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Risk Management
Cyber Defenses cyber resilience Cyber Security cybersecurity concerns CyberThreat Organization security Risk Management

Integrated Threat Management: A Unified Strategy for Modern Business Security

 

Organizations today face increasingly complex threats that span across digital, physical, and operational domains. With risks becoming more sophisticated and faster-moving, traditional siloed approaches to security are no longer effective. 

Companies now require a unified strategy to protect their assets and maintain resilience. Although the concept of “security convergence” gained traction years ago, many businesses struggled to truly integrate their physical and cyber defenses. Systems remained isolated, and threat response strategies often lacked coordination. 

As a result, organizations missed the opportunity to build enterprise-wide resilience. The need for a more connected approach has become urgent. Microsoft’s 2024 threat report noted it is tracking over 1,500 active threat groups, including cybercriminals and nation-state actors. These attackers target different parts of a business simultaneously, requiring defense strategies that span multiple domains. 

Integrated Threat Management (ITM) offers a solution. Similar in concept to multidomain operations used in the national security sector, ITM aligns physical, cyber, and operational security into one coordinated system. This approach ensures that when a threat emerges, every relevant team is alerted and ready to act—whether the threat is digital, physical, or both. 

Without ITM, one type of threat can trigger widespread disruption. For example, a ransomware attack may begin in an email inbox but quickly affect physical access systems or interrupt critical business operations. Companies in sectors like energy, finance, or healthcare are especially vulnerable, as they provide essential services that ripple across industries. To adopt ITM effectively, businesses must first evaluate their current threat posture. Are different departments operating in silos? Do alerts in one area trigger responses in another? Understanding these gaps is key to creating an integrated defense model. 

The next step is to break down internal barriers. Cybersecurity, physical security, and operational teams must work together to develop joint response plans. Manual communication methods should be replaced with automated alerts and real-time system-level notifications that improve speed and accuracy. Executive teams need full visibility into ongoing risks. Security officers should use robust analytics tools to monitor threats and share insights with leadership. 

This allows for trend analysis, faster response times, and continuous updates to security plans. Finally, organizations must regularly test their systems. Like disaster recovery drills in finance, threat simulations help identify vulnerabilities before a real crisis occurs. Smaller companies should test plans annually, while larger enterprises should do so more frequently.

As threats evolve, so must the strategies to combat them. Integrated threat management is not just a forward-thinking solution—it’s a necessary one.
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Technology
AI Automation Business Enterprise Organization security Technology

Threat Alert: Hackers Using AI and New Tech to Target Businesses

Threat Alert: Hackers Using AI and New Tech to Target Businesses

Hackers are exploiting the advantages of new tech and the availability of credentials, commercial tools, and other resources to launch advanced attacks faster, causing concerns among cybersecurity professionals. 

Global Threat Landscape Report 2025

The 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report by FortiGuard Labs highlights a “dramatic escalation in scale and advancement of cyberattacks” due to the fast adoption of the present hostile tech and commercial malware and attacker toolkits.  

According to the report, the data suggests cybercriminals are advancing faster than ever, “automating reconnaissance, compressing the time between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation, and scaling their operations through the industrialization of cybercrime.”

According to the researchers, hackers are exploiting all types of threat resources in a “systematic way” to disrupt traditional advantages enjoyed by defenders. This has put organizations on alert as they are implementing new defense measures and leveling up to mitigate these changing threats. 

Game changer AI

AI has become a key tool for hackers in launching phishing attacks which are highly effective and work as initial access vectors for more harmful attacks like identity theft or ransomware.

A range of new tools such as WormGPT and FraudGPT text generators; DeepFaceLab and Faceswap deepfake tools; BlackmailerV3, an AI-driven extortion toolkit for customizing automatic blackmail emails, and AI-generated phishing pages like Robin Banks and EvilProxy, making it simple for threat actors to make a swift and dirty cybercrime business. 

The report highlights that the growing cybercrime industry is running on “cheap and accessible wins.” With AI evolving, the bar has dropped for cybercriminals to access tactics and intelligence needed for cyberattacks “regardless of an adversary's technical knowledge.”

These tools also allow cybercriminals to build better and more convincing phishing threats and scale a cybercriminal enterprise faster, increasing their success rate. 

