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              • How to Leverage the Principle of Least Privilege for Stronger Network SecurityHow to Leverage the Principle of Least Privilege for Stronger Network Security
                The principle of least privilege (PoLP) is an information security concept that gives applications or users minimum required network permissions to perform their jobs. Therefore, PoLP is an important aspect of privilege access management (PAM).  Implementing the principle of least privilege provides network security by avoiding needless exposure. For example, a user and employee access limit reduces the risks of cybercriminals getting hold of critical files.  Having easy access to the most critical assets of an organization is vitally important. The only users with full access should be the current administrator or the executives in the company. For newly hired personnel within the organization,  the lowest permission levels should be implemented at the onset. Full permissions should be granted  after screening and a background check. Bear in mind that background checks are  always cheaper than data breaches.  Why is PoLP Important? Putting the least privilege in place goes beyond having a single or limited number of admins for internal operations. Subsequently, many organizations give users over-privileged access to information that has nothing to do with them. The bitter truth is that half of the users share their credentials with someone else.  Cyber threats occur inside or outside, and both attackers operate alike. Criminals from outside leverage user account to gain control over endpoints and to acquire targeted access to valuable data. Insiders leverage  the access they have or any compromised accounts. With that, they can leverage data and applications for malicious activities.  The principle of least privilege ensures that access to critical assets and high-value data gets protected. It applies to not only  just users, but also  to applications, connected devices, and systems that require access as well.   The principle of least privilege allows the minimum amount of access necessary for employees to complete their job without restriction. It gives a form of balance, keeps systems safe, and facilitates productivity.  There primary goals of least privilege include:   To bring a balance between usability and security protections.  To implement a minimum access policy for managing and securing privileged credentials.   Flexible controls are needed to balance compliance requirements with cybersecurity, end-user experience, and operational functions.  Users only need access to the minimum amount of required privileges.  There’s a need to give users a frictionless experience while keeping the system highly secure.   Key Benefits of Least Privilege Reducing the Potential for Insider Threats Cyber actors on the inside use  access to get all accessible data  for exfiltration or destruction. In order to successfully prevent an insider threat, use a comprehensive security policy that contains procedures to prevent and detect misuse. There should also be guidelines for conducting misuse investigations and potential consequences and restricting employee access to  critical infrastructure. There should have a place for locking up sensitive information and isolating high-value systems requiring tight verification access. If necessary,  biometric authentication can be used to prevent  employees from using another staff key card.  Reducing the Attack Surface An attack surface refers to all possible points where unauthorized users could gain access to a system and extract data. Organizations with already over-privileged users need to implement the least privilege principle to eliminate unnecessary access. A smaller attack surface is easier to protect. One way to go about it is by determining user roles and privilege levels, to help  understand the particular behaviors of users and employees.   Limiting Malware Propagation or Infection The principle of least privilege prevents malware from spreading on a network. Malware often requires local administrator rights to gain access. Meanwhile, an administrator with access to various network resources has the potential to spread malware to others.   Having fewer users with elevated rights helps in reducing malware infections. In the event of any attack, it becomes easier to contain, thereby preventing the spread to the entire system. In addition, PoLP reduces users’ ability  to install or download unauthorized applications, which can often include malware.  Increased System Stability Organizations often have to deal with human errors from within the work environment. For instance, an employee could mistakenly tamper with a file and cause major organizational issues . The principle of least privilege is a great way to prevent high-impact human error and thus guarantee greater network and system stability.  Applications running with restricted privileges  are  less likely to crash the entire system. PoLP also helps limit the downtime associated with a crash or data breach. As a result, an organization practicing PoLP enjoys more stability, enhanced fault tolerance, and improved work productivity.   