Safeguarding Success: The Vital Role of Cybersecurity for Eastern Europe’s Defense Manufacturers

Strengthening Intellectual Property, Protecting Assets, and Fueling Business Growth through MSSP Partnerships

Introduction

The defense sector in Eastern Europe faces unique cybersecurity challenges that require manufacturers to prioritize the protection of intellectual property (IP), company assets, and reputation. With the rapid evolution of cyber threats, partnering with Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) has become crucial for defense manufacturers in the region. By working with MSSPs, these manufacturers can strengthen their cybersecurity defenses, mitigate risks, and propel their businesses towards long-term success. This article highlights the growing threat landscape, emphasizes the significance of IP protection, discusses safeguarding company assets, explores reputation management and compliance, and examines how MSSPs can contribute to business growth in the defense sector.

The Growing Threat Landscape

The defense sector in Eastern Europe operates in an increasingly interconnected world where cyber threats continue to evolve at an alarming rate. Threat actors, including hackers, state-sponsored groups, and insiders, pose significant risks to intellectual property, classified information, and proprietary technologies. A successful cyberattack can disrupt production, compromise sensitive data, and damage a company’s reputation, resulting in substantial financial losses and long-term consequences. Therefore, defense manufacturers must remain vigilant and adopt robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard their assets.

Intellectual Property Protection for Defense manufacturers

Intellectual property is the cornerstone of innovation and competitive advantage for defense manufacturers. It encompasses cutting-edge research and development, patented technologies, and valuable trade secrets. However, without robust cybersecurity measures in place, this intellectual property is susceptible to theft, replication, or sale to the highest bidder.
MSSPs offer defense manufacturers comprehensive security strategies tailored to their specific needs. By leveraging advanced threat intelligence, round-the-clock monitoring, incident response capabilities, and proactive vulnerability management, MSSPs significantly reduce the risk of IP theft. This collaboration ensures that critical knowledge remains secure and confidential, enabling defense manufacturers to maintain their competitive edge in the industry.

Safeguarding Company Assets

Defense manufacturers must protect a wide range of company assets, including sensitive financial information, supply chain data, customer records, and operational infrastructure. Breaches in any of these areas can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and potential disruptions to operations.
MSSPs bring expertise in designing and implementing robust cybersecurity architectures to safeguard these assets. Through regular security assessments, vulnerability identification, and deployment of appropriate countermeasures, MSSPs protect defense manufacturers’ assets from unauthorized access. This can involve implementing network segmentation, access controls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems, among other measures. By working with MSSPs, defense manufacturers can ensure that their company assets remain secure from cyber threats.

Reputation Management and Compliance

Trust and reputation are vital in the defense sector. A cybersecurity breach not only impacts a manufacturer’s operations but also erodes the confidence of clients and partners. The defense industry operates under stringent compliance requirements, and any breach can result in significant penalties, legal actions, and loss of business opportunities.
Engaging MSSPs enables defense manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to cybersecurity best practices and compliance standards. MSSPs assist in achieving and maintaining certifications such as ISO 27001 or NIST Cybersecurity Framework, instilling confidence in customers and stakeholders. Additionally, MSSPs provide real-time threat intelligence, incident response capabilities, and continuous monitoring to swiftly detect and neutralize potential attacks, thus safeguarding a manufacturer’s reputation.
ropelling Business Growth

In an era rampant with cyber threats, defense manufacturers in Eastern Europe must be proactive in adopting robust cybersecurity measures. Partnering with MSSPs allows these manufacturers to focus on their core competencies while entrusting the complex task of cybersecurity to experts. By doing so, they enhance their overall security posture, protect intellectual property, secure company assets, and maintain a stellar reputation.
With strengthened cybersecurity, defense manufacturers can showcase their commitment to safeguarding sensitive information, attracting more customers and partners. This, in turn, helps them win competitive bids and contracts, expand into new markets, and establish themselves as trusted leaders in the defense sector. By prioritizing cybersecurity, defense manufacturers position themselves for sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience in an increasingly digitized world.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is an indispensable aspect of modern business operations, especially for defense manufacturers in Eastern Europe. The risks posed by cyber threats to intellectual property, company assets, and reputation are too significant to overlook. By partnering with MSSPs, defense manufacturers can fortify their cybersecurity defenses, protect their intellectual property, safeguard their company assets, and propel their businesses towards sustained success in the defense sector. Embracing MSSPs is a proactive investment that ensures long-term growth and establishes a solid foundation for future innovations.

