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  • 10 Essential Steps to Ensure Cybersecurity

    10 Essential Steps to Ensure Cybersecurity

    As businesses around the world begin preparations for the return to the office, a shadow still looms over IT departments: cybersecurity.

    At the beginning and height of the pandemic, the surge in remote work and a new wave of malware attacks put extra strain on network and infrastructure security. Now, with some employees staying at home while others go back on-site, these challenges remain a priority.

    In 2012, the U.K.’s National CyberSecurity Centre (NCSC) debuted a series of cybersecurity guidelines that are now used by most companies in the FTSE350. It is never a bad idea for IT leaders and security experts to consider these 10 proposed steps when assessing their company’s overall security measures.

    Define risk management strategy for cybersecurity

    First things first — Make a full inventory of all business-critical assets and infrastructure. Then, make sure you get the full picture of your strengths and weaknesses. Once that is done, IT and senior management should decide together what level of risk can be assumed and outline a comprehensive security strategy. All concerned stakeholders, from staff to partners and suppliers, must be made then aware of said policy.     

    Secure
    configuration

    Then, no one sets out on a journey without first doing a thorough check-up of the vessel. Make sure all your systems and tools are configured properly and that the latest updates are installed. Disable unnecessary functionalities and fix any issues that might compromise your ecosystem.  

    Network security

    The IT network of
    today’s businesses is vast, intricated and somewhat obscure. It combines
    different physical locations with cloud services and remote workers and
    collaborators. In this context, you must think of any and all vulnerable points
    of entry and put processes like VPNs in place to minimise risks.

    Malware protection

    Also, invest in the malware prevention tools, paying special attention to the functionalities offered in relation to your current and future needs. These tools can come in the form of both software solutions and policies regarding the exchange of information.  

    Defining user
    privileges

    Not all employees and users need access to everything in your network. So, split your users into levels and assign different privileges to each of these groups, limiting access to the most sensitive information to a few users. Moreover, it is a simple step that can save you a lot of trouble if an attack gets through, effectively serving as a firewall around the more critical parts of your network.

    Incident management

    In addition, outline and implement a clear process for identifying and managing incidents whenever they appear. When doing so, keep in mind response time and inter-departmental collaboration to ensure a smooth and efficient response.

    User education and awarenes with cybersecurity

    Then, put in place security awareness programs and carry out training when necessary. Human error is still the first cause behind enterprise data breaches. Therefore, simple-to-avoid malware tactics like phishing can be effectively managed by promoting a security-conscious culture across your stakeholders.

    Home and mobile
    working

    Also, COVID-19 has made it more evident than ever that work extends beyond the office doors. Your employee training and awareness programs should include recommendations on how to work remotely in a safe manner. Make sure you complement this approach with the proper software and network security tools like the aforementioned VPN.

    Removable media
    controls

    This is another area
    in which education and awareness play a big role. Removable devices such as USB
    sticks and hard drives are a great conduit for malware to spread. They also complicate
    the safeguarding of any information that is exported out of the system. Awareness
    initiatives in this area should be accompanied by specific software tools and
    policies, like limiting what information can be exported and by who.

    Monitoring

    Finally, remember to
    stay alert. None of the above steps will suffice unless you establish a
    comprehensive and ongoing surveillance system. Set up all the monitoring
    software that you will need to protect your network and train your IT staff to spot
    any irregularities early on.  

  • Weekly News: We’re Okay with Surveillance Tech Now

    Weekly News: We’re Okay with Surveillance Tech Now

    Just a few months ago, criticism was mounting in the U.K. around
    the facial recognition technology being tested by London’s Metropolitan Police
    to safeguard the city streets.  

    Then came COVID-19 and our focus and
    priorities changed. But as many non-essential stores get ready to re-open in
    mid-June, the general public is again facing the dilemma of adopting monitoring
    tech.  

    Only this time is a more contested dilemma.
     

    A recent Intu survey revealed that 60% of shoppers actively encourage stores to implement surveillance technologies that help make shopping safer. The proposed measures include temperature scans at entry points and CCTV to control crowds.  

    It’s not facial recognition. But we’re getting there. No wonder security experts are concerned that surveillance might be here to stay.

    Switching focus to cyber viruses

    One thing can’t be denied about the global
    response to the pandemic: we weren’t ready for it although we had been told to
    expect it.  

    To help avoid future catastrophic mistakes,
    the World Economic Forum has issued a call to action for
    businesses and institutions to prepare for the cyber pandemic we know will
    come.  

