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Tag: cyber security

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Data Protection

Code Signing: The Key to Maintaining Cyber Trust

Massive digitization has meant that information circulates at incredible speeds, creating global connections and interactions. However, this has also brought significant challenges in terms of cyber security. This is where technologies such as Code Signing become crucial, acting as a protective shield against various cyber threats to code signing.

The expansion of the attack surface, the growth in the sophistication of cyberattacks, and the multiplicity of threat mechanisms and channels are some of the questions that the global digital security communities are working to answer.

In fact, cybersecurity has become a crucial element in the protection of data and computerized systems as a result of these challenges. In this context, Code Signing seeks to guarantee the integrity and authenticity of the source code and protect users from malicious software.

Unraveling the Code Signing: The Technology You Can’t Ignore

Code Signing is a process that uses a cryptographic system to add a digital signature to a script or executable code.

This method is used to confirm the identity of the author of a piece of software and ensure that the code has not been altered or corrupted since it was signed. The digital signature acts as a guarantee that the software is authentic and safe to download and install.

In addition to guaranteeing the authenticity of the software, Code Signing also plays a crucial role in preventing code signing certificate theft.

In short, in the Code Signing process, the private key is used to create a digital signature, which is attached to the software.

The digital certificate, which contains the corresponding public key, is then used by users to verify the signature.

In the figure below you can see information about Word’s digital signature.

Code Signing - Information about Word's digital signature
Code Signing – Information about Word’s digital signature


To learn more about the concepts of private key, public key, digital certificate, digital signatures, and how to protect the
code signing keys,

click here


.

The Impact of Code Signing: Maximum Protection, Minimum Risk

Code signing serves several essential purposes that benefit both developers and users.

  • For developers:

Code signing helps build trust with users. When you sign your code, users know that it comes from a trusted source – see the example in figure 1, where the issuer is Microsoft, the company responsible for Word.

This can also give developers a competitive advantage, as users are more likely to download software that they know is safe and authentic, especially when they know how to protect the code signing keys.

In addition, modern operating systems generally warn or even prevent users from downloading and/or installing unsigned applications.

  • For users:

Code Signing provides a guarantee of the software’s origin. By downloading digitally signed applications, users can be confident that the software really comes from the declared supplier and has not been altered by third parties.

This protects users from malware or malicious software that can be disguised as legitimate.

Code Signing on the Front Line: Combating Cyber Threats to Code Signing

Code signing protects against malware and software tampering by guaranteeing integrity verification and origin authentication. This is the time to be vigilant againstcyber threats to code signing.

Integrity check:

When code is digitally signed, any changes made to the code after signing will invalidate the digital signature.

This means that if a malicious agent tries to inject malware or otherwise tamper with the code, the digital signature will be invalid, and it will be easily noticeable.

When a user tries to install or run the software, the operating system or platform on which the software is running will check the digital signature.

If the signature is invalid, indicating that the software has been altered since it was signed, the operating system or platform may display a warning to the user or even completely block the installation or execution of the software.

Origin Authentication:

Code signing also helps to assure users that the software comes from a reliable source.

In practice, this is done by means of a Code Signing Certificate, which is linked to a specific entity (such as a company or individual developer).

The certificate is issued by a Certification Authority (CA), which verifies the identity of the entity before issuing the certificate.

In addition, when software is signed with a Code Signing Certificate, the digital signature contains information binding to the certificate. This allows users to verify the identity of the entity that signed the code.

If malicious software tries to impersonate legitimate software, it will be necessary to forge the digital signature, which is extremely difficult to do.

In summary, code signing protects against malware and software tampering by guaranteeing the integrity of signed software and providing a secure and reliable way to verify the origin of software, especially when code signing security best practices are applied.

Security Events Related to Code Signing

And as for the reality, there are several attacks that arehave become known and others are not even publicized. Below are three examples of known attacks.


1. Stuxnet:
 Considered one of the most sophisticated cyber attacks ever created.

The Stuxnet malware was responsible for substantially disrupting Iran’s uranium enrichment program in 2010.

One of the most intriguing features of this malware was its ability to bypass standard security measures, as it was signed with valid certificates that had been stolen from information technology companies.

The Stuxnet case is a disturbing example that highlights the need for rigorous measures to prevent cyber threats, such as the theft of code-signing certificates.

Click here to read more about Stuxnet.


2. Flame:
 An advanced malware with cyber espionage features.

The attack stood out for the way it exploited Microsoft’s code-signing infrastructure to pass itself off as a legitimate Windows component.

Using a forged certificate, this malware managed to infiltrate vulnerable systems.

Click here to see more about Flame.


3. XCode Ghost:
 Incident that impacted Apple’s development environment.

Occurring in 2015, app developers downloaded a tampered version of Apple’s development environment – Xcode, which was used to inject malicious code into their apps.