Attackers leveraging automated scanning

Attackers are now using automated scanning for vulnerable systems reaching “unprecedented levels” at billions of scans per month, 36,000 scans every second. The report suggests a yearly rise in active scanning to 16.7%. The defenders have less time to patch vulnerable systems due to threat actors leveraging automation, disclosing security loopholes impacting organizations. 

According to researchers, “Tools like SIPVicious and commercial scanning tools are weaponized to identify soft targets before patches can be applied, signaling a significant 'left-of-boom' shift in adversary strategy.”

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Password
Bugs Critical Vulnerability Data Breach Enterprise security Organization security Password

Password Management Breached: Critical Vulnerabilities Expose Millions

Password Management Breached: Critical Vulnerabilities Expose Millions

Password management solutions are the unsung heroes in enterprise security. They protect our digital identities, ensuring sensitive info such as passwords, personal details, or financial data is kept safe from threat actors. 

However, in a recent breach, several critical vulnerabilities have been discovered in Vaultwarden, a famous public-source choice for the Bitwarden password management server. The bugs can enable hackers to get illegal access to administrative commands, run arbitrary code, and increase privileges inside organizations using the platform. 

Admin Panel Access via CSRF: CVE Pending (CVSS 7.1)

This flaw allows hackers to enter the Vaultwarden admin panel via a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack. Hackers can send unauthorized requests to the admin panel and adjust its settings by fooling a genuine user into opening a malicious webpage. This needs the DISABLE_ADMIN_TOKEN option to be activated because the authentication cookie will not be sent throughout site boundaries.

Remote Code Execution in Admin Panel: CVE-2025-24364 (CVSS 7.2)

A stronger flaw enables hackers with unauthorized access to the admin panel to run arbitrary code on the server. This bug concerns modifying the icon caching functionality to insert malicious code, which is used to run when the admin interacts with select settings. 

Privilege Escalation via Variable Confusion: CVE-2025-24365 (CVSS 8.1)

The flaw lets hackers widen their privileges inside an organization, they can gain owner rights of other organizations by abusing a variable confusion flaw in the OrgHeaders trait, to potentially access confidential data.

Aftermath and Mitigation

The flaws mentioned in the blog impact Vaultwarden variants <= 1.32.7. Experts have advised users to immediately update to the patched version 1.33.0 or later to fix these issues.

Vaultwardens’s user base must take immediate action to minimize potential threats as it has more than 1.5 million downloads and 181 million Docker pulls, which is a massive figure. 

Breaches at this scale could have a severe impact because password management solutions are the backbone of enterprise security. Businesses using Vaultwarden should immediately conduct threat analysis to analyze their exposure and implement vital updates. Experts also advise reviewing access controls, using two-factor authentication, and looking for any fishy activity.

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Privacy
Data Laws European Union NIS2 Directive Organization security Privacy

Enhancing EU Cybersecurity: Key Takeaways from the NIS2 Directive

Enhancing EU Cybersecurity: Key Takeaways from the NIS2 Directive

The European Union has taken a significant step forward with the introduction of the NIS2 Directive. This directive, which builds upon the original Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive, aims to bolster cybersecurity across the EU by imposing stricter requirements and expanding its scope. But how far does the NIS2 Directive reach, and what implications does it have for organizations within the EU?

A Broader Scope

One of the most notable changes in the NIS2 Directive is its expanded scope. While the original NIS Directive primarily targeted operators of essential services and digital service providers, NIS2 extends its reach to include a wider range of sectors. This includes public administration entities, the healthcare sector, and providers of digital infrastructure. By broadening the scope, the EU aims to ensure that more entities are covered under the directive, thereby enhancing the overall cybersecurity posture of the region.

Enhanced Security Requirements

The move brings more stringent security requirements for entities within its scope. Organizations are now required to implement robust cybersecurity measures, including risk management practices, incident response plans, and regular security assessments. These measures are designed to ensure that organizations are better prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats.

Additionally, the directive emphasizes the importance of supply chain security. Organizations must now assess and manage the cybersecurity risks associated with their supply chains, ensuring that third-party vendors and partners adhere to the same high standards of security.

Incident Reporting Obligations

Another significant aspect of the NIS2 Directive is the enhanced incident reporting obligations. Under the new directive, organizations are required to report significant cybersecurity incidents to the relevant authorities within 24 hours of detection. This rapid reporting is crucial for enabling a swift response to cyber threats and minimizing the potential impact on critical infrastructure and services.

