In an era where cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated, it’s imperative for organizations to reevaluate and fortify their network security measures. With attacks such as ransomware, phishing, social engineering, and a multitude of other vulnerabilities coming at businesses from all angles, cybersecurity leaders need to be more vigilant and proactive. Ensuring that your firm’s resources are adequately allocated to monitor and mitigate risks, and educating your team about the latest attack methods and vectors are essential steps in this continuous battle. However, it all begins at the edge—if you’re not aware of all potential risks to your edge access, then your efforts to reduce risk are not truly effective. Here are three critical steps to improve security at the edge of your network, making your organization more resilient against today’s pervasive cyber threats.
1. Avoid Using Outdated or Vulnerable Remote Access Tools
One of the first and most crucial steps to reinforcing your network security is to avoid using outdated or easily exploitable virtual private networking software (VPN) or other edge access tools. These older systems often possess vulnerabilities that attackers can easily exploit to infiltrate your network. Therefore, it’s essential to have a solid process in place to identify and address security issues within your remote access software. Be prepared to make the difficult but necessary decision to disable remote access if a vulnerability is found and cannot be promptly patched.
Moreover, it’s vital to develop reliable communication methods to inform stakeholders about these critical decisions. They need to understand why you are limiting access and pulling the “fire alarm” when exigent circumstances arise. This preparedness can prevent potential chaos and ensure that everyone involved is on the same page.
2. Consider Replacing SSL or Web-Based VPNs
If your organization lacks the capability to manage or maintain remote nodes effectively, it’s time to consider investing in mechanisms to maintain remote access software. For instance, if you’re only utilizing on-premises patching tools such as Windows Software Update Services, you might need to invest in cloud solutions like third-party patching tools or Microsoft Intune to manage remote assets properly. However, it’s worth noting that mere patching might not be sufficient in the current threat landscape.
In recent years, web-based Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) VPNs have frequently been targeted and exploited to gain remote access to networks. Assess how your firm allows remote access and examine how often your VPN solution has faced attacks or potential risks. The Norwegian National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has even recommended replacing SSL/TLS-based VPN solutions with more secure alternatives like Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) configured with Internet Key Exchange v2 (IKEv2). While this does not entirely eliminate risks, it significantly reduces the attack surface and increases the system’s overall resilience.
It’s also important to remember that redeploying such remote access solutions introduces various risks. Carefully plan the transition to limit access strictly to known and secure locations and geographic areas. This cautious approach can help mitigate new vulnerabilities that might arise during the reconfiguration.
3. Stop Improper Credential Storage
Regularly reviewing and improving how you store and manage credentials is essential in preventing breaches caused by improperly stored sensitive data. Too often, in the rush to complete a project, organizations neglect to secure critical information properly. When credentials are carelessly shared, hardcoded, or stored in inappropriate platforms, it opens the door for unauthorized access and poses a significant risk to network security.
To combat this, follow best practices for securing passwords. Implement a password manager to generate and store unique, strong passwords for each account—for instance, at least 15 characters long for GitHub credentials. Additionally, configure two-factor authentication for accounts to add an extra layer of security, ensuring that even if a password is compromised, unauthorized access can still be prevented. It’s also crucial never to share passwords, not even with potential collaborators. Each user must have their own secure, personal account access.
By rigorously adhering to these three key edge-access strategies, you can significantly minimize the risk of cyberattacks and safeguard your organization against potential breaches and vulnerabilities. Although the threat landscape is constantly evolving, maintaining vigilance and proactively managing and securing your network can keep your organization ahead of adversaries, ensuring a solid cybersecurity framework.
