Uncategorized - PATECCO GmbH

The Future of Cloud Computing: Top Trends to Watch in 2024

As we delve deeper into the digital age, cloud computing continues to evolve at a rapid pace, reshaping the landscape of technology and business operations. With each passing year, new advancements and innovations emerge, driving the transformation of how we store, process, and manage data. In 2024, the realm of cloud computing stands on the cusp of groundbreaking developments that promise to redefine the way organizations leverage technology to streamline operations, enhance agility, and drive innovation. In this exploration of the future of cloud computing, we delve into the top trends poised to shape the industry in 2024 and beyond, offering insights into the potential impact and opportunities that lie ahead. From hybrid cloud architectures to AI-driven automation and security advancements, the journey into the future of cloud computing promises to be both exciting and transformative. Trend 1: Multicloud orchestration for complex cloud environments in companies A multicloud orchestrator harmonises server workloads, storage capacities and virtual machines, enabling companies to distribute workloads efficiently, optimise the use of resources and reduce costs. By distributing capacities across different clouds, companies can also increase resilience and thus their reliability and performance. A multicloud orchestrator can also help to streamline automated tasks in a workflow and ensure that they have the required access or authorisation to execute a workload. Overall, a multicloud orchestrator allows companies to maximise the benefits of different cloud platforms, adhere to compliance policies and security protocols and maintain an overview of resource utilisation and usage in a multicloud architecture. In view of the ever-increasing demand for greater efficiency, reliability, security and lower costs, multicloud orchestration will play a key role for companies in the future. Trend 2: Increasing cloud automation In the future, companies will increasingly rely on cloud automation to make standardised business processes more efficient: This automation extends across a variety of software tools and software-based methods. With their support, companies can counter the shortage of IT specialists, reduce the workload of IT teams and also minimise human error in the management of cloud services. By automating the scaling, resource management and provisioning of workloads in the cloud, organisations can not only operate more efficiently, but also reduce costs and accelerate time to market for new products. It is important to emphasise that cloud automation is not an integral part of a particular cloud solution that companies can simply add on. Rather, these are measures that should be implemented by companies. To fully utilise the benefits of cloud automation, it is therefore crucial that companies automate their existing IT with cloud technologies now, replace existing applications with cloud-native developments and develop modern API sets and company-specific DevOps principles. Among other things, these measures make a significant contribution to the standardisation of processes and security measures and enable companies to successfully overcome various challenges in dynamic and complex cloud environments in the future. Trend 3: Optimising cloud infrastructure for maximum performance The optimisation of existing cloud infrastructure, applications and services is becoming increasingly important in view of the continuous financial and time expenditure for the management, expansion and scaling of resources and cloud capacities. A future-oriented cloud and data management strategy will be crucial for companies of all sizes and in all industries in order to rationalise capacities, use existing resources more efficiently and avoid shadow IT. Increased implementation of advanced cost monitoring and analysis tools will play a key role in reducing costs. The regular adjustment of security configurations enables companies to continuously adapt their cloud environment to industry-specific compliance requirements. The trend towards cloud optimisation as a continuous process helps companies to exploit the full range of cloud benefits and increase their overall performance while optimising costs and resources for a sustainable future. Trend 4: Increasing use of observability tools Hybrid multi-cloud systems are highly interoperable, but also susceptible to additional vulnerabilities, particularly cybersecurity risks via third-party or fourth-party providers. Companies should therefore increasingly move towards cloud observability, which goes beyond mere monitoring. Observability tools use automated monitoring systems to identify the causes of problems and anomalies, create root cause analyses and provide predictive insights. This in-depth analysis is based on logging data, metrics and traces that provide a comprehensive understanding of system interactions. A combination of monitoring and observability is a proactive and effective strategy for troubleshooting and optimisation and will become imperative for businesses, especially in the face of increasingly sophisticated, AI-driven cyberattacks. As public cloud services share computing services from different customers, highly regulated companies in particular will therefore increasingly opt for a private cloud, which they can control more easily and with which they can comply with local industry and government regulations and compliance requirements. Trend 5: Private Cloud Private cloud environments can be tailored specifically to company’s needs, providing customised scalability, effectiveness and more reliable performance. In the long term, the use of private clouds therefore often leads to lower total cost of ownership – also because companies only pay for the infrastructure they use. A private cloud therefore combines many of the benefits of cloud computing with the control and security of an on-premise infrastructure, which in some markets will be crucial for companies to achieve a target-oriented IT and cloud architecture. The cloud at a turning point With the increased use of AI, edge computing and the development of even more powerful cloud platforms, the cloud technologies of tomorrow will not only drive digital transformation, but also herald an era of intelligent, autonomous and highly adaptive IT landscapes. For companies, the cloud must therefore be a business case that goes beyond purely technical issues. System integrators can help to develop a suitable, efficient cloud strategy and support companies in not being left behind in the new era of cloud technologies.

