Simple Cyber Measures to Protect Systems
The Council on CyberSecurity’s Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense provides guidance on prioritizing security processes that are most effective against the latest advanced threats, such as malware and other malicious targeted attacks. The main emphasis of the controls is on standardization and automation that not only maximize security but also enhance the operational effectiveness of information technology administration.
The security controls are derived from frameworks such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-53. A list of nearly 50 quick win approaches that align with the critical security controls is presented in “Aligning with the Critical Security Controls to Achieve Quick Security Wins,” a white paper by Carbon Black.
The Critical Security Controls are:
Inventory of Authorized and Unauthorized Devices—Actively inventory, track and correct all hardware devices on the network so only authorized devices are given access and so unauthorized and unmanaged devices are found and prevented from gaining access.
Inventory of Authorized and Unauthorized Software—Manage all software on the network so only authorized software is installed and can execute and so unauthorized and unmanaged software is found and prevented from installation or execution
Secure Configurations for Hardware and Software on Mobile Devices, Laptops, Workstations and Servers—Establish, implement, track, report on and correct the security configuration of laptops, servers and workstations using a rigorous configuration management and change control process to prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerable services and settings
Continuous Vulnerability Assessment and Remediation—Continuously acquire, assess and take action on new information to identify vulnerabilities, remediate and minimize the window of opportunity for attackers
Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges—Apply the processes and tools used to track/control/prevent/correct the use, assignment and configuration of administrative privileges on computers, networks and applications
Maintenance, Monitoring and Analysis of Audit Logs—Collect, manage and analyze audit logs of events that could help detect, understand or recover from an attack
Malware Defenses—Control the installation, spread and execution of malicious code at multiple points in the enterprise, while optimizing the use of automation to enable rapid updating of defense, data gathering and corrective action
Limitation and Control of Network Ports, Protocols and Services—Manage (track/control/correct) the ongoing operational use of ports, protocols and services on networked devices to minimize windows of vulnerability available to attackers
Secure Configurations for Network Devices—Establish, implement and actively manage the security configuration of network infrastructure devices using a rigorous configuration management and change control process to prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerable services and settings
Boundary Defense—Detect/prevent/correct the flow of information transferring networks of different trust levels with a focus on security-damaging data
Data Protection—Apply the processes and tools to prevent data exfiltration, mitigate the effects of exfiltrated data and ensure the privacy and integrity of sensitive information
Controlled Access Based on the Need to Know—Apply processes and tools to track/control/prevent/correct secure access to critical assets (for example information, resources and systems) according to the formal determination of which persons, computers and applications have a need and right to access these critical assets based on an approved classification.
Wireless Access Control—Apply processes and tools to track/control/prevent/correct the security use of wireless local area networks (LANS), access points and wireless client systems
Account Monitoring and Control—Actively manage the life-cycle of system and application accounts, including their creation, use, dormancy and deletion, to minimize opportunities for attackers to leverage them
Security Skills Assessment and Appropriate Training to Fill Gaps—For all functional roles in the organization (prioritizing those mission-critical to the business and its security), identify the specific knowledge, skills and abilities needed to support defense of the enterprise; develop and execute an integrated plan to assess, identify gaps; and remediate through policy, organizational planning, training and awareness programs.
Application Software Security—Manage the security lifecycle of all in-house developed and acquired software to prevent, detect and correct security weaknesses.
Incident Response and Management—Protect the organization’s information, as well as its reputation, by developing and implementing an incident response infrastructure (for example, plans, defined roles, training, communications and management oversight) for quickly discovering an attack and then effectively containing the damage, eradicating the attacker’s presence and restoring the integrity of the network and systems.
Penetration Tests and Red Team Exercises—Test the overall strength of an organization’s defenses (the technology, the processes and the people) by simulating the objectives and actions of an attacker.
