Cyber Security

Risk management is at the foundation of any strong cybersecurity program. It is designed to help prevent hackers from taking advantage of vulnerabilities within your computer system, letting you retain control of your sensitive data and helping you avoid the legal and financial implications that a data breach often creates. Implementing a robust risk management system should be a priority for all businesses that store employee and client data, information about intellectual property, and other important data within their computer system. Here’s why risk management is important and how you can strengthen your IT systems.

Preventing Exploitation of an IT Program

You can help prevent your IT programs from being exploited by following a thorough mapping and management process. Doing so allows you to compile a comprehensive list of potential vulnerabilities and threats to your system. Then you can establish a thorough plan for how to combat them. At the end of this process, you will have a stronger system and a decreased risk of losing sensitive data. This, in turn, decreases the likelihood of needing to spend money on recovery efforts, litigation, and related difficulties after a breach.

Mapping Vulnerabilities

Mapping vulnerabilities refers to the process of analyzing your IT systems to identify security flaws that can result in hacks. These can be concealed in the design of your software, improper configuration, glitches and other problems with its ability to function, as well as the improper deployment of the software. Some vulnerabilities are easier to resolve than others, making it important to conduct these tests often so that you can get a head start on fixing them. Once you are aware of any problems with your system, you can begin the risk management process.

The Process of Risk Management

Mapping vulnerabilities helps check off the first two steps of the risk management process: checking for issues through testing and identifying them through penetration tests, which can pinpoint anomalies that suggest an attack has either taken place or is possible in the future. Understanding the depth of your IT risks provides a strong foundation on which to build the rest of your risk management strategy.

The next step involves verifying vulnerabilities. Categorize each potential problem with your system according to its severity and check that the discoveries do in fact present a risk to your data. Organizing each issue helps you and your IT team understand which ones are the most pressing. Then you can create a plan for resolving them in the order of importance, as some may be less likely to be taken advantage of than others.

You can then mitigate risks by figuring out ways to prevent them from being exploited before they are fully resolved. You may need to temporarily use new software, advise staff to take extra precautions for the time being, or refrain from using certain features. This helps you protect your system while more permanent solutions are being developed or applied, rather than leaving your data open to hacks for longer.

Implementing these solutions is the final step of the risk management process. You may be able to patch the system with small tweaks to the coding, upgrades to the software, and other relatively quick solutions that address specific concerns. In some cases, a completely new system may be recommended. While this entails far more work, it can be crucial to ensuring your data is protected at all times.

Strengthening Your Infrastructure

With a strong vulnerability management framework in place, your business can stay ahead of problems and continually review its IT practices for potential risks. You can strengthen your system with firewall software, frequent upgrades when offered, strong spam filters, and other technology-based solutions.

Education is also an important part of strengthening your infrastructure. Provide employees with cybersecurity and safety training each year to reinforce important skills. They should use strong passwords, be wary of links and attachments sent in emails, and refuse to give out information that could be used to hack into your security system. Robust education, combined with up to date software systems, can help you prevent cyber attacks and data breaches that could otherwise damage your company’s finances and reputation.

Working with Accredited Solution Experts at Vaultes

Speak with the cybersecurity experts at Vaultes for more information about risk management solutions. The Vaultes team can build a risk management system from the ground up, beginning with mapping and assessment, or test your current systems for vulnerabilities to help you identify areas of improvement. Vaultes can also assist with compliance audits, IT staff augmentation, and cybersecurity awareness, monitoring, training, and architecture development, among other services.

Cyber security threats are a constant threat in the Information Age, and malevolent actors such as hackers are continually probing for any weakness to exploit. Once they are in, they can steal and sell sensitive, confidential information or install ransomware to extort businesses. Businesses should be on the lookout for these threats and minimize risks as much as possible, having a sort of cyber security awareness.

However, the biggest source of risk is the most unavoidable – humans. Human error contributes the most to allowing malevolent actors into systems. Vaultes is trained in reducing the human error factor by teaching employees cyber security tactics and good data hygiene, offering a sense of cyber security awareness.

Avoid Phishing or Malware

Even the best cyber security systems are flawed because they revolve around and rely on humans. According to IBM, over 95% of cyber security incidents occurred in part due to human error. Employees untrained in cyber security is the leading factor in expensive data breaches.

