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Benefits of Adopting Zero Trust for API Security

December 15, 2021 | 54 views

API_Security
In May 2021, The White House published an Executive Order (E.O.) on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity. The third section of the E.O, entitled “Modernizing Federal Government Cybersecurity,” included recommendations for Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies around implementing zero trust. It noted how “the Federal Government must … advance toward Zero Trust Architecture.”

Towards that end, it specified that FCEB agency heads needed to “develop a plan to implement Zero Trust Architecture, which shall incorporate, as appropriate, the migration steps that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) within the Department of Commerce has outlined in standards and guidance” within 60 days of the E.O taking effect. It went on to note that agencies’ “migration to cloud technology shall adopt Zero Trust Architecture” as well.

In this blog, we discuss what exactly is Zero-Trust and why is it so critical today for protecting cybersecurity infrastructure against ransomware attacks and other cyber threats.

What is Zero Trust & Why is it so Relevant Now?
Just as a refresher, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines zero trust as “an evolving set of cybersecurity paradigms that move defenses from static, network-based perimeters to focus on users, assets, and resources.” This shift means that security teams can’t trust a connection attempt just because an asset is in a particular segment of the network.

Under a zero-trust model, infosec personnel embrace the assumption that every user, asset, and resource is compromised. They can then use that mindset to validate (and re-validate) those sources on a per-session basis, acknowledging that they could suffer a compromise in the meantime.

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), which incorporates zero trust principles in the process of planning an enterprise network, is particularly relevant right now given the rise of remote and hybrid work.

Under these work arrangements, employees use personal devices connected to their home networks, among other locations, to access business assets hosted in the cloud. Security teams have no traditional network perimeter to enforce. What’s more, infosec personnel can’t ensure the security of every personal device and Wi-Fi network that employees are using to do their work under these models. Hence the need for security professionals to “never trust, always verify” connection attempts.

The challenges associated with remote and hybrid work might be here to stay, as well. Gartner predicted that 51% of knowledge workers will be doing their jobs remotely by the end of the year, for instance. That’s up from 27% in 2019. The technology research and consulting company went on to say that remote employees will make up about a third of the global workforce in that same period, nearly doubling their representation of 17% just two years prior.

APIs: Understanding Their Relevance and Security Challenges
It’s safe to say that the ongoing remote/hybrid work transformation described above might not be the force it is today without Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Then again, many organizations might not have survived the events of 2020 without APIs, either. “Because of the power of APIs, organizations were able to implement changes in weeks or months that would have otherwise taken years,” explained Business Wire.

APIs empowered organizations to quickly respond to the pandemic and make changes to the ways they did commerce and hosted business assets. The pandemic is one of several reasons that the use of APIs is on the rise – users made 855 million API requests between October 2020 and October 2021, an increase of 56% over the previous year.

That said, APIs are difficult to secure using traditional means. Indeed, 37% of respondents to a survey covered by Help Net Security in 2021 listed “securing APIs” as one of their top application security challenges. This difficulty reflects the extent to which APIs can suffer from Broken Object Level Authorization and other vulnerabilities identified by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) API Top 10 list. Digital attackers can exploit those weaknesses to compromise applications and the data that they handle.

How Zero Trust Can Help with API Protection
Fortunately, security teams can also apply zero trust principles to protect their organizations’ APIs. To do so, they need to embrace a comprehensive API security strategy that consists of three elements. First, VentureBeat notes that infosec teams can leverage zero trust to scale API governance, thus ensuring that they can balance their employer’s compliance needs with the desire to bring in new API and endpoint features on an ongoing basis.

Second, security teams need to restrict network access and enforce the principle of least privilege on resources. But they need to do so in a way that doesn’t undermine the purpose of APIs. In the words of Salt Security, “connectivity must be present for APIs to function, and many API attacks still occur in trusted channels and authenticated sessions.” This reality highlights the need for automatic baselining of “normal” API traffic so that the reconnaissance activities of bad actors looking for the unique vulnerabilities of a given API stand out clearly and can be stopped.

Finally, infosec personnel can look to zero trust to broaden API security beyond just the coding process. They can seek to manage their APIs’ security in every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) by denying everything by default and authenticating every resource. In upholding these two foundations of zero trust, infosec personnel can manage API security as one of their priorities and not a bolted-on consideration.

Spotlight

Cadre Information Security

Cadre is a WBE certified network and information security solutions provider that serves large and medium sized firms. Widely recognized as a pioneer in the security industry, Cadre delivers value through superior customer service, advanced engineering and a resolute focus on design, assessment, installation, training and support of information security systems. All over the world, clients rely on Cadre to provide guidance and technical expertise on compliance, controlling technical risks, and achieving security goals.

