Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a security technology that requires multiple methods of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify a user’s identity for a login or other transaction. Multifactor authentication combines two or more independent credentials: what the user knows, such as a password; what the user has, such as a security token; and what the user is, by using biometric verification methods.
The goal of MFA is to create a layered defense that makes it more difficult for an unauthorized person to access a target, such as a physical location, computing device, network or database. If one factor is compromised or broken, the attacker still has at least one or more barriers to breach before successfully breaking into the target.
In the past, MFA systems typically relied on two-factor authentication (2FA). Increasingly, vendors are using the label multifactor to describe any authentication scheme that requires two or more identity credentials to decrease the possibility of a cyber attack. Multifactor authentication is a core component of an identity and access management framework.
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The attack surface is the number of all possible points, or attack vectors, where an unauthorized user can access a system and extract data. The smaller the attack surface, the easier it is to protect.
Organizations must constantly monitor their attack surface to identify and block potential threats as quickly as possible. They also must try and minimize the attack surface area to reduce the risk of cyberattacks succeeding. However, doing so becomes difficult as they expand their digital footprint and embrace new technologies.
Organizations are moving to the public cloud in record-setting numbers, but with this growth comes unanticipated security challenges with user identity management and the explosion of “non-human” identities such as applications, databases and data stores. In a recent publication, Gartner estimated that “75 per cent of security failures will result from inadequate management of identities, access, and privileges” by 2023, up from 50 per cent in 2020. With this in mind, the need for more robust identity security is clear—especially the ability to detect suspicious activity leveraging valid account credentials. Unfortunately, traditional security tools are ill-equipped to handle this explosion of resource management and, as a result, over-provision access and exasperate security risks.
With identity-based attacks on the rise, today’s businesses require the ability to detect when attackers exploit, misuse, or steal enterprise identities. This need is particularly true as organisations race to adopt the public cloud, and both human and non-human identities continue to increase exponentially. Given the penchant for attackers to use credentials and leverage Active Directory (AD), it is now critical to detect identity-based activity.
Understanding today’s threats
The threat to identities is genuine, and given the damages occurring with their misuse, it should be a priority for every CISO. According to the 2021 Verizon data breach investigations report, credential data now factors into 61 per cent of all breaches. More broadly, the “human element” factor into 85 per cent of breaches, while phishing is present in 36 per cent of them. These stats highlight that attackers consistently attempt to access valid credentials and use them to move throughout networks undetected. Credential misuse has also enabled the growth of attack tactics like ransomware 2.0, with ransomware now making up 10 per cent of all breaches (double what it was in 2019).
Verizon is not the only organisation to note this shift.
As companies move their workloads to the public cloud, the security mindset also needs to shift from traditional security to cloud security. In the cloud security model, identity is the new perimeter therefore, implementing robust identity controls and safeguards to reduce the attack surface for bad actors becomes a key component of your security strategy.
The Role of IAM
The challenge is largely solved by Single-Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) technologies. SSO enables users to log in to all their apps and systems with just a single password. This reduces the number of passwords required to be remembered and eliminates confusion that results in people noting down or saving their numerous passwords in a document on their machines. MFA protects identities further by forcing authentication on multiple levels. Here, credential-based authentication is further protected by challenge-response questions, SMS or Email OTPs or even biometrics. Both these features form the base of most available IAM solutions.
But not only do IAM systems protect against unauthorized access, they also typically offer solutions for managing user access rights and trends. You can use them to govern and even automate the different accesses that someone may have to different systems and apps used by your organization.
Protecting identities is of far more pressing importance than safeguarding apps and systems against unauthorized access. By securing an identity you protect the very root of the access mechanism. Shielding apps and systems from hackers only insulate the last barrier in the access vector.
Today, identity security is central to the cybersecurity threat landscape, and the ability to detect and respond to identity-based threats is essential.
Sources:
(1) Solution Review
(2) Illantus
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Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is an on-demand, cloud-based software delivery model that enables organizations to subscribe to the applications they need without hosting them in house. SaaS is one of several categories of cloud subscription services, including platform-as-a-service and infrastructure-as-a-service. SaaS has become increasingly popular because it saves organizations from needing to purchase servers and other infrastructure or maintain an in-house support staff.
Today, Gabriel Buades tell us about how the trend of moving from a traditional information technology deployment to a software as a service is something that we are encouraging from Soffid.