IBM Security Guardium – Your Ultimate Solution for Database Security and Threat Protection

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

In the current digital era, where data breaches and cyber threats are on the rise, organizations are increasingly recognizing the critical importance of robust database security solutions. IBM Security Guardium stands out as a leading solution designed to protect sensitive data and mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access and malicious attacks. With its comprehensive suite of features, Guardium offers real-time monitoring, advanced threat detection, and proactive compliance management, enabling businesses to safeguard their databases effectively. By integrating automation and intelligent analytics, IBM Security Guardium provides organizations with unparalleled visibility and control over their data environments. This article sets the stage for exploring how Guardium serves as an essential ally in the quest for achieving data security, compliance, and ultimately, business resilience in the face of evolving threats. What is IBM Security Guardium? IBM Security Guardium is a leading security software specifically designed to protect sensitive data across multiple environments. At a time when data leaks and security breaches are becoming increasingly common, Guardium provides a robust solution to ensure data integrity while meeting compliance requirements. The platform covers a wide range of functions, including real-time monitoring of data activity, analysis and auditing of access patterns and prevention of unauthorised data access. These capabilities make Guardium an indispensable tool for organisations that want to effectively protect their critical data assets. IBM Security Guardium is also characterised by its high level of adaptability and integration into existing IT infrastructures. It supports a variety of data platforms, including databases, big data environments and cloud storage solutions. This flexibility allows organisations to seamlessly integrate Guardium into their security strategy and gain a holistic view of their data protection practices. With Guardium, companies can not only protect their data, but also centralise and optimise their security efforts, resulting in stronger data integrity and improved business operations. How IBM Security Guardium protects against data breaches? IBM Security Guardium provides excellent protection against data breaches through a combination of advanced technology and proactive security measures. The solution provides a number of features which are particularly important at a time when data protection requirements are constantly growing and the consequences of security breaches are becoming increasingly serious. Guardium monitors all data access activities in real-time, keeping track of who accessed what data, when, and from where. It uses behavior analytics to identify unusual access patterns that could indicate malicious activity or insider threats. Furthermore, Guardium generates alerts for suspicious activities and can also block certain activities if they match predefined risk criteria, helping prevent unauthorized data access before a breach occurs. Guardium enforces security policies that restrict access based on user roles, location, time, and other factors. This ensures only authorized users have access to sensitive data. It helps implement least-privilege access by segmenting data and only allowing specific roles or users to access certain data types. Guardium can apply data masking to sensitive fields, so even if unauthorized access is attempted, the real data is not visible. Guardium scans databases for known vulnerabilities and configuration issues that could expose sensitive data. It assesses each vulnerability’s risk level and provides recommendations for patching or mitigating them. Guardium can also provide guidance on hardening database configurations to minimize security gaps. Guardium uses machine learning and behavioral analysis to build a baseline of typical user activity, allowing it to detect unusual behavior, such as excessive data downloads or access during off-hours. By integrating with IBM’s threat intelligence sources, Guardium can update its threat models to protect against the latest tactics, techniques, and procedures used by attackers. Guardium maintains audit logs of all data access and modification activities, which helps organizations meet regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS). Guardium provides pre-built and customizable reports for various regulations, making it easier for organizations to demonstrate compliance. By monitoring and enforcing data access policies, Guardium supports data governance efforts that help minimize data exposure risks. Future Trends in Data Security and the Role of Security Guardium As organisations increasingly rely on digital data, emerging trends in data security highlight the importance of robust protection mechanisms like Security Guardium. This solution not only aids in the identification of vulnerabilities, but also enhances compliance with regulatory standards, safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorised access. With the rise of advanced persistent threats and sophisticated cyberattacks, Security Guardium’s proactive monitoring and real-time alerts ensure that potential breaches are addressed before they escalate. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into its framework further empowers organisations to adapt to evolving threats, enabling them to anticipate risks rather than merely react. As remote work becomes more prevalent, the need for comprehensive data governance strategies is paramount; Security Guardium plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of information across diverse environments. In this rapidly changing landscape, embracing such advanced security solutions is not just beneficial, it is imperative for sustaining trust and resilience in data management practices.

