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Zero Trust Security
AI Model AI/ML vulnerabilities Cyber Security Machine learning Microsoft Ransomware Attacks. Supply Chain Attack Zero Trust Security

Microsoft's Cybersecurity Report 2023

Microsoft recently issued its Digital Defense Report 2023, which offers important insights into the state of cyber threats today and suggests ways to improve defenses against digital attacks. These five key insights illuminate the opportunities and difficulties in the field of cybersecurity and are drawn from the report.

  • Ransomware Emerges as a Pervasive Threat: The report highlights the escalating menace of ransomware attacks, which have become more sophisticated and targeted. The prevalence of these attacks underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. As Microsoft notes, "Defending against ransomware requires a multi-layered approach that includes advanced threat protection, regular data backups, and user education."
  • Supply Chain Vulnerabilities Demand Attention: The digital defense landscape is interconnected, and supply chain vulnerabilities pose a significant risk. The report emphasizes the need for organizations to scrutinize their supply chains for potential weaknesses. Microsoft advises, "Organizations should conduct thorough risk assessments of their supply chains and implement measures such as secure coding practices and software integrity verification."
  • Zero Trust Architecture Gains Prominence: Zero Trust, a security framework that assumes no trust, even within an organization's network, is gaining momentum. The report encourages the adoption of Zero Trust Architecture to bolster defenses against evolving cyber threats. "Implementing Zero Trust principles helps organizations build a more resilient security posture by continuously verifying the identity and security posture of devices, users, and applications," Microsoft suggests
  • AI and Machine Learning Enhance Threat Detection: Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is crucial in the fight against cyber threats. The report underscores the effectiveness of these technologies in identifying and mitigating potential risks. Microsoft recommends organizations "leverage AI and ML capabilities to enhance threat detection, response, and recovery efforts."
  • Employee Training as a Cybersecurity Imperative: Human error remains a significant factor in cyber incidents. The report stresses the importance of continuous employee training to bolster the human element of cybersecurity. Microsoft asserts, "Investing in comprehensive cybersecurity awareness programs can empower employees to recognize and respond effectively to potential threats."

Microsoft says, "A resilient cybersecurity strategy is not a destination but a journey that requires continuous adaptation and improvement."An ideal place to start for a firm looking to improve its cybersecurity posture is the Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023. It is necessary to stay up to date on the current threats to digital assets and take precautionary measures to secure them.






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Zero Trust Security
Cyber Security Data Safety User Safety Zero Trust Zero Trust Security

Utilising Multiple Solutions Makes Your Zero Trust Strategy More Complex

 

According to BeyondTrust, business operational models are much more complicated now than they were a few years ago. 

Integration with zero trust

More applications, information stored and moving through the cloud, remote personnel accessing critical systems and data, and other factors are all contributing to this complexity. 

Threat to supply chain security 

As a result of a company's growing reliance on its supply chain, partners, suppliers, and shippers are now frequently directly linked to its systems. This has increased the demand for identity solutions and a zero trust strategy. 

The results of this study suggest that integration needs could prevent timely implementation. The research for the survey centred on comprehending the adoption rates, occurrences, solutions, obstacles, and new areas of attention for identification and zero trust.

“Today’s business operating models are highly complex, with remote employees accessing critical systems using dozens, and even hundreds of applications,” stated Morey Haber, Chief Security Officer at BeyondTrust. 

“Data is transmitted between clouds and corporate data centers, with third-party contractors and supply chain partners, suppliers, and shippers directly connecting to these corporate systems. Legacy security architectures and network defenses are less effective at managing this extended perimeter. Zero trust principles and architectures are being adopted by public and private sectors because they have become one of the most effective approaches to mitigating the heightened risks to highly sensitive identities, assets, and resources,” concluded Haber. 

Data breaches and identity theft skyrocket 

The study discovered that 81% of respondents had two or more identity-related occurrences in the previous 18 months, making up virtually all of the sample. A sizable portion of these instances included privileged accounts. 

A zero-trust strategy is still being implemented by more than 70% of businesses in order to secure an expanding security perimeter brought on by increased cloud usage and remote workers. 

For their zero trust strategy, almost all businesses said they were utilising multiple vendors and solutions, with the majority citing four or more. 70% of the businesses that were interviewed rely on expensive third-party services, frequently specialised coding, for integration. The deployment procedure was complicated by the fact that 84% of those had zero trust defenses that required several integration strategies. 

Native integration is needed for zero trust solutions 

Over 70% of respondents to a survey stated that they had to remove a security solution because it didn't integrate well, demonstrating how critical integration has become for many businesses. According to those questioned, flaws in their zero trust strategy led to a variety of problems, including a slower rate of issue resolution, poorer user experiences, erroneous access privileges, human intervention, and compliance problems. 

