Cybersecurity: The Strategy for 2018
Technology is changing faster than we can adapt or understand. The whole combination of cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and mobile technology have changed the way we work with technology. This is where the challenge arises; implementing cybersecurity in a network that is both decentralized and unstructured is one of the most common challenges being faced today.
The authentic cybersecurity strategy involved protecting only that one important thing—the core. It consisted of multiple layers of security to protect the data at the center. The network layers were simple application-based, host security, and network-based. This defensive strategy that works only in managed, controlled, and centralized manner is soon becoming extinct.
When it comes to taking control over cybersecurity, organizations have control over the devices that they have purchased and assigned to the employees. However, with increasing consumer-driven devices taking over the market, security is dying a slow death. For instance, when using IoT, it is not possible to install or change software.
The question clouding the industry today is how to apply cybersecurity best practices for organizations? Organizations need to rethink from the perspective of smarter threats that surround us. They need to evaluate their method and take a decision that works best for both employees and their systems. By implementing the following cybersecurity concepts, organizations can attempt to take control over the mounting threats.
A strong foundation. Try a new approach; try the bottom-up approach, instead of a top-down, centrally controlled method. Security challenges haven’t yet completely transformed—traditional controls such as firewalls and two-factor authentication are still relevant. It is only the application of these controls that we need to re-think depending on the device and system.
Context is the core. Context is the only thing that helps in easily identifying and understanding what the device is, whether it is trustable and knows what network to interact with. The higher control over the device, the higher the chances of interrogating it and establishing a sound context. If you have good control over nodes, you can easily connect with trusted devices and establish access paths. But if there is limited control, behavior can only be observed.
Play defense and offense. Keep challenging your organization with proactive testing. Develop an internal feedback process that helps by giving feedbacks about the possible attack avenues and your strategies for the same. Perform modeling and penetration tests for remediation tests and help in improving the security standards, increasing the information available on the upcoming possible threats, and creating a metrics that showcases improvements made so far.
Decentralization of the organizational security standards will soon become an asset in the technology-driven world. It is improving your security through the known threats, and these known threats are what we should all be prepared for. What seems like an unexpected control will transform into stronger technical capabilities.
With cybersecurity being our primary concern, it is about time that we improved the security standards and came up with a strategy that works when we are hit with unknown attacks. Do let us know your thoughts on cybersecurity.
