• Security by Design integrates security measures throughout the software development lifecycle, mitigating vulnerabilities from the start.
• This proactive approach is more cost-effective than traditional methods, reducing the need for expensive fixes after deployment.
• Key principles include least privilege, defense in depth, and failing securely, which collectively strengthen the overall security posture of products.

What is Security by Design and why is it important?

Security by Design refers to the practice of embedding security controls into every phase of software development, ensuring that security is a fundamental aspect from the start. Security by Design can decrease the number of exploitable flaws before introducing products to the market, enhancing the overall security of the final product.

The core principles of Security by Design emphasise reducing security vulnerabilities and improving the overall security posture by implementing secure design principles from the outset. This methodology involves adhering to established policies and standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST SP800-53, which provide a robust framework for developing secure products.

Moreover, the practice of Security by Design promotes a cost-effective development approach. Proactive security measures taken early in the development process are significantly cheaper than traditional security methods, which often involve reactive fixes after vulnerabilities are discovered.

This not only saves costs but also enhances the overall security and reliability of the final product.

How is Security by Design different from traditional security practices?

Traditional security often adopt a reactive approach, addressing security vulnerabilities only after they have been identified or exploited. This method can lead to significant security risks and higher costs associated with fixing issues post-deployment.

In contrast, Security by Design is proactive, embedding security requirements into every phase of the software development lifecycle—from architecture and design to coding and testing.

One of the key differences between these approaches is cost-effectiveness. Security by Design is inherently more cost-effective because it addresses potential security issues early in the development process, reducing the need for costly fixes later on.

Furthermore, Security by Design ensures that security measures are seamlessly integrated into the system design. This holistic approach contrasts with traditional methods, where security features are often bolted on as an afterthought, leading to complex and sometimes ineffective security solutions.

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What’s the business value of Security by Design?

The business value of Security by Design extends far beyond mere cost savings – it helps protect brand trust and maintain customer confidence. Nowadays data breaches and security incidents can severely damage a company’s reputation, so it’s crucial for maintaining a positive brand image.

Security by Design framework also plays a vital role in ensuring regulatory compliance. Many industries are subject to stringent regulatory requirements regarding data protection and cyber security. By integrating security controls into the product security development process, businesses can avoid costly penalties and legal repercussions.

Addressing security vulnerabilities early and embedding security features throughout the software development lifecycle helps to reduce risk by decreasing the likelihood of security breaches and minimising operational disruptions.

This not only enhances the overall security posture but also contributes to the financial efficiency of the business through software developed using advanced technologies.

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What are the key principles of Security by Design?

The key principles of Security by Design revolve around a proactive approach that integrates security components from the very start of the intended developed designed design approach guidance technology infrastructure development process.

One of the fundamental principles is the concept of least privilege, which includes:

• Limiting access to only the data and systems necessary for users to perform their functions
• Minimising access to reduce the risk of unauthorised access
• Reducing potential data breaches
• Implementing mandatory measures to ensure compliance with these principles to avoid any compromise.

Another crucial principle is defence in depth, a strategy that employs multiple layers of security measures to protect against potential threats. This principle involves implementing various security controls at different layers of the system, making it more challenging for attackers to breach the entire system.

Failing securely is another important principle, ensuring that systems lock down to prevent unauthorised access when failures occur. Designing systems to fail securely ensures continuous protection even during unexpected failures.

Stages of implementing Security by Design

Implementing Security by Design involves several key stages, starting with planning and requirements analysis. In this initial phase, establishing context is crucial for designing a secure system. Conducting risk assessments helps identify potential threats and vulnerabilities, laying the groundwork for a robust security framework.

The next stage involves threat modeling, a proactive approach to identifying and prioritising potential attack vectors. During this phase, risk assessments are conducted to uncover vulnerabilities and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Continuous security assurance processes are essential for maintaining confidence in the effectiveness of security controls throughout the operational life of a services. This involves continuous monitoring, patching, and updating of software to ensure ongoing security against threats.

Implementing automation in security testing and utilising AI for routine security functions can enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs.

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What are the risks of not following Security by Design?

Neglecting Security by Design can lead to significant risks, including exploitable vulnerabilities, data breaches, and reputation damage.

Without a proactive security approach, organisations are more likely to face regulatory penalties and expensive post-release fixes. Security by Design promotes the principle of shared responsibility between vendors and customers for security, ensuring a collaborative approach to maintaining robust defenses.

Managing the complexity of security controls is vital to minimise the chances of errors. Common obstacles in implementing Security by Design include complexity and high costs, but these challenges can be mitigated with a cultural shift that views security as a core element of initial design processes.

Organisations often struggle with resource allocation when implementing security by design, as balancing security needs with other project demands can be challenging. Continuous training and professional development are mandatory to keep security teams up-to-date with best practices.

Common examples of Security by Design in practice

Security by Design is exemplified through various practices such as input validation, which ensures that only properly formatted data is accepted by the system.

Encryption of data at rest and in transit protects sensitive information from unauthorised access, providing an additional layer of security. Role-based access controls restrict access based on the user’s role within the organisation, ensuring that only authorised personnel can access critical data.

Integrate security testing into CI/CD pipelines is another common practice of Security by Design. This approach ensures that security vulnerabilities are identified and addressed early in the development process, reducing the risk of security flaws in the final product.

Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification before accessing sensitive systems.

These examples demonstrate how Security by Design principles can be effectively implemented in practice.

Future Processing supports Security by Design initiatives by helping organisations embed security at every stage of the software development lifecycle – from architecture planning to deployment and maintenance. Our approach ensures that security is not an afterthought but a core principle guiding every technical decision.

FAQ

What tools support Cyber Security by Design?

Tools include static and dynamic application security testing (SAST/DAST), threat modeling tools (like Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool), dependency checkers, and secure coding frameworks.

What role does threat modeling play in Security by Design?

Threat modeling identifies potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors early, enabling developers to design systems that mitigate risk before code is written.

Can legacy systems be adapted to Security by Design principles?

Yes, although more challenging. You can audit legacy systems, identify weaknesses, and gradually refactor components or wrap them in secure layers.

How does Security by Design align with DevSecOps?

DevSecOps brings security into DevOps workflows. Security by Design is a foundational principle of DevSecOps, ensuring security is continuous and automated across development and deployment.

Can Security by Design slow down development?

Initially, it may seem to add complexity, but in the long run it speeds up delivery by reducing the time spent fixing security bugs after release.

Is Security by Design applicable to cloud-native applications?

Yes. Cloud-native apps must be designed for secure deployment, identity management, encryption, and network isolation from day one.

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• Banks are hotspots for cybercriminals due to the troves of sensitive financial data, with cyber attacks posing severe financial and reputational risks.
• Financial losses from cyber incidents are significant: according to Statista, India’s banking sector alone faced frauds worth 1.38 trillion rupees in 2022, demonstrating the urgency for strong cybersecurity measures.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential for banking security, but it must be user-friendly and well-communicated to customers to be effective.

What is cybersecurity in banking and why is it important?

Cybersecurity in banking is a multidimensional practice involving the deployment of advanced technologies, stringent policies, and continuous monitoring to defend against cyber threats. In an era where digital transactions are becoming the norm, the role of cybersecurity solutions has become more critical than ever.

Financial institutions are veritable gold mines for cybercriminals, offering significant monetary benefits and valuable information. The high-value transactions processed by banks and the potentially lucrative payouts from successful attacks make them particularly attractive targets.

But it’s not just about safeguarding the bank’s financial assets; it’s equally about protecting the personal and sensitive information of customers. The importance of cybersecurity in banking cannot be overstated, as it is the cornerstone of trust and reliability in the financial sector.

Therefore, cybersecurity is vital for maintaining the integrity of the digital infrastructure and ensuring that customers can conduct their financial activities with confidence and peace of mind.

What are the most common cybersecurity threats faced by banks today?

Cybersecurity threats in the banking sector are diverse and constantly evolving, with cybercriminals developing new strategies to breach defenses.

The most common threats include:

• phishing, where attackers trick bank employees or customers into revealing sensitive information,
• malware, which can be used to disrupt operations or steal sensitive data,
• ransomware, which involves encrypting a bank’s data and demanding payment for its release,
• Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which aim to overwhelm critical infrastructure and disrupt service availability,
• insider threats pose a significant cyber risk, as they involve individuals within the organisation who may misuse their access to sensitive information for malicious purposes,
• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are also a concern, where attackers gain unauthorized access to a network and remain undetected for an extended period to steal data or monitor activity.

The rise of sophisticated social engineering tactics and the increasing use of mobile banking applications further complicate the cybersecurity landscape for financial institutions.

How do cyber attacks affect bank and their customers?

Cyber attacks have a profound impact on both banks and their customers, leading to financial consequences, unauthorised access and a loss of trust in the banking system.

