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A Look at Cryptographic Use Case Trends Around the World

ADAM CASON | October 12, 2022 | 159 views

Securing data, assets, and transactions is ever critical especially now with increased innovation, customer demand, and the need to navigate a complex regulatory landscape — not to mention staying ahead of evolving cyber threats. As a result, organizations of all sizes and in every country around the world require implementing cryptography solutions to help secure everyday business. This includes managing and securing transactions, managing encryption keys, authenticating identities, providing message integrity, and encrypting data and applications.

From the largest global banks and payment processors that process thousands of transactions a second to the micro merchants that are newly accepting payments, cryptography works behind the scenes to ensure payments are secure and sensitive information is protected. Whenever and wherever cryptography is at work, organizations turn to either hardware or cloud options (or a combination of both) to ensure data and transactions are secure and compliant.

Common cryptographic themes across industries and across countries:
1. Cloud adoption is happening across the board with payment processing taking the lead
2. Smaller FinTechs are innovating big time
3. Companies are continually seeking help to meet regulations, especially when it comes to data localization

Since writing Cryptographic Management Trends Around the Globe, I talked again with Futurex team members from our offices around the world, including Ruchin Kumar, vice president, South Asia; Mark Howland, senior business development, EMEA; and Santos Campa, vice president, LAC, for more cryptographic insights and perspectives, including drilling down on cryptographic use cases to see what’s similar and what’s unique across regions. Let’s take a look at each region: South Asia, EMEA, and LAC.

South Asia: Payment Ecosystem Thriving in South Asia
Ruchin Kumar emphasized that the payment ecosystem in South Asia, particularly India, is thriving — indicating that financial services are the largest consumers of hardware security modules (HSMs) and cryptography in the entire region. HSMs play an important role in South Asia, securing the root of trust, keeping the private keys secure, managing Public Key Infrastructures (PKIs), and managing digital signing for non-repudiation and message integrity. In fact, he said, India represents almost 95% of HSM use cases in all of South Asia.

Payment systems and securing payments go hand-in-hand with the standards and regulations required for payments/financial services. These include regulations set by Unique Identification of India (UIDAI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Payments Council of India (PCI), Information Technology Act of India, 2000 and its amendments 2008/2011/2016.

Kumar sees organizations use general purpose HSMs for digital signing for non-repudiation and message integrity and payment HSMs used for acquiring, switching, card issuance, green PIN, and other payment application security needs (these types of HSMs are required by regulations). What’s on the horizon? From Kumar’s perspective, organizations are doing a lot of testing and evaluation for cryptography inclusion in their infrastructure and many organizations are looking into tokenization for security and agility, especially with Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and AI emerging. Additionally, remote key loading is becoming more sought after because every device in the field these days — ATMs, point-of-sale devices, handheld devices — requires key exchange with centralized servers.

Companies in South Asia See Cryptography-as-a-Service and Local Data Centers Critical for Data Residency and Localization
Over the past two years, most organizations in South Asia have adopted the cloud on a large scale, including using the cloud as a resource to host their critical applications. Security has played a big role in this cloud migration, with organizations wanting to retain ownership and control of their encryption keys. As a result, many organizations have turned to Futurex’s VirtuCrypt cloud HSM and key management service for both security and meeting regulatory compliance.

Futurex’s data centers in India West and India Central help to power cryptographic automation, speed, latency, and data residency and data localization. “Local data centers provide customers a lot of assurance in terms of data residency, data localization, and key localization, which earlier was a barrier to move to the cloud. Now that Futurex’s cryptography services are hosted within Indian geography, we have seen a big difference in organizations migrating to HSM-as-a-service,” says Kumar.

India is well-known as a FinTech hub for start-ups and innovation, with many unicorns emerging, according to Kumar. Progressive companies look to service-based, OpEx models for their applications as well as for cryptography. OpEx models offer flexibility, money savings, and serve as a resource for those needing help with cryptographic management.

EMEA: Cloud and Payments Dominate HSM Use in Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Cloud adoption is also rapidly increasing in EMEA, with many organizations looking to HSM virtualization technology, especially for payment applications. According to Mark Howland, “Customers are asking, ‘can we cut down our use of hardware, our reliance on hardware, and have the payment applications that we are heavily invested in, spun up and spun down seasonally?”

Howland notes that smaller companies and VC-backed companies are more nimble and lean toward innovation by implementing such things as cryptography-as-a-service to meet PCI regulations. The early adopters are those organizations in the finance and payment industry, as consumer demand and pandemic adjustments have led to innovative payment processing including mobile payments and SoftPOS. Like South Asia, smaller companies including those in financial software and services, see the value of OpEx-based HSM cloud services, such as Futurex’s VirtuCrypt.

Organizations across EMEA are deploying HSMs for POS key management, PIN management, and virtualization. What’s ahead? Howland sees that many organizations are, again, moving to a service-based model, looking at application encryption, encrypting data at rest, and the overall protection of data in all industry sectors, not just traditional high-security finance customers.

LAC: Trends in Cryptography Use in Latin America and the Caribbean

What’s trending in LAC? According to Santos Campa, he is seeing a mixture of both on-premises cryptographic architecture and cloud payment demands. Several banks already have a huge investment in their hardware infrastructure — their own data centers, racks, servers, etc. However, at least 35% of customers are converting from these on-premises architectures to cloud HSMs. Many are opening new branches or are creating new FinTechs inside their organizations. “We’re seeing the majority of organizations moving to the cloud, or at least moving part of their operations to the cloud,” says Campa. “It's very important for many organizations to keep control and management of the key lifecycle.”

Again, much like other parts of the world, the financial sector is the big mover and shaker in terms of cryptographic implementations, using cryptography for PIN validation, key management, and tokenization. According to Campa, the cloud continues to be very important and beneficial, especially the ability to integrate cloud payment HSMs with the public cloud including AWS, Azure, and Google.

As organizations are adding new models, such as transaction processing models, a must-have is a secure, compliant cryptographic solution — compliant with PCI and local and regional regulations throughout Latin America — that will allow them to scale. A nice-to-have is an OpEx option to give flexibility and cost savings.

Pandemic trends have paved the way to make cryptographic management more streamlined — such as visualization and remote key management — and not needing to physically go to the data center. “Organizations are looking to a cryptographic platform that is future-proofed, one that is going to provide the best quality of service and support in the market,” says Campa.

All around the globe, organizations are looking to innovate payments and embrace the cloud, keeping security, agility, and cryptography top of mind. 

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Transformative Cybersecurity Detection Reshapes the Battle Against Constantly Evolving Cyber Threats

