How can you prevent social engineering attacks on your IAM system?

Phish, vish, and spam your users before the criminals do, and help them improve in detecting and reporting suspicious cases To prevent cyberattacks, train your employees to detect and report, they are your biggest allies

In modern times, social engineering attacks on IAM systems have grown increasingly sophisticated. These attacks often include tactics such as phishing. Another prevalent method is pretexting, where attackers fabricate a false scenario to manipulate individuals into disclosing sensitive data. Vishing, a combination of "voice" and "phishing," involves using phone calls to deceive users into divulging information. Furthermore, attackers exploit the human element through baiting, offering enticing but malicious files or links that, when clicked, compromise IAM security. The evolving landscape of social engineering attacks demands continuous vigilance and education to safeguard IAM systems and the sensitive data they protect.

The best way to help masses steer away from any kind of manipulation - digital or other scams - is to A. educate them and make seeking out information a culture B.Ensure systems they use , are intelligent and not easily broken . ( Banks do that fairly well now with calls when transactions exceed a certain value , or are from a diff location or are for a unknown business vebdor / entity ) . Both people and systems need to become intelligent .

I think it shouldn't be difficult, but creative. An awesome solution I've seen implemented against phishing is to have a secret avatar for your user (this was a bank). The avatar was really simple, 2 color regions and 20-30 shapes to select from but it would be unique enough for recognising it and be placed in any official communication and login page. This ensures that if you don't see your avatar, this is a fake place. Simple solutions as that one should be taken into consideration more frequently.

I agree with Matteus below completely. The post powerful tool to securing your estate is to train your staff. Then simulate attacks on them to test they absorbed the knowledge into their workflow. Then train them again and again and again. And keep retesting them.

"?? ?????????????????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????". To fortify IAM protocols, it's imperative to consider the application of the ITDR discipline. The ITDR framework, standing for Identity Threat Detection and Response, represents a nuanced approach to security. It integrates elements of threat intelligence, established best practices, an expansive knowledge base, alongside pertinent tools and processes. Its core mission is the protection of identity infrastructures. To achieve this, it employs rigorous detection mechanisms, conducts thorough analyses of anomalous activities or postural shifts, and implements strategies to counteract and recover from potential breaches.

Incorporating the principle of least privilege into the access control strategy involves regulating system and network resource access according to specific roles. While Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a valuable security measure for example it should required when accessing as administration any resources remotely but it's not immune to sophisticated attacks, especially when a system is compromised by malware. In such situations, attackers may employ man-in-the-middle (MITM) techniques to intercept and proxy One-Time Passwords (OTPs) entered online and exploited to impersonate the user and gain unauthorized access. Implementing out-of-band validation for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) can significantly enhance security.

Some of the best practices I have implemented in IAM Implementation: 1. Define a Clear well defined IAM Strategy 2. Inventory and Classify Resources 3. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) 4. Least Privilege Principle Avoid giving overly broad permissions. 5. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 6. Password Policies: Enforce strong password policies 7. User Lifecycle Management: Ensure that access is revoked promptly when an employee leaves or changes roles. 8. Establish formal Access Request and Approval Workflow 9. Enable Auditing logging and Monitoring of IAM activities. 10. Enable Encryption 11. Implement Segregation of Duties (SoD) controls to prevent conflict of interest 12. Use a well-defined IAM Policy Language e.g. AWS IAM Policies

Most scams involve method of falsely obtaining victim’s information by pretending as a trusted entity Especially in a phishing attack, attackers send email messages that may appear like they are from Sender you trust like from credit card company, bank, social networking site or online store. Emails often tell a story to make you click onto the false link, which looks legitimate. To avoid such social engineering threats, contact claimed sender of email message & confirm whether he sent the email or not. Legitimate banks will not ask your authorized credentials or confidential information through email.

Using 1 directory or domain in a segmented network with zones is dangerous but also a lost opportunity to further limit access to directory objects in each zone. For windows assets, a directory in each zone along with a subordinate CA for added PKI protection to non-priviledged and priviledged identities. Establish Groups for RBAC and use extension attributes to create mapping values for stages or extensions to non-windows systems like the user's linux identity for identity attribution from events in non-windows logs.

