What is Vulnerability and Risk Management (VRM) in Security Control Management (SCM)?

Security control management (SCM) allows an organization to enforce security policies across its IT ecosystem. Vulnerability and risk management (VRM) is an essential component of effective security control management (SCM), helping organizations identify and prioritize software vulnerabilities to address them based on their risk.

VRM is especially important in modern business infrastructure, which has become increasingly complex. A robust VRM strategy helps identify and address security vulnerabilities in business IT structure before they cause major problems.

Risk vs. Vulnerability Management in SCM

Vulnerability management requires regularly scanning for weaknesses, categorizing them, and addressing them before malicious actors find and exploit them. For example, this could include using scans to discover outdated or vulnerable software installed on user devices and patching to remove the vulnerability.

On the other hand, risk management takes a more holistic approach. It involves identifying potential threats to the organization, assessing how they affect its bottom line, and helping it develop a risk tolerance and remediation plan. Examples of threats may include cyber-attacks and natural disasters.

Both risk and vulnerability management are required to create an effective security control management (SCM) plan.

Key Features of a Robust VRM Solution

A robust vulnerability and management solution should include several key features, including:

• Automated assessments to identify and inventory IT assets, users, and applications
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning can synthesize vulnerability data to provide IT leaders and management with a comprehensive view of the threat landscape.
• A list of prioritized security actions according to the level of risk

Assessment, Prioritization, and Remediation

Before addressing or patching vulnerabilities, conduct a thorough risk assessment and prioritize issues accordingly. This can be done by evaluating the severity and potential impact of each risk and understanding the potential consequences of not addressing them. There are many ways to assess each vulnerability’s potential risk, including vendor advisories, internal security assessments, and threat intelligence feeds.

After assessing the level of risk for each vulnerability, prioritize them according to urgency. One of the most common and effective ways to do this is to prioritize them on a scale that ranges from “severe” to

“significant” to “moderate” to “minor.” Modern VRM tools provide severity rating scales to help an organization understand and prioritize its risk.

“Severe” vulnerabilities should be patched or remediated as soon as possible because these high-risk, time-sensitive vulnerabilities could lead to severe data breaches or system compromises if exploited. In contrast, “minor” vulnerabilities can be addressed with less urgency because of negligible risk or support of non-essential features.

As part of an effective vulnerability management strategy, vulnerability remediation should be planned and tested before being applied. Create backups if a patch causes conflicts and you need to roll back the system. Thoroughly document and report test results to developers. After testing has been carried out, patches should be deployed, monitored, and continuously reviewed.

Using VRM to Meet Audit Requirements

VRM tools can help organizations meet compliance and audit requirements by providing a real-time, continuous assessment of potential vulnerabilities. This means organizations can understand which threats they are being exposed to so they can prioritize addressing the most critical vulnerabilities to improve their security posture.

Using such tools can also help fulfill audit requirements, which typically require organizations to show that they are gathering and analyzing threat intelligence and taking action as a result of finding and understanding these threats.

Implementing VRM Best Practices in SCM

The critical best practices for VRM implementation include:

• Regular discovery scans ensure that asset reporting is accurate, identify new devices introduced to the network, and assign tasks as appropriate.
• Regularly scanning assets to identify vulnerabilities that malicious actors could potentially exploit.
• Prioritizing findings and addressing them according to the level of risk and taking corrective actions.

Above all, it is important to remember that improving business resilience and asset security through security control management (SCM) requires a commitment to continuous improvement within the organization.

Improving Supply Chain Resilience with Security Control Management

Vulnerability and risk management (VRM) helps organizations find potential risks and identify their severity, which is key to improving security.

A one-time assessment is not enough — to maximize supply chain resilience, VRM should be conducted regularly and in real-time.

Learn more about how to adopt robust vulnerability management strategies for improved security posture and risk remediation across assets in your network with CyberMaxx VRM for SCM.

The post Using Security Control Management to Monitor Vulnerabilities and Risks appeared first on CyberMaxx.

EDR solutions play a critical role in identifying and remediating incoming threats before they escalate into full-blown incidents that can cripple the entire network. Organizations can significantly reduce the risk of widespread damage and costly downtime by proactively addressing threats at the endpoint level. EDR should also be supplemented with an expert Security Control Management (SCM) service provider to monitor your security infrastructure for proper functionality and security optimization.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Defined

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools are security controls that focus on monitoring and protecting user-operated endpoints, such as desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, and servers. These EDR solutions enable organizations to track user and device activity, investigate potential cyber threats, and remediate confirmed attacks, effectively safeguarding their IT infrastructure.

