Do You Have a Ransomware Strategy in Place?

February 4, 2019 | 100 views

Imagine opening your work laptop and seeing a ransom note: All of your data has been encrypted and you have one hour to make a payment in Bitcoin before the price increases. If you don’t make a payment within one day, all of your files will be deleted or posted online for everyone to see. What would you do? These kinds of attacks have become increasingly common over the past several years. In 2017, the WannaCry attack made ransomware a household name after affecting more than 200,000 computers across 150 countries with total damages ranging from the hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. In this article, we will take a closer look at ransomware, how to avoid becoming a victim and how to prepare for an attack if it were to occur. What is Ransomware? Ransomware is a type of malicious software that threatens to publish a victim’s data or block access to it unless a ransom is paid. With the rise of cryptocurrencies — an anonymous form of peer-to-peer payments, ransomware has become a popular way to extort money from victims without revealing the recipient of the funds.

Spotlight

Fusion5

Fusion5 offers a full range of digital transformation solutions, applications, consulting services, development, cloud and managed services as well as first class support services for your business. Our expertise covers all your key functional areas, including Enterprise Resource Planning, HR / Payroll, Customer Experience, Customer Relationship Management, IT Service Management, and Infrastructure.

OTHER ARTICLES
Software Security

Transformative Cybersecurity Detection Reshapes the Battle Against Constantly Evolving Cyber Threats

Article | August 9, 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

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

Article | July 12, 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.

Read More
Software Security

Software Supply Chain Attacks: How Can Code Signing Help?

Article | September 6, 2023

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

Read More
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.

Read More

Spotlight

Fusion5

Fusion5 offers a full range of digital transformation solutions, applications, consulting services, development, cloud and managed services as well as first class support services for your business. Our expertise covers all your key functional areas, including Enterprise Resource Planning, HR / Payroll, Customer Experience, Customer Relationship Management, IT Service Management, and Infrastructure.

Related News

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.

Read More

Platform Security

SentinelOne Launches RemoteOps Forensics for Faster Incident Response

SentinelOne | September 18, 2023

SentinelOne, a global leader in autonomous cybersecurity, is addressing the pressing need for rapid and effective responses to the escalating wave of cyber breaches. Today, the company announced the launch of Singularity RemoteOps Forensics, a pioneering digital forensics product designed to streamline and accelerate incident response readiness. This innovative solution promises to empower organizations of all sizes, ushering in a new era of efficient and scalable investigation and response capabilities in the face of evolving cybersecurity challenges. Integrated seamlessly with the SentinelOne Singularity Platform and as an add-on to Sentinel One's Endpoint and Cloud Workload Security solutions, RemoteOps Forensics offers a rapid, adaptable digital forensics and incident response solution. Security teams can leverage this tool to enhance efficiency by optimizing resources and accelerating Mean Time to Resolution. With the capability for targeted investigations on various assets, including endpoints and server workloads, it enables conditional trigger-based evidence collection. This automation efficiently gathers evidence, such as process data, ports, service listings, MFT, Amcache, JumpLists, and memory dumps, orchestrating them in under a minute. Consolidating evidence into the Singularity Security DataLake allows for the correlation of SentinelOne and partner data with forensics data in a unified search, facilitating a comprehensive view of attacks, rapid root cause identification, and risk mitigation. Furthermore, it provides the ability to analyze collected evidence alongside Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) data within a single console, empowering proactive defense against future threats. The integration and analysis of this combined data unveil concealed indicators of compromise, detect advanced attack patterns, and offer insights into threat actors' tactics, techniques, and procedures. RemoteOps Forensics is a cost-effective and resource-efficient solution that seamlessly integrates with the SentinelOne agent. This integration alleviates the necessity of deploying and provisioning multiple tools throughout the investigative process, resulting in significant time and resource savings for organizations. In addition, this innovative solution prioritizes the maintenance of forensic integrity by minimizing changes made to the disk, and it leverages SentinelOne's anti-tampering and metadata collection capabilities to safeguard data integrity. In doing so, it streamlines investigations and upholds the highest standards of forensic rigor, reinforcing organizations' cybersecurity defenses with a comprehensive and efficient approach. Jane Wong, Senior Vice President of Products and Strategy at SentinelOne, said, As timelines for reporting and responding to breaches shrink, it is imperative that the security teams have advanced forensics capabilities that can make investigations faster and more efficient, and with Singularity RemoteOps Forensics, the team is delivering them. [Source – Business Wire] SentinelOne's new forensic capabilities help develop incident response by enabling security teams to conduct thorough investigations more quickly, Jane also mentioned eliminating the requirement for specialized expertise or additional tools. About SentinelOne SentinelOne is a leading provider of autonomous cybersecurity solutions. With its identified Singularity Platform, the company excels at detecting, preventing, and responding swiftly to cyber threats. SentinelOne enables businesses to protect their endpoints, cloud workloads, containers, and identities, as well as their mobile and network-connected devices, with unparalleled speed, accuracy, and ease of use. With a formidable clientele comprising over 11,000 customers, SentinelOne has proven itself as the trusted guardian of a secure digital future.