The directive also mandates that organizations provide detailed information about the incident, including the nature of the threat, the affected systems, and the measures taken to mitigate the impact. This level of transparency is intended to facilitate better coordination and information sharing among EU member states, ultimately strengthening the collective cybersecurity resilience of the region.

Governance and Accountability

Organizations are required to designate a responsible person or team for overseeing cybersecurity measures and ensuring compliance with the directive. This includes conducting regular audits and assessments to verify the effectiveness of the implemented security measures.

Organizations that fail to meet the requirements of the NIS2 Directive may face significant fines and other sanctions. This serves as a strong incentive for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity and ensure that they are fully compliant with the directive.

Challenges and Opportunities

It also offers numerous opportunities. By implementing the required cybersecurity measures, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture and reduce the risk of cyber incidents. This not only protects their own operations but also contributes to the overall security of the EU.

The directive also encourages greater collaboration and information sharing among EU member states. This collective approach to cybersecurity can lead to more effective threat detection and response, ultimately making the region more resilient to cyber threats.

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Threat Intelligence
Corporate Cyber Security Organization security Risk Assessment Threat Intelligence

Beyond Prioritization: Security Journey for Organizations

Prioritization tools typically rely on factors like severity, exploitability, and potential impact. While these criteria are valuable, they don't provide the full picture.

Organizations face an overwhelming number of vulnerabilities, and deciding which ones to address first can be a challenge for many. However, it's essential to recognize that prioritization is merely the beginning of a more comprehensive security journey.

The Limitations of Prioritization

Prioritization tools typically rely on factors like severity, exploitability, and potential impact. While these criteria are valuable, they don't provide the full picture. Here are some limitations:
  1. Context Matters: Prioritization tools often lack context. They don't consider an organization's unique environment, business processes, or specific threats. A high-severity vulnerability might be less critical if it doesn't align with an organization's risk profile.
  2. Dynamic Threat Landscape: Threats evolve rapidly. A vulnerability that seems low-risk today could become a weaponized exploit tomorrow. Prioritization models need to account for this dynamic nature.
  3. Resource Constraints: Organizations have finite resources—time, budget, and personnel. Prioritization doesn't address how to allocate these resources effectively.

The Holistic Approach

To move beyond prioritization, consider the following steps:
  • Risk Assessment: Start by understanding your organization's risk appetite. Conduct a risk assessment that considers business impact, regulatory compliance, and threat intelligence. This assessment informs your vulnerability management strategy.
  • Asset Inventory: Create a comprehensive asset inventory. Knowing what you're protecting allows you to prioritize vulnerabilities based on critical assets. Not all systems are equal; some are more vital to your operations.
  • Threat Intelligence: Stay informed about emerging threats. Collaborate with industry peers, subscribe to threat feeds, and monitor security forums. Threat intelligence helps you contextualize vulnerabilities.
  • Attack Surface Reduction: Minimize your attack surface. Remove unnecessary services, close unused ports, and segment your network. Fewer entry points mean fewer vulnerabilities to manage.
  • Patch Management: Prioritize patching based on risk. Critical systems should receive immediate attention, while less critical ones can follow a staggered schedule.
  • Security Hygiene: Regularly review configurations, permissions, and access controls. Misconfigurations often lead to vulnerabilities. Implement security baselines and automate hygiene checks.
  • Incident Response Readiness: Prepare for incidents. Develop an incident response plan, conduct tabletop exercises, and ensure your team knows how to respond effectively.

Transparency and Communication

Transparency is crucial. Communicate with stakeholders—executives, IT teams, and end-users. Explain the rationale behind vulnerability management decisions. Transparency builds trust and ensures everyone understands the risks.

Vulnerability prioritization is essential, but it's not the destination—it's the starting point. Embrace a holistic approach that considers context, risk, and resource constraints. By navigating the security journey with diligence and transparency, organizations can better protect their digital assets.
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VPN
Bug Exploit malware North Korea Organization security VPN

How North Korean Attackers Deployed Malware Via VPN Bug Exploit

How North Korean Attackers Deployed Malware Via VPN Bug Exploit

In a concerning event, North Korean state-sponsored have again displayed their advanced cyber capabilities by abusing flaws in VPN software updates to plant malware. The incident highlights the rising threats from state-sponsored actors in the cybersecurity sector. "The Information Community attributes these hacking activities to the Kimsuky and Andariel hacking organizations under the North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau, noting the unprecedented nature of both organizations targeting the same sector simultaneously for specific policy objectives," NCSC said.