As most cyber incidents originate at an endpoint, EDR plays a proactive role by providing real-time monitoring and response capabilities. This proactive approach quickly mitigates and isolates threats, preventing them from spreading throughout the network. Having EDR as part of a layered security program is crucial in the event a first line of defense fails.

For example, suppose a threat actor sends a malware-laced phishing email to a user. The email bypasses the network firewall controls to enter the inbox, and the user negligently opens the email from their desktop computer — ignoring their phishing awareness training. After the initial controls fail, EDR detects the file as malicious and prevents the code from downloading onto the device. If the initial controls fail and the user clicks to download the attachment, EDR will investigate further to determine the extent of the threat.

What Are the Key Components of an EDR Solution?

Various parts of EDR must work in sync to ensure maximum performance and fast threat remediation. The primary components that make up EDR include:

Continuous Monitoring and Analysis

Everything starts with endpoint visibility. EDR provides real-time collection and analysis of endpoint data, such as user activity, file information, network traffic, and system access logs. The initial goal is to identify any events deemed anomalous or potentially threatening to the network.

From there, EDR analyzes and investigates those anomalies automatically to confirm whether or not an attack is underway. This function of EDR is critical because it lets you continuously track for threats to initiate the subsequent steps in the containment process. If an attack is confirmed, then the automated response procedures get triggered.

Automated Response

Upon detecting an attack, EDR immediately triggers automated response procedures. These procedures include notifying personnel, investigating the event further, isolating the affected endpoint, and remediating the threat. Like any automated workflow, putting incident response on auto-pilot gives you faster remediation with less chance of human-prone errors.

For example, suppose a virus is detected on a user computer In that case, EDR automatically isolates that endpoint from the rest of the IT infrastructure and swiftly removes the malicious software before it spreads throughout the network. Because EDR uses automation, there is a much faster incident response time than if the user were to alert IT security personnel have them disconnect the computer from the network by hand, and manually remove the virus.

Integration with Security Tools

EDR cannot function independently and must integrate with other data-sharing and analysis tools as part of a larger security ecosystem. For example:

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): This tool collects network data from numerous sources to find and alert for cyber threats. EDR can integrate with SIEM specifically to supply endpoint data for analysis.
• Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR): SOAR tools initiate automated network threat blocking, investigation, and incident response. Integrated with EDR, it can deploy those same automated response procedures for attacks targeting endpoint devices.

EDR is also, and importantly, optimized when managed through a Security Control Management (SCM) team. SCM provides a centralized view of your security posture and controls, including EDR. This team ensures everything is up and running and that there are no gaps in security across the whole network.

Comprehensive SCM: Treating EDR as a Managed Service

EDR has come a long way since its inception. What started as simple antivirus software detecting known malware can now spot and remediate endpoint threats with unknown signatures. However, this isn’t enough to fully harden your attack surface. Your solution must be able to track for malware AND thoroughly investigate an incident using contextual details like user behaviors and application activity to understand what’s “normal.”

That’s why security tools require more than just purchase and install. Modern threats often outpace standard, off-the-shelf EDR software, which typically struggles with new and complex attacks, self-maintenance, and self-remediation of vulnerabilities. A comprehensive SCM approach is essential to effectively counter these challenges, treating EDR as a managed service. For instance, CyberMaxx extends its services beyond mere procurement and installation of EDR, offering more robust solutions.

Our SCM services provide end-to-end EDR management. We do everything to ensure your security, from endpoint gap audits to providing guidance during security tool deployments, developing detection rules, updating endpoint agents, and managing users. Our services also include ongoing tool administration, policy review, EDR health reporting, and much more, all geared toward finding, containing, and quickly eliminating both current and emerging threats.

Get Advanced Security Control Management support with CyberMaxx

Advanced threat detection systems can give you peace of mind, providing reassurance that you’ll have non-stop threat visibility and automated incident response to quickly prevent attacks from causing havoc across your entire IT network.

As cyber threats continuously evolve, consider partnering with a Security Control Management (SCM) expert like CyberMaxx, who can administer defensive controls like EDR and ensure they operate 24/7 for non-stop network protection. Schedule a call today to learn how our “Offense Fuels Defense” mentality gets you end-to-end coverage that never stops improving.

