As a business owner, I understand the critical importance of having a secure network. My customers trust me with their sensitive data, and any breach could be catastrophic for my business. In this article, I’ll walk through several key considerations to help you evaluate the true security posture of your business network.
How Vulnerable are Your Endpoints?
The endpoints on your network (laptops, desktops, servers, mobile devices, etc.) are the most common entry point for attackers. Here are some important questions to ask:
-
Are all of your endpoints running up-to-date antivirus software? Outdated antivirus lacks awareness of the latest threats. Be sure to keep all antivirus software updated.
-
Have you applied the latest operating system and application updates? Patching delays provide windows of opportunity for attackers exploiting known vulnerabilities. Establish a regular patch management regimen across all endpoints.
-
Do you have visibility into all devices connected to your network? Unmanaged endpoints could provide backdoor access for attackers. Maintain an asset inventory and use tools like NAC to enforce access controls.
-
Are you protecting against malware and phishing attacks? These rank among the most common infection vectors. Deploy anti-malware tools and train employees on phishing prevention.
How Strong are Your Access Controls?
Attackers often aim to steal credentials for broader access to your network. Here are some key access control considerations:
-
Do you enforce strong password policies? Weak or reused passwords represent low-hanging fruit. Mandate password complexity, multifactor authentication, and password rotation.
-
Are you blocking legacy authentication protocols? Older protocols like SNMPv2 and LM hash open unnecessary risks. Modernize to the latest authentication protocols like SSH and SNMPv3.
-
Do you limit local administrator rights? Local admin rights provide powerful access if compromised. Only whitelist essential accounts and log privileged activity.
-
Are you proactively monitoring for brute force attacks? These attacks try to guess weak passwords. Use tools like account lockout to thwart password spraying.
How Well Do You Understand Your Traffic?
Once inside your network, attackers often aim to move laterally and escalate privileges. Visibility into traffic and behaviors is critical:
-
Do you monitor internal East-West traffic? Lateral movement tends to generate unusual traffic patterns. Inspect flows between virtual machines and internal subnets.
-
Are you detecting signs of reconnaissance? Attackers often probe for vulnerabilities and valuable data. Watch for traffic spikes, port scans, and vulnerability scans.
-
Do you have user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA)? UEBA spots anomalous activities signaling compromised users. Investigate spikes in data transfers, odd logins, etc.
-
Can you hunt threats across your environment? Threat hunting uncovers hard-to-detect attackers. Build hunt capabilities with SIEM, EDR, and threat intel integration.
How Refined is Your Incident Response?
Despite best efforts, some attacks will succeed. Ensure you have robust incident response capabilities:
-
Do you have a documented incident response plan? Chaos will ensue without organized response procedures. Outline required steps, stakeholders, and escalation protocols.
-
Can you rapidly isolate and remediate threats? Time is of the essence when containing attacks. Implement endpoint containment and auto-remediation tools.
-
Are you practicing incident response scenarios? Responders need practice to work effectively. Conduct tabletop exercises for common breach scenarios.
-
Do you have retainer agreements with cybersecurity firms? Outside expertise can amplify your response. Establish relationships with firms like Mandiant before an incident.
Key Takeaways
Securing your business network is all about vigilance across vulnerabilities, access controls, visibility, and incident response. Leverage these tips to continually evaluate and strengthen cybersecurity posture. With proliferating threats, the work is never done – but the peace of mind is invaluable. Stay persistent, and partner with experienced providers to fortify defenses around your business crown jewels.