Challenges with PoLP Implementing the PoLP comes with numerous benefits, though certain roadblocks can impede its full success. These might include:  Diverse and Complicated Networks The least privilege comes with the need to centralize accounts to accommodate users and machines. Modern computing environments use numerous complex  platforms – both cloud and on-premise. The implication is multiple endpoints for applications and heterogeneous operating systems. As a result, it becomes quite challenging to guarantee the five most important concerns for the security of an organization’s network.   These five concerns include the constant protection of networking equipment, security from computer operating system attacks on , preservation of computer hardware , and maintaining data integrity and confidentiality..   Cloud Computing and Environments Companies that use cloud environments experience challenges regarding  a lack of segmentation, excess privileges, and account sharing due to cloud-native computing. The misconfigurations that stem from cloud permissions often leave an organization vulnerable to potential cybersecurity attacks. Therefore, implementing the principle of least privilege requires strategies beyond a single tool or product.   Default Settings Challenges Operating systems focus more on ease of use than security. Moreover, the software conditions come with default credentials that are easy to find online. These operating systems shy away from enforcing a minimum access policy as default. The implication is that users have the power to carry out actions like creating backups and deleting files. which can negate the principle of least privilege and expose a network to potential attacks.  How to Implement PoLP The Implementation of PoLP need not be a complex task. A simple restriction preventing end-users from exfiltrating certain information is a good start. Organizations that want to successfully implement the principle of least privilege can start with the following:   Conducting privilege audits by reviewing all existing accounts, programs, and processes to ensure there is no loophole.   Starting or converting all accounts to least privilege  to put the necessary checks and balances in place.  Organizations can also add privileges based on the access required to perform specific tasks.   Separating privileges requires distinguishing between lower-level privilege accounts and higher-level-privilege accounts.  Track and trace user or individual employee actions through one-time-use credentials. It goes a long way to avoid potential damage.  Examples of the Principle of Least Privilege The principle of least privilege has opportunities for every level of a system. It covers applications, databases, end users, networks, systems, processes, and all other facets of an IT environment. Here are some examples of accounts that need PoLP:    User Accounts: The principle of least privilege only gives users or employees the necessary rights for carrying out their tasks or responsibilities. If the user’s computer gets compromised, it limits the lateral spread of that threat. A major challenge arises when an employee has root access privileges, which can cause   MySQL Accounts: When several accounts perform unique tasks, a MySQL setup needs to follow the PoLP. When the online setup allows users to sort data, the MySQL account with sorting privileges becomes an issue of compulsion. That way, a hacker who gains access to exploits  only gains the power to sort records. However, there comes a big problem if the account has the power to delete records, as the hacker then has the ability to wipe out the entire database.  Just in Time Accounts: Users who rarely need root privileges should only receive reduced privileges the rest of the time. Organizations must make it a policy only to retrieve passwords from a vault when needed. Using disposable credentials equally goes a long way to guarantee cyber security. It serves as a great way to increase the traceability of a network.  Final Thoughts Network security best practices call for implementing the principle of least privilege. It serves as  an efficient method for ensuring mission-critical data does not fall into the wrong hands. With such high stakes, it is crucial to learn how to properly implement PoLP  across your organization’s network.... Read more...
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          • How it worksUnderstanding cloud RADIUS authentication
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              • How Cloud IAM Security Vulnerabilities Are Being ExploitedHow Cloud IAM Security Vulnerabilities Are Being Exploited