Article | March 29, 2023

Embrace cybersecurity as transformative detection techniques to revolutionize the fight against ever-changing cyber threats. In an interconnected world, cybersecurity poses a growing threat to businesses, capable of wreaking havoc on their operations, reputations, and financial standings. Cyber threats have reached alarming levels, affecting every industry. Successful attacks can lead to data theft, financial losses, reputational damage, and business disruption. These sophisticated attacks exploit vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure. Yet, the challenge of cybersecurity extends beyond the mere presence of threats. It lies in the relentless evolution and adaptability of these malevolent forces. Traditional security measures, once considered sufficient, are now rendered ineffective against their cunning tactics. The landscape of cybercrime is a perpetually shifting entity, leaving organizations in a constant state of vulnerability. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations witnessed a significant surge in cyber threats or alerts, with 61% reporting a substantial increase of 25% or more. With users accessing cloud applications and corporate networks remotely, hackers actively sought to exploit potential security gaps. Protecting Businesses: The Importance of Cybersecurity Detection Early threat detection is a fundamental aspect of effective cybersecurity. By closely monitoring network traffic, system logs, and user behavior, businesses can swiftly detect suspicious activities that may signal an ongoing or imminent cyber-attack. Such proactive detection enables organizations to respond promptly, mitigating potential financial losses from data breaches, system downtime, regulatory fines, legal battles, and reputational damage. For businesses entrusted with sensitive customer data, cybersecurity detection plays a vital role in maintaining trust and complying with data protection regulations. By monitoring data access, identifying unauthorized activities, and promptly detecting breaches or data exfiltration attempts, organizations can safeguard customer information and avoid legal complications. Moreover, cybersecurity detection protects a company's intellectual property, ensuring the integrity of trade secrets, proprietary algorithms, and other confidential information. By effectively identifying and preventing unauthorized access or theft attempts, businesses can maintain their competitive advantage. Compliance with industry regulations is an essential consideration for businesses. Cybersecurity detection helps companies demonstrate proactive measures in detecting security incidents and potential data breaches, ensuring adherence to data security and privacy requirements and avoiding penalties, legal liabilities, and reputational damage associated with non-compliance. Furthermore, effective cybersecurity detection enhances reputational trust. Businesses that invest in robust detection measures are committed to safeguarding sensitive information, thus fostering trust among customers, partners, and stakeholders. Guard Against Cyber Threats with onShore Security’s Panoptic Cyberdefense Panoptic Cyberdefense by onShore Security is a Managed Cybersecurity Detection solution that recognizes security as an ongoing process, not just a mere product. For effective cybersecurity operations, round-the-clock monitoring is required using Security Operations Center (SOC) offered by onShore’s cyberdefence solution. To maximize visibility, businesses need to immediately respond to security threats while also requiring to identify non-threatening data. Leveraging Panoptic Cyberdefense helps streamline identifying, monitoring, and detecting cyber threats. During a conversation with Media 7, Stel Valavanis, CEO, onShore Security highlighted the impact of cyber threats and talked about cybersecurity detection solutions. We have developed our detection platform, the Panoptic Sensor and the Panoptic SIEM over many battle-hardened years. And the process is well-oiled, as you can imagine, involving tiers and workflow communication for alerting, analysis, tuning, and threat-hunting. As cyber threats evolve in complexity and frequency, businesses must remain vigilant in safeguarding their digital assets. onShore Security's Panoptic Cyberdefense offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, including Panoptic Sensor and the Panoptic SIEM, to help organizations mitigate risk, protect sensitive data, elevate their security team, and meet compliance requirements. Through Panoptic Sensor, organizations gain proactive threat intelligence, enabling the early detection and prevention of potential security breaches. Complementing this, the Panoptic SIEM provides powerful analytics and monitoring capabilities, empowering businesses to swiftly identify, investigate, and respond to security incidents. To navigate complex data protection and privacy regulations, minimizing the risk of non-compliance penalties and legal ramifications is needed. Panoptic Cyberdefense offers three levels of cybersecurity detection. The levels of detection, response and analysis include managed detection and response (MDR), second level has both network detection response (NDR) + MDR, and the third level is security orchestration. Harness the Power of Detection By integrating detection capabilities into every layer of protection systems, including user involvement, businesses can establish a formidable defense against cyber threats. Consolidating data from various sources into a centralized platform for analysis becomes essential. Implementing a managed detection and response process enables continuous analysis of this data, empowering early detection of potential attackers and facilitating ongoing security enhancements. Collaborating with government and industry partners can further demonstrate a commitment to high-security standards and compliance requirements. Remaining prepared for potential attacks is crucial. In the event of an incident, prompt response becomes paramount. Equipped with comprehensive data providing attestation of methods and impact, organizations can swiftly and effectively address any cybersecurity breaches.

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Network Threat Detection, Platform Security, Software Security

Identity-Based Authentication Sets New Industry Standards for Secure and Streamlined User Onboarding

Article | July 18, 2023

Embrace the transformative power of identity-based authentication to establish new industry standards for safe and seamless user onboarding processes, enhancing security, workflows & user experience. The increasing adoption of decentralized identity systems, including blockchain-based solutions, introduces intricate challenges in the verification and authorization of identities across distributed networks. During interoperability, the threat to privacy and security within these systems is emerging at an alarming rate that requires urgent attention. Additionally, combating synthetic identity fraud poses a significant hurdle as fraudsters adeptly combine genuine and false information, making it arduous to differentiate between authentic and fraudulent identities. Deepfakes are the rising concern, which generate remarkably realistic audio, video, or images, mimicking genuine individuals and heightening the difficulty of detecting and preventing impersonation attacks. Password fatigue stems from the constant need to create and remember multiple passwords, leading users to choose weak or reused ones. Reusing passwords increases the risk, as compromising one account grants access to others. Password theft is a concern, with attackers employing phishing attacks and malware. A study by Google found that passwordless authentication can reduce password-related help desk tickets by up to 60%. (Source: PYMNTS) Complex password requirements can be challenging, pushing users towards weaker options. Password resets are time-consuming and frustrating. Solutions should alleviate fatigue, promote secure practices, and offer robust protection against theft and unauthorized access. All service providers or product companies confront a common challenge in this novel era of vulnerabilities, the question of creating an optimal and seamless user onboarding cycle while adhering to the necessary standards. This keeps them up at night as they attempt to find the optimal balance between seamless and secured-data onboarding. In this digital age, identity-secure data is the most valuable asset and a transformative resource. Organizations with data stored in cloud storage and password-based authentication systems are vulnerable to cybercrime. These are susceptible to numerous security threats, including phishing, social engineering, and brute-force attacks. These hazards may result in security breaches and sensitive data loss. Additionally, password management becomes burdensome for users, resulting in password fatigue, weak practices, and IT department involvement for password resets. This impacts user experience and productivity. Identity-Based Authentication (IBA) comes into action while implementing this secure identity verification. To ensure widespread adoption of IBA, the industry must standardize two crucial aspects of identity: ‘Identification Verification’ and ‘Passwordless Authentication’. Automating identity verification fundamentally transforms the onboarding work processes by shifting administrative burden to user endpoints and automating data capture, credential validation, and document workflow. This leads to increased user satisfaction and faster access to required services, driving efficiency and reducing the time to generate revenue for customers. BlockID Verify by 1Kosmos prevents such fraudulent accounts through an identity proofing process that verifies identity anywhere, anytime, and on any device with over 99% accuracy, thereby preventing the use of stolen or synthetic identities during customer onboarding. During a conversation with Media 7, Michael Cichon, CMO, 1Kosmos stressed on the implementation of identity proofing and authorization. At 1Kosmos we bring our solutions to the market through three distinct products. One product focuses on workforce authentication, another caters to business-to-consumer use cases, and the third product revolves around self-service identity proofing. These give organizations the ability to remotely verify an identity on the web with a high level of assurance, and then verify that identity at every access attempt. Onboarding users with security and data protection is a critical activity. It is a one-time action that must be combined with an authentication mechanism for long-term identity to be genuinely effective. Organizations with data stored in cloud storage and password-based authentication systems are vulnerable to cybercrime. While these are susceptible to numerous security threats, including phishing, social engineering, and brute-force attacks, these hazards can result in security breaches and sensitive data loss. A recent report by Verizon demonstrated that 61% of all data breaches are caused by compromised credentials. (Source: 1Kosmos) The catch that robust identity verification alone does not guarantee future authentication, calls for FIDO (Fast Identity Online). It is backed by an industry-leading organization 1Kosmos, which provides solutions for Identity Based Authentication. FIDO uses cryptography in the form of a public and private key to authenticate a user. With FIDO2 authentication, employees can authenticate into corporate systems and applications using their personal devices. This eliminates the need for conventional passwords and reduces the likelihood of security vulnerabilities resulting due to password-related attacks. With FIDO2, the user's keys are stored on their devices and not the service provider's server and thus proves to be less vulnerable to identity theft and phishing attempts. This is where the password to cryptographic passkeys adoption comes into picture. BlockID Workforce by 1Kosmos implements password-less authentication using FIDO, and has thus become a necessity, adopting self-service identity verification serving as a credential service provider. The ‘Identity Proofing’ together with ‘Passwordless Authentication’ results in a seamless user experience addressing credential theft, eliminating unauthorized users logging in corporate IT network and thus preventing data breaches, financial fraud, and ransomware.