By prioritizing cybersecurity, defense manufacturers in Eastern Europe can thrive in an interconnected world while maintaining the trust of their customers and partners.

Protecting Your Business and Complying with EU Regulations: Why SOC Services are Essential for Companies Outside of IT?

In the digital age, companies across all industries rely heavily on information technology (IT) systems and infrastructure to run their operations efficiently. However, smaller companies that do not specialize in IT often lack the resources and expertise to keep their networks secure and running smoothly. This is where Security Operations Center (SOC) services come in, providing essential support and protection against cyber threats. In this article, we will explore why SOC services are crucial for companies that do not specialize in IT and how they can help these companies comply with EU regulations.

What are SOC Services?

A SOC is a centralized team that monitors and manages an organization’s security posture. SOC services typically include 24/7 monitoring, threat detection and response, vulnerability management, incident management, and security reporting. SOC analysts use various tools and technologies to monitor the network, identify threats, and respond to security incidents promptly.

Why SOC Services are Important for Companies That Do Not Specialize in IT

1. Protection Against Cyber Threats: Cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in IT systems to steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, or extort money. Small companies that do not specialize in IT are often the most vulnerable because they lack the expertise to identify and mitigate these threats. SOC services can help by providing real-time threat detection and response, minimizing the risk of a successful cyber attack.
2. Compliance with EU Regulations: Many companies operating within the European Union (EU) are subject to strict regulations regarding data security and privacy. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires companies to protect the personal data of EU citizens and imposes heavy fines for non-compliance. SOC services can help ensure that companies are compliant with these regulations by implementing security best practices and providing regular security reports.
3. Reduced IT Costs: Building and maintaining an in-house IT team can be expensive for small companies that do not specialize in IT. SOC services offer an affordable alternative, providing access to a team of security experts and advanced technologies without the need for a significant investment in infrastructure and personnel.
4. Proactive Monitoring: SOC services offer proactive monitoring, meaning that security incidents can be detected and addressed before they cause significant damage. This can save companies from costly downtime, lost revenue, and damage to their reputation.
5. Focus on Core Business: For companies that do not specialize in IT, managing their own security operations can be a significant distraction from their core business. By outsourcing their security operations to SOC services, companies can free up valuable time and resources to focus on their core business goals.

EU Regulations and SOC Services

Companies operating within the EU must comply with a range of regulations to protect personal data and ensure privacy. The GDPR is one of the most important regulations for companies that process personal data, and it requires companies to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data from unauthorized access, disclosure, or destruction. SOC services can help companies comply with these regulations by providing real-time threat detection, incident response, and security reporting.

In addition to the GDPR, there are other EU regulations that companies must comply with, such as the Network and Information Systems Directive (NISD) and the Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The NISD requires companies to protect their IT systems against cyber threats, while the PSD2 regulates payment services and requires companies to implement strong customer authentication and transaction monitoring. SOC services can help companies comply with these regulations by implementing appropriate security measures and providing regular security reports.

Conclusion

In today’s cyber threat landscape, small companies that do not specialize in IT can be particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks. SOC services offer an affordable and effective solution to protect against these threats, providing 24/7 monitoring, threat detection and response, and proactive security measures

From Cost Center to Critical Investment: How Cybersecurity Contributes to ESG Success

 As more and more companies are focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their business strategies, cybersecurity has become an increasingly important consideration. While cybersecurity has traditionally been viewed as a cost center, with little impact on a company’s bottom line, it is now clear that investing in cybersecurity is a critical component of achieving ESG success.

One of the key reasons for this shift is the potential impact of a data breach on a company’s overall sustainability and ESG performance. A data breach can result in financial losses, reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and legal liabilities. These consequences can have a negative impact on a company’s ESG rating and overall sustainability. On the other hand, a strong cybersecurity program can help a company maintain customer trust and protect its reputation, which can improve its ESG rating and overall sustainability.

Furthermore, companies that take cybersecurity seriously and invest in it as part of their ESG strategy will be better positioned to protect their assets, data, and reputation, and to maintain customer trust and loyalty. This can lead to a more sustainable business model, as companies that are able to maintain customer trust and loyalty will be more likely to retain and attract customers, and to generate long-term revenue.