Attack Vector Details

The NCSC (National Cyber Security Center) recently detected two infamous North Korean hacking groups named Kimsuky (APT43) and Andariel (APT45) as the masterminds of these attacks. The groups have a past of attacking South Korean companies and have set their eyes on exploiting bugs in VPN software updates. Threat actors leveraged these flaws, gained access to networks, deployed malware, and stole sensitive data, including trade secrets.

How the attack works

The actors used a multi-dimensional approach to attack their targets. First, they identified and compromised vulnerabilities in the VPN software update mechanisms. Once the update started, the attackers secretly installed malware on the victim's system. The malware then set up a backdoor, letting the hackers build persistent access to the compromised network.

A key tactic used by attackers was to disguise the malware as a genuine software update. Not only did it help escape detection, but it also ensured that the dangerous malware was planted successfully. The malware was built to extract sensitive information, including intellectual property and secret business info that can be used for economic espionage purposes or can be sold on the dark web.

Learnings for the Cybersecurity Sector

The incident underscores important issues in cybersecurity, the main being the importance of strengthening software update mechanisms. Software updates are a routine part of keeping the system secure, and users trust them easily. This trust gives threat actors leverage and allows them to attack, as shown in this case.

The second issue, the attack highlights an urgent need for strong threat intelligence and monitoring. Organizations must stay on alert and constantly look out for signs of attacks. A sophisticated threat detection system and frequent security audits can help detect and mitigate possible threats before they can cause major damage.

Tips on Staying Safe

Here are some key strategies organizations can adopt for multi-layered security:

Regular patching and updates ensure all software like VPNs, are updated with the latest security patches, reducing the risk of flaws being abused.

Implementing a "Zero Trust Framework" which assumes internal and external threats, the model requires strict authorization for each user and device trying to access the network.

Using advanced endpoint protection solutions that can identify and respond to suspicious activities on individual systems.

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Organization security
Attack Trends Cyber Security End User Microsoft Organization security

5 Attack Trends Your Company Should Be Aware Of

5 Attack Trends Your Company Should Be Aware Of

Cybersecurity is always evolving and demands ongoing awareness

Every day, Microsoft analyzes over 78 trillion security signals to gain a deeper understanding of the current threat pathways and methodologies. Since last year, we've seen a shift in how threat actors scale and use nation-state backing. It's apparent that companies are facing more threats than ever before, and attack chains are becoming more complicated. Dwell times have decreased, and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) have evolved to be more agile and evasive. 

Based on these findings, here are five attack trends that end-user organizations should be watching regularly.

1. Gaining Stealth by avoiding custom tools and malware

Some threat actor organizations prioritize stealth by using tools and processes that are already installed on their victims' systems. This enables attackers to fly under the radar and go undiscovered by concealing their operations among other threat actors that use similar approaches to launch assaults. 

Volt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored actor, is an example of this trend, having made news for targeting US critical infrastructure using living-off-the-land practices.

2. Blending cyber and influence operations for greater results

Nation-state actors have also developed a new type of tactics that blends cyber and influence operations (IO) techniques. This hybrid, known as "cyber-enabled influence operations," combines cyber methods such as data theft, defacement, distributed denial-of-service, and ransomware with influence methods such as data leaks, sockpuppets, victim impersonation, misleading social media posts, and malicious SMS/email communication to boost, exaggerate, or compensate for weaknesses in adversaries' network access or cyberattack capabilities. 

For example, Microsoft has noticed various Iranian actors trying to use bulk SMS texting to increase and psychologically impact their cyber-influence activities. We're also seeing more cyber-enabled influence operations attempt to imitate alleged victim organizations or key figures inside those organizations to lend legitimacy to the impacts of the malware or compromise.

3. Developing Covert Networks Using SOHO Network Edge Devices

The increased use of small-office/home-office (SOHO) network edge devices is especially relevant for distributed or remote employees. Threat actors are increasingly using target SOHO devices—such as the router at a local coffee shop—to assemble hidden networks. 