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Platform Security

Software Supply Chain Attacks: How Can Code Signing Help?

Article | July 12, 2022

Software supply chain attacks, such as the recent one involving MOVEit Transfer, are a serious issue for modern enterprises. Their dependency on third-party software makes it difficult to successfully vet the security integrity of every product used by enterprises. Software is especially difficult to assess securely, as it can be modified through updates throughout its lifecycle. For threat actors, targeting popular enterprise software tools is a lucrative and time-efficient way to gain access to the systems of a large number of corporate users. Verifying the integrity of software, and using attestation services, is one way to minimize the threat surface. So how can these concepts be leveraged in software? Software integrity (also known as code integrity) refers to the quality of the source code and allows the determination of the safety, security, and reliability of the software. It can mean that the code is unaltered by unauthorized parties, or it can also provide protection against hacks and guarantee privacy. Integrity checking can be relatively complex, but includes, at a minimum (from a security perspective), security features and ensures that security vulnerabilities have been eliminated. It does what it should, can be tested, and is easy to understand and edit, without introducing new errors or flaws. There are code analysis tools that can enable this. Beyond that, the code can be signed through the application of a digital signature to seal that integrity check. This can happen several times during the lifetime of that software: at production, for upgrades and patching, etc. This provides assurance that the software came from the developer and that it has not been changed in an unauthorized manner. This proof of authenticity becomes important in supply chain scenarios, and can be an important tool for brand protection of the developers. Code signing makes use of digital certificates; the signature is cryptographically hashed and packaged in a certificate. This certificate can then be verified by the user of the software through a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), with a certificate authority validating (or refuting) the applied signature. There are various types of code signing certificates: standard and extended. The latter involves a more complex process and stricter requirements for validation and key management. Software attestation is essentially the other side of that process. It’s a trust mechanism that allows the user to independently validate the integrity asserted by a provider. Attestation might require not just the vendors name, version of the software, and origins of the code, but also other software artifacts, such as statements to the effect that they have followed secure development practices, information on external dependencies used to build it, the build process itself, the test suites that were run, and any security checks passed. Together, these artifacts form the metadata of the software, which then can be independently signed. A PKI can then be leveraged to verify the applied digital signature. There are software attestation standards that can be leveraged, including open ones (in-tot and Binary Authorization being two popular ones). The U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working on a self-attestation form (Secure Software Development Attestation Common Form) for software producers serving the federal government. The form will require them to confirm implementation of specific security practices. This was following the White House’s 2021 Executive Order 14028 and the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) M-22-18, “Enhancing the Security of the Software Supply Chain through Secure Software Development Practices.” Digital signatures for code integrity and software attestation will increasingly be in demand, especially as governments on both sides of the Atlantic (in the European Union and the United States) are pushing for policy and regulation on mandatory Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs). The goal is to make software developers and device manufacturers accountable for the components that make up their products. An SBOM will have to list known vulnerabilities associated with each component (open source and third party), pushing security rights to the forefront of product development. This visibility will allow for product development teams, DevOps, and implementers to address vulnerabilities and thereby strengthen security. SBOMs will likely form part of the software’s metadata, so signing will have a role to play here. In short, code signing and software attestation can both confer a level of security that can minimize the threat of a supply chain attack. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that they won’t address all issues, and will not be 100% fool-proof either. Of course, threat actors know this, and many are already targeting the code signing process in order to inject malicious code. This requires threat actors to compromise development platforms where code signing takes place. Ultimately, the use of digital signatures, from creation to management, is another aspect that will need to be secured from a developer perspective. DevSecOps will also have an important role to play here in order to avoid such malicious tactics, thereby providing a holistic security context for using digital signatures. But there is no doubt that digital signatures are a key technology for code integrity and software attestation, and will have a positive impact on thwarting the progress of supply chain attacks, if used widely. Sources: CISA WH EO 14028 OMB

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Network Threat Detection, Platform Security, Software Security

Digital Defense 2023: Top Network Security Trends for Businesses

Article | June 28, 2023

Discover emerging network security trends to stay informed about evolving landscape and safeguard business operations, protect sensitive data, and fortify defenses against evolving cyber threats. Contents Introduction The Latest Network Security Trends Every Business Should Know in 2023 Zero Trust Architecture Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Internet of Things (IoT) Security Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Network Security Privacy-Enhancing Technologies Third-party Security and Interoperability Incident Response and Cyber Insurance Network Security: Beyond the Horizon Introduction The landscape of network security is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in technology and the cyberattack tactics of cybercriminals. There has been a significant rise in network security threats, such as ransomware attacks, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), phishing, and others, over the past few years. According to a report by Barracuda, 81% of the companies surveyed stated that they had suffered at least one security breach in 2021. As a result, it is increasingly becoming crucial for businesses to stay vigilant and well-informed about the recent trends in network security to protect their critical assets, maintain the trust of their customers, and mitigate the potentially devastating consequences of current cybersecurity threats. The Latest Network Security Trends Every Business Should Know in 2023 As technology evolves, so do the threats that businesses face in the digital landscape. Network security has become a critical concern for organizations as they navigate the complex world of data protection, privacy, and cyber threats. Several upcoming network security trends are shaping the landscape, demanding the attention of businesses worldwide. Understanding and adapting to these trends is crucial to maintaining a secure and resilient network infrastructure. Key emerging network security future trends in the information security industry are as follows: Zero Trust Architecture Traditional perimeter-based security approaches are no longer sufficient to protect today's dynamic and distributed networks. The zero trust architecture is gaining massive traction as an emerging cyber security technology in the network security sector. It operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify," requiring continuous authentication and authorization for every user, device, and application seeking access to network resources. Implementing these conditions enables businesses to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access, lateral movement, and data breaches. Consequently, organizations are focusing on embracing this approach to strengthen their security posture and safeguard critical assets, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their network infrastructure. Secure Access Service Edge The rapid adoption of cloud services and the proliferation of remote work have accelerated the need for a unified and cloud-native network security solution. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) combines network security functions, such as secure web gateways, firewall-as-a-service, and data loss prevention, into a single cloud-delivered service. SASE offers businesses a scalable and flexible approach to secure their networks, providing consistent security policies and access controls regardless of the user's location or device. As SASE simplifies network security management, reduces complexity, and improves visibility, organizations are increasingly adopting these solutions to enhance overall security posture. Internet of Things (IoT) Security The proliferation of IoT devices presents significant security challenges for businesses today. These devices often have limited computing resources and lack built-in security features, making them vulnerable to exploitation. Additionally, continuous monitoring, threat intelligence, and timely patching of IoT devices are essential to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly. As a result, businesses are paying close attention to IoT security by implementing robust security controls, device authentication mechanisms, and network segmentation. Prioritizing IoT security, they can safeguard their networks and sensitive data, as well as maintain trust with customers. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Network Security As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, leveraging AI and Machine Learning (ML) in network security becomes essential for businesses to stay ahead of evolving threats. These technologies analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies in real time, enabling companies to proactive threat detection and response. The threat detection and remediation capabilities of AI and ML-powered solutions provide organizations with rapid real-time protection. These solutions enable them to analyze complex datasets without human intervention by automating routine security tasks, enhancing network visibility, and empowering faster incident response times. Privacy-Enhancing Technologies With the increasing emphasis on data privacy regulations and consumer expectations, privacy-enhancing technologies are extensively gaining importance in network security. These technologies, including differential privacy, homomorphic encryption, and secure multiparty computation, allow businesses to protect sensitive data while performing essential operations. The adoption of privacy-enhancing technologies also assists organizations in maintaining compliance with privacy regulations, building customer trust, and mitigating the risks of data breaches and privacy violations. Consequently, they are increasingly implementing these advanced technologies to demonstrate their commitment toward data privacy and strike a balance between data utility and protecting individual privacy rights. Third-party Security and Interoperability Organizations often rely on third-party vendors, suppliers, and partners for critical services and solutions, in today's interconnected business landscape. However, this reliance introduces potential vulnerabilities and risks to the network infrastructure. A study by Forrester anticipates that nearly 60% of security incidents will involve third parties. Ensuring third-party entities adhere to robust security standards and practices is crucial to maintaining a secure ecosystem. Thus, businesses are implementing robust interoperability protocols, secure APIs, and standardized security controls to enable secure communication and data sharing between different network components. Incident Response and Cyber Insurance Despite comprehensive security measures, organizations can still fall victim to cyberattacks. Incident response plans ensure a swift and effective response to security incidents, enabling the detection, containment, and recovery from breaches. Businesses can minimize damage, protect sensitive data, and maintain operational continuity by promptly addressing security incidents. Furthermore, considering the increasing financial impact of cyberattacks, organizations are obtaining cyber insurance to mitigate the potential financial losses associated with data breaches, business disruptions, and legal liabilities. This allows organizations to transfer some of the financial burden of a cyberattack. Network Security: Beyond the Horizon With the proliferation of cyber threats and the increasing value of data, organizations must prioritize the protection of their networks and sensitive information. A robust network security framework ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical business data, guarding against unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential financial and reputational damage. Businesses must prioritize improving their network security to protect their operations, reputation, and sensitive data effectively. Keeping pace with these global security trends enables organizations to identify vulnerabilities, implement robust safeguards, and deploy advanced defense mechanisms. Actively monitoring and responding to these emerging security trends in network infrastructures enable organizations in fortifying their resilience, maintaining customer trust, and securing their long-term success in an ever-evolving digital environment.