When the infected apps were submitted to the App Store, they came with Apple’s official code signing certificate, so they passed legitimization.

Click here to learn more about XCode Ghost.

These examples highlight the importance of code signature security and the need to understand how to protect them to avoid similar scenarios.

This reminds us of the famous image of storing the keys under the entrance mat. There’s no point in a locked house if the keys, one of the main protection devices, are easily accessible to criminals.

Code Signing - No use keeping keys under the mat
Code Signing – No use keeping keys under the mat

The Last Line of Defense: Code Signing Security Best Practices

Although code signing is essential, it is not infallible.

In practice, the keys used in the signing process can be stolen, i.e,
protecting the keys used
 is one of the weakest links today.

It is therefore crucial to adopt best practices and security policies regarding code signing to protect the keys used in the registration process.

Maintaining software reliability through secure code signing is an urgent necessity.

In addition to adopting solid IT security practices, it is equally important to focus on preventing code-signing certificate theft to ensure that the software remains secure and reliable.

About Eval

With a track record of leadership and innovation dating back to 2004, Eval not only keeps up with technological trends, but we are also in an incessant quest to bring news by offering solutions and services that make a difference to people’s lives.

With market recognized value, Eval’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards for public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.


Article written by Marcelo Tiziano and

Evaldo.Ai

reviewed by Arnaldo Miranda.

Categories
Data Protection

Cybersecurity in Hospitals: Alert on Attacks

The authorities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand have issued an alert on cyber security in hospitals and common tactics used by cybercriminals to gain initial access to victims’ networks.

These tactics include exploiting insecure configurations, weak controls, and other bad cyber hygiene practices.

The aim of the release is to help organizations defend themselves against these attacks and better protect their data.

According to security authorities, hospitals that do not take these measures risk being attacked and having their patients’ data stolen.

This can lead to serious consequences, such as identity theft and fraud, as well as reputational damage.

In fact, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting healthcare institutions, since healthcare systems are considered to be more vulnerable.

Authorities recommend that all organizations be vigilant and take steps to defend themselves against cybersecurity in hospitals

Hospital cybersecurity at risk

The authorities responsible for information security in hospitals shows that data protection and availability of critical services have become an important issue for all hospitals.

It is essential that you take the necessary steps to protect your patients’ data.

By taking the necessary precautions, hospitals can help ensure that their patients’ information is protected from cybercriminals.

How to protect against attacks that compromise cybersecurity in hospitals?

Hospitals can protect themselves against cyber attacks by taking several precautions, including implementing strong security measures such as authentication, two-factor encryption, and regular vulnerability testing.

They should also educate employees on cyber hygiene best practices and create policies and procedures for responding to cyber incidents.

  • Implement strong security measures, such as authentication and two-factor encryption

Cybersecurity authorities in hospitals emphasize that healthcare institutions must implement strong security measures to prevent cybercriminals from accessing their systems.

This includes two-factor authentication, which requires the use of a second method, such as an access code or a key, to authenticate a user.

It is also important to encrypt data, as this prevents it from being accessed by cybercriminals, even if they manage to gain access to the systems.

CipherTrust DataSecurity Platform Archtecture

 

  • Regularly test systems for vulnerabilities

Healthcare organizations should regularly test their systems to ensure that their hospital cybersecurity measures are working properly and to identify any vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals.

This can include using vulnerability scanners to check whether systems are exposed to any known security problems.

  • Educate employees on best practices for cyber hygiene

Employees in healthcare facilities must be trained so that they can recognize the signs of a cyber attack and take the necessary steps to protect themselves.

They must also know how to report any suspicious activity so that the necessary steps can be taken to prevent an attack.

In addition, employees should be careful when opening e-mails or attachments of unknown origin, as this may allow cybercriminals to get into their systems.

  • Create policies and procedures for responding to cyber incidents

Healthcare facilities should have policies and procedures in place to ensure that employees know how to respond to a cybersecurity incident in hospitals.

This may include isolating affected systems to prevent the problem from spreading.

  • Backing up data to ensure that information is not lost

Hospitals should back up their data to ensure that information is not lost if a cyber attack occurs.

Using cloud storage or other backup to ensure that information is kept secure is part of the strategy to ensure patient data integrity.

In addition, it is important that hospitals test their backups to ensure that they are working properly and that information can be restored if necessary

Finally, healthcare organizations should notify the appropriate regulatory bodies of any hospital cybersecurity incidents that occur, as this can help prevent other healthcare organizations from being affected.

If hospitals take these steps, they can help ensure that their patients’ data is protected from cybercriminals.

By taking these precautions, hospitals can help protect their patients’ information and keep them safe from identity theft, fraud, and other harm.

The CipherTrust solution is an important resource that can be associated with cybersecurity in hospitals

According to IDC, more than 175 zetabytes of data will be created by 2025, and today more than half of all corporate data is stored in the cloud.

