cybersecurity - PATECCO GmbH

Which cyber security solutions help to recognize and prevent insider threats?

In the intricate landscape of cybersecurity, threats don’t always come from external sources. Sometimes, the most perilous dangers lurk within the very walls we trust to protect our digital assets. Insider threats, perpetrated by individuals with authorized access to sensitive information, pose a formidable challenge to organizations across the globe. From rogue employees seeking personal gain to unwitting accomplices manipulated by external forces, the spectrum of insider threats is vast and complex. In this era of interconnected systems and digitized workflows, the stakes have never been higher. A data breach can cascade into catastrophic consequences, leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and compromised data integrity. As organizations strive to fortify their defenses against this insidious menace, the spotlight turns to cybersecurity solutions tailored to recognize and prevent insider threats. In this article we explore the cutting-edge technologies and strategies empowering organizations to safeguard their digital assets. From behavior analytics and user monitoring to privileged access management and data loss prevention, each solution plays a crucial role in fortifying the barriers against insider malfeasance. What is an insider threat and who are insider attackers? The cybersecurity experts define an insider threat as the potential for an insider to use their authorised access to or knowledge of an organisation to cause harm. This damage can be caused by malicious, negligent or unintentional acts – but either way, the integrity, confidentiality and availability of the organisation and its data assets ultimately suffer. Wondering who is considered an insider? Anyone who has, or has had in the past, authorised access to or knowledge of a company resource – whether that resource is personnel, premises, data, equipment, networks or systems. For example, this could be people who are trusted by the organisation and granted access to sensitive information, such as employees. Other examples include people who: Common types of cybersecurity threats 1. Phishing Phishing remains a widespread and insidious threat to organisations. It uses psychology to trick people into revealing sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details. Phishing often uses emails, messages or websites pretending to be trusted sources such as banks or government agencies. Attackers try to create a sense of urgency to get recipients to act quickly. They create messages asking for personal information, password changes or financial transactions. These fraudulent emails copy official messages so that recipients become careless. The promise of rewards entices them to click on links or download files. 2. Ransomware Ransomware is malicious software that aims to infiltrate a system, lock away important data and demand payment for its release. These attacks usually begin harmlessly via email attachments, suspicious links or compromised websites. Once set in motion, the malware races through the networks, encrypting files and denying the user access. The cybercriminals then demand payment, often in cryptocurrency, to provide the decryption key required to restore access to the data. The urgency of the situation forces victims to pay in the hope of restoring the flow of business. The consequences of a ransomware attack can be devastating. Companies could have to deal with longer downtimes, resulting in a loss of revenue and productivity. 3. Malware Malware poses a significant threat to organisations. Malware is short for malicious software and includes all types of malicious code designed to penetrate, disrupt or acquire computer systems. Malware comes in various forms, including viruses, worms, Trojans and spyware, each with their own characteristics and capabilities. These programmes often exploit vulnerabilities in software or in the way people use computers. People may not even realise they are downloading and using malware when they click on links or receive seemingly harmless files. Malware infections can come in a variety of ways, from infected email attachments to compromised websites. Once the malware has infiltrated, it can destroy data, disrupt operations and give cybercriminals unauthorised access. 4. Data breaches No issue poses a greater threat to organisations and their customers than . These breaches, which are often the result of complex cyber attacks, can not only expose private information but also undermine the foundation of customer trust that businesses rely on. 5. Exposure to third parties Increasing dependence on external partners and providers has become essential for progress and effectiveness. However, this dependence also brings with it a potential vulnerability: exposure to third parties. External partners and vendors can inadvertently provide an attack surface for cyber threats. If their systems and procedures are not properly protected, they could serve as a gateway for attackers. This problem is not just a theoretical vulnerability, but has tangible consequences. 6. Internet of Things IoT or the Internet of Things, describes the network of devices, objects and systems that are equipped with sensors, software and connectivity to collect and exchange data. From smart thermostats and wearables to industrial machinery, the IoT has become integrated into various areas of modern life. The widespread connectivity brings with it new challenges. Any IoT device can be a potential entry point for hackers seeking unauthorised access to corporate networks or sensitive data. Tools and technologies for preventing insider threats As said above, insider threats pose a significant risk to companies as they affect individuals who have authorised access to confidential information and systems. Detecting and monitoring these threats is critical to protecting organisations from potential harm. In this section, we will explore the tools and technologies that can help detect and monitor insider threats and provide insights from different perspectives. UBA solutions analyse user behaviour patterns to identify anomalies that may indicate insider threats. By establishing a baseline of normal behaviour, these tools can detect anomalies such as excessive data access, unusual login times or unauthorised file transfers. For example, if an employee suddenly accesses large amounts of confidential data outside of their regular working hours, this could be a warning sign of possible malicious intent. EDR solutions focus on monitoring endpoints such as laptops, desktops and servers for signs of malicious activity. They collect and analyse endpoint data in real time to identify signs of compromise or suspicious behaviour. For

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.