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In recent years, several of the world's most technology-savvy businesses have experienced identity-related breaches. These occurrences have emphasized how digital identities have evolved to be both today's largest cybersecurity issue and the foundation of current organizational security. It has become evident that a comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck strategy is essential to keep ahead of attackers and make their success more difficult. Why Should Businesses Care About Identity Security? According to CrowdStrike Overwatch team analysis, eight out of ten (80%) breaches are identity-driven. These contemporary attacks often skip the conventional cyber kill chain by utilizing stolen credentials to perform lateral moves and launch larger, more devastating attacks. Identity-driven attacks, however, are particularly difficult to detect. When a genuine user's credentials have been hacked, and an adversary is posing as that user, traditional security processes and tools might make it impossible to distinguish between the user's regular activity and that of the hacker. Identity security is often seen as an organization's final line of defense. These technologies are designed to combat attackers who have escaped existing security measures like endpoint detection and response tools. Identity Security and Zero Trust: How Are They Related? Zero Trust is a security architecture that needs every user, both within and outside of an organization's network, to be verified, approved, and constantly checked for security configuration and posture before allowing or maintaining access to applications and data. Zero Trust implies that there is no conventional network edge; networks can be local, in the cloud, or a mix or hybrid of the two, with resources and employees located everywhere. Businesses that wish to implement the most robust security defenses should combine an identity security solution with a zero-trust security architecture. They must also make sure that their chosen solution complies with industry standards, such as those specified by NIST. Closing Lines Many changes are in store for 2022. Indeed, we cannot forecast all the critical challenges and subjects that will arise this year. Could you fill in some of the gaps? A robust identity security solution will provide the business with several benefits and expanded capabilities.

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Read More
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Read More
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Article | July 4, 2022

We are surrounded by acronyms and buzzwords in technology. SD-WAN is one that is often used in the industry nowadays. Organizations embrace digital transformation to stay up with market developments, consumer needs, and competitiveness. Traditional network designs weren't meant to manage digital transformation workloads and complexity. Business-critical services are commonly spread over numerous clouds, compromising network performance, particularly at branch sites. Smart network operations teams opt for SD-WAN. SD-WAN reduces overhead and improves network performance. Routing and hardware expenses are saved through SD-WAN solutions while allowing multi-cloud access. SD-WAN also reduces overhead and supports new digital apps and services. This new technology streamlines WAN administration and operation and brings corporate advantages. Business Challenges that SD-WAN Addresses There has been a dramatic increase in the pressure on the network as a result of digitalization. Businesses must now rely on a stable and secure network, which conventional router-based network topologies are incapable of providing. An SD-WAN solution assists businesses in addressing use cases in order to expedite digital transformation efforts, lower cybersecurity risks, and increase revenue. Eases connectivity with far-flung factories and offices. Effectively deploys new sites and minimizes network equipment sprawl. Enhances the speed of file transfer and backups to disaster recovery facilities. Helps in moving applications to the cloud and protecting cloud app. data using Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). Safeguards IoT devices using a zero-trust network Helps in complying with the cybersecurity framework of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Ways SD-WAN Can Help Businesses Boost their Bottom Line • Boosts Security Digital transformation is a double-edged sword. It can increase consumer satisfaction and market reach, but can pose security threats. According to the U.S. State of Cybercrime study, 41% of respondents stated more cybersecurity occurrences in 2017. The good news is that many SD-WAN solutions provide built-in security. Most SD-WAN systems only offer basic firewall and VPN functionalities, requiring IT teams to add security to elastic and dynamic SD-WAN connections after the fact. SD-WAN solutions with NGFW, IPS, encryption, AV, and sandboxing can avoid data loss, downtime, regulatory violations, and legal liability. • Enables Cloud Usage Cloud services are rapidly being used by businesses. The great news is that SD-WAN enables direct cloud access at the remote branch, removing backhauling traffic – which routes all cloud and branch office traffic through the data center – allowing workers to directly access cloud applications irrespective of location without burdening the core network with additional traffic to manage and secure. Furthermore, SD-WAN enhances cloud application performance by prioritizing vital business apps and allowing branches to interact directly with the Internet. • Reduces Costs As businesses deploy a growing number of cloud-based services, the volume of data traveling across a WAN rises dramatically, driving up operational expenses. SD-WAN, thankfully, can minimize this cost by utilizing low-cost local Internet connectivity, offering direct cloud access, and lowering traffic via the backbone WAN. According to an IDC poll (prediction), over a quarter of survey respondents anticipate SD-WAN cost reductions of up to 39%, with the other two-thirds anticipating more modest savings of 5–19%. • Improves performance Data transfer over a network isn't created equal. Fortunately, SD-WAN can be set up to prioritize business-critical traffic and real-time services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and then successfully guide it over the most efficient path. IT teams can help decrease packet loss and latency concerns by supporting important applications over dependable, high-performance connections, increasing employee productivity and morale. This is business-impacting performance. Closing Note Indeed, SD-WAN evolved and flourished in the data center over the first few years of development. However, the time has arrived to take it seriously as a tool for managing your wide area network. There are currently several vendors on the market, as well as several mature solutions to choose from. More significantly, the business cases for SD-WAN are expanding on a daily basis.