To deal with the complexity of where data is stored, CipherTrust provides strong capabilities to protect and control access to sensitive data in databases, files, and containers.

The portfolio of data protection products that make up the CipherTrust Data Security Platform solution enables healthcare organizations to protect data at rest and in motion across the entire IT ecosystem and ensures that the keys to this information are always protected and only under your control.

It simplifies data security, improves operational efficiency, and accelerates compliance time. Regardless of where your data resides.

About Eval

Eval is the pioneer in electronic Signature and the only one with a special dedication to healthcare. Our solutions are fully customized for hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and operators. In addition to other markets, such as finance, education, and industry.

Our product portfolio offers several benefits, among them: electronic signature of patient records meeting all legal requirements, cost reduction, high performance, and the definitive elimination of paper with the electronic health record.

Eval has been offering technology that transforms healthcare for over 18 years, specializing in digital transformation, eliminating paper in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and operators, as well as data protection for this segment.

Eval Safety is value

Categories
Data Protection

Cybersecurity: Healthcare accounts for 24.7% of breaches

As health systems and hospitals were under stress as a result of the current global health crisis, their IT departments also faced critical situations and staff shortages as they battled relentless cyber attacks.

Cyber security breaches hit a historic high in 2021, exposing a record amount of patients’ protected health information,
according to a report by Critical Insights
.

In 2021, 45 million individuals were affected by attacks on healthcare data, up from 34 million in 2020. That number has tripled in just three years to 14 million in 2018, according to the report, which analyzes healthcare data breaches reported to the U.S. department of health and human services by healthcare organizations.

The total number of individuals affected has increased by 32% from 2020, meaning that more records are exposed for data breaches in the healthcare sector each year.

The total number of violations increased by only 2.4%, from 663 in 2020 to 679 in 2021, but still reached historic records.

Whether as a ransomware attack vector, credential collection, or device theft, healthcare is the primary target for attackers to monetize with personal patient information and sell on the Dark Web or hold an entity unable to provide patient care until ransomed.

As we move into 2022, healthcare organizations need to be aware of cybersecurity requirements

According to a study by Tenable, an American cybersecurity company, 1,825 data breach incidents were publicly disclosed between November 2020 and October 2021.

The industries most affected by data breaches in the healthcare sector were (24.7%), education (12.9%), and government (10.8%). In Brazil, the segments that suffered the most from cyber incidents were government (29.8%) and the financial sector (27%), respectively.

Also according to the study done by Critical Insights, data breaches in the healthcare industry, especially against health plans will increase by almost 35% from 2020 to 2021.

And attacks against business partners or third-party vendors increased by almost 18% from 2020 to 2021.

In Brazil, examples such as the Fleury group, the Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo, the hospitals Sírio-Libanês, do Amor (formerly the Cancer Hospital), Santa Casa de Barretos, and Laboratório Gross have also been victims of cybercriminals against their institutions’ cybersecurity in recent years.

One of the most recent cases occurred in October 2021 with insurer Porto Seguro, which also has a segment related to health plans, the cyber attack caused instability in service channels and in some of its systems. Even non-insurance products, such as credit cards, have experienced instability.

Cyber attacks against providers, where most breaches are historically reported, have declined somewhat after peaking in 2020. Last year, 493 providers reported a data breach, a drop of about 4% from 515 in 2020.

However, it is too early to tell whether this modest improvement represents the beginning of a longer trend in the right direction, according to the report’s authors.

The years 2021/22 offered a ‘perfect storm’ for cybercriminals with ransomware attacks targeting enterprise cybersecurity

In practice, thecybersecurity teams are trying hard and trying to do a good job of reinforcing their defensesWhether internally or through partnerships with managed security providers, the measures are a response to the increase in attacks that occurred in 2020, when cybercriminals increased their efforts to take advantage of vulnerabilities exposed during the first chaotic days of the pandemic.

Cyber security incidents remain the most common cause of breaches with a 10% increase by 2021. Cybercrime was also responsible for the vast majority of individual records affected by breaches, which means that these records were probably sold on the dark web, according to the report.

The data also indicates an increase in cybercriminal incidents in ambulatory/specialty clinics, which saw a 41% increase in these types of breaches in 2021 compared to 2020.

As we move into 2022, healthcare organizations need to be aware not only of their cybersecurity posture, but also of third-party vendors who have access to data and networks. We are seeing more awareness and proactive approaches to cyber security in this industry, but there is still a long way to go.

 

CipherTrust Discovery and Classification

Cyber security in 2022 will be marked by major attacks on the healthcare sector

This is no time for healthcare organizations’ cybersecurity teams to let their guard down. Cybercriminals are aiming at bigger targets. Exploits, especially ransomware, are becoming more sophisticated.

Cybercriminals are expanding their activities to take advantage of security vulnerabilities throughout the healthcare supply chain, from business partners to health plans and outpatient facilities.