The post Leveraging EDR as SCM for Reliable Threat Detection appeared first on CyberMaxx.

What is Web Application and API Protection (WAAP)

Web Application and API Protection are a group of security controls for securing web applications, software tools, and application programming interface (API) integrations against malicious attackers. The core features of WAAP tools detect and protect from software and web-based attacks. This includes a wide range of attacks, like code injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), malicious bot activity, and denial of service (DoS).

WAAP is vital to providing a layered security system at the application level. WAAP security tools ensure that software systems remain available to users, function as intended, and are secure from malicious code. WAAP tool implementation is also commonly required for industry and regulatory compliance. It’s one of many defensive security solutions you can utilize for a comprehensive cybersecurity program that safeguards the entire IT network.

Protecting Web Applications and APIs

Web applications and APIs power the essential functions of businesses, from customer service to team communication and financial transactions. From providing customer support tickets to integrating e-commerce platforms with ERP systems, businesses count on reliable applications and integrations to keep running.

With such importance on application functionality comes opportunity for threat actors. Web applications and API endpoints commonly have security vulnerabilities. In fact, 17% of all cyber attacks focus specifically on exploiting security flaws in web apps. That includes exploitation of code misconfigurations, user authentication failures, or broken access controls that enable cybercriminals to deliver successful attacks.

The most common type of attack, for example, is structured query language (SQL) injection. These attacks are based on the insertion of malicious SQL code to access stored information — representing 33% of all application vulnerabilities. Without a dependable WAAP solution to monitor and stop these threats in their tracks, these attacks can compromise your customers’ privacy. That could result in financial loss to your organization, expose company trade secrets, and jeopardize your brand reputation.

Core Features of WAAP Solutions

A complete WAAP solution has robust features that prevent unauthorized access to your web apps and API systems, provide visibility to detect potential threats and offer attack remediation capabilities. Some of the critical WAAP features include:

Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Similar to traditional firewalls that manage traffic for an organization’s network and prevent unauthorized access, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) serves as a type of software shield, brokering traffic between the internet and web applications.

Deployed in front of the application or web server, WAF tracks and analyzes packet data coming into a web application or API. A WAF filters out any traffic deemed threatening or capable of exploiting a known vulnerability based on attack signatures, security settings, and custom rules implemented by the administrator. For example, you might block Internet Protocol (IP) addresses from specific locations or any traffic that triggers SQL injection signatures.

By adding WAF to your security stack, you can mitigate application attacks and significantly reduce risk across your organization. Additionally, WAF tools allow for the collection and review of real-time application traffic data, providing insight into potential threats and allowing for application hardening.

API Security Controls

APIs provide an efficient way for applications to communicate and exchange data. Therefore, WAAP solutions often include security controls specifically for APIs to ensure that hackers cannot exploit system flaws to access sensitive data or launch attacks on integrated applications. Some of these controls include:

• Authentication mechanisms to ensure only authorized users have API access
• Encryption that protects data while moving between different applications
• User input validation controls that maintain code integrity by only allowing safe and “expected” data inputs
• Data logging and event monitoring of API endpoints to track malicious activity

Bot Mitigation

Bot mitigation is achieved by implementing specific policies in web applications and APIs to protect against malicious bot traffic. More specifically, web bots are automated programs that perform tasks without manual human actions. While bots have plenty of non-malicious, productive use cases, threat actors often use them to scrape backend data or deliver attacks such as credential stuffing, brute force password attacks, and denial of service (DoS).

The main bot controls are detection-based, using behavioral analysis or CAPTCHA techniques, such as requiring the user to successfully complete a challenge on a website to determine if the request is a bot or human. Another mitigation strategy is using rate limiting policies, which limit the number of requests allowed per specific time interval to an application or API — helping prevent DoS attacks by stopping a large volume of bots from overwhelming the system.

DoS (Denial of Service) Protection

As mentioned, DoS attacks are attempts to shut down a system, such as a web application, by flooding the server with an overwhelming amount of requests. A threat actor usually deploys automated bots to deliver a DoS attack and make the web application unavailable to legitimate users — causing a wave of unhappy customers and operations disruptions.

Layered DoS safeguards have their own priority for WAAP implementations. A good place to start is implementing WAF policies that use behavioral analysis and threat detection tools to filter out requests indicating malicious bot activity related to DoS attacks. As previously mentioned, using rate limiting policies, which caps the maximum number of requests allowed to a web application during a set period, can mitigate risk of DoS attacks.

