August 9, 2017
Webinar Series: Purple Teaming - Validating Detection & Response Capabilities
A comprehensive cyber security framework consists of several components, and one of the most important among them is security log monitoring. Without an effective security log monitoring and management policy in place, a company runs the risk of non-compliance, and perhaps fines, if there is ever a data breach. In order to maintain compliance with guidelines laid out by laws like HIPAA, and frameworks such as PCI, companies need to have an effective security monitoring solution in place that can help them collect and analyze log information so they can detect and respond to cyber attacks.Early DetectionThe ability to respond to cyber attacks as they occur is a key benefit of a security log monitoring solution. Early threat detection of any unauthorized activity in your network is an important capability that will allow you to respond to threat vectors faster and more precisely.
As systems run, they create logs describing the events that take place within the system, including user access, errors and more. While these logs originated as a way to troubleshoot systems, they've become an invaluable tool for security professionals.These logs need to be monitored regularly, and preferably in real time. They'll often contain useful information about unauthorized access attempts, port probes and other hacking attempts. By examining them, system administrators can detect and respond to attacks as they happen, and collect extremely important information about breaches that have already occurred. The information contained in the security log data can be used to assist incident response and forensic analysis in the event of a security data breach.Part of this assessment process involves looking realistically at the risks the organization is taking, and what they're doing to mitigate these risks. Companies should make sure they're taking all reasonable precautions, including careful inventory of any breaches, realistic assessment of the company's largest risk, and by building up organizational security maturity to handle risk identification and remediation. This is all the more important for companies that deal with sensitive data, such as financial or health-related data.
Network attacks are never unplanned, isolated incidents. Every hacker follows a similar pattern of reconnaissance, scanning and gaining access. Security log monitoring solutions offers security experts actionable intelligence to detect attacks earlier, giving them the chance to mount an effective defense to a breach attempt -- an automated process far more effective than error-prone manual log review and management.Depending on the solution, companies may be able to constantly monitor their network traffic and endpoint devices for malware and attack signatures, and thereby your exposure to a security breach risk.
Arguably one of the most complex challenges facing any organization that has sensitive data is the regulatory compliance policies that provide oversight and governance to the company. Data is always at risk of being breached, and a security log monitoring solution is vital to ensuring that standards are met.This ensures that when compliance auditing takes place, the company's IT department can present a proper security monitoring log that demonstrates the company's compliance with data security regulations.Triggering NotificationsThe final piece of a security log monitoring solution is the automation of breach notifications. If a certain condition is met — such as the probing of a port, the access of a certain file or the change of a registry item — the solution will trigger a response. Typically, it will notify whomever the solution was set up to inform, based on pre-established rules. This will allow security experts to mount an effective response before the cyber-attack wreaks havoc and takes an undetected foothold to your infrastructure.A complete cybersecurity framework has several components that make it successful, and is an absolute requirement for regulatory compliance. A security log monitoring solution is a non-negotiable piece of this puzzle.
NetWorks Group is a Managed Detection and Response Service provider. Our unique approach to security helps improve your security posture. Contact us today to talk to an expert.
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