Uncategorized - PATECCO GmbH

Why Identities are the heart of digitalization and cyber security?

Everyone is talking about digital transformation. It helps companies to improve the customer experience, simplify business processes and prepare for future challenges and business requirements. However, this modernization also poses new challenges in terms of cyber security and data protection. This is because the use of local and multi-cloud/remote environments means that users can access data from anywhere. Identity governance is therefore shifting with the use of identity federation and personal devices (BYOD). At the same time, the number of data access points, roles and user accounts is increasing – including privileged accounts. In such a complex IT ecosystem, it is difficult to manage and control identities and their access effectively. Attacks on identities are a daily routine It is well known that the top management level is directly responsible for its corporate risks and consequently their management. This also includes risks relating to Identity Governance & Administration (IGA), as they have a major impact both operationally and financially. Identifying and managing identity-related risks is fundamental, as the consequences of a security breach in connection with identities range from reputational damage to financial losses in the form of fines or ransomware payments. In order to create effective risk-based access and identity management programs, the focus is on the risks of each individual identity: These risks have been exacerbated by the global pandemic, but the theft of access data is also on the rise. In this regard, we recommend focusing on distributed, remote workplaces and employees as well as efficient monitoring of digital threats and the fulfilment and assessment of legal and industry-specific data protection and security requirements. It is also advisable to check access to sensitive customer and financial data as well as transactional processes. Identities take centre stage Today’s requirements are forcing companies to place identity and its context at the centre. For example, an identity can be both an employee and a customer, a doctor can be a patient or an employee can be a citizen. In combination with agile business models, job sharing, job rotation, etc., access management has evolved from a traditional perimeter-based to an identity-centric approach. We see time and time again that organisations struggle with the following four areas in particular: A holistic Identity Governance & Administration (IGA) that not only targets cloud, hybrid and/or on-premises security, but also the expectations of users and companies with regard to data protection, data security and cyber security can provide a remedy here. IGA solves open issues in IAM IGA is an important aspect of managing and controlling identities and the corresponding access authorisation. At the same time, IGA helps to solve IAM challenges such as inappropriate and/or outdated access to company resources, remote employees, time-consuming provisioning processes, weak Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or strict compliance requirements. All of these issues increase the security risk and weaken the compliance position of companies. With IGA, companies can automate their access management workflows extensively – even beyond their own perimeter – and thus reduce risks. IAM guidelines can also be defined and implemented. Last but not least, this enables companies to actively review user access processes for compliance reporting and proactively initiate automated measures. For this reason, more and more companies are modernising to IGA in order to continue to meet the increasing compliance requirements of eHealth, SOX, ISO/IEC 27701, PCI DSS etc. in the long term. But it’s not just compliance that benefits from IGA! IGA improves the overview of what users can and cannot access. This enables IT administrators to optimise identity management and access control, efficiently mitigate risks and protect business-critical systems and data. With the right IGA tools, organisations can protect themselves in today’s complex IT and cyber security landscape, improve their resilience and achieve scalable growth. Business-to-identity as a key element IGA is the secret supreme discipline in the areas of governance, risks and compliance. Identity Governance & Administration with all its disciplines such as Privileged Access Management (PAM), Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM) etc. are key functions for strategic security objectives such as: Zero Trust Completeness, Need-to-know, Security by Design, Security by Default. A central element in identity-centric management is to place identity at the centre of security strategies, based on a business-to-identity framework with IGA. Such a framework includes best practices for effective management of the identity-related threat landscape, overcoming hurdles in the context of automation and ensuring security by design in the centralised governance of identities. IGA tools also support the tracking and control of user access, both for local and cloud-based systems. This allows you to ensure that the right users have the right access to the right systems throughout the lifecycle, as well as detect and prevent unauthorised access. By implementing the right controls with Identity Governance and Administration, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and streamline user access management to improve efficiency. IGA solutions provide a comprehensive framework to manage digital identities, define and enforce access policies, conduct access reviews, and generate audit-ready reports. This holistic approach not only reduces the risk of data breaches but also enables businesses to adapt rapidly to changing security landscapes and align IT processes with corporate governance objectives.

How does blockchain positively impact data protection and digital identity management?