Investing in cybersecurity can also help to promote employee productivity and social responsibility. Companies that handle sensitive data, such as personal information and financial transactions, have a responsibility to protect that data from cyber threats. By investing in cybersecurity, companies can demonstrate their commitment to protecting the privacy and security of their customers, which can have a positive impact on their reputation and overall social responsibility.

Moreover, companies that invest in cybersecurity can also help to promote environmental sustainability. Cybersecurity best practices can help to reduce the risk of data breaches and other cyberattacks, which can reduce the need for costly repairs and replacements. This can help to reduce the overall environmental impact of a company, as less resources will be required to repair or replace damaged systems.

It’s important to note that the benefits of investing in cybersecurity go beyond just the physical and financial aspect, it also includes the societal and environmental aspect as well. A company’s cyber security practices can have a direct impact on it’s community, as well as its employees.

Investing in cybersecurity can also help companies to meet regulatory requirements. With the increasing number of data privacy laws and regulations, companies must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate security measures in place to protect sensitive information. By investing in cybersecurity, companies can comply with these regulations and avoid costly penalties and reputational damage.

In addition, companies that take cybersecurity seriously and invest in it as part of their ESG strategy can also help to promote social responsibility. For example, companies that handle sensitive data, such as personal information and financial transactions, have a responsibility to protect that data from cyber threats. By investing in cybersecurity, companies can demonstrate their commitment to protecting the privacy and security of their customers, which can have a positive impact on their reputation and overall social responsibility.

Moreover, companies that invest in cybersecurity can also help to promote environmental sustainability. Cybersecurity is not only about protecting against external threats, but also about protecting internal systems and infrastructure. By implementing cybersecurity best practices, companies can help to reduce the risk of data breaches and other cyberattacks, which can reduce the need for costly repairs and replacements. This can help to reduce the overall environmental impact of a company, as less resources will be required to repair or replace damaged systems.

In conclusion, cybersecurity is no longer just a cost center, it is a critical investment that can have a significant impact on a company’s overall success and sustainability. Companies that take cybersecurity seriously and invest

Navigating FAR and DFARS Compliance: How Diamatix Can Help Secure Your Business

FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement) compliance are crucial regulations that companies must adhere to when conducting business with the United States government. These regulations are particularly relevant for Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) who provide cybersecurity services to government agencies. In this article, we will discuss the importance of FAR and DFARS compliance for MSSPs, the challenges that companies face when trying to comply with these regulations, and how Diamatix, a leading MSSP, can help companies comply with these regulations and keep their sensitive information secure.

FAR and DFARS compliance are a set of regulations and standards that govern the acquisition and management of IT systems by the U.S. government. These regulations apply to all companies that contract with the U.S. government and include specific requirements for cybersecurity. For example, FAR 52.204-21 requires that all contractors comply with the security requirements outlined in NIST SP 800-171, which is a set of guidelines for protecting sensitive unclassified information in non-federal systems. Additionally, DFARS 252.204-7012 requires that all contractors implement and maintain a robust cybersecurity program that meets specific requirements, such as incident response planning, security training, and incident reporting.

The compliance with these regulations is essential for companies that contract with the U.S. government as failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant financial penalties and even the loss of government contracts. However, complying with these regulations can be a daunting task for companies, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources to invest in cybersecurity infrastructure and personnel. This is where MSSPs come in. MSSPs offer a range of services that can help companies comply with FAR and DFARS regulations, including:

• Risk assessments: MSSPs can conduct risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in a company’s IT systems and help them prioritize their cybersecurity efforts.
• Compliance management: MSSPs can help companies understand and implement the requirements outlined in NIST SP 800-171 and DFARS 252.204-7012, ensuring that they are in compliance with all relevant regulations.
• Incident response planning: MSSPs can assist companies in developing incident response plans, including incident response procedures and incident reporting requirements.
• Security training: MSSPs can provide cybersecurity training to employees to ensure they are aware of the latest threats and know how to respond to security incidents.
• Continuous monitoring: MSSPs can provide continuous monitoring of a company’s IT systems to detect and respond to security incidents in real-time.