SIEM As a Robust Solution for Detecting Threats in Time

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Security Information and Event Management, or SIEM for short, has a long tradition in IT security. Nevertheless, it is highly topical and can be seen as the basis of „next generation security“. At current trade fairs and events, we hear a lot about security analytics or security intelligence. Both terms are associated with the detection of advanced attacks. The acronym SIEM, on the other hand, is associated with classic security information and event management. SIEM is and remains the central approach for collecting and analysing security-relevant information and data on security events, making it available in compliance reports and providing the basis for prompt responses to security incidents with alerts. A robust SIEM solution also offers management of security-relevant data and analyses and thus enables the search for events in the past to support IT forensic investigations. How do SIEM tools work? A modern SIEM requires three core competences – data collection, analysis and response – to ensure the security required in today’s hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The job of a SIEM refers to: If compliance reporting is an important factor for the organisation, a SIEM should also be able to create dashboards and ensure that security policies are being enforced. What SIEM is used for? A Security Information and Event Management tool is used for comprehensive security management in information technology environments. SIEM tools are designed to collect, aggregate, analyze, and report on security data from various sources within an organization’s IT infrastructure, so the primary functions of a SIEM tool include: SIEM as a part of the mandatory security program Without appropriate SIEM solutions, companies are unable to analyse the large number and the variety of logs provided by the IT systems they use. That is why Security Information and Event Management is an integral component of a comprehensive security program. SIEM solutions empower organizations to proactively detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents by aggregating and analyzing vast amounts of data from disparate sources across their IT infrastructure. The range of logs extends from the log files of individual applications to the operating systems of (mobile) endpoints and servers, hardware firmware, IT security solutions, networks and clouds. If the security-relevant information from the various data sources is not analysed promptly enough, potential attacks and incidents could not be properly detected or could be detected too late. Without a central location that collects, analyses and consolidates the logs for reports, it is also virtually impossible to provide the necessary compliance evidence for IT security. IT forensics also needs SIEM-based support in order to better uncover the traces of attackers and possible vulnerabilities that have been abused. The decision as to which SIEM system is the right one, must be made without any fail. The market is rich in solutions that offer different capabilities, features and advantages. Companies should pay particular attention to whether their individual requirements are met, i.e. the IT systems to be supported, whose log data must be able to be read out, the available interfaces and data formats, but also the available reports, which must match the compliance requirements that the company faces. Furthermore, the cloud plays an important role here. On one hand, the solution of choice should also be able to take into account the cloud solutions used, i.e. support cloud logging. It should also be possible to integrate security-relevant information that is available via the cloud. The so-called „threat intelligence feeds“ from security providers deliver via the cloud an important additional information that a company’s SIEM cannot have, based on its own data. The early detection of attacks depends heavily on the information base of the SIEM, so additional data on possible threats and attacks from security intelligence services is very valuable. Concusion As cyber threats continue to evolve in complexity and sophistication, the importance of SIEM within a comprehensive security program cannot be overstated. Organizations that leverage SIEM effectively are better equipped to stay ahead of adversaries, safeguard critical assets, and uphold trust with stakeholders in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape. Embracing SIEM as a cornerstone of cybersecurity strategies is essential for organizations committed to maintaining resilience and staying abreast of emerging threats in today’s dynamic threat landscape.