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.

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.

Why Penetration Test is Important in Cybersecurity and How Does it Work

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

It feels like every day starts with a new headline about the latest cyber attack. Hackers are stealing millions of records and billions of euros with alarming regularity. The key to combating these machinations is to continuously conduct thorough penetration tests. Penetration testing is used to test your security before an attacker does. Penetration testing tools simulate real-world attack scenarios to uncover and exploit security vulnerabilities that could lead to records being stolen or credentials, intellectual property, personal data, card data or private protected health information being compromised, data ransomware being extorted or other results harmful to business. By exploiting security vulnerabilities, penetration testing helps you decide how best to prevent cyberattacks in the future and protect your critical business data against them. What are the phases of penetration testing? There are five main phases to go through in any typical penetration test: 1. Target exploration and information gathering. Before the penetration testing team can take action, it must gather information about the likely target. This phase is important for creating an attack plan and serves as a deployment area for the entire mission. 2. Scanning After the reconnaissance phase, a series of scans of the target are conducted to decipher how the target’s security systems react to different attack attempts. Discovering vulnerabilities, open ports and other weaknesses within a network’s infrastructure can determine how pen testers proceed with the planned attack. 3. Gain access Once the data is collected, penetration testers use widely used web application attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting to exploit existing vulnerabilities. Now that they have gained access, the testers attempt to mimic the scope of potential damage that could result from a malicious attack. 4. Gaining access The main objective of this phase is to maintain a constant presence within the target environment. As time progresses, more and more data is collected about the exploited system, allowing the testers to mimic complex and persistent threats. 5. Covering traces/analysis Finally, once the mission is complete, all traces of the attack must be erased to ensure anonymity. Log events, scripts and other executables that could be discovered by the target should be completely untraceable. A comprehensive report is given to the client with a detailed analysis of the entire mission to highlight key vulnerabilities, gaps, potential impact of an intrusion, and a variety of other important components of the security program. How does a penetration test work? Penetration testing can either be done internally by your own professionals using pen testing tools, or you can hire an external penetration testing vendor to do it for you. A penetration test begins with the security professional taking an inventory of the target network to find vulnerable systems and/or accounts. This involves scanning every system on the network for open ports running services. It is extremely rare that all services on a network are correctly configured, properly password protected and fully patched. Once the penetration tester has properly understood the network and the vulnerabilities present, a penetration testing tool is used to exploit a vulnerability to gain uninvited access. However, security experts do not only examine systems. Often, pen testers also direct their attacks at the users in a network by sending phishing e-mails or trying to manipulate target persons in their favour by telephone or on the internet/intranet (pre-text calling or social engineering). How do you test the risk posed by your own users? Your users are an additional risk factor. Attacks on a network via human error or compromised credentials are not new. If the constant cyberattacks and data theft cases have taught us anything, it is that the easiest way for a hacker to penetrate a network and steal data or money is through network users. Compromised credentials are the most common attack vector among all reported data breaches, as the Verizon Data Breach Report shows year after year. Part of the job of a penetration test is to address security threats caused by user error. A pen tester will attempt to guess passwords from found accounts via a brute force attack to gain access to systems and applications. Although compromising a device may result in a security breach, in a real-world scenario, an attacker will typically use lateral movement to ultimately gain access to a critical asset. Simulating phishing attacks is another common way to test the security of your network users. Phishing attacks use personalised communication methods to persuade the target to do something that is not in their best interest. For example, a phishing attack might convince a user that it is time for a „mandatory password reset“ and therefore to click on an embedded email link. Whether clicking on the malicious link drops malware or simply opens the door for attackers to steal credentials for future use: A phishing attack is one of the easiest ways to exploit network users. If you want to test your users‘ vigilance against phishing attacks, make sure the penetration testing tool you use has these capabilities. What is the importance of penetration testing for a company? A penetration test is a crucial component for network security. Through these tests, a company can identify: Through penetration testing, security professionals can effectively identify and test security measures in multi-layered network architectures, custom applications, web services and other IT components. Penetration testing tools and services help you quickly gain insight into the highest risk areas so you can effectively plan budgets and projects for your security. Thorough testing of an organisation’s entire IT infrastructure is essential to take the necessary precautions to protect critical data against hacking while improving IT response time in the event of an attack.