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Data Security, Platform Security, Software Security

Top 5 Application Security Trends Businesses Must Be Aware of in 2023

Article | March 29, 2023

Embrace cybersecurity as transformative detection techniques to revolutionize the fight against ever-changing cyber threats. In an interconnected world, cybersecurity poses a growing threat to businesses, capable of wreaking havoc on their operations, reputations, and financial standings. Cyber threats have reached alarming levels, affecting every industry. Successful attacks can lead to data theft, financial losses, reputational damage, and business disruption. These sophisticated attacks exploit vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure. Yet, the challenge of cybersecurity extends beyond the mere presence of threats. It lies in the relentless evolution and adaptability of these malevolent forces. Traditional security measures, once considered sufficient, are now rendered ineffective against their cunning tactics. The landscape of cybercrime is a perpetually shifting entity, leaving organizations in a constant state of vulnerability. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations witnessed a significant surge in cyber threats or alerts, with 61% reporting a substantial increase of 25% or more. With users accessing cloud applications and corporate networks remotely, hackers actively sought to exploit potential security gaps. Protecting Businesses: The Importance of Cybersecurity Detection Early threat detection is a fundamental aspect of effective cybersecurity. By closely monitoring network traffic, system logs, and user behavior, businesses can swiftly detect suspicious activities that may signal an ongoing or imminent cyber-attack. Such proactive detection enables organizations to respond promptly, mitigating potential financial losses from data breaches, system downtime, regulatory fines, legal battles, and reputational damage. For businesses entrusted with sensitive customer data, cybersecurity detection plays a vital role in maintaining trust and complying with data protection regulations. By monitoring data access, identifying unauthorized activities, and promptly detecting breaches or data exfiltration attempts, organizations can safeguard customer information and avoid legal complications. Moreover, cybersecurity detection protects a company's intellectual property, ensuring the integrity of trade secrets, proprietary algorithms, and other confidential information. By effectively identifying and preventing unauthorized access or theft attempts, businesses can maintain their competitive advantage. Compliance with industry regulations is an essential consideration for businesses. Cybersecurity detection helps companies demonstrate proactive measures in detecting security incidents and potential data breaches, ensuring adherence to data security and privacy requirements and avoiding penalties, legal liabilities, and reputational damage associated with non-compliance. Furthermore, effective cybersecurity detection enhances reputational trust. Businesses that invest in robust detection measures are committed to safeguarding sensitive information, thus fostering trust among customers, partners, and stakeholders. Guard Against Cyber Threats with onShore Security’s Panoptic Cyberdefense Panoptic Cyberdefense by onShore Security is a Managed Cybersecurity Detection solution that recognizes security as an ongoing process, not just a mere product. For effective cybersecurity operations, round-the-clock monitoring is required using Security Operations Center (SOC) offered by onShore’s cyberdefence solution. To maximize visibility, businesses need to immediately respond to security threats while also requiring to identify non-threatening data. Leveraging Panoptic Cyberdefense helps streamline identifying, monitoring, and detecting cyber threats. During a conversation with Media 7, Stel Valavanis, CEO, onShore Security highlighted the impact of cyber threats and talked about cybersecurity detection solutions. We have developed our detection platform, the Panoptic Sensor and the Panoptic SIEM over many battle-hardened years. And the process is well-oiled, as you can imagine, involving tiers and workflow communication for alerting, analysis, tuning, and threat-hunting. As cyber threats evolve in complexity and frequency, businesses must remain vigilant in safeguarding their digital assets. onShore Security's Panoptic Cyberdefense offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, including Panoptic Sensor and the Panoptic SIEM, to help organizations mitigate risk, protect sensitive data, elevate their security team, and meet compliance requirements. Through Panoptic Sensor, organizations gain proactive threat intelligence, enabling the early detection and prevention of potential security breaches. Complementing this, the Panoptic SIEM provides powerful analytics and monitoring capabilities, empowering businesses to swiftly identify, investigate, and respond to security incidents. To navigate complex data protection and privacy regulations, minimizing the risk of non-compliance penalties and legal ramifications is needed. Panoptic Cyberdefense offers three levels of cybersecurity detection. The levels of detection, response and analysis include managed detection and response (MDR), second level has both network detection response (NDR) + MDR, and the third level is security orchestration. Harness the Power of Detection By integrating detection capabilities into every layer of protection systems, including user involvement, businesses can establish a formidable defense against cyber threats. Consolidating data from various sources into a centralized platform for analysis becomes essential. Implementing a managed detection and response process enables continuous analysis of this data, empowering early detection of potential attackers and facilitating ongoing security enhancements. Collaborating with government and industry partners can further demonstrate a commitment to high-security standards and compliance requirements. Remaining prepared for potential attacks is crucial. In the event of an incident, prompt response becomes paramount. Equipped with comprehensive data providing attestation of methods and impact, organizations can swiftly and effectively address any cybersecurity breaches.