Five Еffective Approaches for Security in Multi-Cloud Environments

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Multi-cloud can bring great benefits to a company. For example, more and more companies are utilising the high degree of flexibility to develop and host applications natively in the cloud. These applications consist of so-called micro-services – services that only take on individual or a few tasks, exist independently of each other and are loosely coupled. This modular software architecture enables companies to implement changes to cloud-native applications quickly and easily. To get the best out of their multi-cloud environment without playing into the hands of criminals, organisations need a security approach that enables a consistently high level of security and seamless compliance management across all clouds. What is Multi-Cloud security? To understand multi-cloud security, you need to know the difference between multi-cloud and hybrid cloud services. The term „multi-cloud“ is used when cloud services from multiple cloud service providers are used. With this concept, your company can oversee separate projects in the different cloud environments of multiple cloud service providers. Like „multi-cloud“, „hybrid cloud“ also includes several cloud environments. However, in a hybrid cloud environment, work is distributed across a common workload system consisting of public cloud, local resources and a private cloud. A common advantage of hybrid cloud and multi-cloud is their adaptability and cost efficiency. Both support the highly flexible management of resources and data migrations that take place between local resources and the cloud. In addition, companies benefit from more control and security when operating a private cloud in a hybrid cloud environment. More and more industries are switching to multi-cloud and hybrid cloud infrastructures, exposing them to the typical risks of an unprotected cloud environment. These include an increased risk of data loss, unauthorised access, lack of transparency in multi-cloud environments and increased non-compliance with regulations. A single cyberattack can have negative consequences for the company and lead to a lack of customer confidence and loss of revenue and reputation. In this article PATECCO will share five useful tips that will sharpen your focus on the security aspects of multi-cloud environments. 1. Build up expertise for multi-cloud As a first step, companies need to build up the necessary expertise for multi-cloud environments. This involves topics such as containers, container orchestration, runtime environments or cloud-native development and provision. In many cases, this requires investment in employee training and development. 2. Establish visibility of your cloud workload It’s almost a mantra, but nevertheless the basis of any security strategy: I can only protect assets that I know. In the context of cloud and multi-cloud environments, this applies in particular to applications and the corresponding information stores. The first step is therefore always to determine what type of information and applications are used in the cloud and by whom. In many complex organisations, however, this is one of the first hurdles because the use of different cloud services has often developed historically. 3. Focus on centralised services and tools for scanning and monitoring In particular, tools, that can not only be used in different cloud environments, but can also transmit their results to a central console, are ideal for keeping the dashboards and processes required for monitoring up to date. As a rule, this allows all cloud systems used by a company to be monitored. In recent years, a new category of cloud monitoring tools has been developed, which is summarised under the term Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPPs). A CWPP protects the workloads housed in the cloud from attacks by using techniques from the areas of network segmentation, system integrity protection and application control, behaviour monitoring, host-based intrusion prevention and, optionally, anti-malware solutions. In many cases, manufacturers also offer functions for zero trust, micro-segmentation and endpoint detection and response in this area. By focusing on logging and centralised services and tools for scanning and monitoring a multi-cloud environment, security teams can develop a coherent and sustainable strategy for their protection. This means that any problems and security incidents that arise can be recognised and rectified more quickly. In addition, integration into an overarching IT security strategy will sooner or later also make it easier to manage cloud solutions. 4. Recognise vulnerabilities It is a common misconception that moving to the cloud also means getting rid of vulnerabilities, or that these are now primarily a problem for the cloud provider. This is only partially true. Although reputable CSPs (cloud service providers) usually protect the vulnerabilities in their own infrastructure very reliably, the number of data breaches at third-party providers, such as cloud service providers, is rising sharply. The reason for the increased number of attacks on cloud service providers is generally not their lax security precautions (although this does happen). Rather, the cause is often due to incorrect or careless security settings by cloud users. One example of how this can occur is the temporary use of services, as often happens for marketing campaigns in which customer data, among other things, is used. If the services are not carefully cleaned up after use, such orphaned databases can quickly become a ticking time bomb that can cost a company dearly later on. 5. Trust is good, control is better All preventive measures, such as access restrictions, authentication procedures and data flow controls, however sophisticated they may be, can be circumvented or cancelled out sooner or later given enough time and the right methods. Security monitoring, which continuously observes the security-relevant processes and alerts the IT security managers in the event of deviations, helps to prevent this. This is easy to do within your own four walls because all the necessary information such as network, system and application logs is directly accessible. However, this traditional approach fails when this information is stored in the environment of one or more cloud providers. It is therefore important to ensure that the CSP has the appropriate functions for security monitoring when selecting the appropriate CSP. How PATECCO can support the planning and implementation of your cloud strategy? PATECCO’s cloud security services help our customers plan their native or hybrid cloud strategy. The