To strengthen their defenses, healthcare organizations need to establish a comprehensive risk management program and should classify their business partners by risk level based on the type of data that third parties can access.

Other steps organizations can take include establishing procedures and processes to evaluate third parties before granting access to data, emphasizing protection in any business agreements with third parties, and working with cybersecurity companies for managed intrusion detection and response services.

CipherTrust Data Security Platform is an important resource in combating data breaches in the healthcare industry

According to IDC, more than 175 zetabytes of data will be created by 2025, and today more than half of all corporate data is stored in the cloud.

To handle the complexity of where data is stored, CipherTrust Data Security Platform provides strong capabilities to protect and control access to sensitive data in databases, files, and containers. Specific technologies include:

CipherTrust Transparent Encryption

Encrypts data in on-premises, cloud, database, file, and Big Data environments with comprehensive access controls and detailed data access audit logging that can prevent the most malicious attacks.

CipherTrust Database Protection

It provides transparent column-level encryption of structured and confidential data that resides in databases such as credit card, social security numbers, national identification numbers, passwords, and e-mail addresses.

CipherTrust Application Data Protection

It offers APIs for developers to quickly add encryption and other cryptographic functions to their applications, while SecOps controls the encryption keys.

CipherTrust Tokenization

It offers application-level data tokenization services in two convenient solutions that provide customer flexibility – Token without Vault with dynamic policy-based data masking and Tokenization in Vault.

CipherTrust Batch Data Transformation

Provides static data masking services to remove sensitive information from production databases so that compliance and cybersecurity issues are alleviated when sharing a database with a third party for analysis, testing, or other processing.

CipherTrust Manager

It centralizes keys, management policies, and data access for all CipherTrust Data Security Platform products and is available in FIPS 140-2 Level 3 compliant physical and virtual formats.

CipherTrust Cloud Key Manager

It offers its own key lifecycle management (BYOK) for many cloud infrastructure, platform, and software-as-a-service providers.

CipherTrust KMIP Server

It centralizes key management for the Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP) commonly used in storage solutions.

CipherTrust TDE Key Manager

Centralizes key management for encryption found in Oracle, SQL and Always Encrypted

The portfolio of data protection products that make up the CipherTrust Data Security Platform solution enables healthcare organizations to protect data at rest and in motion across the entire IT ecosystem and ensures that the keys to this information are always protected and only under your control.

It simplifies data cybersecurity, improves operational efficiency, and accelerates compliance time. Regardless of where your data resides.

The CipherTrust platform ensures that your data is secure, with a wide range of proven, industry-leading products and solutions for deployment in data centers, either those managed by cloud service providers (CSPs) or managed service providers (MSPs), or as a cloud-based service managed by Thales, a leading cybersecurity company.

Tool portfolio that ensures data and cyber protection

With data protection products from the CipherTrust Data Security Platform, your healthcare organization can:

Strengthen cybersecurity and compliance

CipherTrust data protection products and solutions address the demands of a number of cybersecurity and privacy requirementsincluding electronic identification, authentication, and trust, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), General Data Protection Law (LGPD)among other compliance requirements.

Optimizes efficiency of staff and resources related to cybersecurity

CipherTrust Data Security Platform offers the broadest support for handling personal patient data in data security use cases in the industry, with products designed to work together, a single line for global support, a proven track record of protecting against evolving threats, and the industry’s largest ecosystem of data security partnerships.

With a focus on ease of use, APIs for automation, and responsive management, the CipherTrust Data Security Platform solution ensures that your teams can quickly deploy, secure, and monitor the protection of your business.

In addition, professional services and partners are available for design, implementation, and training assistance to ensure fast and reliable implementations with minimal staff time.

Reduces total cost of ownership

CipherTrust Data Security Platform’s data protection portfolio offers a broad set of data security products and solutions that can be easily scaled, expanded for new use cases, and have a proven track record of protecting new and traditional technologies.

With CipherTrust Data Security Platform, healthcare institutions can prepare their investments for the future while reducing operational costs and capital expenditures.

About Eval

EVAL has been developing projects in the financial, health, education and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature and Data Protection solutions. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With value recognized by the market, EVAL’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

Categories
Data Protection

Ransomware Attack: Know Your Anatomy and Protect Yourself

The year 2021 was a total highlight for ransomware attack cases as it wreaked havoc on individuals and organizations around the world when it comes to Cybersecurity. It is a trend that will continue into 2022 and beyond.

While ransomware is not new to Cybersecurity, it is a threat that has received attention at the highest levels of government and business.

The threat has affected people’s ability to get medical care, put gas in their vehicles, and buy groceries, among other impacts.

The financial effects of a ransomware attack also became prominent during 2021. The impacts hit supply chains, causing more widespread damage than an attack against a single individual.