                What is IAM Security? IAM is an abbreviation for identity access management. Identity access management systems allow your organization to manage employee applications without checking in to each app as an administrator. IAM security solutions allow organizations to manage a variety of identities, including people, software, and hardware.   IAM Infrastructure Over the past few years, businesses have been making the move from on-prem to cloud-based operations for their business. This has been majorly contributed by the rise of SaaS applications that have allowed businesses to increase operational efficiency through the cloud.  While this brings numerous business advantages, it has further complexified the array of required appliances and services needed to keep the business running smoothly. Many organizations often use multiple different cloud service providers across numerous different services.   This has increased infrastructure complexity, while making security management more difficult. Added to this is the fact that cloud environments constantly operate and run whenever they are. This availability allows the business to run smoothly without fail, but also leaves them vulnerable to exploitation whenever a malicious actor wants to access them.   IAM security layers have become an increasingly popular attack vector as things have moved to the cloud. Such attacks utilize phishing-acquired security tokens to a devastating degree, allowing a cybercriminal to assume any role within the network.  Cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud all have various IAM security measures when managing their platforms. Using Amazon Web Service’s IAM policies as an example, we will look at how a malicious attacker could exploit a vulnerability and assume roles.  IAM Security Roles First, we need to understand how IAM roles come into play. Authentication tokens are  assigned to each user identity in AWS. But suppose you wanted to offer network access to a third-party application, tool, or  web server.  Creating and maintaining users account for each service could prove quite difficult.   AWS considered this issue and created a solution known as the IAM role. A role lacks a username/password or access key, as it doesn’t pertain to a specific user. IAM roles serve as a distinct identity with assigned permissions that determine what the identity can and can’t do within AWS. When users can take on different responsibilities, other roles can be assigned to them.  IAM Security Vulnerabilities The complexities of enterprise cloud infrastructure have increased the exploitation of IAM security vulnerabilities. Exploitation can occur in various scenarios, such as when debugging in a DevOps environment, where an administrator is provided permissions for testing. This may be forgotten after testing is completed, allowing an attacker to potentially reuse the administrator credentials to access other parts of the cloud environment.    IAM security threats might also stem from other vulnerabilities such as:  Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) Assume a cyber attacker discovered a website running an unpatched application with a common server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability. An SSRF vulnerability allows an attacker to force a server-side application to send HTTP queries to a random domain of the attacker’s choice. In most cases, the webpage will display the English version via eng.php. Nevertheless, if an attacker modifies the eng.php file to refer to a  another URL, the web server will comply. Since the request originated from an internal source, it will then answer if the destination of the request is from an inside resource (such as the instance metadata server).  Misconfigurations Misconfigurations are another major cause of breaches in IAM and cloud environments, often leading to data loss or unauthorized access to cloud systems. They often arise due to a poor understanding of their complex cloud environment. Fortunately, there are various tools and methods that organizations can use to address this.  Companies should implement a solution that can identify both malicious and unintentional misconfigurations in cloud setups from all entry-points, while enabling a multi-cloud environment. Along with detecting misconfigurations, this solution should offer a means to correct them.   Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) Cloud-native application protection platforms offer a solution to common IAM vulnerabilities such as these. A CNAPP analyzes both the cloud infrastructure plane and workloads to give you a complete picture of both. Logging offers one such effective measure for mitigating IAM vulnerabilities by providing insight into who and what is active within a given network.   It is important for enterprises to gain complete visibility of their complex cloud environments to mitigate IAM security threats. Since entry to a network can be granted either directly or indirectly, graph models can be easily used to clearly illustrate the specific relationships between identities and their respective rights. Since each organization’s structure and demands are unique, the ability to leverage granular insight of this data is critical.   Cloud IAM Security: Final Thoughts Implementing the above steps to increase and manage your network visibility, data logging, and misconfiguration detection will help mitigate cloud IAM security vulnerabilities while preventing major security breaches before they happen.... Read more...
