Uncategorized - PATECCO GmbH

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

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.

Best Practice Tips for Successful Customer Identity and Access Management

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Identity and Access Management is now considered a secure alternative to passwords as an authentication method. However, in addition to security, the user experience also plays an important role. With these six tips, providers can ensure an optimal customer experience and therefore satisfied customers. Securing critical data is an essential part of digital transformation. Many companies still use passwords as their main authentication method. However, as a relic of the pre-digital age, it has long been declared a major insecurity factor and obsolete. Identity and Access Management (IAM) offers an effective and less costly alternative. The key to a successful IAM approach is the correct identification and profiling of customers based on data. This is the only way for companies to correctly understand the needs and interests of users and offer appropriate services and products that guarantee a personalized customer experience. Both sides benefit from this relationship, as companies can increase customer loyalty and business profits and users receive the information and services they really want. While IAM is being used more and more, the demands on its functionality are also growing and it now has to do more than just provide security. A successful solution must also guarantee customer satisfaction and serve multiple stages and platforms of customer contact without overburdening or scaring off the end user. Nevertheless, companies should consider the implementation of a suitable customer IAM solution (CIAM) as a top priority, as it can have a direct impact on the company’s success as the link between IT, marketing and sales. With the following six tips from PATECCO, companies can successfully optimize their customer IAM for security and customer satisfaction: The right balance between usability and security While ease of use is a critical factor, it should not be built at the expense of privacy or lax practices for accessing company data. Just as front doors are not opened to just anyone, companies should be welcoming but not allow access to cyber thieves. Evaluate IAM solutions according to scalability and availability The scope of customer IAM programs is often much larger than that of employee IAM programs. Customer populations can number in the millions and fluctuate at any given time, so organizations should evaluate IAM vendors on their ability to scale, branding, customization, availability and performance. Vendors should be selected based on their ability to adapt to current and future business needs. Customers should have immediate access to applications Consumers have no patience for long waiting times when logging in and registering. With poor performance and slow responsiveness, users quickly abandon apps and switch to the competition. Therefore, customer IAM solutions should offer response times of just a few milliseconds. Existing technologies should be integrated Let’s be honest, it’s never easy to start from scratch. Especially when companies have been working successfully with legacy technology for years. Therefore, it can sometimes make sense to build on existing IAM investments. Leveraging existing identity tools, even if they are separate instances, can potentially reduce the cost of technical support, training and licensing. In these cases, organizations need to ensure that their customer IAM solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing technologies. Multi-platform is a must Even a single customer uses multiple platforms to engage with the brand: desktop and mobile web, phone and in-person interactions. This leads to an explosion of new use cases for customer identity – not to mention unique technology requirements. Organizations should ensure that their customer IAM solution can not only address current browser and software-based applications across these platforms, but has the vision and capabilities to serve future needs such as the Internet of Things, Big Data, product development and risk management. Implementation of various authentication methods Every customer is unique and has their own preferences. Just as online stores offer a variety of payment methods such as credit card, PayPal, etc., CIAM solutions should provide a variety of authentication options to suit every taste. Social logins, SMS texts and biometric authentication methods offer different customers the convenience they need. Companies can thus combine data protection with a positive customer experience. At the heart of successful customer IAM is always the positive customer experience, which ultimately has an impact on overall business success. Companies must find suitable solutions to keep customer satisfaction high and personalize services better. This is the only way for companies to stand up to the competition and retain customers in the long term.

Five Recommendations From PATECCO For Security in Multi-Cloud Environments

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Traditional security concepts are not enough for multi-cloud environments. What is needed is an approach that enables a consistently high level of security and seamless compliance management across all clouds. These five recommendations will sharpen your focus on the security aspects of multi-cloud environments. The digitalization of companies is progressing and with it the shift away from traditional infrastructure to the cloud. Hardly any company today completely dispenses with the advantages of the cloud. However, this change often does not take place in one step, but rather an ecosystem of applications and cloud storage from various cloud providers is gradually emerging. This is why most companies also have multi-cloud environments. There is nothing wrong with this in principle. However, it should not be forgotten that a company is also responsible for the security of its data and the fulfillment of its regulatory requirements in the cloud. Though, the implementation of these security requirements sometimes differs considerably from the security concepts that we have previously applied in traditional data centers. The following five tips should help to raise awareness of the security aspects in multi-cloud environments. 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 organizations, however, this is one of the first hurdles because the use of different cloud services has often developed historically. Identity is the new perimeter We are used to thinking in a traditional perimeter security environment. What is outside our perimeter is bad. What’s inside is good. As soon as cloud services come into play, this concept no longer works. Our data no longer lies within a clearly defined perimeter but is theoretically accessible from anywhere. In native, hybrid and multi-cloud environments, identity is therefore the new perimeter that needs to be protected. On one hand, this can be ensured through the use of zero-trust architectures. On the other hand, this can be achieved through the technical implementation of secure authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). Applicability and user-friendliness are important when designing these methods. PATECCO also offers corresponding solutions for various scenarios with its Identity & Access Management Services. Recognize vulnerabilities It is a common misconception that moving to the cloud also gets rid of vulnerabilities, or that these are now primarily a problem for the cloud provider. This is only partially true. Although reputable 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. 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. Encryption creates trust If I store sensitive data on a data carrier, then I will choose a data carrier that is able to encrypt my information securely. The same principle also applies to cloud storage. This does not necessarily have something in common with mistrust of a cloud provider. But, we have to assume that a cloud provider is fundamentally exposed to the same risks as any other organization. There are people who make mistakes, sometimes even people who deliberately want to harm an organization. It is therefore sensible to prevent these risks in principle by encrypting your workload in the cloud. 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 sooner or later be circumvented or undermined 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 provides the appropriate functions for security monitoring when selecting a provider. How can PATECCO support the planning and implementation of your cloud strategy? PATECCO’s cloud security services support our customers to plan their native or hybrid cloud strategy. The Cloud security risk assessment identifies the relevant technical and regulatory risks based on your business/IT strategy and takes them into account in the planning. Our Cloud Access Control and Identity and Access Management solutions help with implementation and operation, regardless of whether your company is pursuing a public or private cloud strategy.

