About Brent Huston

I am the CEO of MicroSolved, Inc. and a security evangelist. I have spent the last 20+ years working to make the Internet safer for everyone on a global scale. I believe the Internet has the capability to contribute to the next great leap for mankind, and I want to help make that happen!

How Information Security and Risk Management Teams Can Support FinOps

Posted on February 27, 2023 by Brent Huston

As organizations continue to move their operations to cloud services, it is becoming increasingly important for information security and risk management teams to understand how they can support financial operations (FinOps). FinOps is a management practice that promotes shared responsibility for an organization’s cloud computing infrastructure and cloud cost management. In this post, we will explore some ways in which the information security and risk management team can support FinOps initiatives.

1. Establishing Governance: Information security and risk management teams can play a vital role in helping FinOps teams establish effective governance. This includes creating a framework for budget management, setting up policies and procedures for cloud resource usage, and ensuring that all cloud infrastructure is secure and meets compliance requirements.

2. Security Awareness Training: Information security and risk management teams can provide security awareness training to ensure that all cloud practitioners are aware of the importance of secure cloud computing practices. This includes data protection, authentication protocols, encryption standards, and other security measures.

3. Cloud Rate Optimization: Information security and risk management teams can help FinOps teams identify areas of cost optimization. This includes analyzing cloud usage data to identify opportunities for cost savings, recommending risk-based ways to optimize server utilization, and helping determine the most appropriate pricing model for specific services or applications.

4. Sharing Incident Response, Disaster Recovery, and Business Continuity Insights: Information security and risk management teams can help FinOps teams respond to cloud environment incidents quickly and effectively by providing technical support in the event of a breach or outage. This includes helping to diagnose the issue, developing mitigations or workarounds, and providing guidance on how to prevent similar incidents in the future. The data from the DR/BC plans are also highly relevant to the FinOps team mission and can be used as a roadmap for asset prioritization, process relationships, and data flows.

5. Compliance Management: Information security and risk management teams can help FinOps teams stay compliant with relevant regulations by managing audits and reporting requirements, ensuring that all relevant security controls are in place, auditing existing procedures, developing policies for data protection, and providing guidance on how to ensure compliance with applicable laws.

The bottom line is this: By leveraging the shared data and experience of the risk management and information security teams, FinOps teams can ensure their operations are secure, efficient, and completely aligned with the organization’s overall risk and security posture. This adds value to the work of all three teams in the triad. By working together, the teams can significantly enhance the maturity around technology business management functions. All-in-all, by working together, the teams can create significantly better business outcomes.

FAQ for Enterprise Authentication Inventory

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Brent Huston

Q: What is authentication inventory?

A: Authentication inventory is the process of identifying and documenting all of the systems and applications that require remote access within an organization, as well as the types of authentication used for each system and any additional security measures or policies related to remote access.

Q: Why is authentication inventory important?

A: Authentication inventory is important because it helps organizations protect themselves from credential stuffing and phishing attacks. By having a complete and accurate inventory of all points of authentication, organizations can ensure that the right security protocols are in place and that any suspicious activity related to authentication can be quickly identified and addressed.

Q: What steps should I take to properly inventory and secure my authentication points?

A: To properly inventory and secure your authentication points, you should: 1) Identify the different types of authentication used by the organization for remote access; 2) List all of the systems and applications that require remote access; 3) Document the type of authentication used for each system/application and any additional security measures or policies related to remote access; 4) Check with user groups to ensure that they use secure authentication methods and follow security policies when accessing systems/applications remotely; 5) Monitor access logs for signs of unauthorized access attempts or suspicious activity related to remote access authentication; 6) Regularly review and update existing remote access authentication processes as necessary to ensure accurate data.

New Book Launch: We Need To Talk: 52 Weeks To Better Cyber-Security

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Brent Huston

I have released a new e-book titled “We Need To Talk: 52 Weeks To Better Cyber-Security.” I self-published through PublishDrive and MSI. It has been quite an interesting project, and I learned a lot in both writing/editing (with an AI), and in the publishing aspects.