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

In this fast-paced digital age, where the exchange of personal data permeates online interactions, protecting data privacy and establishing foolproof digital identities has become a compelling challenge. Blockchain technology is a concept often associated with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. However, the reach of blockchain is much broader and goes beyond its roots in cryptocurrency. Beyond revolutionising digital transactions, it has the remarkable ability to reshape the landscape of data privacy and digital identity management on an unprecedented scale. This article explains how blockchain is positively impacting data privacy and digital identity management. Blockchain in the context of digital identity management Blockchain in the context of digital identity management refers to the use of blockchain technology to manage digital identities securely and transparently. Basically, digital identities are managed by centralized entities like governments, banks, or social media platforms, which store personal information in their databases. However, this centralized approach poses several risks, including single points of failure, data breaches, and lack of user control over their own data. Blockchain technology offers a decentralized and immutable ledger where digital identities can be securely stored and managed. Besides, the blockchain-based digital identity management systems have the potential to revolutionize how identities are verified, authenticated, and managed in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, government services, and online interactions. The role of blockchain in data protection Have you ever thought about gaining complete control over your personal data? Well, blockchain technology helps you gain that authority. Imagine being able to keep your information secure and private without any organisation having control over it. This is possible with the help of decentralisation. This means that blockchains do not store your data in one central location, as is the case with conventional databases, but distribute it across many different computers. This creates a network of copies of your data, which in turn makes it more secure. But wait, if everyone has access to these copies, doesn’t that mean your privacy is at risk? Let’s find out how blockchain keeps your data private and secure. Think of blockchain as a chain of blocks, with each block containing data and a special code called a hash. Instead of having all the data in one place, copies of this chain are stored on computers around the world. Each time a new block is added to the ledger (chain), it must be approved by other miners. If more than half of these computer agree, the new block becomes part of the chain, otherwise it is rejected. This approval process is called consensus. The blockchain keeps your data secure by distributing it across many computers, ensuring that everyone agrees on any changes. It secures blocks using hashes and the clever proof-of-work method. With zero-knowledge proofs, you can prove things without revealing too much. And public addresses hide your identity but still allow you to make transactions. The impact of blockchain on digital identity management Advances in digital identity protection technology have introduced options such as robotic process automation and machine learning. However, these new solutions can be expensive and less efficient in centralised digital identity systems. Instead of giving control of identity data to centralised entities, using blockchain for digital identity projects may offer a better solution. How does blockchain help solve identity management problems? It works by creating a digital identity on a decentralised system, which brings several benefits. Here are some ways blockchain improves digital identity management solutions: Security is a big deal for the growth of blockchain digital identity companies in the future. Think of blockchain like a super-secure digital vault. It keeps the data super secure and locked away so no one can change it. It also uses secret codes, called cryptography, to ensure that no one can take a peek at your digital identity. This makes your digital identity super secure and easy to trace. In addition, using blockchain for digital identity means that we don’t have to worry so much about weak passwords that can be easily broken. Another cool thing about blockchain-based digital identity is data protection. There’s a lot of talk about protecting our personal data. Blockchain uses really strong secret codes and digital signatures to ensure that your private data remains private. Every time something happens on the blockchain, it’s like putting a special lock on it that can’t be opened or changed later. Blockchain makes trust easier. It’s as if everyone in the club agrees on what’s true. The information is shared on many computers and everyone agrees that it is correct. It’s a bit like many friends confirming a story. When different groups use the same system, for example a special code for your country, digital identities become even better. Blockchain operates on principles of decentralization, transparency, immutability, and cryptographic security, making it a reliable and tamper-proof system for recording and verifying transactions across various industries. The future of blockchain in terms of data protection and digital identity The future of blockchain in terms of privacy and digital identity promises a transformative development in the way personal data is managed and protected. By utilising blockchain technology, digital identities can be managed securely and transparently while maintaining user privacy. Through decentralisation and encryption techniques, blockchain enables secure storage of identity data, reducing the risk of data misuse and identity theft. The immutability of blockchain ensures the integrity of stored data and prevents tampering. In addition, blockchain gives users complete control over their own identity data. They can choose what information they want to share and with whom, without having to rely on centralised intermediaries. This promotes user confidence in the security and protection of their data. In the future, blockchain-based identity management systems could be widely used in various sectors such as finance, healthcare, government services and online interactions. These systems not only offer improved data protection, but also efficiency and ease of use by eliminating the need for repeated identity verification and the management of multiple credentials.

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

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

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.