Malevolent actors know this and attempt to use social engineering, which entails phishing and installing malware. Phishing is the process by which a hacker will pretend to be an authoritative source, possibly offering help, and trick an employee into giving their security credentials without realizing who is really on the other end. Hackers can also use a similar guise to convince employees to install what is described as necessary software, such as a small patch or even security update, but is actually malware. This malware will then infiltrate the system and steal confidential data later to be sold or held for ransom.

Dispose Data Safely

One big misconception that is generally held is that as soon as a file is deleted, it is gone forever. This, however, is not the case. Data can remain on devices until it is completely wiped or until the first deletion is conducted by a proper data deletion software that removes all traces of the information. A good way to think of this is disposing of paper in a trash can; it may be gone, but can still be detected and read by someone who is motivated enough to find that information. Data deletion software would be the equivalent of a paper shredder that destroys the data completely.

Data can also be stolen from devices that are misplaced or lost. Many companies have exposed thousands of personal records through the simple misplacement or theft of a company device. When malevolent actors find this device, they can use it as an access point into the larger network, especially if it is left unencrypted.

Increase Protection

The best way for a company to reduce future costs stemming from litigation or punitive measures after a data breach is to increase their protection. Professional cyber security awareness consulting can teach employees about social engineering, including how to spot the common tactics used by hackers and how to react to them. This also teaches employees to have good cyber hygiene by enhancing their password management, setting up encryption systems, and installing secure data disposal software.

Build and Maintain a Firewall

Cyber security experts can also build and install firewalls to keep threats away from employees and the sensitive data companies are entrusted with. These firewalls prevent a large share of hacking attempts by eliminating them before they begin. They can operate in search and destroy methods that prevent unknown installed malware from collecting data.

Hackers often employ tactics that send out attack attempts en masse and concentrate on the ones that are not stopped. For many of them, infiltrating systems is just a numbers game. It’s only a matter of time before they find an unprotected system. While there is always risk due to the human element, this takes the extra step of stopping social engineering attempts before they reach your employees, reducing risk as much as possible.

Software “Alarm” System

The trained security experts at Vaultes also offer comprehensive 24/7 monitoring services. Another source of protection is an alarm software that detects attempts from malevolent actors to infiltrate networks and steal data. These Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are always vigilant for hacking attempts and will stop malware immediately. This also sends a report and triggers an Incident Response procedure immediately to contain and eliminate any potential threat.

Create a Unique Plan with Vaultes

All businesses are unique and require different cyber security protocols. However, no business is immune to the threat that malevolent actors present. Contact Vaultes Enterprise Solutions today to schedule a consultation on how you can reduce your business’s risk from human error, unsecured data deletion, and unprotected or under-protected systems.

Many businesses do not fully understand the critical importance of having a strong security architecture until it is too late. However, implementing security architecture can be a confusing process for many growing enterprises. Security architecture consists of various preventive, detective, and corrective controls that businesses choose to implement to protect their applications and infrastructure.

As technology continues to evolve, businesses must keep pace to ensure that their systems remain protected from intruders. Building a strong security architecture can protect a business from countless external threats. It can also help organizations swiftly identify and eliminate threats.

Importance of Security Architecture for Businesses

Having a strong security architecture is no longer just a recommendation for businesses but a necessity. As hackers become more adept at discovering security gaps, it is up to businesses to find new strategies for blocking their attempts. A resilient security architecture framework can be used to protect a company’s most sensitive informational assets. There are countless benefits that come from implementing a strong security architecture, including fewer breaches of your system’s architecture.

Maintaining your security architecture can also be useful for other reasons, such as compliance with key data security standards. There is a good chance that your business is subject to various information security standards, such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, GLBA or GDPR. These data security standards often require a business to maintain an architecture that is well-monitored with certain safety measures implemented. It is also important to remember that these standards are updated frequently, so businesses must continually make changes to address ever-evolving threats.

Most importantly, a strong security architecture can help prevent the loss of business. All it takes is one cyber security breach for your customers to lose trust in your business. A data breach could result in a massive drop in sales, which could force you to shut your doors for good.

Building a Strong Foundation

It is not always clear where businesses should begin when building a foundation for their security architecture. However, many experts suggest making data centers a main priority. While many organizations choose to protect users’ systems first, hackers are often more inclined to go directly to data centers. When implementing data center security, establish security zones between workloads and applications, and conduct routine penetrating testing of the segmentation to ensure that your controls remain effective.