Read More
Network Threat Detection, Platform Security, Software Security

The Elite 10: Unveiling Top Network Security Solutions in 2023

Article | July 18, 2023

Embrace the transformative power of identity-based authentication to establish new industry standards for safe and seamless user onboarding processes, enhancing security, workflows & user experience. The increasing adoption of decentralized identity systems, including blockchain-based solutions, introduces intricate challenges in the verification and authorization of identities across distributed networks. During interoperability, the threat to privacy and security within these systems is emerging at an alarming rate that requires urgent attention. Additionally, combating synthetic identity fraud poses a significant hurdle as fraudsters adeptly combine genuine and false information, making it arduous to differentiate between authentic and fraudulent identities. Deepfakes are the rising concern, which generate remarkably realistic audio, video, or images, mimicking genuine individuals and heightening the difficulty of detecting and preventing impersonation attacks. Password fatigue stems from the constant need to create and remember multiple passwords, leading users to choose weak or reused ones. Reusing passwords increases the risk, as compromising one account grants access to others. Password theft is a concern, with attackers employing phishing attacks and malware. A study by Google found that passwordless authentication can reduce password-related help desk tickets by up to 60%. (Source: PYMNTS) Complex password requirements can be challenging, pushing users towards weaker options. Password resets are time-consuming and frustrating. Solutions should alleviate fatigue, promote secure practices, and offer robust protection against theft and unauthorized access. All service providers or product companies confront a common challenge in this novel era of vulnerabilities, the question of creating an optimal and seamless user onboarding cycle while adhering to the necessary standards. This keeps them up at night as they attempt to find the optimal balance between seamless and secured-data onboarding. In this digital age, identity-secure data is the most valuable asset and a transformative resource. Organizations with data stored in cloud storage and password-based authentication systems are vulnerable to cybercrime. These are susceptible to numerous security threats, including phishing, social engineering, and brute-force attacks. These hazards may result in security breaches and sensitive data loss. Additionally, password management becomes burdensome for users, resulting in password fatigue, weak practices, and IT department involvement for password resets. This impacts user experience and productivity. Identity-Based Authentication (IBA) comes into action while implementing this secure identity verification. To ensure widespread adoption of IBA, the industry must standardize two crucial aspects of identity: ‘Identification Verification’ and ‘Passwordless Authentication’. Automating identity verification fundamentally transforms the onboarding work processes by shifting administrative burden to user endpoints and automating data capture, credential validation, and document workflow. This leads to increased user satisfaction and faster access to required services, driving efficiency and reducing the time to generate revenue for customers. BlockID Verify by 1Kosmos prevents such fraudulent accounts through an identity proofing process that verifies identity anywhere, anytime, and on any device with over 99% accuracy, thereby preventing the use of stolen or synthetic identities during customer onboarding. During a conversation with Media 7, Michael Cichon, CMO, 1Kosmos stressed on the implementation of identity proofing and authorization. At 1Kosmos we bring our solutions to the market through three distinct products. One product focuses on workforce authentication, another caters to business-to-consumer use cases, and the third product revolves around self-service identity proofing. These give organizations the ability to remotely verify an identity on the web with a high level of assurance, and then verify that identity at every access attempt. Onboarding users with security and data protection is a critical activity. It is a one-time action that must be combined with an authentication mechanism for long-term identity to be genuinely effective. Organizations with data stored in cloud storage and password-based authentication systems are vulnerable to cybercrime. While these are susceptible to numerous security threats, including phishing, social engineering, and brute-force attacks, these hazards can result in security breaches and sensitive data loss. A recent report by Verizon demonstrated that 61% of all data breaches are caused by compromised credentials. (Source: 1Kosmos) The catch that robust identity verification alone does not guarantee future authentication, calls for FIDO (Fast Identity Online). It is backed by an industry-leading organization 1Kosmos, which provides solutions for Identity Based Authentication. FIDO uses cryptography in the form of a public and private key to authenticate a user. With FIDO2 authentication, employees can authenticate into corporate systems and applications using their personal devices. This eliminates the need for conventional passwords and reduces the likelihood of security vulnerabilities resulting due to password-related attacks. With FIDO2, the user's keys are stored on their devices and not the service provider's server and thus proves to be less vulnerable to identity theft and phishing attempts. This is where the password to cryptographic passkeys adoption comes into picture. BlockID Workforce by 1Kosmos implements password-less authentication using FIDO, and has thus become a necessity, adopting self-service identity verification serving as a credential service provider. The ‘Identity Proofing’ together with ‘Passwordless Authentication’ results in a seamless user experience addressing credential theft, eliminating unauthorized users logging in corporate IT network and thus preventing data breaches, financial fraud, and ransomware.

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Platform Security

Addressing Digital Supply Chain Risks

Article | July 12, 2022

Software supply chain attacks, such as the recent one involving MOVEit Transfer, are a serious issue for modern enterprises. Their dependency on third-party software makes it difficult to successfully vet the security integrity of every product used by enterprises. Software is especially difficult to assess securely, as it can be modified through updates throughout its lifecycle. For threat actors, targeting popular enterprise software tools is a lucrative and time-efficient way to gain access to the systems of a large number of corporate users. Verifying the integrity of software, and using attestation services, is one way to minimize the threat surface. So how can these concepts be leveraged in software? Software integrity (also known as code integrity) refers to the quality of the source code and allows the determination of the safety, security, and reliability of the software. It can mean that the code is unaltered by unauthorized parties, or it can also provide protection against hacks and guarantee privacy. Integrity checking can be relatively complex, but includes, at a minimum (from a security perspective), security features and ensures that security vulnerabilities have been eliminated. It does what it should, can be tested, and is easy to understand and edit, without introducing new errors or flaws. There are code analysis tools that can enable this. Beyond that, the code can be signed through the application of a digital signature to seal that integrity check. This can happen several times during the lifetime of that software: at production, for upgrades and patching, etc. This provides assurance that the software came from the developer and that it has not been changed in an unauthorized manner. This proof of authenticity becomes important in supply chain scenarios, and can be an important tool for brand protection of the developers. Code signing makes use of digital certificates; the signature is cryptographically hashed and packaged in a certificate. This certificate can then be verified by the user of the software through a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), with a certificate authority validating (or refuting) the applied signature. There are various types of code signing certificates: standard and extended. The latter involves a more complex process and stricter requirements for validation and key management. Software attestation is essentially the other side of that process. It’s a trust mechanism that allows the user to independently validate the integrity asserted by a provider. Attestation might require not just the vendors name, version of the software, and origins of the code, but also other software artifacts, such as statements to the effect that they have followed secure development practices, information on external dependencies used to build it, the build process itself, the test suites that were run, and any security checks passed. Together, these artifacts form the metadata of the software, which then can be independently signed. A PKI can then be leveraged to verify the applied digital signature. There are software attestation standards that can be leveraged, including open ones (in-tot and Binary Authorization being two popular ones). The U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working on a self-attestation form (Secure Software Development Attestation Common Form) for software producers serving the federal government. The form will require them to confirm implementation of specific security practices. This was following the White House’s 2021 Executive Order 14028 and the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) M-22-18, “Enhancing the Security of the Software Supply Chain through Secure Software Development Practices.” Digital signatures for code integrity and software attestation will increasingly be in demand, especially as governments on both sides of the Atlantic (in the European Union and the United States) are pushing for policy and regulation on mandatory Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs). The goal is to make software developers and device manufacturers accountable for the components that make up their products. An SBOM will have to list known vulnerabilities associated with each component (open source and third party), pushing security rights to the forefront of product development. This visibility will allow for product development teams, DevOps, and implementers to address vulnerabilities and thereby strengthen security. SBOMs will likely form part of the software’s metadata, so signing will have a role to play here. In short, code signing and software attestation can both confer a level of security that can minimize the threat of a supply chain attack. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that they won’t address all issues, and will not be 100% fool-proof either. Of course, threat actors know this, and many are already targeting the code signing process in order to inject malicious code. This requires threat actors to compromise development platforms where code signing takes place. Ultimately, the use of digital signatures, from creation to management, is another aspect that will need to be secured from a developer perspective. DevSecOps will also have an important role to play here in order to avoid such malicious tactics, thereby providing a holistic security context for using digital signatures. But there is no doubt that digital signatures are a key technology for code integrity and software attestation, and will have a positive impact on thwarting the progress of supply chain attacks, if used widely. Sources: CISA WH EO 14028 OMB