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              • Passwordless Authentication: A Paradigm Shift in SecurityPasswordless Authentication: A Paradigm Shift in Security
                Passwordless authentication appears to be the new belle of the ball amongst tech experts. Of course, the reasons all bother on the general challenges experienced by security companies and businesses.  The security and tech world continue to advance in scope and sphere – through  developing efforts to improve existing structure.  These changes  are prompted by  the ongoing surge in security breaches in which no industry is spared.  Security issues surrounding weak passwords serve as a driving factor for these breaches — and a nightmare for IT departments. As secure as some might believe them to be,, passwords remain the weakest link in today’s workplace security network. Stolen credentials are costly to resolve and come with many negative impacts.  As organizations rethink the future of the workspace, passwordless authentication seems to be a way out.  What is Passwordless Authentication? Passwordless authentication is any method that eliminates the reliance on passwords to provide a a smoother user experience,  stronger security posture, and reduced costs.  Passwordless authentication uses methods of identity proof to  replace the use of passwords, passphrases, and other shared secrets. The replacements take OTPs as an alternate means. Authenticator apps, biometrics, hardware, and software tokens make up other forms.  Businesses encourage the adoption of passwordless authentication because it removes all vulnerabilities associated with secret-based passwords. But, there’s a constraint – the market is not fully ready for its adoption. Business enterprises struggle to cover the various use cases with a single solution.   Challenges of Password Authentication Security Limitations Passwordless authentication is not entirely foolproof, although it’s better than a password. Hackers can use malware to intercept one-time passwords. They also insert trojans into a browser to gain access.  Costs of Deployment The implementation of passwordless authentication requires high costs. It comes with new software, hardware, trained employees, and more. Passwordless authentication also entails a change in management plans and projects.   The deployment also comes with hardware installations and the purchase of gadgets. In addition, the choice of software comes with hidden costs, software administration, maintenance, and migration.   Passwordless Authentication Methods Biometric Authentication It is a method that requires using biological characteristics such as facial features and fingerprints. This authentication method allows users to instantly log into their  devices .  One-Time Passcodes (OTP)/PIN The OTP is a method that puts the responsibility of generating dynamic codes on the service provider. As a result, it eliminates having to remember passwords or downloading apps.    Foremost in this category is the time-based one-time password (TOTP). The TOTP is a transient method and must be in sync with the time zone. It works with algorithms that generate passwords on a server and client whenever there’s system authentication. A major drawback is that a user may mistakenly tap multiple times to generate a token. When this happens, they have to restart the process.  Push Notifications Authentication Push notifications work with an installed app on the user’s phone. The user receives  a notification on a registered device containing the logins date, time, and location that allows them to accept or deny access.  Magic Links Login Authentication Magic links require a user to enter an email address into the login box. An email is then sent with a link that requires clicking to log in. A user receives this magical link to ensure safety whenever there’s a login.  The Benefits of Passwordless Authentication Reduced Costs Password management and storage require a lot of resources. Resetting passwords and frequently changing password storage laws are also costly. Passwordless authentication helps to remove long-term costs.  Stronger Cybersecurity Posture Passwords no longer provide a stalwart defense as many people repeat them multiple times.   Once a password gets breached, leaked, or stolen, it’s much easier for s hacker  to gain access to your other applications.  This allows malicious actors to then commit financial fraud or sell trade secrets to rival companies. Passwordless authentication takes care of these challenges by offering protection against the most prevalent cyberattacks.  Better User Experience and Greater Productivity Users often have to generate and memorize multiple passwords, and because of this they sometimes forget them, forcing the task of then resetting them. For this reason, users use simple and uncomplicated passwords, Often using the same ones for numerous applications, with an addition of an extra character. The challenge here is that hackers find it easy to access these accounts.   Passwordless authentication eliminates these challenges, as users do not have to create or memorize their passwords. Instead, they only authenticate using emails, phones, or biometrics.  Scalability Passwordless solutions work with technology and factors that end users already possess. Therefore, it becomes easier for mobile devices and laptops to infuse the various methods. Some passwordless authentication easily integrated includes biometrics and authenticator apps, Windows Hello, and fingerprints.   Top 10 Use Cases of Passwordless Authentication Passwordless authentication can apply to a variety of use cases including:  Customer payments authentication Remote logins Logins for financial services Call center authentication Personal logins Customer balance access Record access Mobile banking Wire transfers Push notifications Changing the Security Paradigm: The Big Step Businesses that integrate passwordless authentication have a strong concern for security. Organizations now realize that many security breaches result from the use of passwords. For them, the one-time cost of implementing passwordless authentication is more rewarding.  While it’s true that passwords are still quite common,  the security risks are enough reason to make a switch. With the technology quickly gaining traction, there’s no better time to integrate passwordless authentication.   Indeed, passwordless authentication is the next digital breakthrough that offers key advantages over the traditional password including:  It helps to lower costs while also increasing revenue. Customers tend to gravitate towards such products and services that provide trust and security.  Providing a smooth user experience is preferrable to any customer.  The presence of the technology and its adoption is a vital element for trusted security.   Nonetheless, passwordless authentication remains in its early stages. While many businesses have yet to adopt the technology,  there’s a strong sentiment that its  adoption will help change the face of security in the near-term.  ... Read more...
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