Role-Based Access Control as a Cybersecurity Imperative for the Business

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Defining and granting access rights is a constant challenge for IT departments. Managing access rights based on a role-based approach makes controlling system authorisations for users in complex IT environments clear and simple. On one hand, as many regular users – whether employees, external contractors or others – require the same or similar access rights to perform their work, the assignment of access rights can be greatly simplified by grouping employees based on their tasks and associated competences within the organisation. On the other hand, a lack of access control or automatic provisioning of rights and access can be costly and risky for the enterprise in a number of ways. It means that new employees and contractors may not be up and running as quickly as necessary, they may gain access to systems they shouldn’t have access to, they may retain their access rights when they change roles or leave the organisation, and they may inadvertently compromise the organisation’s security profile. The power of RBAC Role-based access control is a procedure for managing and controlling access to files or services. Instead of giving users in the network direct access rights to various systems or making spontaneous decisions about who can access what and for how long, access is granted according to a role previously assigned to the user. When used systematically, RBAC reduces the risk of a user being granted too much access and thus promotes the implementation of a least privilege strategy. With clearly defined roles, protocols are created that specify exactly which role is suitable for which type of user, which prevents inappropriate inheritance of authorisations. In the event of a compromise, authorisations can also be blocked extremely quickly and on a large scale, effectively preventing the spread of cyberattacks. This is the reason why the RBAC concept is often used, particularly in companies with more than 500 employees. This ensures that employees always have the rights they need and that there are no interruptions to operations. RBAC allows organizations to define roles and permissions based on their specific business requirements and security policies. Roles can be tailored to reflect different job functions, departments, or projects, and permissions can be fine-tuned to accommodate variations in access needs across different user groups. With RBAC, companies can react more flexibly to employee changes according to the Joiner, Mover Leaver (JML) process. Especially when employees join, change departments or leave the company, RBAC makes work much easier and safer. At the same time rights can be granted and withdrawn at any time via role memberships, which makes RBAC very adaptable and dynamic. Role-Based Access Control also makes the time-consuming assignment of individual authorisations obsolete by predefined authorisations to roles once and can be rolled out to several people in one go or withdrawn again. If the roles are named in a way that is easy to understand, this also increases Transparency and traceability on the user side. The allocation of individual authorisations without RBAC is not only time-consuming. It also means less control and overview of who has access to what. It also leaves room for errors and over-authorisation. Thus, security gaps can arise if the individual authorisations are no longer withdrawn or are retained for longer than necessary. If users are given too many authorisations, this can lead to errors. With a well thought-out and predefined authorisation concept, the company not only saves work but is also on the safe side: access rights are defined exclusively via the role concept. Over-authorisation of individual employees is thus avoided in accordance with the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) in order to fulfil compliance requirements. In this way, RBAC helps to significantly increase efficiency and security in IT and throughout the entire company. Changes are made automatically, rights no longer have to be applied for and assigned individually and the waiting time for approval is also eliminated. This not only makes managing access rights easier, but more error-resistant, as well. Role-based access control includes role authorisations and user roles and can be used to meet a variety of company requirements, from security and compliance to efficiency and cost control. With role-based access control, organisations reduce both the complexity of assigning access rights and the associated costs. It provides the ability to review access rights to ensure compliance with various regulations and streamline processes so that new employees are up and running from day one by pre-defining which systems the new employee should have access to based on their role in the organisation. RBAC facilitates auditing and reporting by providing a structured framework for access control. Audit logs can track user activities and access attempts based on role assignments and permissions, enabling organizations to monitor compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies. RBAC helps demonstrate accountability and transparency by documenting who has access to sensitive resources and how access is being used, which is essential for compliance audits and investigations. RBAC supports segregation of duties by defining roles with mutually exclusive sets of permissions. This prevents conflicts of interest and reduces the risk of fraud and errors by ensuring that no single user has excessive privileges that could be abused. SoD controls help prevent unauthorized activities such as unauthorized transactions, data tampering, and fraud, thereby enhancing security. Having in mind the above listed advantages, we can conclude that RBAC is important for businesses in terms of enhanced security, facilitated compliance with regulatory requirements, mitigated risks, and improved operational efficiency. By implementing RBAC, businesses can strengthen their security posture, protect sensitive information, and maintain trust with customers, partners, and regulatory authorities.