Read More
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Spotlight

Cadre Information Security

Cadre is a WBE certified network and information security solutions provider that serves large and medium sized firms. Widely recognized as a pioneer in the security industry, Cadre delivers value through superior customer service, advanced engineering and a resolute focus on design, assessment, installation, training and support of information security systems. All over the world, clients rely on Cadre to provide guidance and technical expertise on compliance, controlling technical risks, and achieving security goals.

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GuidePoint Security Launches Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security Service Offerings

GuidePoint Security | September 28, 2022

GuidePoint Security, a cybersecurity solutions leader enabling organizations to make smarter decisions and minimize risk, today announced the availability of its ICS Security Services. These service offerings include a Security Program Review, Security Architecture Review and ICS Penetration Testing that collectively are designed to provide an organization with a holistic view of their entire ICS security posture. Traditionally, Operational Technology (OT) environments were kept separate and isolated from the traditional IT infrastructure. Today, ICS environments have emerged from the combination of IT and OT (Industry 4.0), introducing new features and easier management, but also creating new vulnerabilities and attack vectors. For example, an OT environment can be breached by an attack that comes through the IT environment. With GuidePoint’s ICS Security Services, organizations can ensure they have visibility across not only their OT environment, but also their broader organization. “The convergence of OT and traditional IT infrastructure into ICS environments has led to easier operational oversight, but it also introduces new avenues for attackers to exploit,” said Pascal Ackerman, Sr. Security Consultant - Operational Technology. “Through the combined expertise of our Governance, Risk and Compliance, Security Architecture, and ICS penetration testing practices, we can provide customers with an assessment of their entire ICS security posture, evaluating every angle of their environment.” GuidePoint’s ICS Security Service offerings include: Security Program Review (SPR): The SPR evaluates and measures an organization’s security program maturity and is based on the framework chosen by the customer, including, but not limited to: NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), NIST 800 82, CIS Controls, ISO/IEC 62443, ISO 27001, C2M2, FERC/NERC-CIP, CISA TSS and ITU CIIP. With GuidePoint’s SPR offering, organizations can better assess their security program and its maturity level, and build or enhance their existing program to ensure it is right-sized to their unique requirements. ICS Security Architecture Review (SAR): The SAR evaluates an organization’s security capabilities to ensure deployed technologies are aligned with relevant compliance requirements. GuidePoint’s team of experts provides industry-recommended enhancements to an organization’s existing solutions as well as recommendations for new controls to augment and further mature security practices. ICS Penetration Testing: This service goes beyond a typical OT pentest by combining best-in-class IT and OT pentesting methodologies to form a holistic offering that will assess all security aspects of the production environment. Organizations gain real-life, actionable results based on proven ICS (IT and OT) penetration testing methods and techniques. These ICS Security Services round out a complete portfolio of cyber-focused Governance, Risk and Compliance offerings, Security Architecture Reviews, as well as Threat and Attack Simulation Services, to ensure the security of customers’ environments. About GuidePoint Security GuidePoint Security provides trusted cybersecurity expertise, solutions and services that help organizations make better decisions that minimize risk. Our experts act as your trusted advisor to understand your business and challenges, helping you through an evaluation of your cybersecurity posture and ecosystem to expose risks, optimize resources and implement best-fit solutions. GuidePoint’s unmatched expertise has enabled a third of Fortune 500 companies and more than half of the U.S. government cabinet-level agencies to improve their security posture and reduce risk.