There has also been an increased response from government and technology vendors to help stem the tide of ransomware attacks.

Anatomy of a ransomware attack in 2021 and 2022

We haven’t even finished the first quarter of 2022 and ransomware attacks are already catching our attention. Companies such as Americanas, Submarino, Shoptime, Samsung, NVidia, and Mercado Livre have recorded Cybersecurity incidents that were probably triggered by ransomware attacks and phishing scams.

The anatomy of attacks that occurred throughout 2021, and will likely continue into 2022, indicates that cybercriminals have realized that certain techniques produce better results and are focusing on those approaches.

Let’s look at some of the main attack characteristics.

Supply Chain Attacks

Instead of attacking a single victim, the supply chain attacks have extended the blast radius. An excellent example of a ransomware attack in 2021 is the Kaseya attack, which affected at least 1,500 of its managed service provider customers.

Double Extortion

In the past, ransomware was about attackers encrypting information found on a system and demanding a ransom in exchange for a decryption key.

With double extortion, the attackers also export the data to a separate location. There, it can be used for other purposes, including leaking the information to a public website if payment is not received.

Ransomware as a Service (RaaS)

In Cybersecurity, gone are the days when every attacker needed to write their own ransomware code and perform a unique set of activities. RaaS is pay-per-use malware.

It allows attackers to use a platform that provides the code and operational infrastructure necessary to launch and maintain a ransomware campaign.

Attack unpatched systems

This was not a new trend for 2021, but it remains a problem year after year. Although there are ransomware attacks that use new zero-day vulnerabilities (
Zero Day
), most continue to abuse known vulnerabilities in unpatched systems.

Phishing Scams

Although ransomware attacks can infect organizations in different ways, in 2021, some form of phishing email was the primary cause.

How to invest in Cybersecurity and prepare for ransomware attacks

Perhaps one of the most important cybersecurity lessons to be learned from the past few years is the importance of advanced preparation for potentially disruptive incidents, such as phishing or ransomware attacks.

A wave of social engineering coups followed as the global health crisis spread around the world, striking at the fears and discomfort of workers during this uncertain period.

While many of the phishing and ransomware controls are already in place today, there are important steps that security administrators should take to prevent and address a potential attack.

Daily Cybersecurity checks for phishing and ransomware

During business activities the main ways to prepare for phishing, ransomware and other cyber attacks include the following:

  • Secure the network perimeter and mitigate any potential breaches to prevent malware from entering the organization;
  • Analyze intrusion attempts and make adjustments to perimeter protection as needed;
  • Ensure that network perimeter Cybersecurity equipment, including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, DMZs, and security analysis systems and software are up to date with current configurations and rules;
  • Regularly monitor performance metrics, such as average detection time and average repair time, to ensure that incidents are managed effectively;
  • Test and verify cybersecurity management systems and software can be accessed and managed remotely;
  • Perform regular updating of safety equipment rules and other parameters;
  • Install and test all relevant patches;
  • Review and update cybersecurity policies and procedures as needed, especially for phishing and ransomware incidents;
  • Train cyber security team members on all security mitigation features, procedures, and policies.

Investment in Cybersecurity goes beyond critical global events

The COVID-19 pandemic and other global events, such as Russia’s current war against Ukraine, affect thousands of companies and millions of people around the world.

While the long-term implications have yet to be determined, for cyber security professionals, the need for increased due diligence is key.

With people working remotely and focusing on global issues, cybercriminals are likely to be more aggressive.

In future similar events, the need for proactive Cybersecurity management will be an essential business requirement.

CipherTrust DataSecurity Platform Archtecture

 

CipherTrust Transparent Encryption: Real-Time Protection Against Any Type of Ransomware Attack

CipherTrust Transparent Encryption is a file system-level encryption solution that leverages the encryption and key management capabilities of the CipherTrust Manger platform to protect against any type of Ransomware attack.

Filesystem-level encryption is a form of disk encryption in which individual files or directories are encrypted by the system itself. The CipherTrust Transparent Encryption solution performs transparent encryption.

In practice, authorized users continue to have read and write access to the encrypted data, while unauthorized users cannot access the encrypted data. As the main characteristics of the solution, we can highlight:

  • Centralized key and policy management to meet compliance requirements;
  • Performs transparent encryption of server data at rest without interrupting business operations or application performance;
  • Granular access controls so that unauthorized users and processes cannot access the encrypted data;
  • It can be deployed on network shares, file, web, application, database servers, or other machines running compatible software.

Deployment is simple, scalable, and fast, with agents installed on the operating file system or device layer, and encryption and decryption are transparent to all applications running above it.

CipherTrust Transparent Encryption is designed to meet data security compliance requirements and best practices with minimal disruption, effort, and cost. Critical to combating the Ransomware attack.

Implementation is seamless, keeping business and operational processes running smoothly, even during deployment and launch.