Best Practices for Successful Risk Management

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Markets and their requirements are currently changing faster than ever before. Digitalisation is advancing, and more and more companies are shifting processes to the cloud. Artificial intelligence is producing results that were previously not thought possible – the outcome is uncertain. Considering these developments, smart risk management is becoming indispensable for companies of all kinds. A robust and customised risk management process not only helps your organisation reduce uncertainty. It can also tip the proverbial scales when it comes to delivering critical value to your customers. This article explains risk management, how to implement enterprise-wide risk management and the link between risk management and information security. What is risk management about? Risk management in a company systematically identifies, evaluates and deals with potential risks. These risks could affect the company’s objectives, assets and stakeholders. Every company has its own risks, depending on the industry and context. An effective strategy requires tailored processes to analyse and appropriately manage the risks. As the use of online technologies in the business context increases, so do the threats. Examples include home office and cloud services to which companies are exposed. Dealing with these risks in a planned manner is essential for a company’s information security. Certification to ISO 27001 is particularly important for those companies that work with large amounts of personal data. This is even more true for companies in critical infrastructures, e.g. the healthcare and financial sectors. ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security and lays the foundation for a company-wide information security management system (ISMS), which in turn defines measures for risk management in the company. This makes the ISMS a particularly important element for the long-term success of a company. Development of a risk management process Risk management according to ISO 27001 follows a process that comprises three central steps: Below we look at each of these steps in detail and provide you with useful best practices. Are you ready? 1. Identification and assessment of risks There are various approaches to identifying and assessing risks for a company. Approaches focusing on assets to be protected, on vulnerabilities, on threats and on scenarios are particularly common. Each variant has certain advantages and disadvantages and areas of application in which it is particularly useful.Before you start with the actual assessment of risks, you must first decide on a basic perspective for the analysis. Basically, there are two categories: qualitative and quantitative risk analyses. 2. Develop a risk treatment plan Once the potential risks to an enterprise have been identified and assessed, a risk treatment plan must be developed. This is used to manage or eliminate the risks. Regardless of the industry, four ways have been established to deal with risks to businesses. „Avoiding the risk“ in this case means doing everything possible to eliminate the cause of the risk. This may include stopping certain activities, no longer serving certain markets or no longer pursuing certain projects. Avoiding the risk makes sense above all when the risk is very likely and the possible consequences would be particularly fatal. If a company decides to „reduce risk“, it takes measures to reduce the risk or mitigate consequences. These include the introduction of measures, processes or guidelines. This option makes sense if the probability of occurrence is low and the possible consequences are significant for the company. In „transferring the risk“, the risk is transferred to another party, for example by taking out insurance or outsourcing certain activities to a third party. This option is always chosen if the possible consequences of a risk would be high and the company itself cannot or does not want to take countermeasures. In this option, the risk and its possible negative consequences are accepted. Instead of taking countermeasures, one prepares as far as possible, e.g. through monitoring or contingency plans, and includes the negative consequences as costs in calculations. This option always makes sense if the possible negative consequences of a risk are relatively small and the company is prepared to bear them. 3. Review and check for residual risks After the risk treatment plan has been completed, it must be reviewed for its effectiveness and possible residual risks. If residual risks are identified, they can be assessed using the above approaches and integrated into the existing plan. The final review is to ensure that the internal risk management is designed for the long term and is continuously monitored and controlled. Any changes in business processes or the business context must be taken into account and may lead to changes in the risk treatment plan. Cybersecurity and compliance are complex and becoming more complicated as more sophisticated threats emerge across the globe. Comprehensive cybersecurity, driven by senior management, can provide flexible and responsive solutions to these issues and protect businesses with an exceptionally secure and robust infrastructure. PATECCO offers you competent expert advice and solutions tailored to you in order to optimally support you in your risk management. In addition, we support you with ISO 27001 certification, your DSGVO compliance and develop individual strategies for your company-wide risk management.

Why Identity and Access Management is Critical for Cyber Security in 2023?

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

In PATECCO’s latest whitepaper, we will provide you a clear understanding why IAM is critical for cyber security in 2023 and how it helps you to keep your enterprise safe and secure. The series of articles describe the role of Identity and Access Management which is integral to an organization’s overall security posture, adaptability, and resilience against evolving cyber threats. Let’s get started! Click on the image and download the document:

