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Unveiling the Gaps:
The recent wave of data breaches affecting major Colleges, Universities, Pharma, Life Insurance Companies, and Online Retailers, underscores a critical flaw in current cybersecurity defenses. While these organizations have implemented robust perimeter security tools, they still fell victim to sophisticated attacks that penetrated their outer defenses and exploited vulnerabilities within their inner network—a zone we refer to as the UnGUARDED SPACE™.
Similarities in the Breaches
Common Factors:
Perimeter Defense Breach: All the affected organizations had perimeter security measures in place, yet attackers managed to bypass these defenses.
Internal Vulnerabilities: Once inside, attackers exploited internal vulnerabilities, indicating a lack of effective monitoring and protection within the network.
Sensitive Data Exposure: The breaches resulted in the exposure of sensitive data, including personal, financial, and health information, highlighting the inadequacy of existing security measures to protect critical information once the perimeter is breached.
The UnGUARDED SPACE™: A Critical Vulnerability
The concept of the UnGUARDED SPACE™ represents the inner network areas that are often overlooked by conventional cybersecurity strategies. This space includes:
Internal Communication Channels: Unsecured internal emails and messaging systems that can be exploited for lateral movement.
Databases and Storage Systems: Critical repositories of sensitive data that lack sufficient encryption and access controls.
End-User Devices: Computers and mobile devices used by employees that may be vulnerable to sophisticated phishing and malware attacks.
These vulnerabilities demonstrate the need for a more comprehensive, layered approach to cybersecurity.
The Importance of a Layered Cybersecurity Approach
A layered approach to cybersecurity is essential for creating a robust defense mechanism that not only fortifies the perimeter but also safeguards the internal network. This approach includes:
Perimeter Defense: Firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and secure gateways to thwart initial penetration attempts.
Internal Monitoring and Threat Detection: Advanced threat detection systems like activeSENTINEL™ that continuously patrol the UnGUARDED SPACE™ for known and unknown threats.
Data Encryption: Ensuring all sensitive data is encrypted both in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorized access.
Access Control and Identity Management: Implementing strict access controls and identity management protocols to limit access to critical systems and data.
activeSENTINEL™: Protecting the UnGUARDED SPACE™
activeSENTINEL™ is designed to address the critical gaps within the UnGUARDED SPACE™ by providing:
Continuous Monitoring: Real-time monitoring of internal network activities to detect, respond, and notify on suspicious behaviors.
Advanced Threat Detection: Utilizing machine learning, deep learning, AI, and neural networks to identify both known and unknown threats that traditional security tools might miss. As highlighted, “Enterprise SIEMs miss 76% of all MITRE ATT&CK techniques used” (securitymagazine.com).
Enhanced Efficiency: Feeding SIEMs and other security tools with real-time information on both known and unknown threats, significantly enhancing their efficiency.
By focusing on the UnGUARDED SPACE™, activeSENTINEL™ acts as the true last line of defense, complementing existing perimeter security measures and providing comprehensive protection for your organization.
The recent breaches highlight a crucial lesson for all organizations: perimeter defenses alone are not enough. To effectively protect sensitive data and maintain trust, it is essential to adopt a layered cybersecurity approach that includes a robust solution like activeSENTINEL™ to guard the UnGUARDED SPACE™. By doing so, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture and better defend against the evolving threat landscape.
For more information on these breaches, visit:
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