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Network Threat Detection, Platform Security, Software Security

Digital Defense 2023: Top Network Security Trends for Businesses

Article | June 28, 2023

Discover emerging network security trends to stay informed about evolving landscape and safeguard business operations, protect sensitive data, and fortify defenses against evolving cyber threats. Contents Introduction The Latest Network Security Trends Every Business Should Know in 2023 Zero Trust Architecture Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Internet of Things (IoT) Security Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Network Security Privacy-Enhancing Technologies Third-party Security and Interoperability Incident Response and Cyber Insurance Network Security: Beyond the Horizon Introduction The landscape of network security is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in technology and the cyberattack tactics of cybercriminals. There has been a significant rise in network security threats, such as ransomware attacks, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), phishing, and others, over the past few years. According to a report by Barracuda, 81% of the companies surveyed stated that they had suffered at least one security breach in 2021. As a result, it is increasingly becoming crucial for businesses to stay vigilant and well-informed about the recent trends in network security to protect their critical assets, maintain the trust of their customers, and mitigate the potentially devastating consequences of current cybersecurity threats. The Latest Network Security Trends Every Business Should Know in 2023 As technology evolves, so do the threats that businesses face in the digital landscape. Network security has become a critical concern for organizations as they navigate the complex world of data protection, privacy, and cyber threats. Several upcoming network security trends are shaping the landscape, demanding the attention of businesses worldwide. Understanding and adapting to these trends is crucial to maintaining a secure and resilient network infrastructure. Key emerging network security future trends in the information security industry are as follows: Zero Trust Architecture Traditional perimeter-based security approaches are no longer sufficient to protect today's dynamic and distributed networks. The zero trust architecture is gaining massive traction as an emerging cyber security technology in the network security sector. It operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify," requiring continuous authentication and authorization for every user, device, and application seeking access to network resources. Implementing these conditions enables businesses to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access, lateral movement, and data breaches. Consequently, organizations are focusing on embracing this approach to strengthen their security posture and safeguard critical assets, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their network infrastructure. Secure Access Service Edge The rapid adoption of cloud services and the proliferation of remote work have accelerated the need for a unified and cloud-native network security solution. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) combines network security functions, such as secure web gateways, firewall-as-a-service, and data loss prevention, into a single cloud-delivered service. SASE offers businesses a scalable and flexible approach to secure their networks, providing consistent security policies and access controls regardless of the user's location or device. As SASE simplifies network security management, reduces complexity, and improves visibility, organizations are increasingly adopting these solutions to enhance overall security posture. Internet of Things (IoT) Security The proliferation of IoT devices presents significant security challenges for businesses today. These devices often have limited computing resources and lack built-in security features, making them vulnerable to exploitation. Additionally, continuous monitoring, threat intelligence, and timely patching of IoT devices are essential to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly. As a result, businesses are paying close attention to IoT security by implementing robust security controls, device authentication mechanisms, and network segmentation. Prioritizing IoT security, they can safeguard their networks and sensitive data, as well as maintain trust with customers. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Network Security As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, leveraging AI and Machine Learning (ML) in network security becomes essential for businesses to stay ahead of evolving threats. These technologies analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies in real time, enabling companies to proactive threat detection and response. The threat detection and remediation capabilities of AI and ML-powered solutions provide organizations with rapid real-time protection. These solutions enable them to analyze complex datasets without human intervention by automating routine security tasks, enhancing network visibility, and empowering faster incident response times. Privacy-Enhancing Technologies With the increasing emphasis on data privacy regulations and consumer expectations, privacy-enhancing technologies are extensively gaining importance in network security. These technologies, including differential privacy, homomorphic encryption, and secure multiparty computation, allow businesses to protect sensitive data while performing essential operations. The adoption of privacy-enhancing technologies also assists organizations in maintaining compliance with privacy regulations, building customer trust, and mitigating the risks of data breaches and privacy violations. Consequently, they are increasingly implementing these advanced technologies to demonstrate their commitment toward data privacy and strike a balance between data utility and protecting individual privacy rights. Third-party Security and Interoperability Organizations often rely on third-party vendors, suppliers, and partners for critical services and solutions, in today's interconnected business landscape. However, this reliance introduces potential vulnerabilities and risks to the network infrastructure. A study by Forrester anticipates that nearly 60% of security incidents will involve third parties. Ensuring third-party entities adhere to robust security standards and practices is crucial to maintaining a secure ecosystem. Thus, businesses are implementing robust interoperability protocols, secure APIs, and standardized security controls to enable secure communication and data sharing between different network components. Incident Response and Cyber Insurance Despite comprehensive security measures, organizations can still fall victim to cyberattacks. Incident response plans ensure a swift and effective response to security incidents, enabling the detection, containment, and recovery from breaches. Businesses can minimize damage, protect sensitive data, and maintain operational continuity by promptly addressing security incidents. Furthermore, considering the increasing financial impact of cyberattacks, organizations are obtaining cyber insurance to mitigate the potential financial losses associated with data breaches, business disruptions, and legal liabilities. This allows organizations to transfer some of the financial burden of a cyberattack. Network Security: Beyond the Horizon With the proliferation of cyber threats and the increasing value of data, organizations must prioritize the protection of their networks and sensitive information. A robust network security framework ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical business data, guarding against unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential financial and reputational damage. Businesses must prioritize improving their network security to protect their operations, reputation, and sensitive data effectively. Keeping pace with these global security trends enables organizations to identify vulnerabilities, implement robust safeguards, and deploy advanced defense mechanisms. Actively monitoring and responding to these emerging security trends in network infrastructures enable organizations in fortifying their resilience, maintaining customer trust, and securing their long-term success in an ever-evolving digital environment.