About EVAL

EVAL has been developing projects in the financial, health, education and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature and Data Protection solutions. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With value recognized by the market, EVAL’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

Categories
Data Protection

Zero Trust: How to Achieve Cybersecurity in Your Business

Since users have started connecting through unmanaged mobile devices and internet-connected business applications, there is a growing need to implement more efficient security strategies, such as Zero Trust.

Zero Trust is a concept put forward by Forrester Research over a decade ago. The fundamental principle of the zero trust approach is least privilege access, which assumes that no user or application should be inherently trusted.

At its core, Zero Trust starts from the basis that everything is potentially hostile to an organization and a secure connection can only be established through efficient management and use of the user’s identity and the context of use, such as the user’s location, the security posture of the endpoint device and the application or service requested.

Zero Trust extends protection and enables modernization

Zero trust is not simply about a single technology, such as identity and remote user access or network segmentation. Zero Trust is a strategy, a foundation on which to build a cybersecurity ecosystem.

Basically, there are three principles in its definition:

Terminate all connections

Many technologies, such as firewalls, use a “pass-through” approach, meaning that files are sent to their recipients at the same time they are being inspected.

If a malicious file is detected, an alert will be sent, but it can often be too late. In contrast, zero trust terminates all connections so it can hold and inspect unknown files before they reach the endpoint.

Built on a proxy architecture, Zero Trust operates inline and inspects all traffic at line speed, including encrypted traffic, performing deep data and threat analysis.

Protect data using context-based policies

Zero trust applies user identity and device posture to verify access rights, using granular business policies based on context, including user, device, requested application, as well as content type.

Policies are adaptive, meaning that as context changes, such as the user’s location or device, user access privileges are continually re-evaluated.

Reduce risk by eliminating the attack surface

Zero Trust connects users directly to the apps and resources they need and never connects them to networks.

By enabling one-to-one connections (user-to-app and app-to-app), zero trust eliminates the risk of lateral movement and prevents a compromised device from infecting other network resources.

With Zero Trust, users and applications are invisible to the Internet, so they cannot be discovered or attacked.

Benefits of adopting Zero Trust

  • Effectively reduces business and organizational risk

As we saw earlier, Zero Trust assumes that all applications and services are malicious and not allowed to communicate until they can be positively verified by their identity attributes.

These are immutable properties of the software or services themselves that meet pre-defined trust principles, such as authentication and authorization requirements.‍

Zero trust therefore reduces risk because it reveals what is on the network and how those assets are communicating. In addition, as baselines are created, a Zero Trust strategy reduces risk by eliminating over-provisioned software and services and continuously checking the “credentials” of each communicating asset.

  • Provides access control in cloud and container environments

Security professionals’ biggest fears about moving to and using the cloud are loss of visibility and access management.

With a zero-trust security architecture, security policies are enforced based on the identity of the communication workloads and tied directly to the workload itself.

This way, security remains as close as possible to the assets that require protection and is not affected by network constructs such as IP addresses, ports and protocols. As a result, the protection not only follows the workload where it tries to communicate, but remains unchanged even when the environment changes.

  • Helps reduce the risk of a data breach

As zero trust is based on the principle of least privilege, every entity, user, device, workload, is considered hostile.

As a result, each request is inspected, users and devices are authenticated and permissions are assessed before “trust” is granted, and this “trustworthiness” is continually reassessed as any context changes, such as the user’s location or the data being accessed.

If an attacker gains a foothold in the network, or cloud instance through a compromised device or other vulnerability, that attacker will not have the ability to access or steal data as a result of being untrusted.

In addition, there is no ability to move laterally due to the zero trust model of creating a “secure segment of one”, meaning there is nowhere an attacker can go. Access is always blocked.

CipherTrust Discovery and Classification

  • Supports compliance initiatives

Zero trust protects all users and workload connections from the internet, so they cannot be exposed or exploited. This invisibility makes it simpler to demonstrate compliance with privacy standards, such as the General Data Protection Law (GDPR) and other regulations, and results in fewer findings in audits.

Additionally, with Zero Trust segmentation (micro-segmentation) in place, organizations have the ability to create perimeters around certain types of sensitive data using fine-grained controls that keep regulated data separate from other unregulated information.

When it comes time for an audit, or in the event of a data breach, a zero-trust segmentation strategy provides superior visibility and control over flat network architectures that provide privileged access.

Secure your environment with SafeNet Trusted Access and Zero Trust

Thales in partnership with Eval, offers strong and effective authentication services that enable enterprises to pursue consistent authentication policies across the organization, automating and simplifying the deployment and management of a distributed property of tokens, while protecting a broad spectrum of resources, whether on-premises, cloud-based or virtualized.

SafeNet Trusted Access is a cloud-based access management service that combines the convenience of the cloud and web single sign-on (SSO) with granular access security.