Security training can be dull, so diversify it with videos, interactive modules, and games to suit different learning styles. Test employee awareness with AI-driven phishing simulations using industry-specific examples to evaluate their ability to identify phishing emails. Opt for data-driven training by analyzing reported phishing emails and using clear reports to track security awareness progress.

One very effective approach to prevent social engineering attacks is conducting pen-test to detect & try to exploit vulnerabilities in your organization If your pen-tester succeeds in endangering your critical system, you can identify which system or employees you need to concentrate on protecting as well as the types of social engineering attacks your employees may be prone to

If the MGM Attack has shown us anything it is that it is best to have additional layers of protection to insulate an environment. Reports indicate a single 10 minute help desk call allowed an attacker to reset the credential to a highly privileged account and thus providing the access needed for a broader attack; a second line of defense or review could have thwarted this.

The human element remains the weakest link in cybersecurity. Continuous training shouldn't be viewed as a checkbox activity but rather a mission-critical strategy. Every employee, from interns to the C-suite, needs to be vigilant. Role-playing and mock attack scenarios can be more effective than traditional slide-based training, as they simulate real-world threats. Encouraging a culture where security is everyone's responsibility, rather than a mere IT task, will profoundly impact the organization's defense capabilities.

Prevention is better than cure. While there is a lot more awareness these days of these attacks, a big % do not know what to do when this happens. Reporting the attack to IT, MFA, changing credentials, etc : there should be a process in place that can prevent such attacks in the future. This is where learning and best practices comes in play. Corporations can monitor their IAM system for suspicious activity, such as a large number of failed login attempts or unusual login times. This can help them to identify and respond to social engineering attacks quickly.

Least privilege access is more powerful here than ever. Even if the attacker has gained access to a user account, he will only be able to access the resources that the user can. IAM is widely now being used for audit and monitor user activity. IAM can also be used to implement role-based access control (RBAC), which allows you to define specific roles for users and only grant users access to the resources that they need to perform their job duties. RBAC can help to prevent attackers from gaining access to resources that they should not have access to, even if they are able to impersonate a legitimate user.

Regular testing of the IT service desk through social engineering simulations is crucial for robust Identity and Access Management (IAM). These tests replicate real-world manipulative tactics. For example, an attacker might pose as an executive, call the service desk and by exploiting urgency, they might persuade an unsuspecting agent to reset and share a password, leading to unauthorised access. With regular training and awareness through testing, organisations can strengthen their defenses, enabling staff to recognise and prevent such threats.

I am a fan of simplicity. I am also a fan of behavioral biometrics. The reason for that, full disclosure it is a company I founded and subsequently sold to Lexis Nexis Risk solutions. So whenever I login to any internal system we use simply an email and password no MFA. If the typing looks like me it will authenticate and allow access. If something odd happens now is the time for MFA. It is so effective it has reduced 92% of step-ups. A colleague came back from a long hiatus and as there is no password policy change as it’s reliant on simply his email and a selected password he could log in directly with a good recognition. Forget clumpsy passwords and we all do it reset password as you forgot it, enter behavioral biometrics.

In a world of evolving cyber threats, leveraging advanced IAM tools isn't just best practice—it's a survival necessity. Modern threats often exploit minute system vulnerabilities at an incredible speed, and manual monitoring can't match that pace. Tools like SSO and PAM not only strengthen defenses but also streamline user experience, ensuring security without hindering functionality. It's not about having many tools, but about having the right ones, and ensuring they're properly implemented.

Use and integrate SSO whenever possible and make sure to test the integration. For linux, local admin and privileged application accounts, a PAM system is a must. As long as authentication is done through a central directory like a windows AD domain, you can track the use of shared credentials back to the main source of ID. Leveraging MFA systems and PKI augment your security layers, making it very hard to compromise. Security has to be balanced and make sense so it should not over encomber users to the point of annoyance.

While all these points are essential, one cannot underscore enough the importance of cultivating a security-first mindset across the organization. Remember, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Foster an environment where every stakeholder feels accountable for security. Celebrate and reward proactive security behaviors, and ensure that lessons from any security incidents are shared and learned organization-wide. Your IAM system is as much about people as it is about technology.

Often missed and improperly handled are the BIOS or Firmware passwords for security appliances, servers, storage controllers... It is imperative to change the password to meet policy and limit access to these credentials. Besides these are passwords you will most likely need in a time of urgency so I would recommend adding them to the lifecycle train.