It is also important to take user base architecture into consideration. Today, most users are mobile and many do not even visit corporate offices. This means that these professionals should utilize VPNs to maintain a secure connection when conducting work, but most fail to work on a secured server. This leaves these professionals open to certain digital risks. To reduce these risks, standardization should be applied to create a secure user environment. Cloud-computing has also become a go-to for modern businesses that want to leverage services like email conveniently on the cloud. Best of all, mobile users can connect from nearly anywhere.

Raising Awareness of Cyber Security Threats

Cyber security threats are becoming more commonplace in today’s society and although modern businesses are becoming more equipped to deal with these threats, they cannot yet be eliminated. With emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), along with the rapid growth of the web, organizations must make extra efforts to protect their companies from risks that threaten their livelihood. Security architecture takes on many forms and can lead to a stronger reinforcement against cyber security threats.

Today, cyber security threats are not just limited to email phishing. These threats have become more complex and more difficult to identify. Some of the most common attacks include social engineering, whaling, and phishing, as well as attacks via malware and ransomware. Lately, there has been an uptick in attacks on the Internet of Things. This includes smart homes, cars, and other infrastructure that all make up the IoT. This emerging technology still has many vulnerabilities that hackers exploit to gain access to a wealth of valuable information. Smartphones have also become a common gateway for criminals with the increase of disreputable applications and plugins now available for both Android and Apple devices.

Speak to an Experienced Cyber Security Expert Today

In a digital world, safeguarding the security of sensitive data is critical for businesses in all industries. Unfortunately, many businesses struggle with the preservation of confidentiality of information used in business applications, processes, and technology. When was the last time that you assessed how secure your enterprise architecture is? If it has been many months or even years, consider investing in cyber security solutions.

Vaultes Enterprise Solutions offers a variety of cyber security solutions designed to protect the integrity of your IT infrastructure. For more information about the foundation of a strong security architecture, request a consultation with a cyber security expert at Vaultes Enterprise Solutions.

Penetration testing (which is also sometimes called pen testing or ethical hacking) refers to the security process of evaluating your computer system’s applications for vulnerabilities and susceptibility to threats like hackers and cyberattacks. Examples of vulnerabilities include software bugs, design flaws, and also configuration errors.

Pen tests are also occasionally known as white hat attacks because it involves a benevolent party’s attempt to break into a system. Companies should perform penetration tests regularly — at least once a year — to ensure their Information Technology (IT) infrastructure remains strong and well-protected. Although tech companies and financial services organizations most frequently perform penetration testing, all types of organizations can greatly benefit from conducting this type of evaluation.

What Is Penetration Testing?

Pen tests can be carried out on IP address ranges, individual applications, or even simply based on an organization’s name. Identifying weak points in a system’s defense via a simulated attack can help companies obtain information about the different ways hackers can gain unauthorized access to sensitive and/or personal information or engage in some other type of malicious activity that can result in a data breach. And data breaches can be tremendously costly to organizations. The degree of access an attacker obtains depends on what your organization is attempting to test.

The five main types of penetration testing are targeted testing, internal testing, external testing, blind testing, and double-blind testing. Each type of testing gives an attacker a different level of access to an organization’s system and applications.

Here are two examples of penetration tests:

1. Providing a team of pen testers with an organization’s office address and telling them to attempt to enter their systems. The different techniques the team could use to break into the system include social engineering (asking a lower-level staffer to conduct safety checks) and complex application-specific attacks.
2. A pen tester could be granted access to a version of a web application that has not yet been utilized and then try to break in and launch an attack.

When an organization performs penetration testing depends on multiple factors, including:

• Online presence size
• Company budget
• Regulation and compliance
• Whether or not an organization’s IT infrastructure is in the cloud

Pen tests should also be customized to the specific organization’s needs and goals, as well as to the industry it belongs to. Follow-up reports and vulnerability testing should also be conducted. A proper report should clearly state what applications or systems were tested and match each one to its vulnerability.

Why Is Penetration Testing Important?

In 2015, Ponemon Institute conducted a study on the cost of data breaches that surveyed 350 organizations from 11 different countries that had suffered data breaches. Nearly half of said breaches (47%) were the result of a malicious attack and the rest happened because of system glitches and human errors.

Preparation For An Attack

The main reason penetration tests are crucial to an organization’s security is that they help personnel learn how to handle any type of break-in from a malicious entity. Pen tests serve as a way to examine whether an organization’s security policies are genuinely effective. They serve as a type of fire drill for organizations.

Penetration tests can also provide solutions that will help organizations to not only prevent and detect attackers but also to expel such an intruder from their system in an efficient way.