In addition to these services, MSSPs often have more experience and expertise in cybersecurity than most SMEs. They are able to provide advanced security solutions and technologies such as advanced threat protection, threat intelligence, and incident response services. By working with an MSSP, companies can rest assured that their cybersecurity needs are being met and that they are in compliance with all relevant regulations.

Diamatix, a leading MSSP, offers a comprehensive set of services that can help companies comply with FAR and DFARS regulations. Diamatix’s team of experts can help with risk assessments, compliance management, incident response planning, security training, and continuous monitoring. With their experience and expertise, Diamatix can help companies maintain compliance with these regulations and provide a more robust security posture. Diamatix provides advanced security solutions and technologies such as advanced threat protection, threat intelligence, and incident response services to help you stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape.

Diamatix’s team of experts have extensive experience in helping companies comply with FAR and DFARS regulations and can provide guidance and support throughout the process.

Unified threat management (UTM) refers to when multiple security features or services are combined into a single device within your network. Using UTM, your network’s users are protected with several different features, including antivirus, content filtering, email and web filtering, anti-spam, and more.

UTM enables an organization to consolidate their IT security services into one device, potentially simplifying the protection of the network. As a result, your business can monitor all threats and security-related activity through a single pane of glass. In this way, you attain complete, simplified visibility into all elements of your security or wireless architecture.

Desired Features of a Unified Threat Manager

There are certain features that an ideal UTM solution must possess.

Antivirus

A UTM comes with antivirus software that can monitor your network, then detect and stop viruses from damaging your system or its connected devices. This is done by leveraging the information in signature databases, which are storehouses containing the profiles of viruses, to check if any are active within your system or are trying to gain access.

Some of the threats the antivirus software within a UTM can stop include infected files, Trojans, worms, spyware, and other malware.

Anti-malware

Unified threat management protects your network against malware by detecting it and then responding. A UTM can be preconfigured to detect known malware, filtering it out of your data streams and blocking it from penetrating your system. UTM can also be configured to detect novel malware threats using heuristic analysis, which involves rules that analyze the behavior and characteristics of files. For example, if a program is designed to prevent the proper function of a computer’s camera, a heuristic approach can flag that program as malware.

UTM can also use sandboxing as an anti-malware measure. With sandboxing, a cell inside the computer is confined to a sandbox that captures the suspicious file. Even though the malware is allowed to run, the sandbox prevents it from interacting with other programs in the computer.

Firewall

A firewall has the ability to scan incoming and outgoing traffic for viruses, malware, phishing attacks, spam, attempts to intrude on the network, and other cybersecurity threats. Because UTM firewalls examine both the data coming in and out of your network, they can also prevent devices within your network from being used to spread malware to other networks that connect to it.

Intrusion Prevention

A UTM system can provide an organization with intrusion prevention capability, which detects then prevents attacks. This functionality is often referred to as an intrusion detection system (IDS) or intrusion prevention system (IPS). To identify threats, an IPS analyzes packets of data, looking for patterns known to exist in threats. When one of these patterns is recognized, the IPS stops the attack.

In some cases, an IDS will merely detect the dangerous data packet, and an IT team can then choose how they want to address the threat. The steps taken to stop the attack can be automated or performed manually. The UTM will also log the malicious event. These logs can then be analyzed and used to prevent other attacks in the future.

Virtual Private Networking (VPN)

The virtual private network (VPN) features that come with a UTM appliance function similarly to regular VPN infrastructure. A VPN creates a private network that tunnels through a public network, giving users the ability to send and receive data through the public network without others seeing their data. All transmissions are encrypted, so even if someone were to intercept the data, it would be useless to them.

Web Filtering

A UTM’s web filtering feature can prevent users from seeing specific websites or Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). This is done by stopping users’ browsers from loading the pages from those sites onto their device. You can configure web filters to target certain sites according to what your organization aims to accomplish.

For example, if you want to prevent employees from being distracted by certain social media sites, you can stop those sites from loading on their devices while they are connected to your network.

Data Loss Prevention

The data loss prevention you get with a UTM appliance enables you to detect data breaches and exfiltration attempts and then prevent them. To do this, the data loss prevention system monitors sensitive data, and when it identifies an attempt by a malicious actor to steal it, blocks the attempt, thereby protecting the data.