    In today’s interconnected world, a global cyberattack with a behaviour similar to COVID-19 (highly infectious and with high rates of asymptomatic infections) could lead to major cyber outages costing $50 billion per day.  

    WannaCry and other large-scale breaches were the wake-up call, just like SARS and MERS foretold the current crisis. Let’s do something about it this time.

    Building a solid AI foundation

    Many are the companies looking to jump on the
    bandwagon of the AI boom. Sometimes even too quickly.  

    Stephanie Overby at The Enterprisers Project shares some counterintuitive tips on how to implement artificial intelligence into business processes. Building a solid foundation is the crux of proper AI adoption.  

    Key points include taking time to evaluate current needs, as well as investing in talent and skills before tools.

    Discover 5 Online Courses to Get You Up-To-Speed with AI

    News from the frontlines…

    This is what the tech world is doing to help
    fight the pandemic:  

    Biotech entrepreneurs are proposing another
    approach to mass testing: biosensors. Different sensor technologies currently
    under development could be advantageous over existing
    testing methods     like the PCR test, providing faster and more
    accurate results. At a privacy cost, of course.      

    Also, a new wristband helps
    avoid blood clots in patients that remain immobilised for long periods of time
    due to COVID-19.    

    —

    ? ? ?

    Finally, tech has always been about
    connecting people. But how about connecting people and animals? Folks in Palo
    Alto have created a website through which you can feed a flock of happy chickens in
    real time    .  

    And don’t worry –
    it’s animal safe, solar-powered and you can even donate money to a pet rescue
    organisation.

  • Finding security experts in the COVID-19 crisis: a major challenge for IT departments

    Finding security experts in the COVID-19 crisis: a major challenge for IT departments

    How to find the good security experts? About a third of the world’s population is estimated to be currently under confinement to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. As a result, businesses across the globe are resorting to remote work to continue operations in those areas where that is possible. This is adding unprecedented amounts of stress to already understaffed IT departments. 

    CIOs and other IT leaders find themselves racing against the clock to adapt the whole company’s infrastructure to a work-from-home scenario while tackling their biggest concern: cybersecurity. And for good reason – threats are increasing exponentially. 

    But assembling the right security experts & security team is proving even more difficult than it usually is already. 

    Security threats give no quarter  

    Hackers are certainly not going to close shop because of a tiny microorganism. If anything, they are using it to their benefit. For instance; phishing emails; were already the most common form of attack experienced by organisations. But the past days have seen a great surge in attacks trying to lure employees into clicking on an email sent by “their boss” or containing virus-related information.  

    Among the most reprehensible of attacks are those being experienced by health and medical institutions. Not even the World Health Organisation was spared, targeted earlier last month by a false-domain attack aimed at stealing passwords from agency staffers. The situation is so dire that a group of 400 security experts from international giants like Microsoft and Amazon has volunteered to fight hacking tied to the coronavirus.  

    Yet that is not the main issue. The pressure being put on enterprise networks is quickly revealing system vulnerabilities. And especially for those companies least used to distributed work and that rely too much on local networks. In short, the soaring numbers of employees working from home are finally making most decision-makers aware of what IT leaders have been warning us for a while. The business world’s generalised lack of a comprehensive security policy and employee awareness training.    

    Although effective measures like VPNs have gained adoption in recent years, problems generated by shadow IT and BYOD remain largely unresolved. Many staffers will be accessing company resources through their personal devices and networks in the coming weeks. Multiplying exponentially the potential points of entry for attackers.  

    Experts are becoming even harder to find 

    In turn, this increase in cyberthreats is exacerbating the skill and personnel shortages the security sector was already experiencing. According to a recent study by ISC, the global security industry lacks more than 4 million security professionals. The world’s security workforce would need to grow 145% yearly just to meet the demand for skilled talent.  

    The shortage of skills impacts some of the most critical roles within IT security. Such as those related to identifying threats or patching and updating vulnerable systems. However, the deficit is more acute in areas tied to rapidly emerging or evolving technologies. For instance, and in this WFH crisis more than ever, security in multi-cloud environments is key. Unfortunately, few organisations have dedicated cloud security experts or proper encryption protocols for their data in the cloud.   

    Not surprisingly, the cost of security expertise has also become a problem as the lack of skilled talent drives wages up. And so the vicious circle goes.   

    Hire or outsource? 