By validating identities, enforcing access policies and applying Smart Single Sign-On, organizations can ensure secure and convenient access to multiple cloud applications from one easy-to-navigate console.

Cloud-based applications play a vital role in meeting the productivity, operational and infrastructure needs of the enterprise. However, the challenge of managing users’ multiple cloud identities increases as more cloud applications are used.

Each new service added to an organization’s cloud makes unified visibility of access events harder to achieve and increases compliance risk.

Users struggle to maintain countless usernames and passwords, while help desk tickets requiring password resets abound. And with cloud applications protected by default with only weak static passwords, the risk of a data breach increases.

Benefits of SafeNet Trusted Access

SafeNet Trusted Access prevents data breaches and helps organizations comply with requirements and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), allowing them to migrate to the cloud in a simple and secure way. The most important features include:

  • Flexibility in deployment: on-premise or cloud-only installation, migration possible at any time;
  • Reduced help desk costs through SAS self-service portal and high degree of automation;
  • Protection for internal and cloud applications;
  • Quickly implemented, easy to operate and flexibly scalable;
  • Strong authentication for almost all platforms and applications;
  • Integration through SAML, agents, RADIUS or APIs;
  • Multiple authentication factors for every need: hardware and software tokens, SMS and more;
  • Automated registration via web and email;
  • Multi-client capability: centrally across the enterprise, also with delegation;
  • Certified processes: ISO 27001, SSAE 16 SOC-Type 2.

SafeNet Trusted Access from Thales brings security to access and authentication using the Zero Trust strategy

With SafeNet Trusted Access, customers can authenticate API access, reducing the threat surface in an organization’s IT environment.

While API adoption is increasing, many organizations still rely on on-premise systems to run their business (e.g. HR and ERP systems), making consistent access management and authentication increasingly complex, while negatively impacting user experience.

Many organizations face increasing complexity in their IT environments

Many organizations face the challenge of applying modern, uniform authentication and access management to these applications.

SafeNet Trusted Access reduces the risk of data breaches by providing organizations with a wide range of authentication and policy-based access. This gives companies the agility to provide flexible security and authentication across their environment.

Combined with best-in-class authentication and access security, customers can now overcome complexity, reduce access silos and thrive as they undergo their digital and cloud transformation.

About Eval

Eval has been developing projects in the financial, health, education, and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered solutions for Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature, and Data Protection. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With market recognized value, Eval’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards for public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

Categories
Data Protection

Cyber Security and Data Protection are Priorities

Cyber Security and Data Protection has become a mandatory and strategic prerequisite for companies wishing to carry out transactions over the Internet. This includes private and public institutions from the municipal to the federal level.

Security incidents involving government agencies are becoming more and more frequent. Many of us don’t know it, but in a very quiet underworld, a real cyber war is being waged between countries. Based on this theme let’s talk about the importance of protecting data.

Your country’s cybersecurity and data protection is constantly at risk

Recently, a study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed some alarming data. Central banks all over the world are suffering constant attacks that have already resulted in the theft of millions of dollars. And that’s not all, it turns out that the data of thousands of customers and employees has been compromised.

In recent years the financial sector and the government have been the main targets of these attacks. After all, both have migrated their operations to the online world where the risk of hacking and data theft is higher.

A strong adaptation is required from these institutions in the face of a paradigm shift. In summary, the major operations of banks and strategic government sectors used to take place offline or in a restricted fashion on private networks. However, now they are on the Internet, an open and risky world.

In recent years all these institutions have undergone a major disruption in their business models. Thus, protecting the data has become a priority.

Attackers can be recreational hackers, crackers, or terrorists. Problems can arise in front of business entities and interests, as well as for the public sector and the government.

For example, we can cite banking institutions, energy, state agencies, hospitals, businesses, education, and even social issues as possible targets.

All these institutions rely heavily on their online presence and have therefore started to take risks. With information flowing through the Internet on different networks around the world, there is a growing need for cyber security and protection of personal data, funds and assets, as well as national security.

About Eval

A EVAL está a mais de 18 anos desenvolvendo projetos nos segmentos financeiro, saúde, educação e indústria, Desde 2004, oferecemos soluções de Autenticação, Assinatura Eletrônica e Digital e Proteção de Dados. Atualmente, estamos presente nos principais bancos brasileiros, instituições de saúde, escolas e universidades, além de diferentes indústrias.

Com valor reconhecido pelo mercado, as soluções e serviços da EVAL atendem aos mais altos padrões regulatórios das organizações públicas e privadas, tais como o SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, e a Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD). Na prática, promovemos a segurança da informação e o compliance, o aumento da eficiência operacional das empresas, além da redução de custos.

Inove agora, lidere sempre: conheça as soluções e serviços da Eval e leve sua empresa para o próximo nível.

Eval, segurança é valor.