The book provides a comprehensive approach to discussing cyber-security, addressing topics such as risk management, configuration management, vulnerability management, policy, threat intelligence, and incident response. The discussions that are sparked will lead to helping your team strengthen and mature your organization’s security posture.

The book is designed for information security professionals and their teams looking for a structured way to improve their organization’s cyber-security posture over one year. It is an ideal resource for those teams who wish to develop a well-rounded understanding of cyber-security and gain insight into the various elements that are needed for a successful program.

The book is 111 pages and sells for $9.99 in most of the ebook stores below:

Amazon

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Check it out, and please leave a review if you don’t mind taking the time. It will be much appreciated.

Print-on-demand options and other stores will be coming shortly. Hopefully, the book helps folks build better infosec programs. As always, thanks for reading, and stay safe out there!

Video: Auditing Authentication Mechanisms

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Brent Huston

Here’s a quick video walkthrough of the presentation around auditing authentication mechanisms.

We are getting some great feedback on this one, and people are rising to the challenge of doing audits for their organizations. Many folks are finding some quite unexpected results!

Let me know on Twitter (@lbhuston) what you discover!

As always, thanks for reading and watching!

Challenges Auditing Authentication Mechanisms in Organizations

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Brent Huston

Authentication mechanisms are essential for organizations to protect their data and systems from unauthorized access. However, auditing these authentication mechanisms can be a challenge due to the complexity of the systems and the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats. This blog post will explore some of the challenges associated with auditing authentication mechanisms in organizations.

Challenges

1. Disparate Authentication Practices – As an auditor, you’re likely to come across a variety of authentication practices that can be difficult to manage. From different passwords to separate systems, disparate authentication requirements can be a major roadblock when auditing authentication mechanisms. To help reduce this challenge, organizations should establish strong identity and access management policies and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

2. Staffing and Evidence Collection – The challenge of finding and retaining qualified staff who are knowledgeable and experienced in auditing authentication mechanisms is a common issue. Additionally, effective evidence collection is essential to successful audits, yet ensuring that meaningful data is gathered efficiently can be difficult.

3. Internal Controls – Auditors must ensure that the controls in place are sufficient to reduce risks associated with authentication processes. Weak access controls can lead to costly mistakes, potentially risking the organization’s data. Auditors should take the time to develop a detailed understanding of the organization’s internal controls and audit them on a regular basis against up-to-date and relevant threat models.

TLDR

This article discusses the challenges associated with auditing authentication mechanisms in organizations. It highlights three main issues: disparate authentication practices, staffing and evidence collection, and internal controls. Organizations should establish strong identity and access management policies to reduce the challenge of disparate authentication practices. Additionally, finding qualified staff and collecting meaningful evidence can be difficult tasks for auditors. Lastly, auditors must ensure that internal controls are sufficient to reduce risks associated with authentication processes.

PS – Make sure if you are performing such an audit that, you are checking your current practices against international standards, regulatory requirements, privacy rules, and best practice audit controls. Ensure that you are taking the essential steps to protect digital identity, providing strong access control policies and user controls. Reviewing the logging, and event detection capabilities and ensuring that both unauthorized access and successful authentications are being properly monitored in the event that forensic analysis is needed to respond to a security breach or other incident.

PSS – If you need a process for auditing your authentication points, you can find that here.

FAQ for the End of SMS Authentication

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Brent Huston

Q: What is the end of SMS authentication?

A: SMS authentication verifies user identity by sending a one-time code via text message to a user’s mobile phone number. With the rise of potential security risks, many financial websites, applications, and phone apps are phasing out SMS-based authentication and transitioning to authenticator apps that reside on user devices and smartphones.

Q: What are some of the potential security risks associated with SMS authentication?

A: Attackers have a variety of means of intercepting SMS text messages, thus defeating this type of authentication. This increases the risk of interception and misuse of the codes in question and decreases the security of the user’s account with the financial institution.

Q: What is an authenticator app?

A: An authenticator app is an application that resides in encrypted storage on the user’s device and, when prompted, provides a one-time password (“OTP”) just like the code sent in the text message. The difference is, through a variety of cryptographic techniques, once the application is set up and the settings configured, it doesn’t need to communicate with the financial platform and thus is significantly more difficult for attackers to compromise.