A faster reaction to security risks and enhanced compliance are two benefits of better integration that save time in addition to resources, according to more than 90% of businesses. Important issues affecting businesses 

Identity-related

  • 93% report having identity troubles as a result of integration concerns in the past 18 months
  • 81% of people have reported two or more identity concerns 
  • 63% of respondents claim that identification issues directly included privileged users and credentials, while 5% are unsure.

Zero trust related

  • 76% of businesses are still working to establish a zero-trust strategy to protect their environment
  • 96% of businesses employ several zero-trust strategies, with 56% utilising four or more. 

Integration-related 

  • 70% of businesses are forced to rely on vendor bespoke code for the integration of zero trust solutions
  • 84% of businesses use a variety of integration techniques to implement their zero-trust strategy
  • 99% of businesses say zero trust solutions must be integrated with a wide range of other programmes. 
  • Easy integration is rated as "very important" or "important" by 94% of participants, with none saying it isn't.
To lessen the burden of integration processes, practically every organisation said that a zero trust approach requires integration with multiple other business and collaboration apps. Most have made native integration a crucial consideration for choosing zero-trust solutions due to integration problems. 

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Zero Trust Security
Backdoor Attacks Cyber Attacks User Safety Zero Trust Zero Trust Security

Employing Zero Trust to Defend Against Backdoor Attacks

 

Attackers are increasing the number of backdoor attacks they use to spread malware and ransomware, showing that organisations cannot put any trust in anyone to protect their endpoints and identities. 

According to IBM's Security X-force Threat Intelligence Index 2023, hackers are prioritising these backdoor assaults in their efforts to blackmail downstream victims whose data has been hacked. The effort to breach a backdoor was the beginning of 21% of all intrusion attacks. A ransomware component was present in two-thirds of backdoor attempts.

The X-Force Intelligence team at IBM also found that backdoor attacks increased significantly in February and March of last year, as shown by a notable uptick in Emotet malware instances. In 2022, the increase was so large that it was responsible for 47% of all backdoor penetration attempts worldwide. 

“While extortion has mostly been associated with ransomware, extortion campaigns have also included a variety of other methods to apply pressure on their targets,” stated Chris Caridi, cyber threat analyst for IBM security threat intelligence. “And these include things like DDoS attacks, encrypting data, and more recently, some double and triple extortion threats combining several of the previously seen elements.” 

Businesses that rely on perimeter-based protection are being out-innovated by ransomware attackers. The average time to launch a ransomware assault has been cut in half over the past two years by 94%. In just under four days in 2021, ransomware attackers were able to complete what took them two months in 2019. 

Backdoor attack industry, a lucrative field

On the dark web, one of the most valuable and expensive assets for sale is backdoor access to an organization's infrastructure. Access brokers continue to build a robust industry selling mass stolen names and credentials to ransomware attackers, according to CrowdStrike's 2023 Global Threat Report. Government, financial services, industrial, and engineering organisations had the highest average access request prices, according to the highly recognised intelligence team at CrowdStrike.

While access to the government sector cost an average of $6,151, it cost an average of $3,827 to access the academic sector. In the 2023 index, the IBM team writes, "first access brokers often attempt to auction their accesses, with X-Force having seen prices at $5,000 to $10,000, while final pricing may be less. Accesses have been known to sell for $2,000 to $4,000 in some cases, even reaching $50,000. 

Mitigation Tips

Employ antivirus: Use sophisticated antivirus software that is able to recognise and stop a variety of viruses, including as trojans, cryptojackers, spyware, and rootkits. Before they can infect your computer, an antivirus will find and remove backdoor malware. To make sure you're as safe as possible online, good antivirus software like Norton 360 also contains technologies like Wi-Fi monitoring, a powerful firewall, web protection, and microphone and camera privacy monitoring. 

Use firewall: Firewalls, which keep an eye on all of your device's incoming and outgoing traffic, are crucial for anti-backdoor protection. The firewall will prevent unauthorised users from accessing your smartphone, and it will also stop any apps on your device that attempt to send data to an unidentified network location.

Even after your device's malware detection has been tricked, advanced firewalls can find unauthorised backdoor communication. Although the built-in firewalls on Windows and macOS are both fairly good, they are insufficient. There are a few antivirus software packages that have effective firewalls (McAfee has great network safeguards), and you might also think about getting a smart firewall, which is a real-world hardware item that you attach to your router. 

Use a good password manager: Password managers create, store, and even let you automatically log into all of your accounts' login credentials. Using 256-bit AES encryption, all of this data is safely secured and protected by a master password. The security of your password vault can even be increased by employing biometric login or 2FA technologies like TOTP generators and USB tokens, according to advanced password managers like Dashlane. Password managers make it far more difficult for hackers to break into your network or spread throughout your network in the case that a backdoor is placed on your system since they create random, complex passwords.
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Zero Trust Security
Compliance Cybersecurity Network Security Risk Management Zero Trust Security

Unlocking the Power of Zero Trust Security: 5 Reasons to Adopt the Framework

Zero Trust Security

As cyber threats continue to evolve, traditional security models are becoming less effective in protecting against them. That’s why many organizations are turning to a zero-trust security model to secure their networks, data, and applications. '

Zero trust is a security framework that assumes that all users, devices, and applications are untrusted until proven otherwise. In other words, zero trust requires authentication and authorization for every access request, even those originating from inside the network. 