When cybercriminals strike, they can disrupt the normal operations of a bank, causing delays in transactions and potentially locking customers and employees out of critical systems. For customers, this can mean an inability to access funds, check account balances, or make time-sensitive payments, which can lead to late fees and other financial penalties.

The repercussions of cyber attacks extend beyond immediate financial damage. Personal data breaches can result in identity theft, with customers facing long-term consequences as their sensitive information is misused for fraudulent activities. The restoration of compromised accounts and credit standings can be a lengthy, stressful, and costly process for individuals affected by such breaches.

Furthermore, when banks are hit by cyber attacks, the confidence that customers have in their financial institution can be severely shaken. Trust is the cornerstone of the banking relationship, and once it is eroded, it can be challenging to rebuild.

In addition to the direct effects on customers, banks themselves face significant challenges in the wake of cyber attacks. The financial impact can be enormous, not only because of the theft of funds but also due to the costs associated with responding to the data security problems.

Banks must invest in forensic investigations, public relations campaigns to manage reputational damage, and improvements to their cybersecurity infrastructure to prevent future incidents. Legal ramifications may also arise, with banks facing potential penalties for failing to protect customer data adequately.

Overall, the effects of cyber attacks on banks and their customers are far-reaching and can have lasting implications for the financial well-being and personal lives of those impacted.

What cybersecurity measures are essential for banks?

Cybersecurity is a critical concern for banks, as they must protect against a wide array of cyber threats.

Essential measures include:

• robust encryption protocols to secure data transmissions, firewalls to guard against unauthorized access, and secure authentication methods to verify user identities.
• cyber security awareness training is vital for banks and financial institutions as it equips employees with the knowledge to identify and respond to cyber threats.
• Multi-factor authentication: MFA is particularly important, as it adds an additional layer of security beyond just a password.
• Regular security audits and penetration testing services can help identify and shore up potential vulnerabilities in the bank’s cybersecurity defenses.
• Secure Software Development Lifecycle: Integrating security into the software development lifecycle ensures that applications are designed with security as a priority from the outset. This includes using best coding practices and regular updates to address security vulnerabilities.

These measures are foundational to creating a secure banking environment that safeguards both the institution and its customers from cyber threats.

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How has the evolution of digital banking influenced cybersecurity strategies?

As digital banking has become more prevalent, cybersecurity strategies have had to evolve rapidly to address the new and complex risks that come with online financial transactions.

This digital transformation has also led to the creation of more integrated and adaptive cybersecurity frameworks that can quickly respond to emerging threats and protect sensitive data across all banking platforms.

The evolution of digital banking has not only changed the way we manage money but also how banks must approach cybersecurity.

What challenges do banks face in implementing effective cybersecurity measures?

Banks today are grappling with the daunting task of fortifying their cybersecurity measures against an increasing array of sophisticated threats.

Implementing effective cybersecurity strategies involves:

• overcoming a multitude of challenges, including the integration of advanced technologies,
• managing the complexity of security systems,
• ensuring continuous updates and vigilance against new types of cyber threats.

The financial sector must also contend with the high costs associated with these cybersecurity measures, which can be particularly burdensome for smaller institutions with limited resources.

Moreover, the rapid pace of technological change presents a moving target for cybersecurity efforts. As banks adopt new technologies to enhance customer experience and streamline operations, they must also ensure that each new tool, application, or system is secure.

In addition, banks must foster a culture of security awareness among all employees, as human error remains one of the most significant vulnerabilities in cybersecurity.

In the context of global banking, cross-border transactions and international regulatory compliance add another layer of complexity to cybersecurity implementation. Banks must navigate varying regulations and standards across different countries, which can complicate the harmonisation of cybersecurity practices that improve security of information.

Finally, as cybercriminals employ increasingly sophisticated social engineering tactics, banks face the challenge of ensuring that their customers are educated and vigilant against such schemes. This involves not only deploying technical defenses but also investing in customer education programs to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity in protecting their financial assets and personal information.

How to make banking institutions more cyber resilient?

To enhance cyber resilience, banking institutions must adopt a multi-faceted strategy that encompasses not only state-of-the-art technological defenses but also comprehensive risk management and robust governance frameworks.

This strategy should be dynamic and inclusive of all stakeholders in the financial ecosystem.

Financial institutions need to prioritise the establishment of a resilient digital infrastructure that can withstand and recover from cyber attacks. This involves deploying redundant systems and backup processes to ensure continuity of operations even in the face of a cyber incident.

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In addition to technological measures, banks should focus on cultivating a culture of cyber awareness throughout the organisation. This means regular training and exercises that simulate cyber attack scenarios, enabling employees to better understand their role in preventing breaches and responding effectively when incidents occur.

Collaboration and information sharing between banking institutions and regulatory bodies are also key components of a resilient cyber strategy. By sharing insights and best practices, banks can collectively improve their defenses and respond more effectively to new threats.

Engaging in public-private partnerships can enhance the overall security posture of the financial sector, as these alliances facilitate the exchange of critical threat intelligence and coordinate responses to widespread cyber incidents.

Enhance your organisation’s cybersecurity with Future Processing

Ultimately, building cyber resilience is an ongoing endeavor that requires dedication, investment, and a willingness to innovate.

Future Processing offers a suite of cybersecurity solutions tailored to fortify your organisation’s digital defenses. By leveraging our expertise, your sensitive data and IT systems will be secure. Contact us and together we can create the solution you need.

FAQ

Why are banks targeted by cybercriminals?

Banks are targeted by cybercriminals because they hold valuable financial information and process high-value transactions, making them tempting targets for monetary gain. The digital vaults of modern banks are filled with sensitive data that is highly prized by cybercriminals, including personal identification numbers, account details, and transaction records.

What are the consequences of successful cyber attacks on banks?

Successful cyber attacks on banks can disrupt financial services, cause significant financial losses, and erode trust in the banking system. It’s important for banks to prioritize cybersecurity to mitigate these risks.

What is multi-factor authentication (MFA) and how can it help banks?

MFA is a security measure that helps banks by requiring multiple forms of verification to prevent unauthorised access, which can protect sensitive customer information and prevent issues with fraudulent financial websites.

What are some common cyber threats that banks face?

Banks commonly face cyber threats like phishing attacks, data breaches, and other types of cybercrime, which have been on the rise in recent years. Stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect your financial information.

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What is security operations (SecOps)?

Security operations is a combination of both security and IT operations staff with the goal of assessing and monitoring security risks and protecting corporate assets.

In recent years, cybersecurity attacks have been on the rise. The CrowdStrike 2023 Global Threat Report noted that compared to 2021, in the year 2022, there was a 50% increase in interactive intrusion campaigns and a 71% in adversary tactics (up from 62% in 2021). The report goes on to say that there was a huge increase in criminal activity, and identified more than 2,500 advertisements for access across the criminal underground, representing a 112% increase compared to 2021 and demonstrating a clear demand for access to broker services.

For companies, staying on top of the constant threat of attacks is very time-consuming and expensive. In order to mitigate these risks and reduce costs, companies are relying more heavily on SecOps teams to assist them to hunt down and eliminate potential cyber threats more effectively.

Why is SecOps important?

The importance of IT security teams is greater than ever. However, as their role expands, it can produce a gap between the IT security and IT operations teams. Both teams have different fundamental priorities, which often results in them pulling in different directions. This can create inefficiencies, reduce the effectiveness of security measures and expose the organisation to greater risks.

An example of this would be when the company’s security tools shut down or block critical applications to reduce risk, but the applications are running time-sensitive operations which are disturbed by the interruption – one operation working independently of the other causes interference.

SecOps, as the marriage between IT security and IT operations, allows both teams to work together more closely, with both teams sharing full accountability for maintaining the company’s security, as well as the productive state of operations.

By working together, there is greater visibility of security vulnerabilities throughout the entire organisation, with critical information being shared quickly and effectively to help reduce security issues while simultaneously keeping IT operations fully functioning and agile.

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What are the goals and benefits of SecOps?

The goal of SecOps (Security Operations) is to reduce the risk posed to an organisation’s IT infrastructure by implementing automated security processes and procedures.

The primary benefit of SecOps is that it creates collaboration across multiple teams within an organisation, which enables them to quickly identify and respond to potential security threats, thereby reducing the risk of data loss and systems’ downtime.

Security operations also help to increase the visibility of the company’s security infrastructure in order to create stronger security practices that will be more effective long term.

SecOps helps to ensure that management is involved at all levels, which helps to create a roadmap aimed at increasing and improving the organisation’s security without compromising the overall performance.

Finally, it can help organisations become more efficient and cost-effective by automating and streamlining security operations.