PATECCO Launches a New Whitepaper: „The Role of Adaptive Authentication and Recertification of Regular and Privileged Users.“

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

PATECCO latest whitepaper – „The Role of Adaptive Authentication and Recertification of Regular and Privileged Users“ – is a useful source of information providing insights of how adaptive authentication and recertification practices can fortify your defenses against cyber threats. We will explore the benefits of these approaches in mitigating security risks, enhancing user experience, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Additionally, we will describe One Identity adaptive authentication solutions, along with PATECCO best practices for implementing OI solutions to help organizations strengthen their IAM strategies and safeguard their critical assets in an increasingly digital world. Enjoy the whitepaper as we navigate the evolving landscape of identity and access management and empower your organization to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats. Download your copy now:

How Identity Governance Solutions Manage Digital Identities Across Enterprises?

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

After IT landscapes began to become more complex and the requirement to assign authorisations increased, identity management solutions were developed and introduced. These systems were and still are focused on the administration of users and their rights. Due to the ever-increasing threat situation and the associated stricter regulations, simple administration solutions are no longer sufficient in many cases. Auditors and accountants demand an insight into the allocation of user authorisations that they can understand. This is where modern identity governance solutions can help. Almost all security regulations require organisations to answer the following three questions regarding the management of users and their authorisations: – Who has access to the IT resources? – What can they do there? – How can I prove this – especially to auditors? While the first two questions can be answered by a conventional identity administration solution, providing proof of the authorisations assigned and the associated processes is often a major challenge. In addition, there is the requirement to present identities and authorisations in a way that is understandable for the specialist departments, which is usually only fulfilled by identity governance solutions. In this respect, these solutions answer all three of the above questions in a comprehensible form. The task of identity administration solutions is to manage identities by mapping the „user life cycle“ in the organisation. Identity governance, on the other hand, is intended to provide proof that users have the „right“ rights based on the organisation’s guidelines. Both are components of identity management and are often referred to together as identity governance and administration. There are several reasons why identity governance has become important and is becoming increasingly important. Firstly, more and more user groups (employees, partners, customers, etc.) are accessing an increasingly complex IT environment via more and more access points (mobile, cloud). Secondly, and this is likely to be the decisive factor, the increasing threat situation has led to the introduction of ever stricter compliance regulations that apply to more and more companies and organisations. Among other things, these compliance regulations also require proof of users and their authorisations. Identity governance solutions were developed from the perspective of specialist departments and auditors in order to make assigned authorisations transparent, traceable and easier to administer from their point of view and independently of IT. Their aim is to improve the implementation and verification of business processes and compliance regulations. The next evolutionary stage is Identity Analytics, which has developed from Identity Governance. Identity analytics provides a deeper insight into the users in the company, their rights and how they are used. Based on metrics, behaviour and context, it is possible to make predictions about usage and risks and react better to changing conditions in the area of user management. Identity governance solutions should provide proof that security guidelines relating to users and authorisations are implemented and that users have the right rights and not more rights than necessary. Identity governance solutions provide the information required for this proof. To this end, these solutions offer the functions described below: 1. Access visibility The basis for all other functions is first and foremost the central visibility of the assigned authorisations. Authorisations can be business roles, IT roles or authorisation objects defined in target systems (e.g. Active Directory groups). The display must clearly show which rights a person has on a target system. 2. Access certification As it is generally not possible to ensure that everything runs correctly when granting and withdrawing rights, their correctness must be confirmed regularly. Identity governance solutions allow the definition of recertification campaigns for this purpose, which can include the users to be certified as well as their rights according to certain selection criteria (only certain departments, only certain applications) Such campaigns, which can be monitored centrally, ensure that users only have the necessary rights. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the number of rights to be certified is manageable and understandable for the certifier. 3. Segregation of Duties One requirement of many compliance regulations is the strict separation of certain tasks within the organisation. For example, the same person should not normally be allowed to order goods and pay incoming invoices. Identity governance solutions support these requirements through segregation of duties (SoD). Segregation of duties refers to the basic separation of tasks controlled by rights. In contrast, dynamic SoD can only be realised by the application itself, as the context of the individual transactions is required here. In many Identity Management systems, SoD is described on the basis of defined roles. However, as roles are already used for the provisioning of rights, they are often complex and cannot be understood by auditors and accountants. Auditors think in terms of business activities. Modern identity governance solutions therefore define SoD rules on the basis of business activities. This is usually much simpler and more straightforward than defining roles and also provides a control mechanism that indirectly checks whether the roles are defined correctly. 4. Role management Roles are actually required by identity administration solutions for the efficient provisioning of rights. However, the administration of roles also falls within the scope of identity governance for two reasons in particular. Firstly, a lean role model is required in order to minimise the number of rights to be recertified and thus keep them manageable. On the other hand, the role management process requires in-depth knowledge of the business processes in addition to IT expertise. The person who has to model the roles is supported by so-called „role mining“. Here, the identity governance solution generates role proposals and, in the best case, visualises them graphically. 5. Risk management Certain rights and combinations of rights can pose a high risk for an organisation. These can be individual highly privileged rights, violations of SoD rules or unusual combinations of rights in a department. Risk management takes place in several stages: Modelling > Measuring > Recognising > Mitigating First, the risk is modelled, i.e. what constitutes a risk is defined. The next step is to check whether

DORA Regulation as an important step towards strengthening digital resilience

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

In the context of increasing cyber threats, strict adherence to and implementation of corresponding compliance regulations is becoming increasingly important. As providers of critical infrastructure, it is particularly important for financial organisations to prevent IT outages and security incidents in order to ensure business continuity. With the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the EU has issued a set of regulations to ensure digital operational stability and prevent systemic risks in the financial sector. The new requirements harmonise and tighten the existing regulatory requirements for ICT management and interfere with IT operations and outsourcing to third parties. At the same time, the verification and reporting obligations are increasing, which means a considerable amount of additional work. Which organisations are affected? DORA affects a large number of organisations in the financial sector. These include not only banks and insurance companies, which are already familiar with such regulations through the EBA/EIOPA guidelines on ICT security and outsourcing, but also trading venues, occupational pension schemes, providers of crypto services, insurance intermediaries and many other financial companies. The categorisation of the service is important for ICT providers, including cloud service providers, in the financial sector. If the services provided are considered „critical“ for financial organisations, the scope of DORA is applied directly to the ICT provider. This requires compliance with high security standards to ensure the resilience of the financial market. In addition, some of these large ICT providers fall directly within the supervisory framework. Where should business leaders start? To successfully fulfil the requirements of DORA, a proactive approach is crucial. Companies should carry out a comprehensive analysis promptly in order to identify and prioritise the necessary measures. Close collaboration between IT and business units is essential. The implementation and operation of the measures require continuous monitoring and regular adjustments. The support of external experts can speed up the process and ensure that all requirements are met on time. Furthermore, it is important that companies not only fulfil the regulatory requirements, but also establish a culture of cyber security throughout the entire company. Awareness-raising and training for managers, key roles and all other employees are therefore essential to strengthen digital resilience at all levels. DORA requires further development of the risk management system The implementation of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which will be mandatory from 2025, requires a comprehensive review and further development of various aspects of the risk management system. This includes in particular: Implement DORA with the help of PATECCO’s Risk-OptimAIzer Risk management is nothing new, but the risk view must be extended to the corporate ecosystem. In other words, the risks that exist or arise for the company through the procurement of services must be factored in. For this purpose, we have developed a tool to implement the requirements of DORA at PATECCO. The new tool Risk-OptimAIzer is able to perform the following functions: PATECCO can help your company implement the DORA requirement by setting up a comprehensible IT risk management system. As a first step we create a GAP analysis of the status of your risk management in comparison to the DORA requirements and based on the results, we create a customised implementation offer. By leveraging Risk-OptimAIzer, organizations can establish a structured approach to IT risk management that aligns with DORA regulations. The tool enables organizations to assess, monitor, and mitigate risks effectively, while also ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and driving continuous improvement in software delivery performance. The DORA Regulation is an important step towards strengthening digital resilience in the financial sector. Cybercrime remains a constantly growing threat, regardless of DORA, which is why sustainable and cyclical cybersecurity planning is necessary. With an early and strategic approach, companies can strengthen their digital resilience and effectively protect themselves against cyberattacks. The implementation of DORA should not be seen as an obligation, but as an opportunity to sustainably strengthen security and resilience to digital risks.