Read More

Cloud Security

Google Cloud Next 2023 Embraces Generative AI for Safer Digital Future

Google | September 18, 2023

Google reveals its pioneering approach to applying generative AI in cybersecurity at the Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco. Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai's keynote emphasizes Google's AI-first approach and the transformative impact of AI across industries. Google introduces innovative security updates and trends, highlighting its commitment to enhancing cybersecurity capabilities. Google Cloud extends Duet AI to three key products in preview mode, empowering security teams to address complex cybersecurity challenges more efficiently. Google unveiled its pioneering approach to applying generative AI in cybersecurity at the Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco. This significant revelation follows the broader accessibility of generative AI, made possible earlier this year by technologies like ChatGPT. Google's strategic endeavor aims to harness the potential of AI to combat cybersecurity challenges. Additionally, the event featured a keynote address by Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who underscored the transformative influence of AI across sectors and emphasized Google's extensive history of adopting an AI-first approach. During the conference, Google seized the opportunity to introduce innovative security updates and trends, signifying its commitment to enhancing cybersecurity capabilities for its customers. These developments come at a time when the integration of AI technologies in addressing cybersecurity concerns has gained substantial attention and recognition. Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, a prominent figure in the technology industry, initiated the conference, reiterating the profound influence of AI across various sectors, industries, and business functions. His emphasis on Google's decade-long dedication to an AI-first approach solidified the company's leadership position in this transformative era. Furthermore, Google unveiled significant developments in the conference, including expanding Vertex AI with over 100 foundation models and introducing enhancements like PaLM 2, supercomputing capabilities, and the fifth-gen Tensor Processing Units. However, their commitment to democratizing AI was highlighted, demonstrated through customer stories and live demos. Google Cloud's developer advocate, Priyanka Vergadia, showcased Duet AI, an intelligent chatbot assistant that streamlines developers' tasks, saving time and enhancing security. Duet AI automates deployments, configures applications correctly, aids in debugging, and strengthens security. Its preview release marks a step towards achieving shift-left and DevSecOps goals, empowering developers to secure their code effectively and allowing security teams to scale their efforts. The research conducted by ESG and ISSA highlights the challenges faced by cybersecurity professionals. A significant majority (63%) have found their roles increasingly complex over the past two years. A closer look reveals that the surge in complexity (81%), rising workloads, and growing cyberthreats (59%), as well as understaffing issues (46%), are the primary factors contributing to this challenge. In response to these evolving demands, Google Cloud has taken a proactive step by extending the application of Duet AI to three key products, now available in preview mode. These applications empower security teams with Mandiant Threat Intelligence for threat analysis, Google Chronicle for accelerated SecOps processes, and Google Security Command Center for risk mitigation. A live demonstration showcased how Duet AI streamlines security analysts' workflows, making threat detection and response more efficient and enhancing overall security posture management. Google Cloud announced Mandiant Hunt for Chronicle Security Ops in preview, boosting threat hunting with expert Mandiant insights. Agentless vulnerability scanning (powered by Tenable) in preview detects OS, software, and network vulnerabilities on Google Compute Engine VMs. Custom posture findings and threat detectors are now available in the Security Command Center. Cloud Firewall Plus, in preview, enhances firewall service with advanced threat protection (Palo Alto Networks). These updates, utilizing Duet AI in preview, demonstrate Google Cloud's dedication to cybersecurity innovation, with specific availability details to come. The conference also highlighted partner offerings in the ever-evolving cloud security landscape.

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.

