What do you do if your reliance on new technology in Information Security puts your organization at risk?

Any new technology should follow security by design principles throughout its life cycle. Assess the security implications before implementation and make risk-based decisions to ensure an acceptable residual risk after implementation. Monitoring risks throughout the life cycle of a technology and during major changes will ensure the same understanding and treatment of risk. In the event of unforeseen new unacceptable risks with new technologies, consider compensating controls or involve stakeholders for a transparent decision based on business impact versus risk treatment costs / acceptance.

When a company starts using new technology, it can sometimes open up risks to its security. If I find myself in this situation, the first thing I'd do is to understand exactly where the risks are coming from. This means checking the new tech thoroughly for any security weaknesses. Next, I'd talk to experts or hire security professionals to get advice on how to protect the company. They can help set up defenses or suggest changes. It's also important to train everyone in the company on how to use the new technology safely. Finally, I'd make sure to keep everything updated and to regularly check for any new risks, so we can stay one step ahead of any potential security threats.

- Identify potential vulnerabilities and threats associated with the new technology. - Implement additional security measures or protocols to reduce the risk. - Continuously monitor the technology for any signs of compromise or weakness. - Have contingency plans in place in case of security breaches or failures. - Consult with cybersecurity experts or professionals for guidance on mitigating risks effectively.

I understand that a study is necessary before purchasing any security solution. Many times we understand that a solution is necessary, but we don't understand the real reason for having it. I say this because, in many cases, security can evolve through basic execution principles and the adaptation of good practices to the existing environment, and this mitigates security risks to the greatest extent. Having such a structure aligned, then we will work on assessing risks and needs for new solutions that solve specific problems not covered by the solutions we currently have.

If reliance on new technology in Information Security jeopardizes the organization, conduct a thorough risk assessment to understand vulnerabilities. Implement additional security measures like encryption and multi-factor authentication to mitigate risks. Continuously monitor the technology for signs of security breaches or vulnerabilities. Stay informed about emerging threats related to the technology and provide comprehensive employee training. Develop contingency plans and engage with vendors to stay updated on security updates. Regularly review and update security policies to adapt to changing threats. These proactive measures help minimize risks and enhance Information Security posture.

Evaluate how the new technology impacts existing security policies. Identify any gaps or areas where policies need to be updated to accommodate the unique risks associated with the new technology. Tailor policies to address the specific risks posed by the new technology. This may involve revising access controls to accommodate new authentication methods or updating data protection strategies to safeguard against emerging threats while meeting compliance requirements such as industry regulations or data protection laws.

As previously stated, information security technology and tools must complement well-defined processes and procedures for risk mitigation. Once policies are developed that meet the strategies and aspects of the security area, it is easier to fit the solutions in a way that meets best practices and provides a safe environment.

As políticas de segurança são importantes para manter a postura de segurança em constante evolução. Ao revisar e atualizar as políticas, podemos garantir que estamos adotando as melhores práticas e abordando novos cenários no ambiente cibernético. Isso inclui também educar continuamente os funcionários sobre as últimas ameaças e melhores práticas de segurança.

Updating policies isn't just about ticking boxes; it's about embedding the security culture deeply into every new tech adoption. From my years of steering security in a dynamic tech landscape, I've learned the importance of making policy updates collaborative. Involve not just the security team but also those on the front lines of using the new technology. For instance, when we integrated IoT devices into our operations, we tailored our access control policies to the nuanced risks these devices presented, informed by insights from our operations team. This approach not only strengthens policies but also fosters a security-first mindset across the organization.

The training and awareness process is also fundamental for security areas. We know that all members of an organization are responsible for maintaining that environment secure and that vulnerability exploitations often result from human execution errors. Therefore, it is essential to ensure correct training and make employees aware of the risks and advantages of working in a protected environment.

Monitoring is an essential topic to ensure visibility of behaviors that could become incidents in the future, or even identify incidents in their early stages. The subject of monitoring is broad, as it must be developed in such a way as to be assertive in its visibility. The security world generates an absurd amount of events, and therefore refinement and correlation are essential for the correct information to be delivered.

A well-designed incident response process is essential so that technical teams can have a basis for actions in the event of events, as well as other teams knowing what they are doing and what their responsibilities are in that area. In an attack scenario, we need to involve technical areas, risk areas, business continuity, senior management and relationships, so that we can cover an entire scope of protection and follow the regulations that the market demands.

Entendo ser muito importante realizar uma análise pós incidente para identificar lições aprendidas e implementar melhorias nos processos e controles de segurança. Isso ajuda a fortalecer a postura de segurança e se preparar melhor para enfrentar futuros incidentes.

Avaliar os terceiros e os fornecedores é importante também para entende a maturidade que a empresa possui em relação a segurança da informação. Deixar isso claro em clausulas e periodicamente reavaliar esses fornecedores e suas soluções mantem a conformidade e os riscos controlados.

Vendors Track record and reputation needs to assessed and they also need to be assessed against data protection measures, access controls, encryption protocols, incident response procedures, and compliance with relevant regulations. Validate if the vendor has appropriate security certifications and compliance with industry standards and regulations. Establish clear contractual agreements with the vendor that include specific security requirements and obligations. Define roles and responsibilities related to security, data protection, confidentiality, and incident response. Ensure that contractual terms are enforceable and provide recourse in the event of security breaches or non-compliance.

One of the key factos on the use of technology is that it should serving a business objective and in fulfilling that it means that risk assessment has been done and remediation plans has been defined and put to action. There should also be regular reviews with stakeholders and testing to identify issues.

Understanding the capabilities of our technology is crucial for enhancing our cybersecurity measures. Effective collaboration between business owners, technology architects, and security professionals is essential to ensure that cybersecurity functions as a business enabler rather than a blocker. In my view following points must be considered 1. Implement a PoC within our development or testing environments to evaluate the technology’s potential impact. 2. Thoroughly research the technology’s features to tailor it to our specific needs. 3. Assess how the technology can facilitate and enhance our business objectives. 4. Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to ensure the technology aligns with our business’s risk appetite.

Developing a set of manual controls over those technologies can be a great advantage to minimize your risk exposure here are some examples of manual controls that can be applied: - conducting manual validation on different frequencies over the different security controls applied over those systems or technologies in use. - developing and monitoring key risk indicators - running a review over security configuration - having a robust vulnerability and patch management process

If the reliance on new technologies in information security puts your organization at risk, the recommended approach would be to assess the risks, update policies, conduct employee awareness campaigns, enhance layers of authentication factors, and provide training to the team. These actions can help identify vulnerabilities, address specific challenges posed by new technologies, educate employees about associated risks, strengthen authentication measures, and ensure that the team is equipped to handle the security implications of the new technologies. Additionally, considering hiring specialized consulting services may be beneficial in addressing complex information security challenges.

Coping with new, risky technology first of all requires understanding the risks. If the risk is exposure of attack surfaces - counter with isolation: minimize points of interface and datasets flowing through them, monitor and protect them constantly. If the risk is business interruption - counter with redundancy: back up your data, back up your systems, have fail-overs at the ready. Most importantly: you are introducing a new technology, most of your staff is probably not familiar with it. The potential of human error risies exponentially, so script, automate and monitor all possible tasks.