Benefits of Using a Unified Threat Management Solution

Flexibility and Adaptability

With a UTM network, you can use a set of flexible solutions to handle the complicated assortment of networking setups available in modern business infrastructure. You can cherry-pick what you need from a selection of security management tools, choosing what is best for your specific network. You can also opt to obtain one licensing model that comes with all the technologies you want, saving you time shopping for individual solutions.

Because a UTM is flexible, you have the freedom to deploy more than one security technology as you see fit. Also, a UTM comes with automatic updates, which keep your system ready to combat the latest threats on the landscape.

Centralized Integration and Management

In a normal setup without UTM, you may have to juggle several security components at once, including a firewall, application control, a VPN, and others. This can take time and resources away from your team. However, with a UTM, you can consolidate everything and control it all with a single management console. This makes it easier to monitor the system, as well as address particular components within the UTM that may need to be updated or checked.

The centralized nature of a UTM also allows you to monitor several threats simultaneously as they impact multiple components of your network. In a network without this centralized structure, when a multi-module attack is occurring, it can be very difficult to prevent it.

Cost-effectiveness

Because of its centralized setup, a UTM reduces the number of devices your organization needs to protect your network. This may result in significant cost savings. In addition, because fewer staff are required to monitor the system, you can save on manpower costs as well.

Increased Awareness of Network Security Threats

The combination of a UTM’s centralization and faster operation results in an increased awareness of network security threats, enabling you to implement advanced threat protection (ATP). This equips your IT team to better manage advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other modern dangers on the landscape.

The enhanced capability to address these kinds of threats comes from a UTM’s ability to operate several threat response mechanisms in unison, which combine forces against the threats that attempt to infiltrate your network.

Faster Security Solution for Businesses

With a UTM, you can streamline the way data is processed and use fewer resources at the same time. The UTM does not require as much resources as several components operating independent of each other. The higher efficiency you get from a UTM may allow you to free up resources to better manage other essential network-dependent processes.

Next-generation Firewalls vs. Unified Threat Management

Although, on the surface, it may seem that the differences between next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) and UTM are merely semantic, depending on which NGFW you use, there may be some distinctions. To be clear, both solutions protect your network. With a UTM, however, there exists the possibility that you get services you do not need. Integrating these with your current network could involve extra work. It could also result in difficult decisions and a challenging setup process as you try to either combine the UTM’s features with what you already have or pit one against the other to ascertain which solution is better.

With NGFWs, on the other hand, such as the Fortinet FortiGate, you can choose to turn on the features you need, making it a complete UTM solution. Conversely, you can choose to only use it as a firewall or activate some protections but not others. If, for example, you have FortiGate and choose to use it to its full capacity, it will also work as a UTM system.

Another difference is that an NGFW is an effective solution for larger enterprises, whereas a typical UTM may get overwhelmed by the demands of an enterprise.

How Diamatix Can Help?

Fortinet and Diamatix offers several solutions that give an organization the kind of protection they need from a UTM. FortiGate is an NGFW that comes with all the capabilities of a UTM. FortiGate has anti-malware capabilities, enabling it to scan network traffic—both incoming and outgoing—for suspicious files. In addition, the Fortinet UTM has an IPS that secures your network against attackers trying to gain a foothold within. If a malicious element attempts to exploit a vulnerability in your security, the FortiGate IPS can detect the invasive activity and stop it in its tracks.

FortiGate also comes equipped with data leak prevention software, which enables it to detect potential breaches and attempts at exfiltration. Diamatix SOC monitors your network activity, then when a data leak is detected, it blocks it, protecting sensitive data. These protective measures can safeguard the data on endpoints, within network traffic, and within storage devices.

In addition to FortiGate, Fortinet has an expansive suite of products that you can use to provide comprehensive protection to all facets of your network.

*Published on Fortinet Website

Managed SOC, also referred to as SOC as a Service, is a subscription-based service that allows businesses to outsource threat detection and response. Based on the concept of transforming the Internal Security Operations Center (SOC) into an external cloud-based service, the managed SOC offers external cyber security experts to IT organizations that monitor your logs, devices, cloud environments, and network for known and evolving advanced threats.