Examples of the benefits of SecOps

It is clear that there are lots of useful benefits that SecOps can bring to a company’s operations. Two very effective SecOps examples that companies regularly use are SAST and DAST:

Static Analysis Security Testing (SAST)

SAST allows developers to find any security vulnerabilities that are actually within the application source code much earlier in the software development life cycle. In addition, it ensures that your operations conform to the necessary coding guidelines and standards while not actually executing the underlying code.

Dynamic Analysis Security Testing (DAST)

While similar to SAST, DAST allows SecOps teams to find any security vulnerabilities that may be present within applications that are actually running (as opposed to SAST which looks at the source code). Typically, this mostly applies to web applications.

Dynamic Analysis Security Testing finds these vulnerabilities by employing fault injection techniques in an app using methods such as cross-site scripting (XSS) or SQL injection. It feeds malicious data right into the software in order to be able to identify any potential vulnerabilities.

DAST also has the ability to identify runtime issues that couldn’t otherwise be identified using static analysis security testing techniques, for example, flaws that are only visible when a known user logs into the system, or any authentication and server configuration issues.

SAST and DAST – Co-dependent operations that are often used in tandem

Commonly, both SAST and DAST are used in conjunction with one another by SecOps teams. They both have flaws that cannot be overcome alone, but by using them both together, SecOps teams are able to gain a full picture of their security vulnerabilities.

For example, SAST isn’t an effective technique for discovering runtime errors and DAST is not likely to flag any coding errors (that goes to say, at least not in terms of the code line number). Conversely, SAST performs rather well when it comes to finding line code errors like weak code generation (e.g. weak random number generation), but it is not great at uncovering flaws in the data flow. SAST is also very well known for generating a higher number of ‘false positives’, or in other words, less likely to result in ‘false negatives’.

Both SAST and DAST solutions are used in tandem by SecOps teams to very effectively enhance a company’s security operations.

What are some best practices for implementing SecOps?

When implementing SecOps into an organisation, it is important to follow tried-and-tested practices to maximise its impact and reduce any potential issues.

Here are some best practices for implementing SecOps:

• Defining the scope of SecOps – This helps to focus on the needs of the company and to narrow down what has to be done to protect it.
• Creating reusable workflows – The SecOps team faces a variety of challenges across the entire company. Each security process created can only address a very specific threat, but the SecOps team can optimise their solutions by making them as broad as possible, ensuring that they are reusable and can be reconfigured to deal with other types of threats at a later time.
• ‘Real-life’ training activities – Just as a well-trained military force remains active and fully prepared through ongoing training and simulations, the SecOps team can run simulated ‘attacks’ to help hone their skills and response procedures. One team can ‘attack’ the systems, while the SecOps team ‘defends’ – this helps keep the team sharp, prepared, and tests their ability to respond quickly and effectively.
• Process automation – Automation is very important to implementing SecOps effectively, especially across large organisations. Automation not only reduces the number of tasks that need to be done by a human, but it also allows for better real-time monitoring and incident response.
• Incorporating security throughout the organisation – The SecOps team identifies and responds to threats all throughout the delivery pipeline (as opposed to a traditional security team who typically focuses on threats received on already deployed applications). This allows security teams to identify and respond to threats early on, meaning developers can write new code quickly and have the system constantly monitoring for new vulnerabilities and bugs.

Summary

SecOps, the natural progression from the development processes into a more highly integrated security solution that crosses company-wide departments, allows for much greater risk protection. It is certainly more complex to integrate into an organisation. Still, when done well, the organisation benefits from greater real-time awareness of issues, better communication and less downtime between departments and operations, reduced costs, and overall greater ability to respond to risks. It is undoubtedly crucial for companies in this modern world.

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The purpose of OSINT is to collect and analyse information to gain a better understanding of the business, political or cybersecurity environments. Nowadays, where more and more information is available online, OSINT is becoming an increasingly important tool for various industries, from governments to business and media. It is also used by bad actors, keen to collect and make use of important sensitive data they can find on the Internet.

Why is OSINT so important?

Today, information is the most important currency. During a merger or purchase of another company, the OSINT service gives you the opportunity to view additional information about the financial situation, competition, reputation, market trends or the company itself. It also helps to better preparate the due diligence process.

For penetration testers and security teams, OSINT is a perfect first step before engaging into pentesting service, as it is designed to expose public information about internal assets and other information available outside the organisation. Metadata, files, documents, or any data accidentally published by your organisation may contain sensitive information, but thanks to the OSINT service it can be detected early, minimising the consequences of a possible cyberattack.

One of the biggest advantages of using OSINT is also its cost: in comparison to other tools, OSINT offers a potentially higher return on investment (ROI) – a feature especially important for organisations with smaller budgets.

How to conduct OSINT?

To monitor, search and make sense of information, our testers use both passive and active OSINT testing techniques. Here is more on what they consist of:

Passive OSINT

By passive OSINT we mean tests performed by passively collecting publicly available data, which makes them completely non-intrusive. All information used in those tests is collected using Google search engine and other Open-Source Intelligence analytical tools. What’s important, all information is obtained without violating any copyright or privacy laws. OSINT is a good introduction to pentests.

Active PENTEST

Active pentest refers to actively seeking information, often through sources that require logins, open port scans, vulnerability scans, applications, application servers, or other access that is not easy to obtain. In most cases, active pentests can be performed anonymously. Accessing sensitive information typically requires more deliberate effort, but thanks to the knowledge and vast experience of our testers we excel in extracting this type of data.

OSINT with Future Processing

At Future Processing we deliver high-quality pentesting services and we use OSINT on regular basis. Our experienced team of experts will help you use OSINT to strengthen your sense of security – as the end result, they will provide you with a report containing all information about your organisation that can be found on the open network, allowing you to understand publicly accessible vulnerabilities before they are used against you by cybercriminals. For more information, do get in touch with our team.

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Recent statistics do not leave room for any doubt: the current level of cyberthreat is higher than ever, and all businesses are at constant risk.

Check Point Research revealed that in the third quarter of 2022 global attacks increased by 28% compared to the same period in 2021, and that the number of average weekly attacks per organisation worldwide reached over 1130.

Purplesec announced that by 2025 cybercrimes will cost $10.5 trillion annually. Currently, an average malware attack costs a company over $2.5 million.

Every day, bad actors become more skilled and are coming up with always more sophisticated methods to steal money and data. Information security risk assessment is a good way to prevent them from attacking your business.

What is information security risk assessment?

Information security risk assessment allows you to understand your organisation’s security posture, the risks it is facing every day and the ways of preventing any attacks from happening. It helps you establish which information and systems within your business are most vulnerable, and what is the estimated cost of a potential attack or of a system that goes down.

As indispensable in creating a safe and sound IT environment, IT security risk assessments should be conducted regularly (for example once a year or every six month) and at times of major changes within your organisation (when you introduce new technologies, merge or re-organise your company).

What is an ISO 27001 risk assessment?

IT security risk assessment is such a crucial part of every organisation’s security posture, that some security frameworks became mandatory. One of them is ISO/IEC27001 – an international standard on how to manage information security. Published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2005, it contains security requirements and best practices for the successful information security management system (ISMS), helping organisations around the world to keep their assets secured. Risk assessment is a very important part of it.

Another good framework that helps organisations better manage their cybersecurity risks and protect their data is NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Cybersecurity Framework. While IOS 27001 is mandatory, NIST CFS is voluntary.

What are the major risk factors in information security?

According to Deloitte, there are three main risk factors that can impact security risk management:

• Employee data, which should be safeguarded in the same way as customer data,
• Technology adoption, which is often done too quickly and not securely enough,
• Organisational culture, which should always reflect the values of the company.

All of them should be taken into consideration when creating a successful cybersecurity risk assessment.

How to perform a successful IT risk assessment

There are five steps needed to perform a successful IT risk assessment:

1. Determine the scope and get everyone on board

To start, you need to know your scope. The goal will rarely be the security assessment of the entire organisation – more likely you will be keen to divide the task into smaller chunks, like checking the security of a particular part of the company, a specific location, or an app that you are developing.

Once you know the scope, it is crucial to get all the people involved on board. They should be aware of the importance of such an assessment and should know the steps needed to get it done.

2. Identify your risks: security threats and vulnerabilities

When it comes to identifying your risks, it is crucial to start with mapping your assets. Otherwise, it will be difficult to know how to protect them. Create an inventory of assets, establishing which of them are most important.

Now it’s the time to identify the actual threats: ways cybercriminals can cause harm to your most important assets. To do that, you can use some knowledge bases of tactics and techniques used by cybercriminals and based on real-work observation, like MITRE ATT&CK.

3. Analyse the risks

Once you know what kind of threats your organisation is facing, you need to consider the likelihood of them happening and their consequences.

4. Evaluate the risk

Already know which risks are most likely to happen? See how you can mitigate them by creating a risk management plan. There are three things you can do to mitigate your risks:

• avoid doing the risky activity,
• share some of the security responsibilities with a third party,
• implement new security methods to reduce the likelihood of those risks happening.