What is the Influence of AI and ML on Privileged Access Management?

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are now influencing almost all industries and work processes. The positive impact on the productivity and efficiency of work processes is offset by the increase in the number and threat level of cyber attacks: security vulnerabilities can be detected more easily and exploited in a more sophisticated way thanks to the new methods. In view of the shortage of IT security specialists, the use of AI and machine learning also creates advantages for overcoming precisely this challenge. In the early days, the concept of managing privileged access was extremely simple. A few selected IT administrators were given the „keys“ to access critical systems and data. Today, the number of privileged users has increased exponentially as the digital transformation progresses. It is no longer just IT administrators who hold these „keys“, but also company employees or third-party providers, for example, who need access to sensitive systems and data for very different reasons. This expansion of the user side has significantly complicated the security landscape, making traditional Privileged Access Management solutions less effective. The misuse of privileged access – whether deliberate or accidental – is just one challenge that companies face. There is also a growing need for proof of privileged user credentials, as regulators are increasingly demanding them. Companies therefore need advanced PAM solutions that adapt to the digital landscape, detect threats in real time and respond to them to provide a sufficient level of security. This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) come into play. By harnessing AI and ML, companies can improve their security posture, reduce the risk of security breaches and ensure regulatory compliance. How PAM technologies utilize the advantages of artificial intelligence? AI and ML can analyze and learn from the login behavior of privileged users. By understanding what normal behavior looks like, these technologies can detect anomalies that could indicate a security risk. For example, if a user who normally logs in during normal business hours suddenly logs in late at night, this action can be classified as suspicious. The same applies to the login location. If a user who normally logs in from a specific location suddenly does so from a location, this can also be flagged automatically and indicate that the corresponding login data has been compromised. AI-powered PAM solutions effectively track user behavior and quickly flag any deviation from regular patterns. This feature provides deeper insight into user behavior and enables proactive and more effective threat detection and response. Perhaps one of the most powerful applications of AI and ML in PAM is their ability to predict anomalies. By analyzing historical data and identifying patterns, these technologies can predict potential security threats before they occur, allowing organizations to take proactive measures to mitigate them. Effective PAM solutions use AI to analyze enterprise data and provide security professionals with insightful data as they make access decisions. This capability enables real-time monitoring of evolving threats, attack patterns and risky behavior, allowing organizations to respond quickly and effectively to potential security threats. Privilege elevation and delegation are key aspects of Privileged Access Management (PAM) that involve managing and granting elevated permissions to users for specific tasks while minimizing the risk associated with such privileges. Artificial Intelligence can play a crucial role in optimizing and securing privilege elevation and delegation processes within a PAM framework. AI can be applied in areas such as Contextual Authorization, Automated Workflow and Approval, Role Mining and Entitlement Management, Privilege Delegation Recommendations and Audit Trial analysis. An efficient PAM solution should also provide risk scoring regarding individual users based on their behavior and historical data. This feature enables administrators to make informed decisions about granting or revoking privileged access and thus improve the organization’s security posture. Real-time analysis of access requests enables adaptive management decisions that are not just based on fixed rules. This feature enables a more dynamic and responsive PAM approach and ensures that the organization’s security measures keep pace with the evolving threat landscape. The benefits listed above clearly show that the use of AI and machine learning for IT security is no longer an option, but a necessity. These technologies offer promising opportunities to improve the efficiency of PAM solutions and thus strengthen the level of security in organizations. By using these technologies, companies can improve their security posture, reduce the risk of security breaches and improve compliance with legal requirements. AI can integrate with threat intelligence feeds to enhance PAM solutions‘ ability to recognize and respond to emerging threats. When integrated with AI-driven PAM solutions, threat intelligence contributes to a more robust security framework and helps PAM systems stay updated on the latest security threats and vulnerabilities. When we talk about Risk Assessment and Prioritization AI can analyze threat intelligence data to assess the risk associated with various activities and access requests within the organization. By combining threat intelligence insights with behavioral analytics, AI can prioritize and assign risk scores to different access attempts, helping organizations focus on addressing the most critical threats first. Threat intelligence feeds provide information about the latest cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and attack techniques. AI algorithms can process this information in real-time, allowing PAM solutions to proactively detect and respond to emerging threats before they can be exploited. In a nutshell, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into Privileged Access Management enhances security by providing advanced analytics, automation, and adaptive responses. This results in a more resilient and responsive security framework, crucial for safeguarding privileged access to sensitive systems and data in today’s complex cybersecurity landscape.