SOC as a Service, which is positioned as a managed service offering, provides businesses with a team of cybersecurity experts dedicated to monitoring, detecting, and investigating threats across their entire enterprise. In some cases, the outsourced security team can resolve detected threats on its own, but in others, the SOC team collaborates with internal IT teams to resolve detected threats.

A SOC as a Service can provide round-the-clock monitoring without requiring businesses to invest heavily in security software, hardware, or other infrastructure. Instead, organizations can quickly gain access to a SOC and begin monitoring for cyberthreats, improving their security posture in a cost-effective manner.

Why should you use a managed SOC?

Organizations that are serious about their cybersecurity posture may quickly realize how much money and time it will take to hire security experts, negotiate and purchase security software and infrastructure, set up and configure the SOC, and then begin monitoring for threats.

As a result, when companies consider the challenges of launching their own SOC, the following issues may come up:

• You have limited internal security and/or SOC expertise – Managed SOC providers have extensive experience managing the security operations of organizations from all over the world in every industry vertical.
• There isn’t enough money in the budget for capital expenditures – With SOC as a Service, the capital investment required to set up a SOC is exchanged for a single, low-cost monthly operating expense.
• It takes too long to set up your own SOC – The time spent forming a SOC team, acquiring infrastructure, and licensing and implementing software is offset by the SOC as a Service provider’s already-up and-running SOC.
• An internal SOC may not improve the security posture of the company – An organization’s security posture – both on-premises and in the cloud – can be immediately improved by combining cutting-edge threat intelligence, seasoned cybersecurity analysts, and state-of-the-art security monitoring and response orchestration solutions.
• It’s possible that an internal SOC isn’t cost-effective – A managed SOC service can be far less expensive than setting up a SOC on one’s own. In many cases, the monthly cost of SOC as a Service is less than the cost of hiring just one or two internal security analysts (let alone the cost of establishing the SOC itself). SOC as a Service is a cost-effective option at a fraction of the cost of an internal SOC.

With SOC as a Service, businesses can rest easy knowing that their entire network environment is constantly monitored for new cyberthreats by cybersecurity experts, all for a fraction of the cost of doing it themselves.

What are the advantages of SOC as a Service for an organization?

Threat detection, threat response, staffing, and budgeting can all benefit from a managed SOC. The following are some of the advantages:

SOC as a Service complexity is reduced.

Most organizations don’t have the time or expertise to design, implement, configure, test, manage, maintain, upgrade, and operate an internal SOC well, if at all. Using a SOC as a Service provider simplifies the process; you pay for services that are already provided by a SOC.

Increases deployment speed

The deployment time is significantly reduced because a SOC is not required. Some SOC as a Service providers can be up and running and monitoring an organization’s environment in less than a month, rather than taking quarters or years.

Expertise on the spot

Not every company has cybersecurity experts on staff, and not every company can afford to hire them. Organizations that use SOC as a Service gain access to a team of cybersecurity experts and analysts who are trained and experienced in detecting and resolving today’s advanced cybersecurity threats.

Detection and response to threats are improved.

In short, SOC as a Service providers are frequently better equipped than their clients to detect and respond to threats. SOC as a Service increases the speed, efficiency, and effectiveness of threat detection and response capabilities far beyond that of internal security teams by leveraging the latest threat intelligence, a team of dedicated security experts, best-of-breed security solutions, and automated response orchestration.

Secure at a low cost

The same factors that go into SOC complexity (designing, implementing, configuring, testing, managing, maintaining, upgrading, and operating a SOC) add to an organization’s overall cost. SOC as a Service is a cost-effective option because it allows organizations to pay for each aspect of an internal SOC instead of making a single monthly payment. SOC as a Service looks even better with the relatively safe assumption that costs will be significantly reduced, matched with improved levels of security.

Do you need help managing your network security? Get support from an experienced MSSP by contacting Diamatix today. We are ready to help!

Cybersecurity and Network Security :The demand for ongoing digital innovation has led to the rapid expansion of network edges. The LAN, data center, WAN, and cloud environments now include the convergence of IT and OT, 5G and LTE networks, CASB, offnet workers, edge computing and distributed cloud, and most recently, the home edge. The result is an expanded and splintered perimeter that has made deploying and managing consistent security a chronic and growing, problem. Complicating the issue further, attacks are developing new levels of sophistication, doing things like leveraging cloud compute to deliver polymorphic attack sequences at a rapid scale and with full automation. As organizations continue to accelerate their digital innovation initiatives, ensuring their security can keep up with both an expanding network founded on existing and new technologies and today’s complex and fast-evolving threat landscape is critical. What’s at stake for many organizations is their entire digital business strategy.