Q: What are the steps for organizations to switch from SMS authentication to authenticator apps?

A: Here is a quick overview of what is needed:

1. Research and decide on an authenticator app that meets your organization’s needs. Most of the time, users can select their own apps, and the firm selects the libraries needed to support them. Open source and commercial solutions abound in this space now.

2. Update user accounts in each application and authentication point with the new authentication protocol and provide instructions for downloading and setting up the authenticator app.

3. Educate users on using the authenticator app, including generating one-time passwords (OTPs), scanning QR codes, etc.

4. Monitor user feedback and usage data over time to ensure a successful switch from SMS authentication to an authenticator app.

PS – Need a process for cataloging all of your authentication points? Here you go.

Inventorying Organization Authentication Points

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Brent Huston

Are you looking for threat-proactive ways to secure your enterprise? One of the best ways to do this is by inventorying all of the points of authentication within your organization. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the steps you need to take to properly inventory and secure your Internet-facing authentication points. While you should have a complete and accurate inventory of these exposures, starting the process with a focus on critical systems is a common approach.

Inventory Process

1. Identify the different types of authentication used by the organization for remote access (e.g. passwords, two-factor authentication). If possible, use vendor data to include cloud-based critical services as well.

2. List all of the systems and applications that require remote access within the organization. External vulnerability scanning data and Shodan are both useful sources for this information.

3. For each system/application, document the type of authentication used and any additional security measures or policies related to remote access (e.g., password complexity requirements). Vendor management risk data can be useful here, if available.

4. Check with user groups to ensure that they use secure authentication methods and follow security policies when accessing systems/applications remotely.

5. Monitor access logs for signs of unauthorized access attempts or suspicious activity related to remote access authentication.

6. Regularly review and update existing remote access authentication processes as necessary to ensure the continued security of organizational resources over the Internet.

Why This Is Important – Credential Stuffing & Phishing

Inventorying all of the points of authentication within an enterprise is essential as protection against credential stuffing and phishing attacks. Credential stuffing is a type of attack where malicious actors use stolen credentials to gain access to different accounts, while phishing attacks are attempts to acquire confidential information through deceptive emails or websites. In both cases, it is important that organizations have proper authentication measures in place to prevent unauthorized access. Inventorying all of the points of authentication within an organization can ensure that the right security protocols are in place and that any suspicious activity related to authentication can be quickly identified and addressed.

In addition, having a detailed inventory of all points of authentication can help organizations identify any weak spots in their security measures. This allows them to take steps to strengthen those areas and further protect themselves from potential credential stuffing or phishing attacks. By regularly reviewing and updating their authentication processes, organizations can ensure that their resources remain secure and protected from any malicious actors.

Lastly, ensure that you feed this inventory and the knowledge gained into your enterprise risk assessment processes, incident response team, and other security control inventories. Make a note of any security gaps identified during the inventory process and ensure complete coverage of the logs and other intrusion detection systems at each potential point of authentication. By following these steps, you can ensure that your enterprise remains secure and protected from any potential threats associated with credential stuffing and credential theft associated with common phishing attacks.

What Is a Honeypot?

Posted on December 15, 2022 by Brent Huston

What is a Honeypot in Cyber Security?

A honeypot is a security system that creates a fake trap to attract attackers so that organizations can detect and protect against harmful digital activity.

How Does a Honeypot Work?

A honeypot acts as a decoy system or server that is deployed alongside production systems within a network. It is designed to look attractive to attackers by containing vulnerable data, luring them in, and then detecting their attempts, providing organizations with valuable insights into the threats they face.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Honeypot?

Honeypots can provide an organization with real-time information about the threats they face, including the techniques used by attackers and the types of attacks they are targeting. Additionally, honeypots can act as an early warning system by alerting an organization when an attack is detected.

What Are Some Examples of Different Types of Honeypots?

