For a rapidly digitalizing business environment, security should be included in the architecture, allowing businesses to be proactive in mitigating security threats across their entire ecosystem (suppliers, partners).
In today’s digital-first world, organizations are reconsidering their approach to security. CISOs are increasingly seeking scalable, long-term strategies that can proactively protect their company environment and prevent cybercriminals from exploiting vulnerabilities that are identified during crisis scenarios like the one businesses are presently experiencing.
The attack surface for cybercriminals has grown significantly as a result of millions of people working remotely. Hackers have been quick to exploit the flaws produced by less secure remote working mechanisms, resulting in a massive increase in cyber-attacks. As attackers continue to outsmart defenses, business and security professionals are being pushed to rely on convergent security approaches to solve new distant workforce challenges.
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The threat landscape is evolving
Cybercrime has become more sophisticated and focused. Hackers are always looking for new ways to exploit new dimensions and vulnerabilities. Last year’s biggest enterprise security event, for example, was the SolarWinds attack, in which hackers established a backdoor in SolarWinds’ Orion network monitoring software, which caught some of the most renowned organizations off guard. Since updates and patching are rarely monitored, this proved to be a significant area of vulnerability, highlighting the need for permissions or access privileges granted to third-party applications.
While AI has aided in the improvement of security, it has also enabled hackers to discover new software vulnerabilities. Hackers are increasingly employing artificial intelligence (AI) to construct sophisticated malware that understands how to exploit specific vulnerabilities in the host system while avoiding detection.
The rising usage of the cloud has also brought to light some vulnerabilities in the cloud ecosystem. The majority of these vulnerabilities are due to the customer’s failure to properly adopt or enforce cloud security controls. Misconfigurations in the cloud, for example, can put credentials in danger.
Providing safe remote access
As businesses are now working in the era of the “unbound enterprise,” the realities of a distributed workforce and digital transformation compel them to adopt a strategy that allows them to be productive from anywhere, while also securing data.
As a result, businesses have attempted to provide secure access to corporate applications. This includes leveraging VPNs or cloud-based zero-trust authentication systems to grant access. Virtual desktops have been used by certain businesses to provide secure access to company data and apps. This also prevents sensitive information from being downloaded to a distant or home computer.
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In terms of cloud security, businesses need to recognize that the customer bears a significant portion of the responsibility for implementing cloud security settings. Cloud-based automation technologies can also be used by businesses to enforce rules and identify exceptions or vulnerabilities in their cloud environments. In remote working environments, enterprises can use techniques like endpoint backup as a service to ensure that data on distant desktops or laptops is adequately protected.
Businesses should rely on the expertise of Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) to ensure protection in an always-connected world. MSSPs can provide a holistic and continuous threat monitoring service if they have the necessary technology and people. Simultaneously, companies can add an extra layer of protection by implementing zero-trust authentication and leveraging analytics to track user activity.
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