The challenge with rapidly expanding the network edge and the growing complexity of attack sequences that span the network is that seeing and responding to new threats requires a security infrastructure that works as a single, integrated system. However, many of the security and networking technologies needed to make things work don’t work together. This creates new security and performance gaps that cyber adversaries are all too willing and able to exploit. As a result, many IT leaders are now facing a complex security environment plagued with vendor and solution sprawl, isolated and siloed security solutions, and a lack of coherent management, orchestration, and enforcement strategy that is not only able to span their current network but also can automatically adapt as new solutions and edges are added. Consolidation and simplification are essential components of any security strategy. This requires developing a security framework that can tie their distributed attack surface together, increasing visibility and control and enabling a coordinated and automated threat response. This also means that every new security solution needs to function as part of that overarching framework. And this needs to happen while avoiding the ripple effects a decision like this may have on their network’s overall performance.

Critical Questions To Consider Before Investing in a Cybersecurity Solution

The following essential questions should be asked by IT managers when considering any new security investment. This will help support a single security platform strategy that ties essential security and networking solutions into an effective, integrated solution.

1. In addition to adding singular protections for a network segment or service, does this solution also add important points of control through a central management system to enhance overall visibility and control?
2. Is the digital innovation journey leading to the cloud? Where it makes sense, look for solutions that can be consumed consistently in various deployment models (HW, VM, X-as-a-Service, PaaS, IaaS) supporting your journey.
3. Can the solution be integrated with external systems to provide global community threat-intelligence sharing? Having the right information helps ensure an organization is not the victim of an emerging threat when it could be avoided.
4. Who is behind the various security solutions in place across the network, especially X-as-a-Service models? Does the vendor have the expertise needed to deliver a reliable security solution? Has any of it been tested and validated by third-party labs? Remember, AI and ML models are only as good as the data and patterns they are trained on.
5. Can the datasets from both traffic and security events be added and correlated effectively in a common analytics environment? Such an integrated approach is essential for effectively analyzing a full attack sequence, and not just product or location-based symptoms.
6. Can this solution effectively participate in the creation of new threat insights and an integrated prevention strategy for addressing previously unknown threats?
7. Is the prevention generated by this solution able to span the full attack life cycle by sharing information with the different security technologies and capabilities deployed across the organization?
8. Can the solution be automatically “reprogrammed” using new information from other sources? This ability for every deployed solution to participate in a coordinated threat response in a timely manner is critical because it allows an organization to break an attack sequence before it can complete its mission.
9. Has the “people aspect” been considered? What impact will this solution have on things like learning curve, policy management and orchestration, SOC and NOC processes, and the unification of visibility and span of control.
10. Change is the only constant. Does this solution allow continuous consumption of new innovations for networking, security, and operations, as well as ongoing expansion of the ecosystem, without exposing the organization to the risks of unprotected attack surfaces due to security gaps?

It’s Not About Selecting a Single Vendor. It’s About Selecting the Right Vendors.

The days of simply plugging an isolated point security solution into some segment of the network to monitor traffic are long over. Today’s security is a journey of optimization and mastery. Security solutions need to be able to dynamically adapt to a constantly evolving attack surface. This starts with choosing vendors ready to walk this path, enabling a fabric-based, open ecosystem, security platform designed for today’s expanded and expanding networks. This must include tools that collect, correlate, and share threat intelligence, and that can participate in a unified threat response regardless of where they have been deployed or in what form factor they exist. This integrated approach allows security teams to continually evaluate the current state of even the most dynamic infrastructure, spanning every corner and ecosystem. A unified security fabric should also provide a path for continually enhancing and strengthening security posture over time with solutions designed to work together. This enables organizations to make the most of their security investments because every element can function as part of a comprehensive and evolving strategy.

Do you need help managing your network security? Get support from an experienced MSSP by contacting Diamatix today. We are ready to help!

1 Charlie Osborne, “The more cybersecurity tools an enterprise deploys, the less effective their defense is,” ZDNet, June 30, 2020