Enterprise protection in today’s digital environment represents reducing the potential for data loss, service disruption, fraud, and operational damage. Organizations today are vulnerable to a wide range of threats such as malware, phishing, inside misuse, poor configuration of cloud systems, and other forms of compromised supply chains. Protection against these threats does not rely solely on purchasing the right technologies; it relies on implementing a cohesive program of governance, identity controls, continuous monitoring, and being prepared for incident response. When security is integrated into the normal flow of day-to-day operations, companies can operate at a faster pace with lower risk and recover from disruptions more rapidly.
1. Build Security Around Identity and Access Controls
The most significant number of breaches involve unauthorized access or access that has been compromised. The use of strong identity controls reduces risk across all systems, whether they are in the cloud or allow employees to work remotely.
Enterprises should employ multi-factor authentication, limit access based on role, and strictly regulate access to sensitive information. Employees should have no more access than is necessary to perform their jobs.
It is essential to continuously evaluate access, especially when an employee’s responsibilities change. Changes in an employee’s role necessitate changes in his/her access rights. Unused accounts and permissions that have been ignored over time provide silent risk that will continue to grow over time.
2. Reduce Attack Surface Through Configuration Discipline
Weak configuration, unpatched systems, and unnecessary services expose an organization to increased vulnerability to cyber-attacks. Reducing an organization’s attack surface is achieved by locking down systems that do not need to be open.
Examples of this include ensuring that software is kept current, using default settings that are secure, and limiting an organization’s exposure to the outside world. Because small errors can potentially expose large amounts of data, cloud environments require additional consideration.
Organizations should implement standards-based configurations and automated checks. Without automation, manual processes are too slow to manage complex systems.
3. Identify Threats Earlier Through Continuous Monitoring and Segmentation
Every organization will experience some form of cyber-attack; however, detection and remediation efforts can significantly mitigate the impact of the attack.
Early detection of a breach is dependent upon identifying anomalies in behavior that signal a potential breach (e.g., unusual login attempts, anomalous data transfer, etc.). Segmenting systems limits the potential scope of damage an attacker can inflict if a single system is breached.
In addition, organizations must prepare for common scenarios by developing “play books” that detail specific actions to take in response to common attack scenarios. Play books will help reduce panic and expedite containment efforts.
4. Enhance Resiliency with Proven Incident Response and Recovery Planning
A well-designed incident response plan is essential for responding quickly and efficiently to an incident. In order to respond to an incident, an organization must have a proven incident response plan in place, defined roles and responsibilities, and reliable backup systems.
Backup systems should be protected from unauthorized access and should be tested on a regular basis to ensure that they can restore data in case of a disaster. Backup systems that cannot be restored are not true backups.
Education and training are also critical components of an effective incident response plan. Many attacks depend on human error; therefore, educating employees on how to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks and increasing the speed of reporting suspicious activity will greatly enhance the effectiveness of an organization’s incident response plan.
Conclusion
Implementing a comprehensive and robust protection framework for an enterprise in today’s digital world is dependent upon identity-first security practices, configuration discipline, ongoing monitoring, and a proven incident response plan. By focusing on these four key areas of security, an organization can minimize the likelihood of a breach and the associated business impact. As security becomes an integral part of the daily operation of an organization and is supported through automation, defined ownership and tested recovery options, organizations can better protect their customers, revenue and reputation. Comprehensive protection is not a single product or solution; rather it is an integrated system designed to prevent, detect, and recover from cyber-attacks with speed and confidence.
By Business Scoops.