Measures to protect privileged accounts with Privileged Account Management

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Cybercrime has become the most prevalent criminal activity worldwide. Companies must therefore protect their privileged accounts against this ever-growing threat. These are, for example, administrator, service, root or database accounts. Cyber criminals favour such accounts because they allow access to sensitive and business-critical resources. Privileged accounts require particularly effective management and security to protect them. Privileged Access Management (PAM) is one of the ways to achieve this. That cyber security solution requires that the assets are first identified, before being protected. This article shows how PAM can effectively protect the privileged accounts against cyber threats. Where are the privileged accounts? Access rights apply to all parts of hybrid IT, from the local database administrator or application stewards to external partners, suppliers, application admins or developers, but also to helpdesks or computers and devices in the Internet of Things area. All these populations and privileged accounts are growing as IT expands towards new technologies such as cloud solutions or services managed by external partners How does PAM help my company? PAM makes it possible to manage all privileged accounts. All types of privileged accounts are recorded, categorised and automatically integrated into the system. This enables efficient management of privileged accounts and brings benefits within a very short time. PAM also helps with the management of privileged access rights by checking and monitoring the use of privileged access data. As a result, organisations achieve complete control and accountability over privileged access. PAM solutions enable the management of business secrets and access to sensitive data and privileged credentials used by applications, tools and other non-human identities without compromising the agility of DevOps workflows. Secure privileged account management is easy to implement with a well-planned security strategy. IT departments can protect their privileged accounts with the following five measures: 1. Identify and prioritise privileged accounts The basis of effective privileged account management is a complete overview of all existing privileged accounts in the company network. This may sound simple and manageable, but for many IT departments it is a major challenge. This is because these accounts are distributed throughout the company’s IT and it is not uncommon for their number to far exceed the number of employees. As complete manual identification is virtually impossible, companies should therefore rely on PAM solutions that automatically recognise sensitive accounts and provide those responsible with a complete overview of all accounts and the number of all local admin users at all times. In a second step, the accounts should then be prioritised, making it easier to select the appropriate security controls. 2. Password management automation One of the most effective means of preventing the misuse of administrator accounts and accounts with privileged rights is adequate password protection. This makes it even more important to create, store and change passwords in a secure environment – and to do so regularly. As with account identification, companies should rely on PAM solutions that are based on automation, i.e. that automate password changes according to an individually defined schedule. All connected systems and users are then informed of the changes in real time so that – unlike with conventional password vaults, for example – no manual intervention is required. 3. Least privilege: implementing a minimal assignment of rights Access rights that are too broad represent a major risk for corporate security – especially when privileged authorisations and accounts are involved. A clear definition of access rights and responsibilities is therefore essential if companies want to maintain a clear security line. It is advisable to categorise accounts into user, service, system and infrastructure accounts and to allocate corresponding access rights according to the principle of minimum rights allocation, also known as the least privilege approach. This means that it is precisely defined who is allowed to access an account and how this access is organised. For example, it must be decided whether an administrator may know a fixed password or whether they must generate a new one before each session. Of course, this allocation must be checked and updated regularly. 4. Monitor privileged sessions In addition, IT departments should utilise security technologies that provide them with complete transparency of all administrative activities and sessions, making it easier for them to identify unusual and potentially harmful access at an early stage (and before major damage occurs). This is most effectively achieved with solutions that use machine learning technologies and analyse user activities based on individual behaviour patterns and automatically report suspicious access to privileged accounts. 5. Incident response plan in the event of an emergency In addition, companies should have prepared an incident response plan, which defines specific measures for defence and rapid containment of a cyberattack and ensures that companies do not lose any time in the event of an emergency. If, for example, privileged accounts have been compromised, an incident response plan is particularly important, as traditional protective measures – such as changing passwords or deactivating accounts – are not sufficient in this case and more comprehensive recovery measures must be implemented. By combining these measures, organizations can significantly enhance the security of privileged accounts and reduce the risk of unauthorized access or misuse of elevated privileges. It’s important to tailor these measures to the specific needs and risk profile of the organization.