Some adversaries will even employ programs to locate susceptible endpoints around the world and identify potential targets for their next attack. This approach complicates attribution by having attacks appear from almost anywhere.

4. Quickly Implementing Publicly Disclosed Proofs of Concept for Initial Access and Persistence 

Microsoft has noticed an increase in the number of nation-state subgroups using publicly released proof-of-concept (POC) code to exploit vulnerabilities in Internet-facing apps.

This tendency can be seen in threat groups such as Mint Sandstorm, an Iranian nation-state actor that quickly exploited N-day vulnerabilities in common corporate systems and launched highly focused phishing attacks to get speedy and effective access to target environments.

5. Prioritizing Specialization in the Ransomware Economy

We've noticed a persistent trend toward ransomware expertise. Rather than conducting an end-to-end ransomware campaign, threat actors are focusing on a limited set of skills and services. 

This specialization has a breaking effect, distributing components of a ransomware attack across different vendors in a complicated underground market. Companies can no longer think of ransomware attacks as originating from a single threat actor or group. 

Instead, they might be attacking the entire ransomware-as-a-service ecosystem. In response, Microsoft Threat Intelligence now tracks ransomware providers individually, identifying which groups deal in initial access and which supply additional services.

As cyber defenses seek better ways to strengthen their security stance, it is critical to look to and learn from past trends and breaches. By examining these occurrences and understanding different attackers' motivations and preferred TTPs, we can better prevent such breaches in the future.

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Trust
Critical Infrastructure Cyber Security Organization security State Actors Trust

Trust in Cyber Takes a Knock as CNI Budgets Flatline

Trust in Cyber Takes a Knock as CNI Budgets Flatline

Trust in cybersecurity technologies has become one of the most difficult hurdles for critical national infrastructure (CNI) providers as sophisticated nation-state threats grow, according to a recent Bridewell assessment.

The Trust Deficit

The IT services firm's most recent Cyber Security in Critical National Infrastructure report is based on interviews with over 1000 CISOs and equivalents from CNI providers in the United States and the United Kingdom.

It found that over a third (31%) identified "trust in cybersecurity tools" as a key challenge this year, up 121% from the 2023 edition of the survey.

Confidence in tools took a hit last year when the UK joined the US and other nations in warning providers of key services about China-backed action against CNI, according to the research.

74% of respondents expressed fear about Chinese state actors, which is comparable to 73% anxiety about Russian state operatives.

These worries are likely to have been heightened recently, with the United States warning in February that Chinese agents have pre-positioned themselves in several CNI networks to unleash damaging strikes in the event of a military conflict.

Budget Constraints

Budgets have declined in tandem with trust in tooling. According to the research, the share of IT (33%) and OT (30%) budgets set aside for cybersecurity has dropped drastically from 44% and 43% the previous year, respectively.

The dramatic reduction is evident across the board, from new recruits to training and risk assessments to technological investments.

Despite these financial challenges, nearly a third (30%) of CNI respondents who were victims of a ransomware attack last year informed Bridewell that they paid the extortionists.

Bridewell cautioned that, in addition to the fees, CNI enterprises could face legal consequences.

Ransom payments could, for example, be sent to persons facing legal repercussions from the United Kingdom, the United States, or the European Union. The UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation has warned that payments may violate the law in other jurisdictions, according to the report.

Interestingly, more than a quarter (27%) of respondents reported that ransomware intrusions had a psychological impact on employees.

The Way Forward

Bridewell CEO Anthony Young expressed sympathy for those firms that do wind up paying.

If the firm is unable to recover, paying the ransom may be the only viable alternative for resuming operations short of reinstalling its systems from the start, he argued.

However, this tough decision can be avoided by implementing a security plan that reduces the possibility of threat actors obtaining access and moving through your systems without being detected and effectively removed.

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Technology
IBM IT Organization security saaS Technology

SaaS Challenges and How to Overcome Them


According to 25% of participants in an IBM study conducted in September 2022 among 3,000 companies and tech executives worldwide, security worries stand in the way of their ability to achieve their cloud-related goals. Nowadays, a lot of organizations think that using the cloud comes with hazards. However, the truth is not quite that dire; if you follow certain security best practices, the cloud may be a safe haven for your data.

Businesses need to have a solid security plan in place to handle their SaaS security concerns if they want to fully benefit from cloud computing. In the first place, what are these worries?

