You're managing system security with limited resources. How do you choose the right measures?

When you're juggling system security with limited resources, it’s crucial to start with a solid risk assessment. Take a step back and figure out what areas of your system are most vulnerable and what’s at stake if something goes wrong. Prioritize based on the potential impact and likelihood of different risks. For example, if a particular system or data is critical for operations, focus on securing that first. By understanding where the biggest risks lie, you can allocate your resources more effectively and address the most pressing issues without spreading yourself too thin.

It is crucial to perform a risk assessment to identify and tag the systems like Crown Jewels, Prod/Non-Prod Systems etc. based on the criticality to prioritize and allocate the resources effectively. Conduct a thorouhj evaluation of potential threats, vulnerabilities, and their impact on the systems. This helps in identifying critical areas that require immediate attention and allows you to implement security measures that address the most significant risks first. By focusing on high-impact risks, you can maximize protection while working within constraints.

For internet facing business applications (Customer or internal), following "line of sight" for the data is crucial for assessing any vulnerabilities or single point of failures for DDOS attacks. Using a Cyber Security benchmark (CIS, STIG, SOC2, PCI, etc) as a security configuration floor, verify secure configurations from Load Balancers, Web Portals, Application Servers, and Databases. This can also aid in assessing internal resources such as endpoints, servers, routers/switches, and applications used in an organization.

Focus on security basics to establish a strong foundation, even with limited resources. Implement fundamental measures like regular patching, strong authentication, and network segmentation to protect against common threats. Ensure that firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption are in place to safeguard sensitive data. Consistent monitoring and logging can help detect potential breaches early, while enforcing least privilege access limits exposure. These essential practices provide broad protection and reduce vulnerabilities across your system.

When you're managing system security on a tight budget, start with the basics. Focus on the fundamental security measures that give you the most bang for your buck. This means implementing strong password policies, keeping software up-to-date with the latest patches, and setting up reliable firewalls and antivirus protection. It’s like building a strong foundation for your house. without it, everything else is at risk. Make sure you’re also educating your team on basic security practices. Sometimes, just having everyone aware of common threats like phishing scams can make a huge difference. By focusing on these core elements, you’ll cover the essentials and help keep your system secure, even with limited resources.

Cyber Security Benchmarks (CIS, SOC2, NIST, etc), should be the cyber security configuration floor of any organization. Implementing enforcement mechanisms like Microsoft Powershell Desired State Configuration or Ansible/Puppet are cost effective ways to minimize configuration drift (one of the primary ways vulnerabilities happen) For each of the benchmarks, there are automated ways of configuring systems to meet said benchmark. For those mitigation that cannot be automated, periodic review/audit of the environment will be required.

Periodic User Training is an essential part of any organization's security policy. There are many free user training videos that a company may require users to take, along with provided or company created assessments. For organizations with dedicated SOC or Security Administrators, assessing User populations with security tests like phishing emails, phone and physical security challenging, etc can assist a user population to being attuned to the security needs of the organization.

User training is a crucial component of system security. Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts, creating strong passwords, and following secure practices like multi-factor authentication. Regularly reinforce key security protocols and promote a culture of awareness to minimize human error, which is often the weakest link in security. Empowering users with knowledge helps mitigate risks and ensures they contribute to the overall security of the system.

Implementing open-source tools requires careful consideration, as there are thousands of options available online. It's critical to thoroughly research and test these tools in a controlled environment before deploying them in production. Solutions like Snort (IDS) and OpenVAS for vulnerability scanning can provide robust security capabilities without the high costs associated with commercial products. Many of these tools are also backed by active communities and receive continuous updates to mitigate emerging threats. By leveraging well-chosen open-source tools, you can implement strong security measures while staying within budget constraints.