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DATA SECURITY,PLATFORM SECURITY,SOFTWARE SECURITY

Palo Alto Networks 5G-Native Security Now Available on Microsoft Azure Private Multi-Access Edge Compute

Palo Alto Networks | September 26, 2022

Palo Alto Networks, a Microsoft Azure private MEC ecosystem partner, today announced availability of VM-Series Virtual Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) technology on the Azure Marketplace. Delivering end-to-end Zero Trust security at the enterprise edge, VM-Series virtual firewalls can now extend best-in-class NGFW capabilities to help protect Azure private MEC applications, providing centralized defense against cyberattacks. Azure private MEC combines network functions, applications and edge-optimized Azure services managed from the cloud to deliver high-performance, ultra-low-latency 4G/5G private wireless solutions that address the modern business needs of enterprise customers. "Our long-standing partner solutions with Azure and our VM-Series virtual firewalls have been protecting customer cloud environments for years. "The new VM-Series 5G capabilities enable enterprises to secure mission-critical applications in industry verticals like manufacturing, healthcare, utilities and public sector, all of which demand the latest in private wireless network technology." Prem Iyer, vice president, Ecosystems GSI and CSP, Palo Alto Networks Mobile 5G networks with multi-access edge compute combine AI and cloud technologies to transform enterprises and industries. Customers choose this next-generation mobile technology for its security and reliability, but increasingly sophisticated networks must be safeguarded against a complex and escalating "threatscape." Palo Alto Networks 5G-Native Security on the VM-Series brings advanced Layer 7 security capabilities to help detect and block known exploits, malware, malicious URLs, spyware, and command and control (C2) to 5G-powered edge computing use cases. The VM-Series Next-Generation Firewall enables enterprises to achieve comprehensive security for end-user application traffic that traverses the Azure Private 5G Core, securing edge infrastructure and helping detect and mitigate malicious activity within the user traffic. Key benefits of the solution include: Faster time to market with a fully tested and validated solution. Simpler deployment at scale from the Azure marketplace, facilitating a rapid rollout of NGFWs. Predefined configuration templates for comprehensive zero-day security. The Panorama management solution, integrated with Azure, allows for common management of VM-Series virtual firewalls deployed across all cloud and edge environments from a single console and provides centralized visibility and actionable insights into network traffic, logs and threats. "We're pleased to add Palo Alto Networks 5G security products to Azure Marketplace and our Azure private MEC ecosystem," said Shriraj Gaglani, general manager, Azure for Operators. "This adds an important option for customers when architecting critical end-to-end security frameworks that underpin Industry 4.0 use-cases built on our Azure private MEC solution." About Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks is the world's cybersecurity leader. We innovate to outpace cyberthreats, so organizations can embrace technology with confidence. We provide next-gen cybersecurity to thousands of customers globally, across all sectors. Our best-in-class cybersecurity platforms and services are backed by industry-leading threat intelligence and strengthened by state-of-the-art automation. Whether deploying our products to enable the Zero Trust Enterprise, responding to a security incident, or partnering to deliver better security outcomes through a world-class partner ecosystem, we're committed to helping ensure each day is safer than the one before. It's what makes us the cybersecurity partner of choice.

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DATA SECURITY,PLATFORM SECURITY,SOFTWARE SECURITY

Veristor Partners with SANS Security Awareness to Deliver Employee Security Awareness Training

Veristor Systems, Inc. | September 28, 2022

Veristor Systems, Inc., a trusted provider of transformative business technology solutions, and SANS Security Awareness, the global leader in providing security awareness training, today announce that Veristor has become a certified provider of SANS Security Awareness' comprehensive suite of products to enable a data-driven approach to cybersecurity training for an organization's end users. "Researchers from Stanford University found that as much as 88% of all data breaches are caused by an employee mistake. "This shows that end users are the most critical vulnerability gap in today's enterprise. Yet if properly trained, they can also be the most resilient security defense – a human firewall. Together with the experts from SANS Security Awareness we are helping customers guard their environments with an army of well-trained employees. With proven training to spot and act when suspicious activity arises, users can take an active role in preventing the growing wave of cyberattacks." Daniel Martin, Principal Security Consultant, vCISO, Veristor The SANS Security Awareness suite of dynamic multilingual computer-based training, games, phishing simulations, and engagement materials teach vital security behaviors to effectively manage human cyber risk. With different training styles to match different corporate cultures, employee comprehension levels, and learning preferences, SANS Security Awareness training equips workforces to recognize and prevent current cyberattacks, including work-from-home threats. The platform delivers valuable metrics to measure the effectiveness of each program, and customization features to tailor training to meet specific organizational needs." With some groups requiring even greater specialized training, in addition to addressing core human behavior risk topics, SANS Security Awareness also offers secure development and coding techniques, understanding NERC CIP compliance requirements, and handling Industrial Control Systems (ICS) incidents. "We are very pleased to be partnering with the cybersecurity experts at Veristor to provide the SANS Security Awareness program to their customers," said Brad Stilling, Director of Global Sales for SANS Security Awareness. "Regular awareness training is an essential activity for organizations looking to ensure security and compliance. When employees feel informed and empowered to recognize and address cyber risks, they can protect the organization. With SANS Security Awareness, Veristor customers are now better positioned to detect and prevent cyber-attacks." For organizations starting their awareness training journey, Veristor delivers a SANS Human Risk Insight assessment to identify program cost reductions, eliminate unneeded staff training, and create risk metrics to baseline and benchmark an organization's human cyber risk. The SANS Security Awareness training solutions are now offered as a part of Veristor's suite of security solutions that are designed to solve business challenges through the intelligent application of next-generation security technology. About Veristor Systems, Inc. Veristor, which recently announced a merger with Anexinet, is a leading provider of transformative business technology solutions that helps its customers accelerate the time-to-value for the software, infrastructure and systems they deploy. We do this by harnessing deep expertise in today's most advanced data center, security, networking, hybrid cloud, and big data technologies and guiding businesses to the right solutions for their most pressing challenges. And with a full suite of design, deployment, support, and managed service offerings, we work shoulder-to-shoulder with our customers at every step of their technology journey to make technology truly work for them. About SANS Security Awareness SANS Security Awareness provides organizations with a complete and comprehensive security awareness solution, enabling them to easily and effectively manage their human cybersecurity risk. SANS Security Awareness has worked with over 1,300 organizations and trained over 6.5 million people around the world. The SANS Security Awareness program offers globally relevant, expert authored tools and training to enable individuals to shield their organization from attacks and a fleet of savvy guides and resources to work with you every step of the way.

