AlgoSec

We're all cyber defenders. SO what should we be doing to defend: ?? Our personal information ??? Our company's business-critical assets ?? Our client's data ??? Being a cyber defender doesn't require you to have been trained in counterintelligence operations. There are basic, ordinary, everyday things you can do that will go a long way in preventing cyber-attacks. Here are our top 5 recommendations: 1. Update your password/passphrase minimum once a quarter 2. Always update your devices (think: phones, laptop, tablets, etc.) with the latest software updates available 3. Vary your login credentials between each website/application (AKA: don't reuse or repeat passwords) 4. Don't click on any links that you're unable to verify 5. Complete the quarterly cybersecurity training at your organization

We've made it our mission to create solutions for the network security management problems your organization is faces. One of our biggest aids in figuring out what your actual security needs are has been asking you questions. We've boiled down specific questions that can guide security teams need to answer to properly design, implement, and maintain a secure, resilient, high-performance hybrid network. Questions like: ?? What is the current state of your network? How is it structured? What are its strengths and weaknesses? ?? Do you have a comprehensive, up-to-date inventory of your network endpoints? ??By which criteria are your security zones defined? ??? Which protocols and services are running on your network? What kind of protection measures do protocols and services currently in use need to be secured and segmented effectively? ?? How will segmentation interact with existing security measures (firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption protocols, etc.)? ??? What types of data does the network handle, and where is this data stored? ??♀? What is the potential impact of a security breach in your network? ?? What are the business needs and concerns? There's more that goes into it, but you get the point ?? This is why we are proud to have been recognized by Cyber Defense Magazine as winners in both the Application Security and Network Security & Management categories—because it means we've been asking the right questions in pursuit of creating the right solution for your needs. Thanks for the kudos, Cyber Defense Magazine, and thanks for all the important and hard work that you do, AlgoSec employees!

PROMPT: Explain passphrase best practices to me like I'm five ?? A passphrase is like a password but longer. It can also contain symbols and does not have to be a proper sentence or grammatically correct. Here are four tips for creating a strong passphrase: ?? Use five or more words you can easily remember and separate them with a special symbol. For example, yo+ho+a+pirates+life+for+me. ?? Your passphrase should be at least 25 characters long. ?? Change your passphrase every 60 to 90 days, unless you believe it was compromised, in which case change it immediately. ?? Avoid using the same passphrase on more than one website or application. ?? One last piece of advice: Make sure the phrase you choose is easy to remember but is not a common quote, lyrics to a popular song, or any group of words that could be easily guessed by someone who knows you.

While segmentation is a fundamental element of Zero Trust, organizations often face difficulties in its implementation. We determined from a recent study of ours that only 5% of companies have fully deployed network segmentation, meaning 75% struggle with enforcement... ?? Our recommendation that not only simplifies implementation, but also enables organizations to build and maintain effective Zero Trust architectures is an application-centric approach. An application-centric approach to network segmentation overcomes these challenges by focusing on securing application connectivity rather than just the infrastructure. This shift provides deeper visibility into application traffic patterns and enables more precise, automated security controls. An application-based approach to Zero Trust segmentation offers significant advantages: ? Limit breach impact: Segmentation confines breaches to specific areas, reducing the extent of damage ?? Strengthen security posture: Smaller, well-defined segments with specific security controls offer stronger protection for critical assets ?? Reduce lateral movement: Segmented networks present attackers with greater barriers to moving laterally, containing potential threats ? Simplify compliance: Isolating sensitive data within specific segments makes it easier to meet regulatory requirements ?? Enhance operational efficiency: Proper segmentation reduces network congestion, optimizes resource usage, and simplifies troubleshooting, ensuring continuous protection for business-critical applications. Write, "learn more," in the comments ?? if you want to receive our latest white paper that discusses this topic further.