SaaS Challenges

  • Lack of experts in IT security. Companies compete intensely to attract qualified specialists in the tight market for IT security professionals, especially those working on cloud security. In the United States, there are often insufficient skilled workers to cover only 66% of cybersecurity job openings.
  • Problems with cloud migration. A major obstacle to cloud adoption, according to 78% of cloud decision-makers surveyed by Flexera in 2023, was a lack of resources and experience. Inexperience with cloud systems can result in security-compromising migration errors.
  • Insider dangers and data breaches. Regretfully, the largest challenge facing cloud computing is still data breaches. 39% of the firms polled in the 2023 Thales Cloud Security Study reported having data breaches.
  • SaaS enlargement. Some businesses utilize more SaaS technologies than they require. According to BetterCloud, companies used 130 SaaS apps on average in 2022, which is 18% more than in 2021. Managing multiple SaaS apps increases the amount of knowledge and error-proneness that can arise.
  • Adherence to regulations. The technology used in clouds is quite recent. As a result, there may be gaps in some SaaS standards, and industry or national compliance standards are frequently different. Security is compromised when SaaS tools are used that don't adhere to international rules or lack industry standards.
  • Security and certification requirements. To protect client data, SaaS providers must adhere to industry standards like SOC 2 and ISO 27001. Although it requires more work for vendors, certifying adherence to such standards is crucial for reducing security threats.

Monitoring Leading SaaS Security Trends

Cyberattacks will cost businesses $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, a 300% increase over 2015, predicts McKinsey. Businesses need to keep up with the latest developments in data security if they want to reduce the risk and expense of cyberattacks. They must adopt a shared responsibility model and cloud-native solutions built with DevSecOps standards to actively manage their SaaS security.


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Security Culture
Corporate Security Cyber Security data security Organization security Security Culture

These 6 Ways Will Help in Improving Your Organization's Security Culture


Having a robust security culture is the best way of protecting your organization from security data hacks. This blog will talk about six ways you can follow to foster a strong security culture. 

The average cost to the organization of a data attack went upto $4.45 million in 2023 and will probably rise in the coming time. While we can't be certain of how the digital landscape will progress, making a robust security culture is one step of future-proofing your company. 

If you don't have answers to these questions, you may haven't thought much about the concept. If you're not sure where to start and face this problem, needn't worry. This blog will guide you through what a security culture is and provide six practical tips for improving your organization's security. 

What is security culture and how did it evolve?

There has been much discussion recently about the cybersecurity talent divide and the issues it is causing for organizations attempting to improve their data security. While there is no question that it is an urgent problem, considerably fewer firms appear to be paying close attention to the concept of security culture.

That's unfortunate because building a strong security culture is likely the single most necessary thing you can do to defend your firm against security breaches.

The word security culture relates to everyone in your organization's approach toward data security. This includes aspects such as how much people care about security and how they behave in practice.

Is security a priority for the leadership team? Is data security awareness training an important element of your strategy? Even something as simple as how tightly you enforce laws prohibiting anyone without a staff pass from entering the building contributes to the overall security culture.

We're all busy, and it's easy to overlook security. For instance, how many of us are happy shutting the door behind us when someone else wants to come in? Nonetheless, physical security is a critical component of data security.

6 ways to create a strong security culture for your organization

Creating a strong security culture requires everyone in your company to prioritize it for the greater good. 

1. Conduct regular security awareness training sessions for all workers

The starting point is to develop a training plan. This should not be limited to new employees. While security knowledge must be included as part of the process of onboarding, building a truly strong security culture requires everyone, from the top of the boardroom down, to be dedicated to it.

Start with the basics while building a training program:

  • Data protection and privacy: Everyone, regardless of industry or location, should be aware of their legal obligations under rules such as HIPAA or GDPR.
  • Password management entails the use of password managers as well as other access methods such as multi-factor authentication.
  • Adopting safe internet habits: Recognizing the dangers of downloading content or visiting insecure sites. Remind staff to be on the watch for phishing attacks and to report any questionable emails.
  • Physical security: Creating positive practices, such as having employees constantly lock their computers when they leave their desks.

2. Establish a thorough security policy and set of recommendations

A properly stated security policy is required to get everyone on board. But a word of caution: You must find a balance between the amount of information you include in your security policy papers and the length of time it takes to go through them.