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Data Security

Oracle Attempts to Design New Open Network and Data Security Standard

Oracle | September 20, 2023

Oracle to participate in an industry-wide initiative to design a new open network and data security standard. Oracle and Applied Invention are assisting to developing and promoting a novel network and data-centric security standard to tackle distributed cloud deployment challenges. This standard will enable organizations to protect their data throughout its entire lifecycle without requiring modifications to their distributed cloud environments' underlying architecture. Oracle, one of the world's largest database management companies, announced that it will participate in an industry-wide initiative to design a new open network and data security standards that will assist organizations in protecting their data in distributed IT environments. Oracle will collaborate with Applied Invention, a significant technology provider, and other industry leaders, including Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI), a global leader in consulting and system solutions. This new standard will enable networks to enforce shared security policies collectively, thereby augmenting the security architecture organizations already employ without requiring modifications to existing applications and networks. Oracle plans to launch the Oracle Zero-Trust Packet Routing Platform, based on the new standard, to support this new initiative. This platform will assist organizations in preventing illegal access or use of their data without imposing additional obstacles on legitimate activities. Executive Vice President of Security and Developer Platforms at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Mahesh Thiagarajan, said, Over the last 20 years, the cybersecurity industry has produced many incremental changes, but we need a fundamentally novel approach to protect our data in the increasingly complex cloud era. Organizations require a way to describe their data security policies in one place where they can be easily understood and audited, and they need a way to make sure those policies are enforced across their entire computing infrastructure, including their clouds. [Source – Cision PR Newswire] As the adoption of cloud technology rises and IT landscapes become more intricate with distributed cloud deployments, organizations face escalating challenges in safeguarding their data using conventional methods and tools. For example, many existing systems necessitate security teams to orchestrate disparate solutions across various facets, including database, application, network, and identity security. This complexity is further compounded when applied across diverse environments. Ensuring seamless collaboration among these solutions becomes a formidable task due to the dynamic and independent changes in applications, environments, and user profiles. Additionally, current security systems demand extensive configurations to accurately distinguish between different user categories, such as full-time employees and contractors, without compromising security or restricting access. Research Vice President of Cloud and Edge Infrastructure Services at IDC, Dave McCarthy, said, The new standard Oracle develop has the potential to change all of that by adding a unified layer of security on top of existing solutions. Building data protection policies into the network itself will assist users get the access they require while ensuring the data remains secure behind the scenes. [Source – Cision PR Newswire] Oracle and Applied Invention are assisting in designing and promoting a novel security standard, focusing on network and data-centric security, which aims to tackle these challenges. This innovative standard will empower organizations to safeguard their data across its entire lifecycle, including distributed cloud environments. To accomplish this, the standard will implement an intent-based security policy that is designed to be understandable, auditable, and interpretable by humans. This intent-driven approach will be put into practice at the network layer, ensuring that every data transmission contains authenticated attributes concerning the sender, receiver, and the nature of the data in transit.

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Platform Security

Conceal Announces Strategic Partnership with Kompingo: Revolutionizing Web Security with the Next Generation of Protection

Business Wire | August 23, 2023

Conceal, renowned for its pioneering stance against web-based threats, today heralded its significant partnership with Kompingo, the UK's distinguished value-added distributor and managed security service provider. This collaboration signifies a major enhancement for Kompingo’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services, as it integrates Conceal’s patented zero-trust browser security into its offerings. "As the digital threat landscape rapidly evolves, strengthening our MDR and managed services capabilities remains paramount. Integrating Conceal’s browser security solution aligns perfectly with our ambition to offer our customers top-tier, holistic security solutions," commented Toby Caton, Director at Kompingo. “Conceal also allows us to offer the product as a stand-alone solution to our growing MSP partners and reseller base for them to enhance their offerings further, too.” Gordon Lawson, CEO of Conceal, further emphasized the partnership’s potential: "Kompingo's expertise in managed security services makes them an ideal partner. We’re confident that by infusing ConcealBrowse into their MDR offerings, we can provide users with unprecedented protection from web-centric threats." Together, Kompingo’s state-of-the-art Security Operations Centre and ConcealBrowse promise a robust defense against today’s sophisticated web threats. With Kompingo’s AI and machine learning-enhanced operations now complemented by Conceal's dynamic web content analysis, both organizations are poised to set a new benchmark in cybersecurity. About Conceal Conceal is at the forefront of defending against web-based attacks, using innovative technology to detect, prevent, and shield businesses and individual users from ever-evolving online threats. ConcealBrowse operates on the principle of proactive protection. Its AI-powered intelligence engine, ConcealSherpa, runs at machine speed with virtually zero latency to identify potentially harmful webpages autonomously, stopping cyber attacks that take advantage of weaponized links. For more information, visit https://conceal.io/. About Kompingo Situated at the crossroads of innovation and technology, Kompingo has etched its mark as a leading light in the IT security arena. Famed for its comprehensive managed services, Kompingo is dedicated to incubating IT security start-ups, nurturing technological advancements, and driving growth. Their plethora of services, spanning from co-managed and fully managed offerings to vCISO and penetration testing, makes them an indispensable ally in the cybersecurity domain. With a steadfast dedication to the Cyber Essentials Scheme and their top-notch Managed Detection and Response services, Kompingo remains a name synonymous with excellence.

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Software Security

ZeroFox Unveils New Anti-Phishing Features to Stop Attacks at Source

ZeroFox | September 22, 2023

ZeroFox, an industry-leading provider of enterprise software-as-a-service for external cybersecurity, has announced the unveiling of multiple anti-phishing product enhancements. These updates solidify ZeroFox's position as the world leader in digital risk protection. Developed using cutting-edge AI/ML technologies and designed by a team of top-tier security experts, these new anti-phishing features boost escalated alert volume, reduce the occurrence of false positives, and expedite the process from threat identification to initial disruption and successful takedowns for all our customers. The importance of these new features cannot be overstated, especially given the rising threat landscape. In the first half of 2023, ZeroFox Intelligence has recorded a substantial increase in the volume and complexity of phishing attacks, including a 30% surge in domain takedowns compared to the first half of 2022. New ZeroFox phishing trend research also highlights the adoption of evasion techniques like cloaking alongside emerging tactics such as SEO poisoning and phishing-as-a-service. These developments underscore the critical role of these new capabilities in safeguarding against evolving cyber threats. Continuous and Complete Protection Against Domain-based Threats ZeroFox adopts a unique approach to phishing compared to email security and conventional anti-phishing providers. Its strategy revolves around the identification, disruption, and elimination of the domains necessary for launching phishing campaigns. With daily monitoring of over 65 million domains, ZeroFox combats various threats like typo squats, subdomain spoofs, homoglyphs, and other malicious domain and URL-based attacks, effectively shielding customers and preventing any disruptions to business operations. Incorporate advanced domain protection capabilities to enhance their cybersecurity measures, aiming to achieve substantial and measurable business outcomes: Reduce Phishing Risks with Anti-Cloaking Capabilities: Strengthen Compliance and Trust with SSL Monitoring Secure Brand Identity with Favicon Search Improve Operational Efficiency with Enhanced Subdomain Coverage Enhance User Experience (UX) with Weblog Monitoring Mike Price, Chief Technology Officer of ZeroFox, said, ZeroFox has been detecting and disrupting phishing attacks for the last decade, constantly enhancing our solution to protect our customers from changing phishing techniques used by threat actors, including the widespread use of malicious cloaking and subdomains techniques. [Source – Globe Newswire] Price stated that the enhanced capabilities being announced represented their ongoing commitment to tackling the increasing phishing challenge encountered by security teams. He emphasized that as phishing continued to evolve, ZeroFox would remain a trusted anti-phishing partner dedicated to safeguarding customers from both current and future phishing techniques. About ZeroFox ZeroFox, a prominent enterprise software-as-a-service provider in the field of external cybersecurity, has revolutionized security beyond the corporate perimeter on the internet, where businesses conduct their operations and threat actors are active. Their platform seamlessly integrates cutting-edge AI analytics, digital risk and privacy protection, full-spectrum threat intelligence, and a robust set of breach, incident, and takedown response tools. This enables them to uncover and disrupt various threats, including phishing and fraud campaigns, botnet exposures, impersonations, credential theft, data breaches, and physical threats that target domains, brands, personnel, and assets.