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DATA SECURITY,PLATFORM SECURITY,SOFTWARE SECURITY

GuidePoint Security Launches Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security Service Offerings

GuidePoint Security | September 28, 2022

GuidePoint Security, a cybersecurity solutions leader enabling organizations to make smarter decisions and minimize risk, today announced the availability of its ICS Security Services. These service offerings include a Security Program Review, Security Architecture Review and ICS Penetration Testing that collectively are designed to provide an organization with a holistic view of their entire ICS security posture. Traditionally, Operational Technology (OT) environments were kept separate and isolated from the traditional IT infrastructure. Today, ICS environments have emerged from the combination of IT and OT (Industry 4.0), introducing new features and easier management, but also creating new vulnerabilities and attack vectors. For example, an OT environment can be breached by an attack that comes through the IT environment. With GuidePoint’s ICS Security Services, organizations can ensure they have visibility across not only their OT environment, but also their broader organization. “The convergence of OT and traditional IT infrastructure into ICS environments has led to easier operational oversight, but it also introduces new avenues for attackers to exploit,” said Pascal Ackerman, Sr. Security Consultant - Operational Technology. “Through the combined expertise of our Governance, Risk and Compliance, Security Architecture, and ICS penetration testing practices, we can provide customers with an assessment of their entire ICS security posture, evaluating every angle of their environment.” GuidePoint’s ICS Security Service offerings include: Security Program Review (SPR): The SPR evaluates and measures an organization’s security program maturity and is based on the framework chosen by the customer, including, but not limited to: NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), NIST 800 82, CIS Controls, ISO/IEC 62443, ISO 27001, C2M2, FERC/NERC-CIP, CISA TSS and ITU CIIP. With GuidePoint’s SPR offering, organizations can better assess their security program and its maturity level, and build or enhance their existing program to ensure it is right-sized to their unique requirements. ICS Security Architecture Review (SAR): The SAR evaluates an organization’s security capabilities to ensure deployed technologies are aligned with relevant compliance requirements. GuidePoint’s team of experts provides industry-recommended enhancements to an organization’s existing solutions as well as recommendations for new controls to augment and further mature security practices. ICS Penetration Testing: This service goes beyond a typical OT pentest by combining best-in-class IT and OT pentesting methodologies to form a holistic offering that will assess all security aspects of the production environment. Organizations gain real-life, actionable results based on proven ICS (IT and OT) penetration testing methods and techniques. These ICS Security Services round out a complete portfolio of cyber-focused Governance, Risk and Compliance offerings, Security Architecture Reviews, as well as Threat and Attack Simulation Services, to ensure the security of customers’ environments. About GuidePoint Security GuidePoint Security provides trusted cybersecurity expertise, solutions and services that help organizations make better decisions that minimize risk. Our experts act as your trusted advisor to understand your business and challenges, helping you through an evaluation of your cybersecurity posture and ecosystem to expose risks, optimize resources and implement best-fit solutions. GuidePoint’s unmatched expertise has enabled a third of Fortune 500 companies and more than half of the U.S. government cabinet-level agencies to improve their security posture and reduce risk.

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