3.Plan for risk mitigation and vulnerability identification

Even in a strong security culture, no one data security solution is flawless, therefore you must maintain vigilance. Fortunately, there are numerous measures you can take to assess your security and discover areas for improvement:

  • Penetration testing is a form of test in which you purposefully attempt to breach your own systems. If you lack the means to accomplish it in-house, there are third-party security businesses that can assist you.
  • The principle of the least privilege: Give staff only the information they need to execute their tasks. This entails being selective about which rights are allowed rather than granting broad access.

4. Install security technologies and perform frequent audits

In many respects, your the company's data is its most important asset. Sadly this implies that there are many people who want to get their hands on it for bad motives. To avoid, you must employ safe equipment with the most recent encryption protocols.

First, assess your present technology stack. Is it as seamless as it could be? It is not usual for separate departments to employ distinct tools, each adopted years previously, to accomplish a specific task. When information is transmitted across systems in an inefficient manner, this might lead to security flaws.

5. Building secure communication channels

  • Moving to a fully integrated enterprise management planning (ERP) solution is one answer to this problem. 
  • When it comes to transforming your company's culture into one that prioritizes security, communicating is key.
  • First and foremost, it is critical to identify who is accountable for each aspect of security policy. Usually, this would include creating a table that clearly lays it out. Cover everything from IT teams dealing with system flaws to particular employees being responsible for the security of their own devices.
  • Next, cultivate an open culture. This can be tough at first because, when a problem arises, many people's first reaction is to assign blame. Although reasonable it is not recommended. Because, if this reaction becomes the norm, it ironically increases the likelihood of a security breach. 

6. Develop protocols for crisis management and incident response

If something catastrophic happens, you must have a plan in place to deal with it. Everyone in the organization should be versed in the strategy so that it can be implemented as fast and efficiently as feasible if the need arises.

Take the following three actions to ensure that your organization is properly prepared:

  • 1) Create an Incident Response Plan (IRP): A defined strategy that specifies which processes should be followed by everyone when a security event happens.
  • 2) Form an IRT (Incident Response Team): Assign particular responsibility for incident management to individuals. To serve every angle, this should include personnel from your legal, communications, and executive teams, as well as IT professionals.




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SEC Protocol
Cybersecurity Cybersecurity Reporting Organization security SEC SEC Protocol

SEC Sets New Disclosure Rules: Read How It Will Revolutionize Organization Cybersecurity


SEC mandates cybersecurity reporting for companies 

The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) latest set of rules on cybersecurity reporting for publicly traded organisation can be understood in two ways. One, as another generic regulatory formality piling on the companies, or second, as an important move towards strengthening cybersecurity in the board. 

In the smaller picture, it is likely to be both. But in the bigger picture, the benefits will outweigh the limitations. The SEC's primary attention on cybersecurity metrics can mix with other financial reporting needs to compel companies toward a more comprehensive security framework that includes asset intelligence and prioritises material risk. 

SEC protocol: Implication for organizations

The new protocol is likely to push organizations to start focusing on asset intelligence on evidence-based security data, and not just merely storing inventory of devices and apps, helping them toward a consistent monitoring and improvement program. 

The rules will also support companies to involve entire organizations in cybersecurity, security, promoting IT confluence, compliance and legal in all the ways that will support every party involved. 

Deep Asset Intelligence: A much needed approach

The scope for an integrated approach to cybersecurity built on evidence-based data highlights various organisations' need for stronger intelligence. The recent cyber attack on Clorox tells us why. Clorox was among the first large organizations to be compromised when the SEC's new rules came into play, asking the company to report the cyber attack through the SEC's Form 8-k within 4 days.

Clorox did comply, however, it had limited information on the impact of the attacks, so it had to file another form 8-k filing. But even so, Clorox didn't disclose the complete financial damage of the attack. 

What do experts think?

Certain cybersecurity experts anticipate that Clorox's response will be common for other businesses due to the challenge of rapidly assessing the impact of an attack. However, incomplete reports may mislead investors.

A thorough understanding of an asset's life cycle, security measures, management style, data usage patterns, and potential end-of-life situations can all contribute to a more accurate assessment of the attack's impact. 
By promoting the use of measurements and statistics based on empirical evidence to evaluate material risk, the new regulations may also encourage businesses to improve their asset intelligence.

