A vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying IT security weaknesses in your network, operating systems, firewalls, and hardware, and then taking steps to fix them. Penetration testing, also known as “pen testing,” is an intentional, simulated cyberattack against your IT systems to find vulnerabilities and test the efficacy of cybersecurity controls. Both are essential components of a comprehensive vulnerability management and network security protocol.

The internet of things (IoT) is a highly developed space that is home to a vast amount of sensitive data, making it a very attractive target for cybercriminals. Threats and risks continue to evolve as hackers come up with new ways to breach unsecured systems -- posing a threat to the ecosystem itself. Let’s take a look at the leading threats and risks to the IoT and the associated vulnerabilities that must be secured.

We all know how cyber security has become an increasingly important issue as the reliance on internet-connected devices has increased. This is why some companies are looking for third-party providers to handle their IT security needs to free up resources and reduce costs. Find out what you should be looking for in a provider, as well as why outsourcing cyber security can be a good option for some businesses.

When exploringhttps://securityscorecard.com/admin/entries/blog/154640?draftId=2332&fresh=1# top network security breaches, many think of the obvious: banks or large consumer institutions. However, healthcare organizations are on the rise as a top target for hackers, with the number of data breaches rising 36% in the second half of 2020.

With more colleges and universities incorporating Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms to support registrars, admissions, and financial aid offices, schools are collecting more electronic student information than ever before. Combine that with weak networks and systems, however, and the state of cybersecurity in higher education earns an F. Higher education needs to focus more efforts on protecting this information from cybercriminals.

When it comes to cybercrime, cybercriminals are constantly changing their tactics. Think back to 10 years ago; malware sites — malicious sites that attempt to install malware on a device – were a common attack vector. At the same time, sophisticated ransomware attacks on organizations were rare. Often, ransomware was used to target individuals, sometimes blackmailing them for having been on unsavory sites and asking for a few hundred dollars in ransom.

When the subject is cybersecurity compliance, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is often the first reference that comes to mind. NIST has been around for decades, and its standards for the development of cybersecurity risk management programs are considered the gold standard. There is, however, another standard that applies to service providers that handle customer data, as well as to those firms’ business partners: the SOC 2 audit.

Everyone tracks progress. Whether it’s academics, health, or job skills, people need visibility into where they started and how well they’re advancing toward a goal. From a business perspective, tracking progress gives insight into whether the organization is prioritizing activities for long-term initiatives or whether it needs to take corrective action. Sometimes, the progress reports remain internal. Other times, organizations share them with customers and business partners.

The CISO of a large state agency shared with me the automated tools he used to mine intelligence about his IT suppliers, and their sub-suppliers and interconnections by way of vetting for security posture. He truly recognized the threat of third parties long before the SolarWinds hack. His due diligence sparked inspiration for this blog. Can a business assume that third party security controls are strong enough to protect their digital supply chains? What about cloud-based assets?

Hybrid clouds are an elegant and adaptable technology solution for combining public and private cloud storage with more traditional IT infrastructure. While the hybrid cloud model provides a number of benefits, it requires a different security approach than private data storage options. Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of hybrid cloud computing, as well as the best security measures for protecting the data stored there.