Risk Identification

Pen tests also offer insight into which channels in your organization or application are most at risk and thus what types of new security tools you should invest in or protocols you should follow. This process could help uncover several major system weaknesses you may not have even thought about.

Decrease Amount Of Errors

Penetration testing reports can also assist developers in making fewer errors. When developers understand exactly how a malicious entity launched an attack on an application, operating system or other software they helped develop, they will become more dedicated to learning more about security and be less likely to make similar mistakes going forward.

It should also be noted that conducting penetration tests is especially important if your organization:

• Has recently made significant upgrades or other changes to its IT infrastructure or applications
• Has recently relocated to a new office
• Has applied security patches; or
• Has modified end-user policies

Seeking More Information About Penetration Testing

Speak to the experienced cybersecurity analysts at Vaultes Enterprise Solutions in Reston, Virginia, to learn more about the benefits of penetration testing and/or to schedule such a service. Vaultes is a Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) that provides top cybersecurity and risk management solutions to both commercial and federal clients, thanks to highly technical expertise and specialized training. Vaultes’ pen testing division utilizes strategic hacker maneuvers in a controlled environment in order to uncover any potential vulnerabilities before they can be taken advantage of. Vaultes will also guide you on compliance issues.

Every organization in today’s increasingly dangerous world should make it a priority to address its IT infrastructure’s vulnerabilities and how to protect it from all types of threats like data breaches. One key way to do this is via penetration testing, which is also sometimes called ethical hacking.

This refers to the practice of evaluating a computer system, web application, or network for security weaknesses (like software bugs, design errors and configuration errors) that a threat (like a hacker or malware) could potentially exploit. It is also a great way to assess an entity’s adherence to compliance requirements for security auditing processes (like PCI DSS and SOC 2), its security policy and its employees’ ability to tackle threats quickly and effectively.

Although companies in the financial industry most often conduct penetration testing, many other types of organizations (both small and large) can also benefit from this practice and have been increasingly using it. A 2015 study from WhiteHat Security found that 92% of the 118 organizations surveyed had performed pen testing at least once as part of their security protocol, while 21% of the organizations conducted a penetration test each year. Pen testing can be either performed manually or automated via software. The most frequently used pen testing tools include free or open-source software such as Nmap (network mapper), The Metasploit Project, Wireshark, and John the Ripper.

What Is The Penetration Testing Process & Its Purpose?

Ideally, organizations should perform penetration testing at least once a year. This process should especially be conducted whenever an organization:

• Adds new applications or network infrastructure
• Makes substantial upgrades or other changes to its IT infrastructure or applications
• Relocates to a new office
• Changes end-user policies; or
• Applies security patches

Other factors that determine when and how often an organization should perform penetration testing include:

• An organization’s size and degree of online presence
• A company’s budget
• Compliance and regulations
• Whether or not an organization’s infrastructure is in the cloud

Four Steps In Penetration Testing

Pen testing typically involves four essential steps. They are:

Planning & Goal Setting

This reconnaissance step involves the collection of preliminary data about a target so that a cyberattack can be more adequately planned. This step also includes establishing the test’s scope and deciding which evaluation processes to use. The five most common types of penetration testing methods are external testing, internal testing, blind testing, double-blind testing and targeted testing. External penetration tests focus on the assets of an organization that are visible online. In internal pen testing, meanwhile, a tester who has access to an application behind its firewalls simulates a cyberattack from a malicious person on the inside. In blind testing, a tester only knows the name of the target, and in double-blind testing, both the tester and the target are in the dark about the cyberattack. Finally, targeted testing involves security personnel and the tester collaborating and keeping each other informed of their respective actions.

Vulnerability Scanning

This step primarily consists of identifying vulnerabilities. This is usually accomplished once a threat sends its victim probes and documents the target’s reaction to several inputs. This involves gathering any pertinent information about an application or system and its infrastructure. This could include data like business logic and privilege requirements. Tools like network and web security scanners can help significantly with this step.

Breaking In

In this step, a hacker or other similar threat acquires control of one or several network devices in order to use that tool to launch an attack and/or steal private data. A cyberattack simulation exercise helps uncover both known and new weaknesses by setting up defenses facing the same pressure they would in a real-world threat scenario. Certain controls to protect your system from threats should then be tested as well.

Analyzing Results

Perhaps the most important step in performing penetration testing involves the compiling of results in a detailed report that links each vulnerability to its corresponding threat. This can help company executives devise more specific solutions to its system’s weaknesses and build stronger defenses (like web application firewalls) against potential threats in the future to make sure no sensitive data is compromised ever again. Such an analysis should also note the amount of time the penetration tester was able to stay in the system undetected.