IT Asset Management and its role in cybersecurity

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Modern IT asset management (ITAM) goes far beyond the traditional management of IT assets. It plays a particularly important role in protecting companies against cyber risks. Suitable software helps your team to keep an eye on all devices at all times and detect potential threats at an early stage. What is IT asset management (ITAM)? ITAM, also known as IT asset lifecycle management or asset lifecycle management, refers to the proactive and strategic management of IT assets. This includes the acquisition, use, automation, maintenance and disposal of assets. Gartner’s definition shows just how important ITAM is from a strategic point of view: it captures the lifecycle costs and risks of IT assets in order to maximize the business benefits of strategic, technological, financial, contractual and licensing decisions. The most important sub-areas include: What is an IT asset? The prerequisite for seamless ITAM is the consideration of all IT assets. This includes mobile and permanently installed hardware inside and outside the network (such as laptops, routers, servers, peripherals, smart TVs), software (such as cloud services, security tools, licenses), users and business-relevant information. The 5 phases of classic ITAM Classic ITAM consists of five successive phases that can be largely automated. Once the basic framework is in place, you can optimize the individual phases one by one. The first phase begins with the request for new IT equipment within the company. An effective ITAM has a best practice for standardized, automated transmission and predefined criteria for checking, approving or rejecting requests. The next phase involves the procurement of IT assets. Tasks include the selection of one or more providers, contract negotiations, financing and adding the new assets to the company’s inventory. The implementation phase begins with the preparation of the purchased devices for use at the respective location. They are integrated into the IT landscape using pre-installed software, settings, firewall rules, VPN access and policies. Special tools for IT inventory management, device assignments and defined owners and locations ensure greater transparency and control during implementation. 4. Maintenance Asset maintenance includes routine measures for physical maintenance and software updates, as well as necessary repairs. Sophisticated ITAM systems work with automated processes that are supported by management tools. 5. Decommissioning Whether outdated or no longer functional: At the end of their lifecycle, IT assets need to be decommissioned. You should carefully weigh up the costs of refurbishing and recycling older assets or disposing of them and replacing them with newer solutions. Responsible and sustainable action is required here. The importance of ITAM for cybersecurity Cloud computing, mobile working and the introduction of SaaS platforms mean new challenges for the recording and management of hardware and software assets. A good ITAM provides a better overview and transparency, which also pays off for cybersecurity: Your team can carry out upgrades to the latest technologies more quickly and automatically. You also have a better overview of the entire IT environment and can make data-based decisions about security and data protection solutions. A complete IT inventory is therefore the basis for a solid security concept and the fulfillment of compliance requirements. And this is where cybersecurity asset management comes into play. What is the difference between ITAM and cybersecurity asset management? While ITAM aims to optimize business expenditure and efficiency, cybersecurity asset management is primarily concerned with strengthening important security functions. In terms of vulnerability management, this includes detecting and responding to threats and checking all assets for potential vulnerabilities. Another important function is cloud security: all cloud instances should be configured according to the principle of least privilege and only be accessible with absolutely necessary access rights. Should problems occur, you can achieve a rapid incident response thanks to enriched, correlated data across all assets. In addition, cybersecurity asset management enables the early detection and supplementation of missing security controls through continuous monitoring. Cybersecurity asset management requires deeper insight In the past, ITAM and cybersecurity asset management was based on configuration management databases. However, with the proliferation of cloud computing and virtual machines, the complexity of digital landscapes is increasing – and CMDBs often lack the necessary data to fully view and understand all cybersecurity assets. They need IT inventories with comprehensive, correlated data on every single asset – from software (licenses), computers and peripherals to cloud, virtual and IoT devices. Specialized cybersecurity asset management solutions cover exactly that and pick up where ITAM leaves off. The benefits of close cooperation between ITAM and cybersecurity asset management As the world of work becomes more flexible, the number of operational technology and Internet of Things devices is also increasing – many of which are unmanaged. For comprehensive, secure and reliable asset management, ITAM and cybersecurity asset management need to work closely together. The benefits are the following: Assets do not stand still – so they are a target that is constantly moving. To enable your team to identify and manage all devices, applications and users in real time, you need seamless processes with full transparency and control. Only with broad coverage of all asset types you can maximize the ROI of your technology investment and reliably protect your business.