5. Document

The last task which should always be a part of every IT security risk assessment is the documentation of all identified risks in a risk register. Such a document should be reviewed and updated regularly, so that it constitutes the most current database of risks your organisation is facing every day.

Choosing the right partner

Conducting a cybersecurity risk assessment is a time-consuming and complex task, yet it is one of the most important ones to be done regularly. The lack of it may result in financial and reputational loses, which are extremely difficult to make up for.

If your organisation does not have enough resources allocated to the risk assessments, it is best to consult your situation with experienced cybersecurity partners that can help you kick-start the process and improve your security posture as soon as possible.

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Penetration Test: the first line of cyber defense

Penetration test, also known as pen tests, is a simulated, authorised and controlled cyberattack, needed to evaluate the security of an IT infrastructure and various apps. Performed by cybersecurity specialists who use the same tools as hackers, it is an indispensable way to get to know vulnerabilities in the system or in an app and address them before they get exploited by actual criminals.

To give you an example, pen testing is like asking someone to dress as a burglar, cover their face and try to get into your home when you are out, so that you can learn whether your locks are really as effective as you imagine them to be or if your alarm works the way it should. If not, you can change them or add some additional protection, and greatly improve your security.

A look back: the evolution of Penetration Tests

Penetration testing has evolved significantly over the years as organisations strive to strengthen their cybersecurity defences.

In the early days of penetration testing (pre-2000), the focus was primarily on testing network security. Penetration testers would manually identify vulnerabilities and attempt to exploit them to gain unauthorised access. This involved techniques like network scanning, port scanning, and vulnerability scanning.

In the early 2000s, standardised methodologies for penetration testing started to emerge. Frameworks like Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM) and Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) provided structured approaches to conducting penetration tests. These methodologies emphasised the importance of comprehensive testing, including network, application, and physical security.

In the mid-2000s, with the rise of web applications and their increasing vulnerabilities, penetration testing began to focus more on application security. Testers shifted their attention to identifying vulnerabilities in web applications, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and insecure session management. This led to the development of specialised tools and techniques for web application penetration testing.

Late 2000s was marked by automation and tool development. As the complexity of systems increased, penetration testers started leveraging automated tools to streamline the testing process. Tools like Metasploit, Nessus, and Burp Suite became widely used, enabling testers to automate vulnerability scanning, exploit execution, and reporting. While automation improved efficiency, manual testing and analysis remained essential for uncovering sophisticated vulnerabilities.

In recent years, the focus has shifted towards continuous testing and integration of security practices into the DevOps pipeline (DevSecOps). Penetration testing is no longer a one-time event but an ongoing process integrated into the security development lifecycle. Automated security testing tools, code reviews, and security testing as part of continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines help identify vulnerabilities early and enable faster remediation. 

With the growth of cloud computing and Internet of Things, penetration testing expanded to cover the unique challenges associated with these environments. Testers assess the security of cloud infrastructure, containers, serverless architectures, and IoT devices, identifying vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that could expose organizations to risk. 

Throughout its evolution, penetration testing in security has become more comprehensive, proactive, and sophisticated. It has moved beyond a reactive approach to a proactive and continuous security assessment practice, helping organisations identify weaknesses, improve defenses, and stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. 

Diving into the details: the mechanics of pentesting

As a systematic process of assessing the security of computer systems, networks, or applications to identify vulnerabilities and potential security risks, pentesting involves several key steps, which can vary depending on the scope and objectives of the engagement.

The hacker’s mindset: simulating cyber attacks

The mechanics of pentesting require a combination of technical skills, deep knowledge of security vulnerabilities and exploitation techniques, and the ability to think like a hacker to identify vulnerabilities, test defenses, and evaluate an organisation’s security posture. This process aims to uncover potential weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them, so having hacker’s mindset is one of the key elements of the job.

How does penetration testing work: stages of penetration testing

Here is an overview of the typical mechanics involved in a penetration test:

1. Planning and scoping

   This initial phase involves defining the scope and objectives of the pentest. The pentester works closely with the client to understand their specific requirements, identify target systems or applications, and determine the rules of engagement, including any limitations or restrictions.

2. Reconnaissance

   In this phase, the pentester gathers information about the target systems or applications. This can involve passive reconnaissance, which includes collecting publicly available information, or active reconnaissance, which includes activities like network scanning, port scanning, or fingerprinting to identify potential entry points.

3. Vulnerability scanning and enumeration

   The pentester uses automated tools or manual techniques to identify vulnerabilities in the target systems or applications. This typically involves vulnerability scanning tools, network mapping, service enumeration, and identifying weak configurations or software flaws.

4. Exploitation

   In this phase, the pentester attempts to exploit the computer system weknesses to gain unauthorised access or escalate privileges. They may use various techniques, such as exploiting known vulnerabilities, conducting privilege escalation, or executing remote code.

5. Post-exploitation and lateral movement

   Once initial access is gained, the pentester explores the target environment to move laterally and gain further access. They may attempt to pivot across different systems, escalate privileges, and maintain persistence within the target network or application.

6. Data exfiltration or impact assessment

   Depending on the objectives of the pentest, the pentester may attempt to extract sensitive data to demonstrate the impact of a successful attack or assess the potential consequences of a breach. This step helps highlight the potential risks and their business impact.

7. Reporting and documenting

   After the testing phase, the pentester prepares a comprehensive report that includes detailed findings, identified vulnerabilities, and recommended remediation measures. The report typically includes an executive summary, technical details, risk ratings, and actionable recommendations to improve the security posture.

8. Remediation and retestingFollowing the penetration test, the client addresses the identified vulnerabilities based on the recommendations provided in the report. The pentester may perform a retest to verify that the reported vulnerabilities have been successfully remediated.

Strategies for penetration tests

When it comes to strategies used by penetration testers, the most common ones include:

Internal penetration test

Statistics show that the most dangerous cybercriminals are employees. Internal tests mimic an insider attack conducted by a user with access privileges and allow to assess the scale of damage an employee who decides to attack your system may do.

External penetration test

External testing allows to estimate how far an external attacker can get by attacking servers and devices exposed in public network by an organisation.

Blind penetration test

Blind tests mean tests conducted by people who have no prior knowledge of the company and its security systems. Very often the only information they get is the name of the organisation they are testing, which allow them to behave the way cybercriminals do.

Double blind penetration test

Double blind tests are blind tests taken to the next level. They mean that the pen testers do not have any information on the company they are assessing and that only a limited number of people within the organisation (often just one or two) know about the test.

Types of penetration testing and examples

Penetration testing encompasses various types that focus on different aspects of an organisation’s security. Here are some common types of penetration testing along with examples:

External network penetration testing

External network penetration testing means assessing the security of the organisation’s externally facing network infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by simulated attack. Good examples are conducting port scanning, vulnerability scanning, and attempting to exploit weak configurations or outdated software.

Internal network penetration testing

Internal network penetration testing means evaluating the security of internal networks to identify potential risks arising from compromised internal systems or unauthorised access. Examples here are attempting to escalate privileges, move laterally across network segments, and gain access to sensitive resources

Social engineering testing

Social engineering testing can be split in two:

• Phishing, meaning simulating phishing attacks to assess the organisation’s vulnerability to email-based social engineering. Examples are sending deceptive emails to employees, attempting to trick them into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.

• Pretexting, meaning using false pretenses or impersonation to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information. Examples are posing as a trusted authority or service provider to gain access to sensitive data or systems.

Physical penetration testing

Physical Penetration Testing can be split in two:

• Physical access testing, meaning evaluating the physical security controls of an organisation’s premises, including buildings, data centres, or secure areas. Examples here are attempting unauthorised entry, bypassing physical access controls, or tampering with physical security devices.

• Tailgating testing, which means assessing the organisation’s vulnerability to unauthorised individuals gaining access by following authorised personnel. Examples are attempting to enter secure areas by closely following an authorised employee without proper authentication.

Wireless penetration testing

Wireless penetration testing means:

• Wi-Fi network testing – assessing the security of wireless networks, including Wi-Fi networks, to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by unauthorised users. Examples are attempting to bypass encryption, crack weak passwords, or perform man-in-the-middle attacks on wireless communications.

• Bluetooth testing – evaluating the security of Bluetooth-enabled devices and networks, identifying potential vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorised access or data leakage. Good examples are assessing the pairing process, analysing Bluetooth communications for security weaknesses, and attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in Bluetooth implementations.

Application penetration testing

Application penetration testing, also known as application security testing or app pen testing, is a type of security assessment that focuses specifically on identifying vulnerabilities in software applications. It involves testing the security of web applications, mobile applications, or other types of software to identify potential weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.

