Being a cybersecurity professional means you’re regularly in charge of making complex decisions with real-world consequences, like choosing the right cybersecurity benchmarks, controls, frameworks, or best practices for your organization. Should you apply the CIS Controls, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, or something else? Without overarching industry consensus, it can be...
Frameworks like the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls, MITRE ATT&CK and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework give organizations clear, step-by-step methodologies for protecting their sensitive data, leveraging a wealth of industry knowledge to take the guesswork out of your security program.
While these cybersecurity...
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Attacks against industrial control systems (ICS) are on the rise. Cyberattacks are more prevalent, creative, and faster than ever. So, understanding attackers' tactics is crucial. The IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023 highlights that backdoor deployments enabling remote access to ICS systems were the most...
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In an era characterized by relentless digital transformation and interconnectedness, cybersecurity has evolved into a complex and dynamic battleground.
Businesses, governments, and individuals find themselves locked in a perpetual struggle against a relentless flood of evolving threats. From sophisticated cybercriminal...
Are you weighing your options between integrity management solutions? Evaluating, purchasing, and deploying new software is hard work, especially when you get down to the granular details of understanding which solutions have which capabilities and matching those capabilities to your organization’s particular needs. In an industry buzzing with ever-changing terminology and a...
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Energy efficiency and availability is a major concern for all countries and governments. The electric grid is a vital sector, and any malfunctions will create ripple effects on any nation’s economy. As the grid is heavily dependent on cyber-enabled technologies and a vast chain of suppliers, contractors, and partners, the...
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Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks occur when adversaries overwhelm a connected target’s resources, aiming to make it unavailable. Learning the best strategies to protect from DDoS attacks is critical to energy grid cybersecurity. A well-planned DDoS attack on the grid could halt essential services, cause substantial...
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Have you ever considered that even before you enjoy the first sip of your favorite morning beverage, you have probably interacted with at least half of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors that keep a nation running? In one way or another, the simple act of brewing a cup of tea would probably not be possible without...
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2023 saw two concerning attacks on public water systems, highlighting the fragility and risk to utility systems. In Pennsylvania, malicious hackers breached the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa system the night after Thanksgiving. The criminals were making a political statement: the technology used to manage water pressure...
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US federal agencies have teamed up to release a cybersecurity best practice guidance for the water and wastewater sector (WWS).
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have published the guide in an attempt to...
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One of the most common factors that can lead to cybersecurity incidents is a security misconfiguration in software or application settings. The default settings that come with the implementation of these tools and solutions are often not configured securely, and many organizations do not invest the time and resources into...
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At Tripwire's recent Energy and NERC Compliance Working Group, we had the opportunity to speak with the Manager of Gas Measurement, Controls, & Cybersecurity at a large energy company. More specifically, we focused on SCADA and field assets of gas Operational Technology. The experience at the management level of such an...
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More decision-makers are investing in grid modernization efforts, knowing that doing so is necessary for keeping pace with modern demands. For example, smart grid fault-detection sensors could warn utility company providers of problems in real time, preventing costly and inconvenient outages. Technologies like the Internet of...
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While always a part of business, compliance demands have skyrocketed as the digital world gives us so many more ways to go awry. We all remember the Enron scandal that precipitated the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Now, SOX compliance means being above board on a number of cybersecurity requirements as well.
Fortra's Tripwire...
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Electric grids are part of every nation’s critical infrastructure. Every societal activity and business depends on reliable and safe electricity distribution. The US electric grid is a huge network of powerlines, distribution hubs, and renewable and non-renewable energy generators that is increasingly exposed to cyber-physical...
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The evolution of the cyber threat landscape highlights the need for organizations to strengthen their ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate cyber risks before they evolve into security incidents. Known unpatched vulnerabilities are often exploited by criminals to penetrate Industrial Control Systems (ICS) environments and...
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When building a tower, it helps to start with a sturdy foundation. Cyber maturity is the tower, and there are three levels that build it:
Foundational IT/OT & Security Control Processes
Fundamental Security Control Capabilities
Advanced Security Control Capabilities
Fortra occupies a unique space in the industry because of...
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How to Build an Effective ICS Security Program
Of all the different areas of cybersecurity, not many are as important, or have as far-reaching consequences as industrial control systems (ICS) security. While most relevant organizations would agree that ICS security is a significant concern for their operations, it is easier...
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Before the revolution of Information Technology (IT), the world experienced the revolution of Operational Technology (OT).
Operational Technology is the combination of hardware and software that controls and operates the physical mechanisms of industry. OT systems play an important role in the water, manufacturing, power, and...