There are different types of honeypots available, such as low-interaction honeypots, which simulate vulnerable services but are not actually connected to networks; high-interaction honeypots, which contain full operating systems; and virtual honeypots, which use virtual machines to simulate the behavior of real systems.

Does MSI Make a Honeypot Product?

We sure do! We have a unique, patented platform for creating, managing, and monitoring distributed honeypots across your environment or in the cloud. You can learn more about it here. To schedule a discussion about the platform and its capabilities, drop us an email or give us a call.

Seek Out and Remove End-Of-Life Components

Posted on December 5, 2022 by Brent Huston

Just a quick reminder, at some point during each quarter, it is a good idea to enact a process to seek out and remove any end-of-life products in your environment. This is not only a best practice but a significant risk reduction measure as well. Make it an ongoing periodic process, and you’ve got a powerful weapon against threats and emerging issues stemming from end-of-life hardware, firmware, and software in your networks.

How to Search for End-Of-Life Products In Your Environment

The first step is to identify the devices, applications, and firmware that are no longer supported by their vendors. You can do this manually or with a tool. The next step is to determine which of those devices have been deployed in your network. Once you know where they are, you need to find them. There are several ways to search for these devices:

Use Network Inventory Tools

Network inventory tools such as Nmap and Nessus will allow you to scan your entire network to locate all of the devices on your network. These tools will also tell you what operating systems and versions of software/firmware are running on the device. If you’re using a vendor-specific tool, you’ll be able to see if there are any known vulnerabilities associated with the product in many cases.

Talk to Device and Application Owners

If you don’t already have a relationship with the owners of the devices and applications, then you should start building one now. It’s important to get to know the people who own the devices and applications so that you can ask questions about how they use the devices and applications. You may even want to consider getting an end-of-life security policy together for the organization so that you can make sure everyone understands the risks of end-of-life components.

Once you have discussed the issues with the owner, remove the component if possible. Otherwise, add it to a list of components to look for workarounds or replacements. Many organizations that can’t manage to replace an end-of-life component either place it in a low trust network zone, front-end it with firewalls or ACLs, and increase monitoring and detection of the assets involved. Of course, the component should be reviewed quarterly until it can be removed from service.

Doing this process every quarter will increase your networks’ overall stability and trust worthiness, plus reduce risk and management headaches. It’s well worth your time and an effective part of an overall risk management strategy.

Workstation Logging Best Practices

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Brent Huston

Why Workstation Logging Matters

Workstations are important components of any IT infrastructure, and they’re also one of the most overlooked. Often seen as expendable, many organizations fail to see the value of workstation logs, and how they can add to the visibility and detection capabilities of the security team. Workstations are quite likely to be early indicators of attack and malware infections. They are also often super useful in identifying manual attacker behaviors and performing adequate forensics.

Organizations that don’t maintain and organize workstation logs are usually missing out on some essential data and falling short of having across-the-enterprise visibility. This is especially true if you have a decentralized work environment. Simply enabling, configuring, and properly aggregating workstation logs can give you a huge forensic advantage. Adding real-time or near real-time log parsing and event alerting makes that advantage a superpower.

What to Log

The security events an organization captures on their workstations depend largely on industry-specific needs and relevant legal requirements. However, best practices call for several events that must be recorded and logged to ensure user accountability and to help organizations detect, understand, and recover from malicious events. These events include:

Authentication successes and failures for all users and services
Access control successes and failures for all users and services
Session activity, including files and applications used, especially system utilities and Powershell, if applicable
Changes in user access rights or privileges

The Bottom Line

Get busy logging on workstations. Make sure the logs are properly configured, aggregated, and processed as a part of your detection capabilities. Don’t view workstation logs as throw-aways. Instead, see them as a powerful lens for early detection, forensics, and attack recovery.

Update:

Thanks to @TheTokenFemale for pointing out that the logs should be sent somewhere off the system. I meant that by aggregation, but to clarify, the logs should be sent, processed, and archived using a log aggregation system or toolset that includes proper chain of evidence handling, alerting, and heuristics. It should also store and archive the relevant logs according to best practices and legal and regulatory guidance.

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Insight from the Information Security Experts

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