Seeking More Information On & Scheduling Penetration Testing

Speak to the experienced cybersecurity analysts at Vaultes Enterprise Solutions in Reston, Virginia, to learn more about how penetration testing can help improve your organization’s IT infrastructure.

Vaultes is a Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) that offers top cybersecurity solutions to both commercial and federal clients. Among the services it provides aside from penetration testing are IT risk assessments, risk and compliance guidance, vulnerability testing, cybersecurity controls assessments and cybersecurity maturity assessments. The types of cybersecurity compliance audits Vaultes performs include CMMC, FedRAMP, FISMA, ITAR, NIST 800-171 and NIST 800-53.

All organizations face a certain level of IT threats, especially in this day and age where most business processes have been digitalized. To minimize and eliminate certain risks, modern companies turn to cyber security practices. What is cyber security, exactly?

Also known as information technology security, cyber security refers to the protection of computer systems from damage or theft of electronic data, software, and hardware. Cyber security efforts can help prevent disruptions to business services and reduce the impact of digital attacks.

Common Types Of Cyber Threats

Businesses face certain types of security risks that threaten their brand and finances. Social engineering attacks are a common cyber threat that can involve a range of malicious activities accomplished via human interactions. This process consists of the psychological manipulation of people to get them to perform certain actions or give away privileged information.

Advanced Persistent Threats

Advanced persistent threats, or APTs, are another type of cyber threat that businesses face. This type of attack occurs when an unauthorized user infiltrates a private network undetected and remains in the network for an extended period of time. The third most common type of cyber threat are malware attacks. Malware software is specially designed to allow cyber thieves to gain access or damage a computer system without the direct knowledge of the owner.

While cyber security threats can attack all types of devices and networks, most of these cyber attacks fall into three main categories: attacks on confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Hackers can steal personal information, such as credit card or bank account information, or release sensitive information for the purpose of exposing data. This can cause the public to lose trust in a company. Cyber criminals can also block users from being able to access their own data until they pay a ransom or fee.

Phishing Attacks

Cyber attacks can present themselves in a wide variety of ways. Oftentimes, businesses do not even know that their system or network has been infiltrated until it is too late. Phishing attacks are one of the most common forms of social engineering which can affect any business that uses email. APTs can result in the theft of high-value data, such as information in sectors like manufacturing, national defense, and the finance industry. Malware can also come in several forms, such as keyloggers, viruses, spyware, and worms.

How To Protect Against Cyber Threats

While businesses will always face some level of cyber security risk, there are a number of ways organizations can better protect their reputation and finances. Many cyber security practices are simple and require a few basic changes to business processes and risk management strategies. Here are just a few ways that your business can improve your cyber safety.

• Use caution when opening emails from unknown senders. Never open email attachments from unknown sources or click on links in emails from unknown sources. Email scams are very common and it takes just one wrong click and your private information is stolen.
• Only submit personal information into trusted websites. When entering important data like credit card numbers or social security numbers into an online website, be sure that the site you are using is a trusted source. One way to determine if a site is secure is if it includes “https://” at the start of the URL.
• Always update your computer systems and devices to the most recent version. Software updates can contain important patches that are designed to fix certain security flaws. By updating your software on a regular basis, you can help bridge these security gaps before a cybercriminal finds them first.
• Regularly back up important business files to prevent cyber security attacks. If you are forced to erase your computer system because of a cyber-attack, your files will be backed up in a safe place where they can be easily accessed at any time.
• Encrypt important backup data. It is not only enough to back up important data, but also to encrypt it. By encrypting important information, you can render the data useless if it happens to get in the wrong hands.
• Invest in cyber security insurance. Another way that businesses help keep their private information safe is by investing in cyber security insurance. Cyber security insurance can help cover certain costs associated with cyber threats.

Speak To A Cyber Security Solutions Firm

Cyber security threats can pose real harm to your business, even forcing it to shut down in certain situations. To prevent or minimize these IT threats, it is important to work alongside an experienced cyber security solutions firm like Vaultes.

Vaultes Enterprise Solutions offers a number of IT risk assessment services designed to protect your business, such as cyber engineering, cyber security monitoring, and security architecture. For more information about cyber security or to inquire about IT risk assessment and cyber security monitoring services, contact the experts at Vaultes.