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People everywhere continue to increase the amount of time they spend on their electronics. A higher usage of technology in comparison to the past is not necessarily a bad thing; however, it seems that using technology is becoming the general population’s go-to thing to do, especially when placed in an awkward situation
Digital technology is taking over the average office and the average modern business in a big way, if that wasn’t already obvious. Our reliance on tech, and increasingly complex forms of it, only becomes clearer as time goes on. But with that reliance also comes the fact that it can be a major vulnerability. Poor management of your hardware, software, and data can lead to a wide range of risks, including security problems, inefficiency, and major cases of downtime.
Critical sectors such as transport, energy, health and finance have become increasingly dependent on digital technologies to run their core business. While digitalisation brings enormous opportunities and provides solutions for many of the challenges Europe is facing, not least during the COVID-19 crisis, it also exposes the economy and society to cyber threats.
We are in the midst of a technology revolution, with the world becoming more connected than ever. But with great connectivity comes great threats. The digitisation of every aspect of our lives means that there is a growing reliance on technology not just in our homes but across businesses and industries too. A dependence that will leave us all vulnerable if our connected systems are breached.
The past decades have seen the manufacturing industry embrace the digital revolution. Emergence of new technologies such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought down barriers, enabling industries to grow and advance like never before. But, much like in the consumer world, these open platforms and interconnected systems have created more opportunities for cyber criminals, leading to a rise in the frequency of cybersecurity attacks.
Certain industries, notably in critical infrastructure environments such as power, oil and gas, water and wastewater and nuclear facilities, show a high level of awareness and appreciation of the need for a comprehensive security strategy. They tend to have detailed cyber security plans and procedures in place and their investment of time and capital in protecting their assets is considerable.
However, many organisations in other industries, notably manufacturing, are either unaware of the risk of cyber attacks or reluctant to implement security strategies in their enterprises, as investments in cyber security do not appear to have a tangible return-on-investment (ROI). This leads to a complacent ‘wait and watch’ approach that only mandatory regulation or the unfortunate instance of a cyber-attack may change.
These days, manufacturing organizations have some of the most complex network environments around. The industrial IoT/OT revolution has enabled huge efficiency gains and new business models galore — but it has also created hundreds (even thousands) of new entry points for cybercriminals.
We must understand that security is everyone’s problem. It must be integrated into every business, at all times, becoming part of each employee’s daily actions.
In most companies, a lack of cybersecurity training represents a big gap in terms of overall readiness and digital security. A comprehensive programme must account for the human element in a digital ecosystem. More than just hardware and software resilience, security rigor includes a process and plan that define the roles and responsibilities of employees and workers. It defines the types of actions and activities that are allowed to be performed, and includes clearly communicated consequences for noncompliance.
Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving space, with attackers persistently developing new and advanced technology and skills to compromise data and systems. The disruption of operational systems can have a far-reaching and potentially catastrophic impact to your business both in the short and long term. Whereas previously companies have sought to meet these escalating challenges individuals, the future is far more collaborative. Today, businesses are working together to develop cross-industry skills, combined with open technology and transparent communication to fortify businesses and keep plants running smoothly.
Cyberattacks and cybercrime are increasing in number and sophistication across Europe. A stronger cybersecurity response to build an open and secure cyberspace can create greater trust among citizens in digital tools and services.
Fighting cybercrime
Cybercrime takes various forms and many common crimes are cyber-facilitated. For example, criminals can:
gain control over personal devices using malware
steal or compromise personal data and intellectual property to commit online fraud
use internet and social media platforms to distribute illegal content
use the ‘darknet’ to sell illicit goods and hacking services
Some forms of cybercrime, such as child sexual exploitation online, cause serious harm to their victims.
If you’re like many modern businesses, then you may have gotten into the habit of collecting and collating data related to the business. Big data can help you develop insights in marketing, sales, customer relationship management, as well as in making internal processes more efficient. However, without a comprehensive data security policy, it can be one of the biggest vulnerabilities your business is faced with. Data breaches are becoming increasingly serious due to the amount of potentially sensitive customer data businesses are storing. Not having a data security specialist protecting your servers could result in heavy fines or even closure of the business following a major breach.
Over the past decade, the cyberthreat to the healthcare industry has increased dramatically, along with the sophistication of cyberattacks. Industry and government both recognize this new era. For each improvement delivered by automation, interoperability, and data analytics, the vulnerability to malicious cyberattacks increases as well.
Cyberattacks are of particular concern for the health sector because attacks can directly threaten not just the security of systems and information but also the health and safety of patients.
Healthcare organizations are attractive targets for cybercriminals for three main reasons:
Criminals can quickly sell patient medical and billing information on the darknet for insurance fraud purposes.
Ransomware’s ability to lock down patient care and back-office systems make lucrative ransom payments likely.
Internet-connected medical devices are susceptible to tampering
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