"The cybersecurity landscape is fragmented. Some businesses invest heavily in protection, and others do the bare minimum. This disparity creates a situation where vulnerabilities in one company are exploited to gain access to more extensive networks and impact entire supply chains. For example, the infamous Target data breach in 2013, which exposed the credit card information of over 40 million customers, allegedly originated from a small HVAC subcontractor with poor security practices. Despite this, many businesses still don’t enforce even the most basic security measures like strong passwords with MFA. A 2021 survey by LastPass found that only 57% of businesses used MFA for employees. Frankly, this is terrifying, considering how effective MFA is. According to Microsoft, enabling MFA can block 99.9% of attacks on your accounts." - An excerpt from Brian Greenberg's recent article, The Case For Federal Regulations In Cybersecurity: Requiring Passwords And Multifactor Authentication (MFA), in Forbes.?

Imagine a large bank with a traditional perimeter-based security model. All of the bank's internal systems are protected by a firewall, and only authorized users can access them from the outside. But if an attacker breaches the firewall and gains access to the internal network, they can freely move around, steal data, or launch attacks. ?? In cloud environments, the traditional perimeter security model breaks down because the infrastructure is highly distributed. Data moves between multiple cloud providers, users access resources from anywhere, and the infrastructure is not contained within a single network. Cloud-based zero trust security addresses these challenges by implementing several strategies, like the four strategies below (make that FIVE, we threw our favorite one in as a bonus ??). ??Our biggest piece of advice: Remember, a successful zero trust security strategy is an ongoing process where you continuously evaluate users and assets on the network. This means implementing continuous data monitoring and validation tools to provide visibility and the ability to respond to threats in real-time. By continuously verifying trust and securing each layer, zero trust makes sure that organizations can protect sensitive cloud data, no matter where it resides or who accesses it.

VPCs are like creating your own private, digital empire within the vast public cloud. You get to set the rules, control access, and keep those unwanted visitors out. This isolation is crucial for preventing those sneaky attackers from gaining a foothold and wreaking havoc. With VPCs, you have granular control over your network traffic – think of it as directing the flow of traffic within your empire. You can define routing tables, create custom IP address ranges, and isolate different sections of your cloud environment.

2024 to do list: ? Throw sales kickoff event ? Launch new AI product ? Host virtual customer event ? WIN CISCO'S CO-SELL PARTNER OF THE YEAR! At Cisco Partner Summit 2024, we were recognized as Co-Sell Partner of the Year (EMEA) for our innovation, leadership, and best practices as a Cisco partner. Thank you #CiscoPartners and congrats to our incredible employees who made this possible! What qualifies a winner? Recipients of ?? Cisco Partner Summit Awards ?? are top-performing partners that have: ?? Introduced innovative processes ?? Seized new opportunities ?? Adopted sales approaches that achieve substantial business outcomes for customers The awards recognize partners for their achievements within specific technology categories and markets across the world. Award recipients are selected by a group of executives representing Cisco’s Global and Regional Partner Sales Organizations.

EU regulation, Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), has been in the works since 2020 and it's about to reach a critical milestone... ?? In January of 2025, over 3,600 German companies in the financial sector are going to be required to implement this regulation. DORA created standardized requirements for managing cyber threats and information and communication technology (ICT) security risks. This comes with even more intensified oversight for business in the financial sector, making proactive firewall management essential. But DORA doesn't just impact German financial institutions. ?? Estimates show that DORA applies to more than 20,000 financial entities in Europe. And while DORA is focused on the financial sector, its principles of digital operational resilience can influence broader regulatory frameworks and practices across other sectors as well, especially as the digital transformation continues. ?? Optimizing your firewall can significantly enhance your organization's security posture by reducing vulnerabilities, improving response times, and ensuring that your network operates efficiently - and in some cases, will keep you compliant with new and upcoming regulations. A well-optimized firewall not only aids in compliance with regulations like DORA but also fortifies your defenses against cyber threats that can disrupt business continuity. So, that's why we're sharing our quick guide on "how to audit your firewall policy." ?? Give it a swipe now, save for later, or share it with someone in your company who could use the "friendly firewall recertification time" reminder.

By January 17, 2025, more than 3,600 companies in Germany will be required to implement EU regulation, Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). What did this regulation do, you ask? DORA wrote the book, literally. This regulation created a single rulebook that provides a unified regulatory framework for managing information and communication technology (ICT) risks, applicable to over 20,000 financial entities in Europe. TL;DR - The aim of this regulation is to protect the financial sector from cyber threats.