How Artificial Intelligence Helps Minimizing Cyber Risks

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

The digital age has opened up numerous opportunities for us, but at the same time we are exposed to entirely new cyber threats. Never before we have been as connected as we are today – across all sectors and areas of life, in industry, business and society. Especially through the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, processes are becoming more and more automated and optimized. The challenge for cybersecurity is that every exchange of data must be secured and protected from unauthorized access. Furthermore, cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to compromise networks and steal sensitive data. These techniques are becoming increasingly advanced and can be difficult to detect by humans or traditional defense solutions. For this reason, organizations are looking to AI techniques to strengthen their cybersecurity defense plan. Artificial intelligence in cybersecurity can help companies understand and defend against these threats. How can companies protect themselves against cyber risks? As already mentioned, the application of AI has significantly impacted people’s lives. We now have machines that can drive cars, understand verbal commands, distinguish images, and play games. This is the reason why AI and machine learning have become indispensable to information security, as these technologies are able to quickly analyze millions of data sets and detect a wide range of cyber threats – from malware threats to phishing attacks, ransomware and zero-day vulnerabilities. These technologies are constantly learning, using data from past cyberattacks to identify potential threats. Regarding IT security, companies must ensure that they develop and operate a holistic security concept. In addition to using the appropriate protection products such as firewalls, virus protection or backups, this also includes active management of the IT components. All network components must not only be permanently patched and updated, but also continuously monitored. This ensures that security gaps are detected as quickly as possible. IT monitoring tools can be used not only to continuously monitor networks, servers, applications and other IT components to ensure that they are functioning properly, but to measure the performance of IT systems and detect security incidents, as well. Active monitoring is usually difficult for companies to implement, which is why support from a managed service provider is advisable. AI for cybersecurity can help you detect threats masquerading as normal traffic, and can process and analyze a large amount of data more thoroughly and in less time. A managed service is responsible for the provision and management of a company’s IT infrastructure. In doing so, we ensure that the customer’s IT infrastructure is always available and functional. Integrated services such as update management and monitoring, significantly increase the IT security. Of course the MSP use special software and AI-supported tools to ensure that potential attackers do not take advantage of artificial intelligence. Proper vulnerability management is the best way to secure an organization’s network. As mentioned earlier, a lot of traffic flows through an organization’s network, and it is imperative to detect, identify, and protect that traffic from malicious access. Unlike human security personnel, AI can quickly learn network behavior to identify vulnerabilities in the system, allowing organizations to focus on ways to mitigate those risks. In this way, vulnerability management can be improved and the enterprise can secure its network systems in a timely manner. Given the speed at which cyber threats evolve, it’s a fact that traditional rules-based security systems can’t keep up. This is where AI systems come into play. AI technologies are equipped with advanced algorithms that detect malware activity, perform pattern recognition and identify anomalous behavior before the system is compromised. Machine learning algorithms can learn from historical data and behavior patterns to identify new and emerging threats, including malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. AI systems can help identify your IT inventory, a documented record of all tangible and intangible assets. Cybercriminals are always trying to target these assets. Using AI in cybersecurity, you can predict how and when a cyberattack will occur and plan accordingly to allocate resources to the most vulnerable areas. One of the key benefits of incident response automation is its ability to significantly reduce the time it takes to detect, respond to security threats and remediate security incidents. AI and ML-powered tools can monitor network traffic, user behavior, and system logs to detect unusual activities that may indicate a cyberattack. This allows organizations to identify potential threats much more quickly than would be possible using manual methods, enabling them to take action before any significant damage is done. Cyberattacks are becoming more advanced, and cybercriminals are finding more creative ways to carry out their evil plans. That’s why companies are turning to AI to strengthen their defenses and mitigate cyber risks. AI offers so many cybersecurity benefits, including vulnerability management, risk prediction, threat detection, and network traffic monitoring. We hope this article has given you some insight into the use of AI in cybersecurity.

How to Implement Zero Trust With Privileged Access Management

Uncategorized / Von Ina Nikolova

Zero Trust and PAM both emphasize the importance of access control. As we know, Zero Trust adopts a least privilege approach, ensuring that users and devices have only the necessary access rights to perform their tasks. PAM focuses on managing and controlling privileged accounts, which have elevated privileges and access to critical systems and data. By integrating PAM within a Zero Trust framework, organizations can implement strict controls over privileged access, reducing the risk of unauthorized or excessive access. Guide to implementing Zero Trust with Privileged Access Management: Implementing Zero Trust with Privileged Access Management (PAM) involves combining the principles and practices of both approaches to enhance security and minimize the risk of unauthorized access. In this article will be presented a step-by-step guide to implementing Zero Trust with Privileged Access Management: Remember that implementing Zero Trust with Privileged Access Management is an ongoing process, and it requires commitment, regular monitoring, and a proactive approach to security. It’s recommended to engage with security professionals and consider consulting with experts to ensure a robust implementation. What is the interaction between zero trust and privileged access management? As already mentioned, Zero Trust and Privileged Access Management (PAM) are two complementary security concepts that work together to enhance overall cybersecurity. While Zero Trust focuses on the principle of not trusting any user or device by default, PAM specifically addresses the management and control of privileged accounts. Zero Trust and Privileged Access Management (PAM) interact in several ways to strengthen overall security and mitigate the risks associated with privileged accounts. Here’s a closer look at their interaction: By combining the principles and practices of Zero Trust with the capabilities of Privileged Access Management, organizations can enhance their security posture, minimize the risk of unauthorized access, privilege misuse, and potential security breaches involving privileged accounts. The interaction between Zero Trust and PAM helps organizations enforce strict access controls, implement strong authentication, monitor privileged access activities, and make risk-based decisions to protect critical assets and sensitive data.