    With everyone battling over the same security experts. Defining a solid talent strategy and identifying the right partners can make the difference; between a multi-million breach and your department’s success.  

    Regarding your talent strategy, you first need to decide whether you want to expand your team or rely on the temporary help of consultants. If you had been planning on bringing more people on board for some time, this might be the perfect time to create new permanent positions or fill vacant ones.  

    On the other hand, calling on a freelancer will most likely allow you to speed up the selection process and provide a quicker response to the crisis. Working with an independent contractor can also help you secure exactly the skills you need at a more competitive cost. As the freelance talent market tends to be more agile and flexible. 

    No matter which option you are leaning towards, don’t hesitate to seek the guidance and help of talent experts. Time is of the essence in the cybersecurity wars. Partnering up with the right IT staffing specialists will not only allow you to access the best talent; it will help you secure it before another company closes the deal.  

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  • The Case for Automation in Software Development

    The Case for Automation in Software Development

    Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has made great strides in the enterprise world over the past few years. According to Gartner’s most recent study on the topic,  90% of robotic process automation (RPA) vendors will offer generative-AI-assisted automation by 2025. The rapid growth of automation (and here the case of automation in software development) is not only prompting significant media buzz around its promising capabilities, but also raising concerns about its long-term impact on overall employment.

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    AI in the workplace: productivity gains and fears of trust

    Surely, companies are increasingly relying on virtual employees — from chatbots to AI-powered personal assistants — to increase productivity and lessen the burden imposed on staff by time-consuming and repetitive tasks better left to machine learning algorithms. However, as it tends to be the case with artificial intelligence, there exists a generalised mistrust of synthetic agents and their overblown potential to replace humans.

    As we have mentioned in the past, we should look at new technological developments from a more practical perspective rather than from a position of worry. Automation and artificial intelligence are tools that we can leverage to enhance the quality and speed of our work.

    Embedded in the
    DevOps DNA

    This is particularly
    true in a discipline like software engineering, which requires the full power
    of human ingenuity while also encompassing a series of tasks that burn through
    a lot of time and resources. Not surprisingly, automation is deeply ingrained within
    agile development methodologies and represents a big part of the day-to-day in
    DevOps.

    In their effort to optimise software production pipelines, DevOps engineers take advantage of various automation tools that allow for faster, more robust development – although how much automation should exactly be involved in the process remains a cause of debate.

    In any case, benefits
    of automation in software development are too great to ignore: speed, more resources
    and increased quality and security.   

    Increased resource
    availability

    Firstly, the continuous improvement and delivery (CI/CD) paradigm is an intensive process that involves many steps and requires increased collaboration between teams. Accordingly, automation has a great role to play to help with code testing, the updating of repositories and the integration of various software components.

    Moreover, automation offers a possible solution for understaffed teams of developers. Skill and personnel shortages are a prevailing issue for the industry. Development teams can greatly benefit from eager bots and other automation tools tackling all those lower-level, time-consuming tasks.                                

    Maintaining quality
    and app security together with speed

    Given today’s accelerated
    and competitive product lifecycle and the need for companies to adapt to ever-changing
    markets, speed is key in the delivery of software solutions. However, it is
    hard to achieve optimum levels of speeds while preserving code integrity and
    ensuring security across your universe of solutions.  

    Automation not only
    helps ensure the production of robust and quality code with fewer resources — it
    also leads to greater security standards by allowing developers to continuously
    monitor for vulnerabilities while maintaining the focus on higher-level aspects
    of software creation.

    In fact, a recent report by Ponemon Institute and IBM revealed that organizations without security automation experienced in 2019 breach costs that were 95% higher than those companies with fully-deployed automation ($5.16 million average total cost of a breach without automation vs. $2.65 million for fully-deployed automation).

    AI fuels innovation in business, but a shortage of qualified talent hampers its widespread adoption. To overcome the AI talent gap and gain a competitive edge, companies need effective strategies. Explore our infographic for the top 5 strategies to build a strong AI team.

    Conclusion

    This data underscores the ongoing significance of security automation in the contemporary cybersecurity landscape. As organizations grapple with evolving cyber threats and vulnerabilities, the adoption of automated security measures emerges as a key strategy for not only enhancing overall cybersecurity posture but also for minimizing the financial impact associated with data breaches. Therefore, as we progress into 2023, these insights serve as a compelling reminder for businesses to prioritize and invest in advanced security automation solutions to safeguard their digital assets and maintain resilience in the face of evolving cyber risks.

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