Important reasons why financial institutions need Identity & Access Management

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

The financial sector is undergoing a radical change. Transactions are no longer carried out over the counter in branches; both customers and advisors want to have access to information and applications from anywhere and at any time. To ensure that user administration still fulfils the highest security requirements, banks need modern Identity & Access Management solutions that can also flexibly implement regulatory requirements. Well-designed solutions for Identity & Access Management significantly increase the level of security in all financial operations. IAM also offers other advantages that financial institutions should not do without. 1) SoD – improves the security situation The functional separation of demarcated activities in IT systems (Segragation of Duties – SoD) is one of many components of a well-designed IAM system to prevent such enormous damage. In addition to such prominent individual cases, cybercrime has posed an enormous threat to companies since the start of the coronavirus pandemic due to people working from home. Three out of four companies are victims of data theft or sabotage. In most cases, the perpetrators are (intentionally or unintentionally) current or former employees, meaning that a company’s own employees pose the greatest cyber risk. Company-wide guidelines and processes for user and authorization management contribute significantly to (internal) error prevention at this point. A well-structured IAM system ensures that only those employees have access to IT systems who are authorized to do so at the relevant time by the manager and the respective functional or technical managers of the IT systems. In addition to access control for normal user authorizations, particularly powerful authorizations (e.g. emergency access or so-called super users) should be controlled separately. With such authorizations, users can, for example, change parameter settings or bypass predefined release workflows. Such authorizations should therefore only be granted in emergency situations. This is where Privileged Access Management (PAM), which should be linked to the central IAM system in the company, provides the right tool. 2) Improves the end-user experience Complex, manual application processes for access rights in companies lead to long waiting times, employees need long start-up times to be able to work. For each system you have different user IDs and in the best case a password that is not easy to guess and therefore difficult to remember. This is precisely why many people associate IAM with annoying, time-consuming activities. A standardized and consistent IAM system ensures short application paths, automatic assignment and fast work in the target systems. Thanks to integrated and intelligent authentication using single sign-on (SSO), users can log into the target systems easily and securely. The advantages of such authentication services are obvious: they make it much easier to establish new customer relationships, as you only have to authenticate yourself once with the identity service. Integrated two-factor authentication also ensures a high standard of security. Identity management gives companies the opportunity to improve their digital customer relationships and gain trust in terms of data security. 3) Ensures compliance Banks and financial institutions are subject to various regulatory requirements, guidelines and standards such as BAIT, VAIT, ISO 27001 and GDPR. The attention paid to IT security by auditing bodies (banking supervisory authorities and auditors) has increased significantly in recent years and the rules have become dramatically stricter. The processes adhered to in the IAM system cover central governance requirements, such as the need-to-know principle or compliance with approval and control processes. Compliance can also be monitored with the help of logging and evaluation options. In addition to formal adherence to compliance, there are also beneficial „side effects“: system managers automatically start to think more about access rights and structures as a result of IAM processes. Internal IT compliance audits lead to significantly fewer findings and the work of internal and external auditors is made much easier. IAM thus makes a valuable contribution to the fulfillment of the compliance function in companies and should therefore not be neglected by those responsible in compliance departments (not only in banks and insurance companies). 4) Drives Efficiency In modern IAM systems, the associated processes are automated and run in real time. Manual control loops and human monitoring are therefore a thing of the past. Particularly in large and rapidly growing organisations, the IT landscape quickly becomes confusing and manual process steps become a cost trap. IAM automates the steps that were previously carried out manually and provides a framework that channels the authorisation management activities to be carried out. The massive reduction in manual activities not only relieves the burden on employees, but also saves considerable costs in the long term. IAM is also a key driver for the digitalisation of business processes in companies and therefore forms the basis for the digital transformation already underway in so many companies. An intelligent IAM system that is designed with the end user in mind can also reduce the workload for IT help desks by providing self-service options for users. 5) Boosts agility The profoundly advancing digitalisation in the financial sector requires the consistent application of agile methods and the expansion of digital capabilities, particularly in IT departments. Modern IAM solutions fit very well into existing IT processes and enable an agile approach. The ongoing transformation of IT applications into the cloud is optimally supported by an IAM. With a hybrid IAM model, any IT systems, whether in the cloud or on-premise, can be connected quickly and in a highly automated manner. Modern software developments, apps and enterprise web applications can also be connected to the company’s central IAM in an agile setting, ensuring consistent and secure access to all systems in the company. The introduction of IAM solutions realises many benefits for companies. With IAM, enormous fraud and damage incidents are reduced. Appropriate controls for access management are provided and all (regulatory) standard workflows are highly automated. IAM gives companies full transparency of user access to their systems at all times, significantly reducing manual process steps and waiting times in the provision of user access.