Data Care

It is clear that adopting a Cybersecurity and Data Protection strategy is fundamental. Citizens must have confidence in using online public services, and if they feel they are under threat in areas such as health and welfare, their use of them will certainly decrease.

Because of this growing threat public and financial sector organizations must adhere to appropriate cybersecurity standards. In this way, they can ensure the protection and security necessary for the use of the online environment in their operations.

 

Cybersecurity and data protection must be priorities

For the government, cybersecurity and data protection is not just a requirement, it is a major challenge in the face of the long-awaited digital transformation. What’s more, the stakes are sky-high: hacking into public sector information can jeopardize national security.

Let’s give a better idea of the consequences of cyber attacks and information theft from financial institutions and the government. For this we have listed 8 problems generated by the lack of data protection.

  1. Invading vital systems with the aim of disabling them;
  2. Wreak havoc on the entire digital infrastructure of the country;
  3. Gain access to systems to steal sensitive data;
  4. Stealing document numbers (HR, CPF, CNH, others) or tax declarations;
  5. Make illegal financial transfers;
  6. Disrupt strategic government operations;
  7. Manipulate data and code to introduce harmful instructions;
  8. Obtain employee records and national security files.

The impact of suffering cyber attacks through financial institutions and government agencies goes far beyond financial losses. The exposure of each citizen’s information, for example, is an irreversible damage and that because of its extension becomes impossible to measure the size of the loss.

Meeting the Cyber Security Challenge

The threats are growing in volume, intensity, and sophistication, and recent attacks show that new intrusion attempts are likely to happen frequently.

A big question arises. After all, how can governments reverse the growing gap between security investment and effectiveness? Traditionally, cyber security has focused on intrusion prevention, defense using firewalls, port monitoring, and the like.

However, the evolving threat landscape requires a more dynamic strategy to protect data. So a new approach in this regard involves three key areas built around being safe, vigilant, and resilient. These three principles reflect the fact that defense mechanisms must evolve.

Government actions cannot rely solely on perimeter security, they must also develop robust capabilities for detection, response, recognition, recovery, and data protection.

Reliability must be maintained

Cybersecurity and Data Protection is about building a secure environment using technology to ensure trust and stability in society.

Consequently, building reliability requires activities and operations that can ensure it:

  • Reduction and prevention of threats and vulnerabilities;
  • Implementation of protection policies;
  • Incident Response;
  • Fast recovery in case of incidents;
  • Data and information assurance;
  • Enforcement of cybersecurity-related laws;
  • Intelligence operations related to cyberspace security;
  • Among other actions.

You must have an incident response plan

Organizations need to have a really clear understanding of what to do in the event of a security incident. This requires an incident response plan that is well planned and regularly tested.

However, it is worth pointing out that the threats and attacks that occur today do not follow normal detection and response standards. Traditional requirements are focused only on common threats.

For financial and government institutions, the reality shows that we have threats that have been enhanced and that pose a great risk. And to combat this scenario will require developing a solid framework to manage the risks and apply new standards to detect and respond to much more advanced threats.

This goes far beyond simply testing systems for vulnerabilities. It means, for example, understanding what data is most at risk, what types of criminals would be most interested in this type of information, what type of attacks could be used, and finally developing preventive and corrective actions to protect the data.

How to position yourself in the current Cybersecurity and Data Protection scenario

Agencies must make significant efforts to study emerging threats by looking at key risk indicators and understanding the actors, criminals, foreign countries, and hacktivists, that threaten government and financial systems.

Whether it is an internal or external threat, organizations are finding that the use of firewalls alone is not effective in anticipating the nature of threats.

The evolving action of cyber threats requires collaborative networked defense, which means sharing information about vulnerabilities, forms of attack, and solutions among the community, governments, businesses, and security vendors.

Thus, when cybersecurity and data protection are developed efficiently in each country, they encompass practically all citizens, giving everyone a sense of trust and credibility in institutions.

Now you know the problems generated by not protecting the data. Keep yourself always updated, subscribe to our newsletter and stay on top of EVAL news and technologies. Keep following our content on the blog and also on our Linkedin profile.

About Eval

A EVAL está a mais de 18 anos desenvolvendo projetos nos segmentos financeiro, saúde, educação e indústria, Desde 2004, oferecemos soluções de Autenticação, Assinatura Eletrônica e Digital e Proteção de Dados. Atualmente, estamos presente nos principais bancos brasileiros, instituições de saúde, escolas e universidades, além de diferentes indústrias.

Com valor reconhecido pelo mercado, as soluções e serviços da EVAL atendem aos mais altos padrões regulatórios das organizações públicas e privadas, tais como o SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, e a Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD). Na prática, promovemos a segurança da informação e o compliance, o aumento da eficiência operacional das empresas, além da redução de custos.

Inove agora, lidere sempre: conheça as soluções e serviços da Eval e leve sua empresa para o próximo nível.

Eval, segurança é valor.

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