The Way Forward For Constant Enhancement

Businesses gather a great deal of security metrics, some of which may not be very valuable. While it may seem commendable to have stopped 9,000 malware attacks in a month, what would happen if there had been 9,008 attempts? 

By concentrating on operational controls and material concerns, comprehensive asset intelligence can assist organisations in focusing on more serious issues. 

An endpoint without a security agent or an outdated, unpatched system, for instance, can be just as hazardous as a network-based vulnerability found on the common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) list. Inventorying all of your users, apps, and devices is not sufficient; you also need to know if the security rules are active and in place.

The guidelines also encourage organisations to involve the legal and compliance departments, as well as the leadership team, in understanding the role that governance plays in better managing security through their reporting obligations.

Furthermore, and this is crucial, they encourage public firms to follow the industry trend of proactive and continuous assessment, which entails not just identifying security weaknesses but also continuously addressing them.

Proceeding Forward

Following its adoption in July and formal implementation on September 5, the SEC's new regulations are still being adapted to by publicly traded corporations. Businesses are required to file yearly reports starting in December and to report "material" cybersecurity incidents within four days, detailing the occurrence and its consequences.

Companies who lack full visibility into their assets, including the condition of security controls on devices and apps across the organisation, may find it difficult to comply with these regulations. They can, however, start to integrate security and compliance with asset intelligence—that is, evidence-based data centred on material risks—and work towards a continuous monitoring and improvement programme that more effectively secures the organisation.


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Security Approach
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Utilizing an Integrated Approach for Application Security


Among every industry and organizations, application security has emerged as a progressively complex and challenging issue. Over the past few years, the rapid innovation in this field has resulted in the increase of attack surfaces, significantly where firms have shifted to modern application stacks on cloud-based security. Attack surfaces have also been expanded by the increased deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) and connected devices, as well as by new hybrid working patterns. 

The volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks have sharply increased at the same time, causing concerns inside IT departments. According to the most recent study from Cisco AppDynamics, the shift to a security approach for the full application stack, 78% of technologists believe that their company is susceptible to a multi-stage cybersecurity attack that would target the entire application stack over the course of the following 12 months. Indeed, such an attack might have catastrophic results for brands. 

The major problem for IT teams is the lack of the right level of visibility and insights in order to recognize where new threats are emerging across a complicated topology of applications. More than half of engineers claim that they frequently find themselves operating in "security limbo" since they are unsure of their priorities and areas of concentration. 

IT teams can safeguard the complete stack of modern apps throughout the entire application lifecycle by using an integrated approach to application security. It offers total protection for applications across code, containers, and Kubernetes, from development to production. Moreover, with coupled application and security monitoring, engineers can assess the potential business effect of vulnerabilities and then prioritize their responses instead of being left in the dark. 

Moving to a Security Approach for the Full Application Stack 

In order to improve the organization security, tech experts are recognizing the need for adopting a security strategy for the entire application stack that provides comprehensive protection for their applications from development through to production across code, containers, and Kubernetes. 

Moreover, IT teams are required to integrate their performances and security checks to gain a better understanding of the way security flaws and incidents could impact users and organizations. Tech experts can assess the significance of risks using severity scoring while taking the threat's context into account thanks to business transaction insights. This entails that they can give priority to threats that pose a risk to an application or environment that is crucial for conducting business. 

Due to the complexity and dynamic nature of cloud-native technologies, as well as the quick expansion of attack surfaces, IT teams are increasingly relying on automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically identify and fix problems across the entire technology stack, including cloud-native microservices, Kubernetes containers, multi-cloud environments, or mainframe data centers. 

AI is already being used for continuous detection and prioritization, maximizing speed and uptime while lowering risk by automatically identifying and blocking security exploits without human interaction. Also, more than 75% of technologists think AI will become more crucial in tackling the issues their firm has with speed, size, and application security skills. 

To safeguard modern application stacks, companies must encourage much closer IT team collaboration. With a DevSecOps strategy, security teams analyze and evaluate security risks and priorities during planning phases to establish a solid basis for development. This adds security testing early in the development process. 

IT teams can be far more proactive and strategic in how they manage risk with a comprehensive approach to application security that combines automation, integrated performance, security monitoring, and DevSecOps approaches. A security strategy for the entire application stack can free engineers from their impasse and enable them to create more secure products, prevent expensive downtime, and advance into the next innovation era.  

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