WAAP and an Integrated Security Control Management System

WAAP is just one of many defensive security controls you can deploy for a solid cybersecurity strategy that protects your network and IT assets. It’s best used as a layer of security for applications in conjunction with other vital controls like endpoint detection and response (EDR) software, network firewalls, a vulnerability management system, threat-hunting tools, and user awareness training.

To optimize your defensive security controls, consider investing in a Security Control Management (SCM) process or provider that offers outsourced SCM services, which provides you end-to-end visibility on a WAAP solution. This ensures that the tool is deployed and managed in a way that meets compliance and security policy requirements, performs as intended, and maintains 24/7 operational status, providing your organization with the peace of mind that web applications and API endpoints are always protected.

Secure Your Web Applications with CyberMaxx

With the increasing reliance on web applications and APIs, businesses must stay ahead of threat actors by adopting a modern WAAP solution that protects them from a wide spectrum of web-based and application layer attacks.

As cyber threats continuously evolve, partner with a Security Control Management (SCM) expert like CyberMaxx, who can administer and manage your WAAP solutions and ensure they operate 24/7 for non-stop application security. Schedule a call today to learn how our “Offense Fuels Defense” mentality gets you end-to-end defensive security that never stops improving.

The post Protecting Your Apps with WAAP and SCM Systems appeared first on CyberMaxx.

What is Security Control Management?

Security Control Management (SCM) is the process and structure around proper and efficient deployment and management of cybersecurity controls to ensure they function as intended to protect your network, applications, endpoints, and data. This management includes administering and installing solutions, providing tool maintenance and updates, and ensuring 24×7 visibility on controls to monitor for security platform health.

While you can handle SCM internally, it can also be outsourced to a cybersecurity provider as a managed or co-managed service. Adopting a managed SCM service is a great way to maximize your technology investment with the help of an expert SCM partner. In many cases, businesses know what tools they need but don’t have the expertise or time to manage and maintain those controls in-house.

SCM is vital to protecting your IT environment as it ensures you have the proper security controls to mitigate your specific risks and that they are constantly up and running. Further, by deploying and activating particular controls, you can comply with any regulatory and insurance requirements your business may have.

The Four Types of Tools Used in SCM

SCM is a comprehensive, frequently evolving process that begins with identifying precisely what controls you need and then continuously adapting those solutions to address the constantly evolving threat landscape. There are four primary tools you can use in your security infrastructure for robust SCM:

Firewall

Firewalls are a core security system for protecting your network and applications. They act as a broker that monitors and filters packet data to prevent unauthorized traffic from entering. As part of a complete SCM solution, you or your provider would determine which types of firewalls your business needs based on its infrastructure, risks, budget, and compliance requirements. The options include:

• Packet-filtering firewalls: Basic firewalls that allow or deny network traffic by comparing incoming packet header data to preset rules developed by the administrator.
• Stateful inspection firewalls: More advanced firewalls that analyze the entire packet, including headers, payloads, and context of the communications (where it is from and content of data packets), and monitor all active network connections to filter incoming traffic and identify potential threats.
• Proxy firewalls: Firewalls that broker traffic directly between the client (user) and server (application) to ensure it meets predefined policies set by an organization. Proxy firewalls have their own proxy servers and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to act as an added layer for attacks directly at the application level, such as malware.
• Next-Generation firewalls (NGFWs): Sophisticated firewalls with supplemental controls in addition to network filtering, such as stateful packet inspection, intrusion prevention, threat intelligence, and application awareness for comprehensive security.

Firewalls demand a lot of maintenance activity, including policy development, patch and firmware management, performance tuning, hardware refreshing, and many others — making firewall SCM a critical but challenging task for most businesses. It’s important to remember that firewalls act as a first layer of network security that should be used in conjunction with other tools throughout the business to optimize security.

Web Application and API Protection (WAAP)

Web Application and API protection (WAAP) tools maintain security, uptime, and code integrity for software and application programming interface (API) integrations. Web applications often have vulnerabilities, such as insufficient authentication protocols or back-end system issues. These vulnerabilities let attackers access sensitive data or inject malicious code, making Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) a vital component of a concrete cybersecurity program.

