[BreachExchange] 9 Steps Necessary for Infrastructure Security

[Matthew Wheeler]

https://www.hackread.com/9-steps-necessary-for-infrastructure-security/

The ever-present threat of cyber security attacks has made IT
infrastructure security a priority for most businesses. Cybercriminals are
nowadays using bots to troll the internet for vulnerabilities.

IT security is of utmost importance in this current age due to the move to
employees working from home (WFH) and services being provided through cloud
technology. Security organizations need to quickly adapt their approaches
to securing infrastructure in this fast-changing world.

Network security is the protection of underlying networking infrastructure
from unauthorized access, misuse, or theft. The following are security
testing measures that are used by organizations to maintain data integrity:

1.   Inventory of All Assets

It is critical to capture and track all infrastructure assets. Knowing what
is on your network is crucial to identifying potential weaknesses so they
can be corrected. Incomplete documentation of all assets may lead to a
vulnerable network. Tracking all assets can be done by a combination of
both automated and manual techniques. Risk assessments will help prioritize
which gaps in cyber security need to be sorted first.



2.   Create company-wide awareness training

Employees are the weakest link in any organization’s cyber security
architecture. Ignorant employees may fall prey to phishing attacks,
download viruses to their workstations and use easy passwords that may be
hacked.

To make sure IT security policies are effective, staff have to be trained
and made aware of their importance. The HR department has to include IT
security in its onboarding process and also ensure managers review these
policies regularly. Invest in high-quality cyber security education for all
staff, making a comprehensive curriculum with good testing to make sure
concepts are understood.


3.   Audit or scan on a regular basis

Hiring cyber security companies or experts to carry out security testing
and regular audits/scans can prove quite beneficial for organizations.
Highlighting inefficiencies in your IT processes, and optimizing the IT
security systems is likely to ensure the business avoids expensive
ransomware attacks and any long-term damage to its reputation.

The IT security experts will recommend customized technical solutions for
any vulnerabilities exposed and offer a detailed procedure for dealing with
future cyber threats.


4.   Limiting User Access Privileges

Applying the policy of least privilege to every user account will ensure
that users on the network are restricted to having the minimum level of
access to perform their work tasks. This measure reduces the possibility of
an insider data breach. An intrusion detection system is used to detect the
abnormal activity of employees trying to breach defenses installed.


5.   Contingency/Backup Plans and Recovery Solutions

Exposing the client’s confidential information will put the company’s
operations at risk. Losing data can put a strain on company operations and
take a while to recover. As the business grows, so does its need for new
and improved solutions to upgrade the backup and recovery plans, ensuring
end-to-end protection of the organization’s IT environment. Entire business
data can be backed up securely through an effective cloud storage solution.


6.   SOP for Roles and Responsibilities

The Standard Operating Procedure document contains details including:

Task timelines

POCs responsible for compliance

Processes, roles, and responsibilities

Tailoring the current company needs to the existing IT security policy will
be incredibly advantageous to the organization. IT-related misdemeanors
will be kept at a minimum. Identifying all possible areas that could lead
to a data breach will reduce the chances of human error.


7.   Password Policy and Accessibility

Updating passwords is one of the most basic practices when it comes to
digital protection. Strong passwords help in preventing external attacks
and the possibility of a data breach. Every organization should have an IT
guideline that includes a policy supplying information on setting up strong
passwords.

Remote access has been the norm especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
This has put a bigger demand on the need for cyber protection. Using
technologies like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) will allow workers
seamless remote connectivity while reducing the chances of compromising
data integrity. The VPN keeps the web movement encrypted.


8.   Antivirus Software and Firewall Installation

In recent times, viruses and malware have been created to bypass basic
security measures that are not robust enough to stop them. Upgrading to a
strong antivirus software will ensure that cyber-attacks are kept at bay.
The firewall acts like a digital safe where all digital assets are secured.


9.   Establish a Bring Your Device Policy

Ensure that policies are dictating how employee devices interact with the
network. There may be limitations, use of security certificates, or
completely disallowing certain devices from operating within the network.

With the right hardware and software tools, the network can be a safer
place to work to ensure overall productivity. Schedule security testing
will give the organization a better chance of finding potential problems
before they impact the system.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.riskbasedsecurity.com/pipermail/breachexchange/attachments/20220419/0e9eaa6f/attachment.html>