The importance of penetration testing in today’s digital age

Penetration testing is of paramount importance for businesses in today’s digital age as it:

1. Identifies vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, and applications. It provides organisations with insights into potential security weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. By proactively identifying vulnerabilities, companies can take appropriate measures to mitigate risks and enhance their overall security posture.

2. Simulates real-world cyber attacks, providing a realistic assessment of an organisation’s security defences. It allows companies to understand how their systems and networks would withstand various attack scenarios, which enables them to identify gaps in their security controls, refine incident response processes, and strengthen their defences accordingly.

3. Protects sensitive data by uncovering vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorised access, data exfiltration, or manipulation of sensitive information. By identifying these weaknesses, organisations can implement measures to protect their data and maintain the trust of their customers and stakeholders.

4. Helps organisations demonstrate compliance with legal requirements by conducting regular assessments of their security controls. It provides evidence of due diligence and proactive efforts to protect sensitive information, which is crucial in meeting regulatory obligations.

5. Increases incident response preparedness which helps identify areas for improvement, optimise incident response plans, and enhance the organisation’s overall resilience against cyber threats.

6. Gives third-party assurance by assessing the security of these external entities and validating their security controls. This helps ensure that third parties are adequately protecting sensitive data and mitigating security risks that could impact the organisation.

7. Allows for proactive risk management. By identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses before they are exploited by malicious actors, organisations can prioritise and allocate resources to address the most critical security risks. This proactive approach reduces the likelihood of successful cyber attacks and minimises potential financial and reputational damages.

8. Increases security awareness. Penetration testing serves as an educational tool to raise security awareness among employees. It highlights the real-world consequences of security vulnerabilities and encourages a security-conscious culture within the organization. By experiencing simulated attacks, employees become more vigilant and better equipped to identify and report potential security incidents.

In today’s interconnected and rapidly evolving digital landscape, organisations must be proactive in identifying and mitigating security risks. Penetration testing provides a critical mechanism to assess the effectiveness of security controls, protect sensitive data, and strengthen an organisation’s overall cyber security defences.

Penetration testers: who should perform pen tests?

As important cybersecurity tests that are vital to the safety of the organisation, pen tests should be performed by a testing team, composed of experienced and skilled IT and cyber security professionals.

Pentesters start with getting to know the organisation they are about to assess and the systems used, they then conduct the tests and check the organisation’s security posture by using exactly the same tools as hackers. Finally, they come up with a list of vulnerabilities, problems and the ways to address them to achieve the best possible level of security.

How often should you conduct pen tests?

The cyberworld keeps evolving and cybercriminals are coming up with new ways of attacking every day. This is why it is of paramount importance to conduct pen tests on regular basis, making sure no new viruses or malicious strategies will compromise the safety of your organisation, its data and money.

The best approach is to do pen tests every time there is a substantial change of the app or the infrastructure. But pen tests are crucial even if there are no changes – in such cases it’s best to perform them at least annually to check if the updates process is working fine and whether there are no new vulnerabilities, born as a result of new techniques used by cybercriminals.

How much does penetration testing cost?

The cost of penetration testing can vary widely depending on several factors, including the scope of the engagement, the complexity of the systems being tested, the level of expertise required, and the reputation and location of the testing service provider. Some key factors that influence the cost of penetration testing include:

1. Scope and objectives

   A larger and more complex infrastructure will require more time and resources to thoroughly assess, resulting in higher costs.

2. Testing frequency

   Organisations that conduct regular testing as part of their security program may negotiate a contract for recurring engagements, which could provide cost savings compared to one-time engagements.

3. Depth of testing

   Deeper testing that involves more manual efforts and sophisticated attack simulations may require higher expertise and resources, leading to increased costs.

4. Skill and expertise level

   Highly skilled professionals with specialised knowledge and certifications often come at a premium cost compared to less experienced testers.

5. Reporting and documentation

   A comprehensive report that includes detailed findings, risk assessments, and actionable recommendations may require more time and effort to produce, resulting in higher costs.

6. Additional services

   Some penetration testing service providers may offer additional services, such as retesting after remediation, follow-up assessments, or specialized compliance testing. These additional services may incur additional costs.

It’s important to note that cost should not be the sole determining factor when selecting a penetration testing service. The quality and expertise of the testing team, the depth of testing provided, and the reputation of the service provider should also be considered.

To get an accurate cost estimate for penetration testing, it is recommended to reach out to reputable service providers, share the specific requirements and objectives of the engagement, and request a detailed proposal that outlines the scope, approach, deliverables, and associated costs. This will help you understand the specific cost implications based on their unique needs.

Ethical considerations in penetration testing

Ethical considerations play a crucial role in conducting penetration testing to ensure that the assessment is conducted responsibly and with respect for legal and ethical boundaries.

Simulated attack should only be conducted with the explicit consent and authorisation of the organisation or system owner. Engagements should be formally documented through legal agreements or contracts that outline the scope, objectives, and rules of engagement. The process must adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards. Testers should ensure they are not violating any laws or regulations during the assessment, including unauthorised access, data privacy, or intellectual property rights.

Clear boundaries and limitations should be defined and communicated to both the testing team and the organisation, and penetration tester should handle and protect any sensitive data encountered during the assessment with utmost care. What’s more, pentesters should minimise the impact on the target systems or networks. The testing activities should be designed to avoid disruption of normal business operations, unintentional damage, or interference with critical systems.

Pen testers have a responsibility to provide clear and comprehensive reporting of their findings, including vulnerabilities, risks, and recommended remediation measures. They should adhere to high professional standards, act with integrity throughout the engagement and continuously update their knowledge and skills to keep pace with evolving threats and technologies.

Potential challenges and risks in penetration testing

Penetration testing, like any security assessment, carries certain challenges and risks that need to be considered. Understanding these challenges helps organisations and penetration testing teams mitigate potential risks and ensure a successful engagement. Some common challenges and risks associated with penetration testing include:

1. Impact on production systems

   The testing activities, if not properly controlled, may inadvertently cause disruptions or impact the availability of production systems. The testing team should take precautions to minimise any potential negative effects on critical business operations.

2. False positives and negatives

   Pen test may produce false positives (indicating vulnerabilities that do not exist) or false negatives (missing actual vulnerabilities). The testing team should carefully analyse and validate findings to avoid reporting inaccurate results, which can waste time and resources.

3. Confidentiality and data protection

   During the testing process, the penetration testers may come across sensitive information or confidential data. It is crucial to handle such information with utmost care and ensure its protection and confidentiality throughout the engagement.

4. Unauthorised access

   If not properly managed, pen testing activities can unintentionally lead to unauthorised access or unintended consequences. Testers should follow strict rules of engagement and have explicit authorisation to avoid legal or ethical violations.

5. Impact on third parties

   Testing activities may inadvertently affect third-party systems or networks connected to the target environment. Care should be taken to minimise any impact on systems outside the defined scope and ensure proper consent and coordination with relevant stakeholders.

6. Regulatory compliance

   Penetration testing services should align with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Organisations must ensure that their engagement with penetration testing teams complies with relevant laws, data protection regulations, and industry-specific compliance requirements.

7. Lack of coordination

   In larger organisations, coordination and communication between the penetration testing team and internal stakeholders may present challenges. Effective coordination and clear lines of communication are essential to ensure the testing aligns with business objectives and security needs.

8. Human error and bias

   Penetration testing services are conducted by humans who are susceptible to errors, biases, or subjective judgments. Penetration testing company should be diligent in their assessments, follow established methodologies, and have regular quality assurance processes in place to minimise the impact of human factors.

Addressing these challenges and risks requires careful planning, clear communication, and collaboration between the organisation and the penetration testing team. It is essential to establish proper rules of engagement, define objectives and limitations, and maintain open lines of communication throughout the engagement to ensure a successful and effective penetration testing exercise.

Future trends and evolution of penetration testing

The field of authorized simulated attacks is constantly evolving to keep pace with emerging technologies, evolving threat landscapes, and changing security requirements. Here are some future trends and potential areas of evolution in the field of penetration testing:

• Cloud-based penetration testing: as organisations increasingly adopt cloud computing, there is a growing need for penetration testing specific to cloud environments. Penetration testers will need to develop expertise in assessing the security of cloud platforms, infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings.

• Internet of Things (IoT) penetration testing: with the proliferation of IoT devices, there will be an increasing demand for penetration testing focused on securing these interconnected devices. Penetration testers will need to understand the unique challenges of assessing IoT device security, including firmware vulnerabilities, communication protocols, and the potential impact of compromised IoT devices on overall network security.

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in penetration testing: the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies into penetration testing tools and methodologies will enhance automation, improve vulnerability detection, and assist in identifying patterns and anomalies in network behaviour. AI/ML-powered tools can help testers analyse vast amounts of data and adapt to evolving attack techniques.