Here are five reasons why you should consider adopting a zero-trust security model.

1. Improved Security

The primary benefit of a zero-trust security model is improved security. By assuming that everything is untrusted, zero trust forces every access request to be authenticated and authorized. This means that even if an attacker gains access to your network or device, they won’t be able to access sensitive data or applications without the proper credentials. Zero trust makes detecting and responding to security threats easier since every access request is logged and monitored.

2. Better Visibility

Zero trust provides better visibility into network activity. By requiring authentication and authorization for every access request, zero trust allows you to see who is accessing what, when, and from where. This visibility is critical for detecting and responding to security threats. It also helps with compliance since you can easily see who has access to sensitive data and applications.

3. Simplified Compliance

Speaking of compliance, zero trust can simplify compliance efforts. Many regulatory frameworks, such as the GDPR and CCPA, require organizations to protect sensitive data and limit access to it. Zero trust provides a framework for doing this. 
By requiring authentication and authorization for every access request, zero trust ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive data and applications. This can help you meet regulatory requirements and avoid fines for non-compliance.

4. Flexibility

Zero trust is a flexible security model that can be implemented in a variety of environments. It works equally well for on-premises networks, cloud environments, and hybrid environments. This makes it a good choice for organizations that are migrating to the cloud or using multiple environments. 
Zero trust can also be implemented incrementally, allowing you to gradually transition to the new security model without disrupting your existing systems.

5. Reduced Risk

Finally, zero trust can reduce the risk of security breaches and data loss. By requiring authentication and authorization for every access request, zero trust makes it harder for attackers to gain access to sensitive data and applications. 
It also makes it easier to detect and respond to security threats before they become major breaches. This can reduce the risk of financial loss, reputational damage, and legal liability.
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Zero Trust Security
Adaptive Access Technologies Adaptive Multifactor Authentication Cybersecurity Identity and Access Management Technology Zero Trust Security

Adaptive Access Technologies: Enhancing Security and Agility in Today's Business Environment

Adaptive Access Technologies

Adaptive Access Technologies: A Dynamic Approach to Security and Agility

Adaptive access technologies are gaining traction in the realm of cybersecurity due to their dynamic and intelligent approach to security that can adapt to the ever-changing threat landscape and provide the agility needed for modern business operations. In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of adaptive access technologies, such as Zero Trust security and adaptive multifactor authentication, for improving security posture and enabling organizations to be more agile.

Improved Security with Contextual Awareness

Traditional security solutions have relied on static controls that are often inadequate to keep pace with the rapid evolution of cyber threats. Adaptive access technologies, on the other hand, can dynamically adjust security controls based on contextual factors such as user behavior, device type, location, and time of day. This contextual awareness enables the system to make informed decisions about access requests, allowing for a more flexible and effective security posture. 

For example, Zero Trust security assumes that every user and device is untrusted and must be verified before granting access to resources. This approach emphasizes identity and access management (IAM), which allows organizations to control access to sensitive data and applications based on user roles, rather than just device or network location.

Efficient Access Control for Improved Agility

In today's fast-paced business environment, organizations need to be able to quickly adapt to changes in the market, customer needs, and technological advancements. Traditional security solutions can be a roadblock to agility, with their rigid controls and complex processes. Adaptive access technologies, however, can enable organizations to be more nimble by allowing for faster and more efficient access to resources while still maintaining a high level of security. 

For example, adaptive multifactor authentication (MFA) uses a combination of factors, such as biometric data, device type, and location, to determine whether to grant access to a user. Adaptive MFA can adjust the level of authentication required based on the user's risk profile, allowing for a more seamless and efficient user experience while still maintaining a high level of security.

Future-proofing against Emerging Threats

As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, adaptive access technologies will become even more critical in protecting against new and emerging threats. The ability to adapt to new threats and adjust security controls based on contextual factors will be essential in maintaining a strong security posture. 

For example, in the age of remote work, the ability to adjust access controls based on location and device type has become more critical than ever before. Adaptive access technologies can help organizations keep up with these changing trends and stay protected against new and emerging threats.

What can we learn

Adaptive access technologies offer a dynamic and intelligent approach to security that can adapt to the ever-changing threat landscape and provide the agility needed for modern business operations. Zero Trust security and adaptive multifactor authentication are just two examples of these technologies that can improve security posture and provide a better user experience, making them an attractive option for organizations looking to enhance their security and flexibility. 

As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, adaptive access technologies will become even more critical in protecting against new and emerging threats. Organizations that invest in these technologies will be better positioned to maintain a strong security posture while enabling agility and flexibility.

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