • Organized Crime and Criminals: Criminals target information that is of value to them, such as bank accounts, credit cards or intellectual property that can be converted into money. Criminals will often make use of insiders to help them.
  • Corporations: Corporations are engaged in offensive information warfare or competitive intelligence. Partners and competitors come under this category.
  • Human, Unintentional: Accidents, carelessness.
  • Human, Intentional: Insider, outsider.
  • Natural: Flood, fire, lightning, meteor, earthquakes.

Threat action

[edit]

Threat action is an assault on system security. A complete security architecture deals with both intentional acts and accidental events.[14]

Threat analysis

[edit]

Threat analysis is the analysis of the probability of occurrences and consequences of damaging actions to a system.[1] It is the basis of risk analysis.

Threat modeling

[edit]

Threat modeling is a process that helps organizations identify and prioritize potential threats to their systems. It involves analyzing the system's architecture, identifying potential threats, and prioritizing them based on their impact and likelihood. By using threat modeling, organizations can develop a proactive approach to security and prioritize their resources to address the most significant risks.[15]

Threat intelligence

[edit]
Main article: Cyber threat intelligence

Threat intelligence is the practice of collecting and analyzing information about potential and current threats to an organization. This information can include indicators of compromise, attack techniques, and threat actor profiles.[16]

Threat consequence

[edit]

Threat consequence is a security violation that results from a threat action.[1]

Threat landscape or environment

[edit]

A collection of threats in a particular domain or context, with information on identified vulnerable assets, threats, risks, threat actors and observed trends.[17][18]

Threat management

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Threats should be managed by operating an ISMS, performing all the IT risk management activities foreseen by laws, standards and methodologies.

Very large organizations tend to adopt business continuity management plans in order to protect, maintain and recover business-critical processes and systems. Some of these plans are implemented by computer security incident response team (CSIRT).

Threat management must identify, evaluate, and categorize threats. There are two primary methods of threat assessment:

Many organizations perform only a subset of these methods, adopting countermeasures based on a non-systematic approach, resulting in computer insecurity.

Information security awareness is a significant market. There has been a lot of software developed to deal with IT threats, including both open-source software and proprietary software.[19]

Cyber threat management

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Threat management involves a wide variety of threats including physical threats like flood and fire. While ISMS risk assessment process does incorporate threat management for cyber threats such as remote buffer overflows the risk assessment process doesn't include processes such as threat intelligence management or response procedures.

Cyber threat management (CTM) is emerging as the best practice for managing cyber threats beyond the basic risk assessment found in ISMS. It enables early identification of threats, data-driven situational awareness, accurate decision-making, and timely threat mitigating actions.[20]

CTM includes:

  • Manual and automated intelligence gathering and threat analytics
  • Comprehensive methodology for real-time monitoring including advanced techniques such as behavioral modelling
  • Use of advanced analytics to optimize intelligence, generate security intelligence, and provide Situational Awareness
  • Technology and skilled people leveraging situational awareness to enable rapid decisions and automated or manual actions

Threat hunting

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Cyber threat hunting is "the process of proactively and iteratively searching through networks to detect and isolate advanced threats that evade existing security solutions."[21]

The SANS Institute has conducted research and surveys on the effectiveness of threat hunting to track and disrupt cyber adversaries as early in their process as possible. According to a survey performed in 2019, "61% [of the respondents] report at least an 11% measurable improvement in their overall security posture" and 23.6% of the respondents have experienced a 'significant improvement' in reducing the dwell time.[22]

See also

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References

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[23][24][25][13][26][27][28][29]

  1. ^ a b c d e R. Shirey (May 2000). Internet Security Glossary. Internet Engineering Task Force. doi:10.17487/RFC2828. RFC 2828. Informational. Obsoleted by RFC 4949.
  2. ^ Wright, Joe; Jim Harmening (2009). "15". In Vacca, John (ed.). Computer and Information Security Handbook. Morgan Kaufmann Publications. Elsevier Inc. p. 257. ISBN 978-0-12-374354-1.
  3. ^ "ISACA THE RISK IT FRAMEWORK" (PDF). Isaca.org. Retrieved 5 November 2013. (registration required)
  4. ^ Security engineering:a guide to building dependable distributed systems, second edition, Ross Anderson, Wiley, 2008 – 1040 pages ISBN 978-0-470-06852-6, Chapter 2, page 17
  5. ^ Brian Prince (7 April 2009). "Using Facebook to Social Engineer Your Way Around Security". Eweek.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Social engineering via Social networking". Networkworld.com. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  7. ^ ISO/IEC, "Information technology – Security techniques-Information security risk management" ISO/IEC FIDIS 27005:2008
  8. ^ "Ransomware Trends, Statistics and Facts in 2023". Security. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  9. ^ "The STRIDE Threat Model". msdn.microsoft.com. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  10. ^ "McAfee Threat Intelligence | McAfee, Inc". Mcafee.com. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Threatcon – Symantec Corp". Symantec.com. 10 January 2012. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  12. ^ a b c "Category:Threat Agent". OWASP. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  13. ^ a b c "An Introduction to Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR)" (PDF). Riskmanagementinsight.com. November 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  14. ^ "FIPS PUB 31 FEDERAL INFORMATION PROCESSING STANDARDS PUBLICATION : JUNE 1974" (PDF). Tricare.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Threat Modeling | OWASP Foundation". owasp.org. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  16. ^ "What is Threat Intelligence? | IBM". www.ibm.com. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  17. ^ ENISA Threat Landscape and Good Practice Guide for Smart Home and Converged Media (1 Dec 2014)
  18. ^ ENISA Threat Landscape 2013–Overview of Current and Emerging Cyber-Threats (11 Dec 2013)
  19. ^ See Category:Computer security companies, Category:Free security software, and Category:Computer security software companies for partial lists.
  20. ^ "What is Cyber Threat Management". ioctm.org. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Cyber threat hunting: How this vulnerability detection strategy gives analysts an edge – TechRepublic". TechRepublic. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  22. ^ Fuchs, Mathias; Lemon, Joshua. "SANS 2019 Threat Hunting Survey: The Differing Needs of New and Experienced Hunters" (PDF). SANS Institute. pp. 2, 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 200, Minimum Security Requirements for Federal Information and Information Systems" (PDF). Carc.nist.gov. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  24. ^ "Glossary – ENISA". Enisa.europa.eu. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  25. ^ Technical Standard Risk Taxonomy ISBN 1-931624-77-1 Document Number: C081 Published by The Open Group, January 2009.
  26. ^ Schou, Corey (1996). Handbook of INFOSEC Terms, Version 2.0. CD-ROM (Idaho State University & Information Systems Security Organization)
  27. ^ HMG IA Standard No. 1 Technical Risk Assessment
  28. ^ "Cyber Threat Hunting – Sqrrl". Sqrrl. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  29. ^ "Glossary of Terms". Niatec.info. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
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