• DevSecOps and continuous penetration testing: the shift towards DevSecOps practices emphasises integrating security into the development and deployment process. Penetration testing will increasingly become part of the continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline, enabling organisations to identify and remediate vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle.

• Red team operations and adversary simulations: red team operations, which simulate real-world attacks, will become more sophisticated and comprehensive. Organisations will focus on adversary simulations to assess their detection and response capabilities against advanced persistent threats (APTs) and sophisticated attack scenarios.

• Deepfake and voice biometrics testing: the rise of deepfake technology and the use of voice biometrics pose new challenges for security. Penetration testers will need to explore techniques to assess the security of voice authentication systems, detect deepfake audio, and identify vulnerabilities in voice recognition technologies.

• Physical security testing: penetration testing will extend beyond digital systems to include physical security assessments. Organisations will conduct tests to evaluate physical access controls, surveillance systems, and social engineering vulnerabilities at physical locations.

• Compliance-driven penetration testing: with the increasing emphasis on regulatory compliance, penetration testing will need to align with specific industry standards and compliance frameworks. Testers will incorporate specific compliance requirements into their assessments and provide organizations with assurance of compliance.

• Bug bounty programs: organisations will continue to leverage crowdsourced security through bug bounty programs. These programs incentivise ethical hackers to identify misconfigurations and provide organisations with an ongoing source of external security testing.

• Ethical considerations and responsible testing: the ethical hacking (and legal considerations in penetration testing( will become even more critical. Testers will need to adhere to strict code of ethics, respect privacy, and ensure that testing activities do not cause harm to systems or violate legal boundaries.

Overall, penetration testing will evolve to meet the changing landscape of technology and security flaws. It will become more specialised, integrated into development processes, and encompass a wider range of testing scenarios to ensure comprehensive security assessments. Continuous learning, keeping up with emerging technologies, and staying abreast of evolving attack techniques will be essential for penetration testers to provide effective and valuable security assessments in the future.

The advent of automated pen testing

Automation is the new gold. Automated penetration testing tools can significantly enhance efficiency, scalability, and coverage in security assessments. They can help organisations identify common security holes and streamline certain aspects of testing. However, they are most effective when integrated into a comprehensive testing program that combines automated scanning with manual expertise, analysis, and validation. A balanced approach leveraging both manual and automated testing ensures a thorough and accurate assessment of an organisation’s security posture.

Closing thoughts: the enduring necessity of penetration tests

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the enduring necessity of penetration testing cannot be overstated. As organisations increasingly rely on technology to conduct their business operations, the potential risks and consequences of cyber attacks continue to grow. Penetration testing provides a vital mechanism for organisations to proactively assess their IT system’s security and mitigate risks before malicious actors exploit them.

It is vital though to recognise that penetration testing is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. The evolving nature of technology and the ever-changing threat landscape necessitate regular assessments to keep up with emerging risks. Organisations should consider incorporating penetration testing into their overall security strategy, ensuring that it becomes a recurring practice alongside other security measures such as security vulnerability management, security awareness training, and incident response planning.

Additionally, engaging experienced and reputable penetration testing professionals is crucial. Their expertise, knowledge of the latest attack techniques, and adherence to ethical guidelines ensure that testing is conducted responsibly, without causing harm or disruption to systems or violating legal boundaries.

If you are keen to get advice from specialists in all kinds of penetration testing services, do get in touch. Our experienced team of experts will be happy to help!

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DevOps is a portmanteau of the words development and operations. It is used to combine the philosophies, tools and practices of both in order to expand an organisation’s efficiency, speed and security when it comes to software development.

These processes afford businesses the advantage of a greater speed and more nimble development process so that they are able to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors, and serve their customers more effectively in the market.

Adopting a DevOps strategy means that an organisation is taking steps to improve the flow and value delivery of their product through a fully collaborative environment throughout the development cycle.

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10 best practices for DevOps security

DevOps security can be a major area of concern for businesses. Known as DevSecOps, there is an increasing drive towards adopting security-focused DevOps, whose aim is to reduce vulnerabilities in software, identify problem areas before they occur and reinforce the system.

It is ever more difficult to ensure DevOps security with applications, with companies often facing a common set of challenges. In order to address these, businesses follow the following DevSecOps best practices.

Build a DevSecOps mindset

Embedding a DevOps security mindset within the organisation is key to achieving long-term success. Begin with a dedicated team of security-focused individuals and continue to build until that philosophy is present within all areas of the business so that it is ingrained in everything that you do.

• The key to DevSecOps success is to foster that mindset by operating in iterations until it is a company-wide practice.

Automate tools and processes

DevOps is inherently focused on automation, so continuing this on with your security tools is the logical next step. Automation of security practices ensures that they are consistent and reliable, allowing you to identify any erroneous activity that pops up.

• Take account of which security practices can be automated and work to develop as many of these as possible to optimise your systems.

Take on security and quality issues together

It is often the case that security and quality are treated as two separate entities. However, this is not always the best approach as it leads to solutions that are mutually exclusive and don’t address both problems together. By taking simple steps such as maintaining quality and security findings in the same place, both teams are able to work with both types of issues which will increase the security and quality of the process or tool with equal importance.

• This enables organisations to develop more comprehensive solutions which are secure and of good quality.

Build security in from the beginning

Building security measures in from the very beginning can be tricky but is certainly the best way to ensure a secure operation. Beginning even before a single line of code has been written, security activities such as architecture reviews and threat modelling help set the necessary security standards for a project that need to be implemented during the software development cycle.

• By training your teams to identify and build security measures in from before the main project even starts is a tried and tested method used to fix security issues and creates awareness within the company itself.

Identify the ‘when’ before the ‘how’

When beginning their DevSecOps, it is natural for companies to get first drawn into thinking about which security activities are needed, which tools to buy and so on.

• However, it’s important not to run before you can walk, so it’s crucial that we first think about when to implement these security measures, and only then think about how.

Start small to make security manageable

When companies begin their DevSecOps, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed and not see the wood through the trees. Development teams can suddenly be inundated with the security vulnerabilities they have identified and feel the need to address them all at once (which is next to impossible), triggering a potential reluctance to fix security issues.

• Therefore, it is crucial to begin small and start early. Start with tiny, manageable security tasks that gradually increase in scope over time.

Collect success metrics

It is really important to have systems in place to collect information about the success (or failure) of your DevSecOps at every stage.

• This information will guide you in creating metrics to optimise your operations, highlighting key areas that are working and should be continued and areas that need development and need more focus.

Schedule in manual tasks

Although it is possible to automate many DevSecOps, there will inevitably be certain types of security activities that just need to be done manually. It is really important to factor in these activities at regular intervals and not shy away from them.

• This helps to balance the timeline of the automated processes and creates a better system overall.

Automate governance models

Governance models are traditionally incompatible with the fundamental goals of DevSecOps – to be quick, safe and to deliver secure software.

• Therefore, it is important to try and automate governance activities where possible, along with security testing.

Learn from any mistakes

DevSecOps are iterative, meaning there are always opportunities to reflect on the success of an operation and develop it further. Learning from our failures is important in all walks of life and that is never truer than when tackling software security.

• Creating a good, well-informed feedback loop helps to optimise all tools and processes and ultimately, reduce the chance of failure.

How to implement DevOps security best practices?

The key to implementing best practices for DevOps security in the workplace is to adopt a bottom-up approach. Don’t start off too hot and bite off more than you can chew. Assign a small team of dedicated DevSecOps personnel who understand and embody a security-focused mindset, and have them start to implement security into the design and build of your applications.

Create comprehensive feedback and development channels to ensure that you are constantly reviewing the effectiveness of your systems and optimising them. Soon enough, your DevOps will evolve to DevSecOps and your organisation will benefit hugely.

Conclusion

The importance of DevOps security best practices and why you should start implementing them today. The future of DevOps is bright. Transforming your company to a DevSecOps-focused enterprise is no small matter. It comes with challenges, trials and tribulations that would understandably make any reasonable director think twice.

Your company’s security is paramount, and it takes time to set up all the tools and processes to make that happen, so don’t delay, set up today and you will be enjoying the fruits of your labour in no time!

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However, if you work with large amounts of sensitive data, operate in healthcare or finance, or if you’re planning to expand into international markets — hiring a dedicated security consultant should happen sooner rather than later.  

What are the benefits of hiring a software security consultant?  

There are 4 main advantages that cross my mind immediately:  

• Unbiased perspective
  
  No matter how well you know your business, in order to solve certain problems, you may need to stop circling around the same old ideas. An external consultant, regardless of his or her fields of expertise, will bring a fresh set of eyes to the table. No insider who is already familiar with your project could have the same level of objectivity and neutrality. 
  