A complete WAAP solution typically includes the following features:

• Web Application Firewall (WAF): Software-based firewall that is positioned between the internet and a web application to regulate what traffic can come into that system. It analyzes incoming traffic for behavior or attack patterns that indicate a threat and can also help enforce security policies for authentication protocols and access control.
• API security: Tools that allow applications to communicate securely with one another and ensure only authorized users can access the back-end API endpoints. Includes encryption controls to protect data moving between applications and authentication measures to keep unauthorized users from altering the integrations.
• Bot Mitigation: Policies and tools you can adopt for web applications that detect automated bots using behavioral analysis and CAPTCHA, block confirmed bots, or limit the amount of traffic and service requests to prohibit a large volume of bot traffic from overwhelming the system.
  DoS (Denial of Service) Protection: Security safeguards like setting web traffic limits, caps on service requests made to a web application, and service throttle rules to prevent a vast number of malicious requests from overwhelming the web application system to the point of shutdown and disruption.

While it’s incredibly important to have secure and reliable applications, managing WAAP controls is a time-consuming process. You need a solid SCM strategy that ensures you’re consistently and effectively managing WAAP solutions as new applications and websites are developed. WAAP management includes ongoing optimization of security policies, monitoring of WAAP tool traffic, providing information to IT and application teams for patching/remediation, and so much more to maximize WAAP tool uptime and performance.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Endpoints, including computers, tablets, servers, and phones, are any IT assets connected to your organization’s network. They make excellent targets for delivering cyber-attacks because they host the applications and data accessed by users and can serve as a means to get into an entire IT network.

Estimates reveal that 70% of all security breaches originate from an endpoint. Therefore, a layered security strategy is essential. Security Configuration Management (SCM) should encompass this layered strategy and should include Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions to protect vulnerable endpoints.

As the name suggests, EDR is the combined set of tools that let you secure your endpoints. It will likely include key components such as:

• Continuous monitoring and analysis of endpoints to track events, identify suspicious activities, and spot threats that may have bypassed your firewall or other controls.
• Automated response and remediation policy that investigates suspicious events, isolates confirmed threats to a network segment, and minimizes the damage done by quickly quarantining it.
• Integration with tools like Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems to collect and share endpoint data and initiate automated incident response procedures at the endpoint.

With EDR, you can proactively spot and remediate threats before they impact the rest of the IT network. SCM for EDR has evolved significantly in recent years. EDR, which once started as basic antivirus software, can now deploy its threat detection and response functions beyond endpoints and for an entire IT network through Extended Detection and Response (XDR).

In the past, while service providers only performed EDR procurement and initial installation for your business, many now deliver full-service SCM on EDR tools. In other words, they’ll handle end-to-end solution management, including administration, maintenance, troubleshooting, monitoring, and reporting on control effectiveness.

Vulnerability and Risk Management (VRM)

Vulnerability and risk management (VRM) is a part of the SCM stack that scans assets in your network and provides feedback for vulnerability mitigation and better asset security. It lets you identify precisely what controls (or updates) are needed based on your unique exposures, threats, and compliance requirements.

On the vulnerability side, SCM helps you find IT system weaknesses and flaws in your current security posture. You can use scanning tools and manual assessments to spot the most vulnerable, mission-impactful parts of your network that need immediate patching. On the other hand, risk management is broader and assesses the likelihood and impact of an incident on your organization — helping you prioritize and formulate a solid security strategy.

Complete VRM lets you constantly improve SCM with core functions like:

• Vulnerability assessments: Lets you prioritize where to add or update controls based on security weaknesses, the criticalness of those IT assets, and where you’re most likely to be targeted.
• Patch management: Allows you to understand which assets need system or software updates to account for newly discovered threats or vulnerabilities.
• Compliance monitoring: A system that tracks constantly evolving regulatory and industry updates to information security requirements so you can make changes to your program.

When incorporating VRM for SCM, conduct regularly scheduled assessments, including vulnerability scans, control gap analysis, and compliance monitoring. It’s also best to work with a third-party, non-partisan SCM provider that can offer expertise on vulnerability management and deliver controls that address your unique risks.

Get Security Control Management support with CyberMaxx

The cyber threat landscape never stops changing. Security Control Management (SCM) is the best answer for ensuring versatile, reliable security controls are always up-to-date. Schedule a call today to learn how CyberMaxx can serve as your end-to-end SCM service provider for administering, maintaining, and monitoring vital controls, including network firewalls, WAAP, EDR, and VRM.

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