Read More

Platform Security

SentinelOne Launches RemoteOps Forensics for Faster Incident Response

SentinelOne | September 18, 2023

SentinelOne, a global leader in autonomous cybersecurity, is addressing the pressing need for rapid and effective responses to the escalating wave of cyber breaches. Today, the company announced the launch of Singularity RemoteOps Forensics, a pioneering digital forensics product designed to streamline and accelerate incident response readiness. This innovative solution promises to empower organizations of all sizes, ushering in a new era of efficient and scalable investigation and response capabilities in the face of evolving cybersecurity challenges. Integrated seamlessly with the SentinelOne Singularity Platform and as an add-on to Sentinel One's Endpoint and Cloud Workload Security solutions, RemoteOps Forensics offers a rapid, adaptable digital forensics and incident response solution. Security teams can leverage this tool to enhance efficiency by optimizing resources and accelerating Mean Time to Resolution. With the capability for targeted investigations on various assets, including endpoints and server workloads, it enables conditional trigger-based evidence collection. This automation efficiently gathers evidence, such as process data, ports, service listings, MFT, Amcache, JumpLists, and memory dumps, orchestrating them in under a minute. Consolidating evidence into the Singularity Security DataLake allows for the correlation of SentinelOne and partner data with forensics data in a unified search, facilitating a comprehensive view of attacks, rapid root cause identification, and risk mitigation. Furthermore, it provides the ability to analyze collected evidence alongside Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) data within a single console, empowering proactive defense against future threats. The integration and analysis of this combined data unveil concealed indicators of compromise, detect advanced attack patterns, and offer insights into threat actors' tactics, techniques, and procedures. RemoteOps Forensics is a cost-effective and resource-efficient solution that seamlessly integrates with the SentinelOne agent. This integration alleviates the necessity of deploying and provisioning multiple tools throughout the investigative process, resulting in significant time and resource savings for organizations. In addition, this innovative solution prioritizes the maintenance of forensic integrity by minimizing changes made to the disk, and it leverages SentinelOne's anti-tampering and metadata collection capabilities to safeguard data integrity. In doing so, it streamlines investigations and upholds the highest standards of forensic rigor, reinforcing organizations' cybersecurity defenses with a comprehensive and efficient approach. Jane Wong, Senior Vice President of Products and Strategy at SentinelOne, said, As timelines for reporting and responding to breaches shrink, it is imperative that the security teams have advanced forensics capabilities that can make investigations faster and more efficient, and with Singularity RemoteOps Forensics, the team is delivering them. [Source – Business Wire] SentinelOne's new forensic capabilities help develop incident response by enabling security teams to conduct thorough investigations more quickly, Jane also mentioned eliminating the requirement for specialized expertise or additional tools. About SentinelOne SentinelOne is a leading provider of autonomous cybersecurity solutions. With its identified Singularity Platform, the company excels at detecting, preventing, and responding swiftly to cyber threats. SentinelOne enables businesses to protect their endpoints, cloud workloads, containers, and identities, as well as their mobile and network-connected devices, with unparalleled speed, accuracy, and ease of use. With a formidable clientele comprising over 11,000 customers, SentinelOne has proven itself as the trusted guardian of a secure digital future.

Read More

Cloud Security

Google Cloud Next 2023 Embraces Generative AI for Safer Digital Future

Google | September 18, 2023

Google reveals its pioneering approach to applying generative AI in cybersecurity at the Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco. Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai's keynote emphasizes Google's AI-first approach and the transformative impact of AI across industries. Google introduces innovative security updates and trends, highlighting its commitment to enhancing cybersecurity capabilities. Google Cloud extends Duet AI to three key products in preview mode, empowering security teams to address complex cybersecurity challenges more efficiently. Google unveiled its pioneering approach to applying generative AI in cybersecurity at the Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco. This significant revelation follows the broader accessibility of generative AI, made possible earlier this year by technologies like ChatGPT. Google's strategic endeavor aims to harness the potential of AI to combat cybersecurity challenges. Additionally, the event featured a keynote address by Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who underscored the transformative influence of AI across sectors and emphasized Google's extensive history of adopting an AI-first approach. During the conference, Google seized the opportunity to introduce innovative security updates and trends, signifying its commitment to enhancing cybersecurity capabilities for its customers. These developments come at a time when the integration of AI technologies in addressing cybersecurity concerns has gained substantial attention and recognition. Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, a prominent figure in the technology industry, initiated the conference, reiterating the profound influence of AI across various sectors, industries, and business functions. His emphasis on Google's decade-long dedication to an AI-first approach solidified the company's leadership position in this transformative era. Furthermore, Google unveiled significant developments in the conference, including expanding Vertex AI with over 100 foundation models and introducing enhancements like PaLM 2, supercomputing capabilities, and the fifth-gen Tensor Processing Units. However, their commitment to democratizing AI was highlighted, demonstrated through customer stories and live demos. Google Cloud's developer advocate, Priyanka Vergadia, showcased Duet AI, an intelligent chatbot assistant that streamlines developers' tasks, saving time and enhancing security. Duet AI automates deployments, configures applications correctly, aids in debugging, and strengthens security. Its preview release marks a step towards achieving shift-left and DevSecOps goals, empowering developers to secure their code effectively and allowing security teams to scale their efforts. The research conducted by ESG and ISSA highlights the challenges faced by cybersecurity professionals. A significant majority (63%) have found their roles increasingly complex over the past two years. A closer look reveals that the surge in complexity (81%), rising workloads, and growing cyberthreats (59%), as well as understaffing issues (46%), are the primary factors contributing to this challenge. In response to these evolving demands, Google Cloud has taken a proactive step by extending the application of Duet AI to three key products, now available in preview mode. These applications empower security teams with Mandiant Threat Intelligence for threat analysis, Google Chronicle for accelerated SecOps processes, and Google Security Command Center for risk mitigation. A live demonstration showcased how Duet AI streamlines security analysts' workflows, making threat detection and response more efficient and enhancing overall security posture management. Google Cloud announced Mandiant Hunt for Chronicle Security Ops in preview, boosting threat hunting with expert Mandiant insights. Agentless vulnerability scanning (powered by Tenable) in preview detects OS, software, and network vulnerabilities on Google Compute Engine VMs. Custom posture findings and threat detectors are now available in the Security Command Center. Cloud Firewall Plus, in preview, enhances firewall service with advanced threat protection (Palo Alto Networks). These updates, utilizing Duet AI in preview, demonstrate Google Cloud's dedication to cybersecurity innovation, with specific availability details to come. The conference also highlighted partner offerings in the ever-evolving cloud security landscape.

Read More

Events