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Data Security

Oracle Attempts to Design New Open Network and Data Security Standard

Oracle | September 20, 2023

Oracle to participate in an industry-wide initiative to design a new open network and data security standard. Oracle and Applied Invention are assisting to developing and promoting a novel network and data-centric security standard to tackle distributed cloud deployment challenges. This standard will enable organizations to protect their data throughout its entire lifecycle without requiring modifications to their distributed cloud environments' underlying architecture. Oracle, one of the world's largest database management companies, announced that it will participate in an industry-wide initiative to design a new open network and data security standards that will assist organizations in protecting their data in distributed IT environments. Oracle will collaborate with Applied Invention, a significant technology provider, and other industry leaders, including Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI), a global leader in consulting and system solutions. This new standard will enable networks to enforce shared security policies collectively, thereby augmenting the security architecture organizations already employ without requiring modifications to existing applications and networks. Oracle plans to launch the Oracle Zero-Trust Packet Routing Platform, based on the new standard, to support this new initiative. This platform will assist organizations in preventing illegal access or use of their data without imposing additional obstacles on legitimate activities. Executive Vice President of Security and Developer Platforms at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Mahesh Thiagarajan, said, Over the last 20 years, the cybersecurity industry has produced many incremental changes, but we need a fundamentally novel approach to protect our data in the increasingly complex cloud era. Organizations require a way to describe their data security policies in one place where they can be easily understood and audited, and they need a way to make sure those policies are enforced across their entire computing infrastructure, including their clouds. [Source – Cision PR Newswire] As the adoption of cloud technology rises and IT landscapes become more intricate with distributed cloud deployments, organizations face escalating challenges in safeguarding their data using conventional methods and tools. For example, many existing systems necessitate security teams to orchestrate disparate solutions across various facets, including database, application, network, and identity security. This complexity is further compounded when applied across diverse environments. Ensuring seamless collaboration among these solutions becomes a formidable task due to the dynamic and independent changes in applications, environments, and user profiles. Additionally, current security systems demand extensive configurations to accurately distinguish between different user categories, such as full-time employees and contractors, without compromising security or restricting access. Research Vice President of Cloud and Edge Infrastructure Services at IDC, Dave McCarthy, said, The new standard Oracle develop has the potential to change all of that by adding a unified layer of security on top of existing solutions. Building data protection policies into the network itself will assist users get the access they require while ensuring the data remains secure behind the scenes. [Source – Cision PR Newswire] Oracle and Applied Invention are assisting in designing and promoting a novel security standard, focusing on network and data-centric security, which aims to tackle these challenges. This innovative standard will empower organizations to safeguard their data across its entire lifecycle, including distributed cloud environments. To accomplish this, the standard will implement an intent-based security policy that is designed to be understandable, auditable, and interpretable by humans. This intent-driven approach will be put into practice at the network layer, ensuring that every data transmission contains authenticated attributes concerning the sender, receiver, and the nature of the data in transit.

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Platform Security

Conceal Announces Strategic Partnership with Kompingo: Revolutionizing Web Security with the Next Generation of Protection

Business Wire | August 23, 2023

Conceal, renowned for its pioneering stance against web-based threats, today heralded its significant partnership with Kompingo, the UK's distinguished value-added distributor and managed security service provider. This collaboration signifies a major enhancement for Kompingo’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services, as it integrates Conceal’s patented zero-trust browser security into its offerings. "As the digital threat landscape rapidly evolves, strengthening our MDR and managed services capabilities remains paramount. Integrating Conceal’s browser security solution aligns perfectly with our ambition to offer our customers top-tier, holistic security solutions," commented Toby Caton, Director at Kompingo. “Conceal also allows us to offer the product as a stand-alone solution to our growing MSP partners and reseller base for them to enhance their offerings further, too.” Gordon Lawson, CEO of Conceal, further emphasized the partnership’s potential: "Kompingo's expertise in managed security services makes them an ideal partner. We’re confident that by infusing ConcealBrowse into their MDR offerings, we can provide users with unprecedented protection from web-centric threats." Together, Kompingo’s state-of-the-art Security Operations Centre and ConcealBrowse promise a robust defense against today’s sophisticated web threats. With Kompingo’s AI and machine learning-enhanced operations now complemented by Conceal's dynamic web content analysis, both organizations are poised to set a new benchmark in cybersecurity. About Conceal Conceal is at the forefront of defending against web-based attacks, using innovative technology to detect, prevent, and shield businesses and individual users from ever-evolving online threats. ConcealBrowse operates on the principle of proactive protection. Its AI-powered intelligence engine, ConcealSherpa, runs at machine speed with virtually zero latency to identify potentially harmful webpages autonomously, stopping cyber attacks that take advantage of weaponized links. For more information, visit https://conceal.io/. About Kompingo Situated at the crossroads of innovation and technology, Kompingo has etched its mark as a leading light in the IT security arena. Famed for its comprehensive managed services, Kompingo is dedicated to incubating IT security start-ups, nurturing technological advancements, and driving growth. Their plethora of services, spanning from co-managed and fully managed offerings to vCISO and penetration testing, makes them an indispensable ally in the cybersecurity domain. With a steadfast dedication to the Cyber Essentials Scheme and their top-notch Managed Detection and Response services, Kompingo remains a name synonymous with excellence.

Read More

Software Security

ZeroFox Unveils New Anti-Phishing Features to Stop Attacks at Source

ZeroFox | September 22, 2023

ZeroFox, an industry-leading provider of enterprise software-as-a-service for external cybersecurity, has announced the unveiling of multiple anti-phishing product enhancements. These updates solidify ZeroFox's position as the world leader in digital risk protection. Developed using cutting-edge AI/ML technologies and designed by a team of top-tier security experts, these new anti-phishing features boost escalated alert volume, reduce the occurrence of false positives, and expedite the process from threat identification to initial disruption and successful takedowns for all our customers. The importance of these new features cannot be overstated, especially given the rising threat landscape. In the first half of 2023, ZeroFox Intelligence has recorded a substantial increase in the volume and complexity of phishing attacks, including a 30% surge in domain takedowns compared to the first half of 2022. New ZeroFox phishing trend research also highlights the adoption of evasion techniques like cloaking alongside emerging tactics such as SEO poisoning and phishing-as-a-service. These developments underscore the critical role of these new capabilities in safeguarding against evolving cyber threats. Continuous and Complete Protection Against Domain-based Threats ZeroFox adopts a unique approach to phishing compared to email security and conventional anti-phishing providers. Its strategy revolves around the identification, disruption, and elimination of the domains necessary for launching phishing campaigns. With daily monitoring of over 65 million domains, ZeroFox combats various threats like typo squats, subdomain spoofs, homoglyphs, and other malicious domain and URL-based attacks, effectively shielding customers and preventing any disruptions to business operations. Incorporate advanced domain protection capabilities to enhance their cybersecurity measures, aiming to achieve substantial and measurable business outcomes: Reduce Phishing Risks with Anti-Cloaking Capabilities: Strengthen Compliance and Trust with SSL Monitoring Secure Brand Identity with Favicon Search Improve Operational Efficiency with Enhanced Subdomain Coverage Enhance User Experience (UX) with Weblog Monitoring Mike Price, Chief Technology Officer of ZeroFox, said, ZeroFox has been detecting and disrupting phishing attacks for the last decade, constantly enhancing our solution to protect our customers from changing phishing techniques used by threat actors, including the widespread use of malicious cloaking and subdomains techniques. [Source – Globe Newswire] Price stated that the enhanced capabilities being announced represented their ongoing commitment to tackling the increasing phishing challenge encountered by security teams. He emphasized that as phishing continued to evolve, ZeroFox would remain a trusted anti-phishing partner dedicated to safeguarding customers from both current and future phishing techniques. About ZeroFox ZeroFox, a prominent enterprise software-as-a-service provider in the field of external cybersecurity, has revolutionized security beyond the corporate perimeter on the internet, where businesses conduct their operations and threat actors are active. Their platform seamlessly integrates cutting-edge AI analytics, digital risk and privacy protection, full-spectrum threat intelligence, and a robust set of breach, incident, and takedown response tools. This enables them to uncover and disrupt various threats, including phishing and fraud campaigns, botnet exposures, impersonations, credential theft, data breaches, and physical threats that target domains, brands, personnel, and assets.

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