  
• Broad experience
  
  Experience handling various security issues (whether they are the same, similar, or even totally different issues) gives any expert invaluable knowledge and insight that only works to the benefit of their clients. Because this experience could help them find a solution that you would never have thought of yourself or notice problems that you would have easily overlooked or simply marked as harmless.  
  
  
• Up-to-date knowledge
  
  Security requirements are constantly changing and have to be carefully monitored — especially when your business is not limited to one country only. A dedicated consultant will keep their finger on the pulse of your compliance requirements, making sure that you follow any relevant laws and regulations.  

• Full-time focus
  
  A software security consultant won’t be distracted by any other tasks, as their sole responsibility revolves around one aspect of product development only. They lighten the workload (and also a lot of pressure!) for an IT team, freeing up internal resources and allowing them to focus on the things that they’re best at. 
  

So, let’s see what security consultants usually do once hired.  

What are the responsibilities of a security consultant? 

There are 7 main tasks that they are responsible for:  

• Looking for weaknesses 
  
  Any existing piece of software requires an evaluation of its weaknesses in order to detect and also prevent potential threats early on. And this is more of a continuous process than a one time thing.  
  

• Recommendations and cost estimations
  
  Once any analysis has been made, it is always followed by certain recommendations as well as specific cost estimates. This way, you know exactly how to address your security issues and how big of an investment it is going to be.  
  

• Testing cybersecurity measures
  
  Every implemented solution should be thoroughly tested, from different angles, and with varying degrees of force.  
  
  
• Building better defence systems
  
  In case your legacy solution doesn’t work as it should, even after important modifications have been made, a security consultant will design and implement a better one.  
  
  
• Keeping systems up-to-date and in compliance
  
  Every system — whether old or brand new — should meet the latest security standards and regulations. Plus, any changes in the law should be constantly monitored, so that a company is already prepared whenever a relevant amendment goes into effect. 
  
  
• Dealing with everyday security tasks
  
  This may include: managing networks, installing and configuring firewalls, sharing knowledge with other team members, interviewing employees to better understand security issues, educating C-level managers, preparing security guidelines, and providing regular reports, etc.  
  
  
• Responding to security emergencies
  
  Any sudden and critical incidents should be addressed immediately and nipped in the bud, so that they won’t develop into something which could negatively affect your business.  

5 things to consider when hiring a security consultant 

If you want to hire an external security consultant — whether it’s a freelance specialist or a bigger IT partner with their own security experts on board — there are a few things that you should take into consideration.  

1. Project-specific requirements 
   
   First, you have to know what you really need because security in general is a pretty broad topic that can be divided into several categories, such as: cloud security, secure DevOps, penetration testing, data loss prevention, access control and cryptography, network defence, operations security, and so on. Some experts and companies are more specialised in their areas of expertise, while others may be able to cover every aspect of security that you can think of. Prepare a list of your requirements before you start searching for consultation services. 
   

2. Expertise and experience
   
   Once you’re clear on your expectations, you can start checking out the expertise of your security consultant candidates. They should also be able to demonstrate experience in the necessary fields, followed by actual examples of their work.  
   

3. Verified record
   
   It would be great if you could contact their clients and verify the information that they put in their portfolio. Ask about their level of satisfaction with the services that were provided, and see how hiring an external consultant has changed the way they operate. This will give you a taste of what your cooperation may look like, and the results that you can expect. 
   

4. Ability to train employees
   
   A software security consultant should have both hard and soft skills and also be able to pass their knowledge onto other employees, helping them become more aware of security issues in general (especially if some of them work remotely). The educational aspect is one of the most critical ones, because humans are usually the weakest link in cybersecurity.  

5. Willingness to learn
   
   If, during the interview, you get the impression that your potential IT partner is trying to convince you that they are totally infallible — beware! Being humble, passionate about security, and having the willingness to learn is much more important than self-righteousness, especially since the latter doesn’t usually reflect ability. 

Security is king and so is your approach 

Realising the significance of cybersecurity is the first step on the road to success. The second (and actually never-ending) step is about taking the adequate measures to handle your security issues, which may include hiring external help or carefully delegating security tasks to the most qualified specialists within your organisation.  

If you have any questions or need assistance in this area, don’t hesitate to contact us.  

These days, there are quite literally billions of devices from which we can collect data.

As companies from all corners of the world make the step towards cloud computing and create their own digital transformation strategies, they are able to study Big Data available from the enormous number of IP-equipped endpoints to identify the hidden trends within.

This can benefit companies by allowing them to improve certain aspects of their business, such as customer satisfaction, swifter service delivery and higher revenues.

With all the advanced architectures that are being created to store Big Data, the threat of greater criminal activity rises.

Digital threats such as malware pose a very real risk to companies seeking to protect their information. These threats can be devastating to an organisation and cause it irreparable harm.

Many of the tools associated with smart analytics and Big Data are open source and not necessarily created with security as the number one concern, which poses big problems.

Software security is extremely important and many companies who have made the digital leap are now reaching out to consultants to stiffen up their defences in anticipation of these very real risks.

7 Big Data security issues

We all know Big Data presents some unique security challenges. Let’s look at seven main ones to understand the complexity of this issue.

1. Data storage

Cloud data storage comes with risks and security issues that need to be carefully considered. Making any type of mistake when it comes to storing data in the appropriate location can be absolutely critical for companies, so this is an issue that needs to be looked at very carefully to avoid the data being taken.

In Big Data architecture, it is common practice for companies to take a ‘multi-layered’ approach in which they use a range of locations according to the type of data they want to store, depending how ‘sensitive’ or critical it is.

Although cloud data storage can increase the speed and performance of a company’s systems, without a cyber security expert there is a risk of threats. Therefore, not all data should be stored in the cloud.

A multi-layered approach involves storing normal, everyday data safely in the cloud, but keeping the most sensitive, ‘hot’ data away from the cloud on isolated infrastructure such as flash media.

However, this does come with the cost of slower systems and processes.

You may be interested in:

• Cloud security: risks, challenges and what you can expect

• Cloud Security architecture: which model is best for security?

• The complete guide to cloud security management

2. Data management

Security breaches can be devastating to organisations and may have enormous consequences as they leave them vulnerable and compromised.

It is therefore absolutely critical that businesses maintain highly secured databases so that they can ensure the security of their data as much as possible.

Companies must implement rigorous security practices and follow comprehensive software-based security measures in order to safeguard their data.

Such practices could involve using data encryption, implementing a secure on-site server, data segmentation and so on. It is also important that businesses make use of tools which monitor data sharing and notify them when any data has been compromised.

Find out more about how to use data to grow your business:

• How Data Science helps businesses?

• Business Intelligence: unlock the potential of your data and put it to use

• Creating a data-driven culture: a roadmap for organizational transformation

3. Data access control

Controlling data access can be very tricky with Big Data.

This is because one of the biggest components involved in creating functional Big Data environments is granular access control, which involves granting different users individual levels of access to the database and its information.

While at first glance this compartmentalisation comes across as more secure, it can come at a cost.

As companies utilise larger and larger data sets, this granular access can actually become very complex when huge numbers of people have different levels of access to the systems. When there is just a small team of staff, it is easy to keep track of who has access to what information.

However, as this grows, companies open themselves to greater risks of information theft or leaks, with reduced visibility of who is responsible.

In addition, this granular access can limit key people from getting the full set of data they require to do their task properly, and can significantly slow down efficiency.

Actificent needed a partner with knowledge in different areas for a low-risk relationship in an early stage of their project when technologies were not yet fully decided.

We created a microservice that can cater for up to 30,000 events per minute, such as tagging, accessing, or downloading a file, based on a massive stream of data from Apache Kafka.

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4. Fake data

If cybercriminals gain access to your database, they are able to create ‘fake data’ and store it within your system. This poses a big threat to businesses as it causes them to waste precious time and resources identifying and eliminating this fake data that could be better spent on other areas of their business.

If not identified as fake, these ‘false flags’ can cause companies to take unnecessary actions that are not needed, which can result in lowering production and spending money to fix issues that don’t actually exist.

Many organisations try to avoid this issue by relying on real-time data analytics or the IoT (Internet of Things) which help them to limit access to fake information and alert them of its presence using machine learning models which are designed to identify anomalies in their data.

5. Data privacy

Keeping data private in the modern digital word can be really difficult.

Personal and sensitive information needs to be rigorously safeguarded from cyberattacks, data loss (be it intentional or otherwise) and breaches. In order to combat this, organisations must follow strict data privacy processes in conjunction with cybersecurity and Big Data security tools.

In order to best protect sensitive data, businesses should know their data and aim to have a full grasp of all data stores, backups and networks.

It is crucial that they protect their systems as best they can against unauthorised access by carrying out frequent risk assessments and training key staff members on the importance and practicalities of data privacy and security.

6. Distributed framework vulnerabilities

In order to get full utilisation of Big Data, companies need to distribute their data analytics across multiple systems.

This helps companies to analyse Big Data on many systems simultaneously. This offers huge benefits as it results in faster analysis, but opens them up to greater risks due to the distributed frameworks. It also harms organisations as it takes them a lot longer to identify security breaches when they happen.

The CTO of Virsec, Satya Gutpa, stated:

7. Real-time security compliance

Real-time Big Data analytics tools have found their way into widespread usage in recent times and can be a powerful tool for a business, as they can create a huge amount of information that can be used to improve many systems and processes.

However, with this benefit comes the risk of opening up the company to greater security threats due to the volume of data involved.

Real-time security and compliance tools must be designed to not only recognise signs of data leaks and breaches, but also to identify ‘false positives’ that can lead to fake data.

If used well, they are extremely powerful appliances, but if not set up correctly, they leave themselves prone to abuse.

Benefits of Big Data Security

As we can see from the seven common Big Data security issues listed above, enterprises are right to take these potential problems very seriously indeed. The digital transformation is in full swing and nothing can change that, but it comes with a fresh set of security challenges that need to be overcome.

The main benefits associated with implementing robust Big Data security management include:

1. Data protection which helps maintain data confidentiality and ensures the integrity of the stored data.

2. Maintaining trust and reputation among customers, partners, and stakeholders.

3. Better regulatory compliance.

4. Preventing data breaches, crucial for avoiding the financial, legal, and reputational consequences associated with unauthorised access to sensitive information.

5. Risk mitigation which contributes to the overall resilience of the organisation.

6. Enhanced customer confidence which can lead to increased loyalty and positive relationships.

7. Business continuity and data integrity, achieved by preventing disruptions caused by security incidents.

8. Cost savings achieved by preventing data breaches and security incidents.

9. Improved operational efficiency by ensuring that only authorised individuals have access to specific data.

10. Early detection of anomalies which allows organisations to respond quickly and effectively to mitigate risks.

11. Competitive advantage.

    
    

Best practices in Big Data security management

To ensure the highest level of Big Data security organisations need to have a well-defined strategy that will allow them to achieve their goals.

Let’s look at some best practices that will help with that.

1. User access control

   Implementing strong access controls allows to restrict access to sensitive data. Using authentication mechanisms and role-based access controls helps ensuring that only authorised users can access specific data sets and perform certain operations.

2. Encryption

   Encryption of data both in transit and at rest safeguards information from unauthorised access during transmission between systems and while stored in databases or data lakes.

3. Network security

   Securing the network infrastructure supporting Big Data systems protect data during transmission.

4. Incident response plan

   Developing and regularly testing an incident response plan allows to address security incidents promptly. A well-defined plan helps minimise the impact of security breaches and facilitates a swift and coordinated response.

5. Employee training

   Educating employees about security best practices, the importance of safeguarding sensitive data, and the potential risks associated with data breaches is a critical component of overall security.

Regular audits: the key to continuous improvement in Big Data security

There are plenty of methods and tools to help companies combat Big Data security issues, and more and more are being developed as time goes on.

For businesses who are unsure of where they stand in this age of increasing digital security, there are guides for safe software development and services such as software audits that can help them get on the right track.

With the right tools, information and expertise, all these challenges brought up through Big Data usage and analysis can be dealt with effectively.

When these threats are brought under control, enterprises can finally use Big Data to help them thrive and really reach their potential for harnessing data to propel their companies to areas they could only dream of before!

Regular security audits play a crucial role in ensuring continuous improvement in Big Data security. Audits provide a systematic and thorough examination of security practices, policies, and controls, helping organisations identify vulnerabilities, assess risks, and implement necessary improvements.

Who is responsible for Big Data security in your organisation?

While it all depends on your specific situation and business, it’s always worth knowing who is responsible for Big Data Security in your organisation.

Key stakeholders who often play a role in Big Data security include:

• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), responsible for the overall information security strategy of the organisation,

• Data Security Officer, who focuses on the security of data assets,

• Chief Data Officer, responsible for managing and governing the organisation’s data assets,

• and Data Governance Team, responsible for establishing policies, standards, and processes related to data management, quality, and security.

Apart from them your team can also include IT Security Team, Big Data Administrators, Data Scientists and Analysts and Compliance and Privacy Officers. Your Big Data team and its composition will depend on the size of your organisation and on your needs, so when in doubts do get in touch with us.

At Future Processing we can help you at every stage of developing and implementing Big Data strategy, from consultations and workshops to implementation of the final solutions.

Need more details about the data solutions services?

Make the most of your information assets, apply innovative data solutions and take your organisation to the next level.

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However, staying connected also means having to handle personal security issues, since online threats are now more serious than ever. They require our constant attention and staying up-to-date with the latest safety recommendations.

Here’s what those safety recommendations look like today.

Top 9 internet safety rules

1. Do not reveal too much information

Oftentimes, people have no idea just how much information someone with evil intentions can gather from their social media posts alone. Your life situation, social status and job, your kids’ names and kindergarten/school addresses, travel plans, daily schedule, current location, likes and dislikes – all of these can be used to threaten you and your family both online and offline. So, it is crucial that you carefully go through all of the privacy settings within the social platforms that you use, refrain from revealing too much information about yourself in the first place, and keep your confidential information completely offline.

2. Choose strong passwords

Instead of using a lot of different passwords that consist of various characters – uppercase, lowercase, special characters and numbers, which is super difficult for users to remember and apparently easy for a computer to guess – you should use unique passphrases. The best passphrases should be as abstract as possible but still make sense to you, personally.

Just remember to use a unique passphrase in every important application. Plus, it’s recommended that you use a password manager to store your passwords – these apps will also help you verify the strength of your passwords.

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3. Keep your software updated

Your operating systems as well as your apps should always be updated to the latest versions, since developers are constantly monitoring emerging threats and releasing new security patches in case there are any product vulnerabilities. And if they ask you to reset your passwords – just make sure that it’s not a scam first (check the sender and the website where they want you to reset your passwords) and then do it immediately before you ask any questions that you may have, and not the other way around.

4. Backup your data

Did you know that each month 1 in 10 computers are infected with viruses and each year 70 million mobile phones are lost? Don’t be like those unfortunate 30% who lose all of their data because they only rely on one type of online (or offline) data storage only. Create a copy of all the files that are important to you and store them in at least two different, secure places. You may use external hard drives and other removable media, and/or cloud storage. It all depends on the size and kind of data that you have.

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5. Think before you click

No matter who sends you a link and how legitimate it may look – think twice before you click on it. Scammers can, for example, impersonate a financial advisor from your bank, or a delivery man when you’re waiting for a package. Even when a friend or a family member sends you a link, you should be careful, especially if you know that he/she doesn’t know much about online security threats – they may not even realise that they’re sending out phishing links, since they have already fallen victim to the scam themselves. The same rule applies to downloading files from unknown sources – always check the reliability of these websites and have your virus or spyware scanner turned on.

6. Secure your Wi-Fi

There are a few best practises that you can follow here:

• Update your router settings to WPA3 Personal or WPA Personal in order to encrypt your network (if you have an older type of router, consider replacing it with a newer one),
  
  
• Change the preset Wi-Fi network and admin passwords, so that only you know them (and always remember to log out as an admin once you’re done changing your router settings),
  
  
• Use the TLS protocol, which protects your sensitive data (including account passwords, browsing history and banking information),
  
  
• Set up a guest network – not only to protect your primary password, but also to protect your network from other, sometimes unsecured devices.

7. Use a VPN

Your Internet connection can be additionally secured with a VPN which shields your online activities from the prying eyes of cybercriminals. VPNs encrypt information and make connections private by using different IP addresses. This protects you while you are on other (e.g., public) networks. Working, learning, and simply having fun remotely then becomes much safer from any location, not only from your own home.

8. Set up two-factor authentication (2FA)

An additional layer of protection is great in case someone gets a password to one of your accounts. What does this look like in practice? Well, when you want to log in to your account, you need to provide two types of information, like a password plus a code that has been sent to your device. For example, when you want to send an ebook to your Kindle, even from a verified email address, you also have to click on the link that you get from Amazon and verify the request.

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9. Don’t use public networks or devices for online banking

Using a free public network is never really safe, but it’s totally OK for regular Internet browsing, like running a quick Google search or reading articles, etc. When you have to access your bank account or use your credit card to complete a purchase – well, it would be much safer and more secure if you would just wait until you get home.

Wrap-up

Even though following the rules above don’t guarantee that you will be 100% protected, they will significantly increase your online safety. These are also important in terms of the safety of your family, if you have one – such as your partner and kids, both in the online and offline world. The best thing to do is to educate yourself and your loved ones too, so that everyone is aware of today’s modern threats, and you can all use the Internet wisely.

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