Resources

Guide

Insider Insights for the PCI DSS 4.0 Transition

Is your organization ready for the new PCI DSS 4.0 Standard? To help you make the journey easier and more straightforward, Fortra’s Tripwire gathered strategic implementation advice from top industry insiders.Get detailed guidance on overcoming the challenges posed by each of the PCI DSS 4.0 requirements. Hear from CISOs, cybersecurity analysts,...
Guide

Essential PCI DSS v4.0 Transition Checklist

The proliferation of online transactions isn’t the only reason the PCI Council created the new 4.0 standard. Recent years have also seen increasingly sophisticated methods among cybercriminals, a surge in cloud use, and the rise of contactless payments. This spurred the need for an updated set of PCI DSS requirements, which were released in March...
Guide

What Experts Have to Say About Choosing the Right Cybersecurity Frameworks

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...
Guide

PCI DSS Resource Toolkit

Use this toolkit to gain a deeper understanding of where you stand with regards to your PCI DSS compliance program and the transition to PCI DSS 4.0. Establishing PCI DSS compliance goes beyond technical tools and processes: It also requires a shift in thinking about compliance as a cybersecurity process. Lean on advice from compliance experts to help you make consistent progress toward your goals...
Guide

Getting in Control of Financial Services Cybersecurity Regulations

Organizations in the financial sector are all too aware that their industry continues to be one of the top targets for cyber criminals. Among financial services and insurance organizations, the leading cause of breaches is system intrusion. That’s why so many cybersecurity compliance regulations have sprung up to ensure systems are kept hardened against attack. This guide covers the main...
Blog

Latest PCI DSS Standards: Use Third Parties – But at Your Own Risk

Third parties have long been the hidden heroes of the payment card industry, providing specialized, streamlined support to merchants looking to host a website or spin up an app. But that convenience is not without a cost.According to PCI DSS 4.0 compliance standards, although merchants are free to use third parties, the responsibility for any incurred security liability will be all theirs. When a...
Blog

CIS Controls Version 8.1: What you need to know

The latest version of the CIS Controls was released in June 2024. The new version, 8.1, introduces some minor updates via design principles.ContextNew asset classes are updated to better match the specific parts of an enterprise’s infrastructure that each Safeguard applies to. New classes require new definitions, so CIS has also enhanced the descriptions of several Safeguards for greater detail,...
Blog

CIS Control 01: Inventory and Control of Enterprise Assets

Since 2008, the CIS Controls have been through many iterations of refinement and improvement leading up to what we are presented with today in CIS Controls version 8.1.CIS Controls reflect the combined knowledge of experts from every part of the ecosystem (companies, governments, and individuals). The controls reflect consideration by people in many different roles, such as threat analysts,...
Blog

CIS Control 02: Inventory and Control of Software Assets

Today, I will be going over Control 2 from version 8.1 of the top 18 CIS Controls – Inventory and Control of Software Assets. I will go over the seven safeguards and offer my thoughts on what I’ve found.Key Takeaways for Control 2Reusability. The tools that were mentioned in Control 1 will be used in Control 2 as well. Reusing tools that accomplish goals for both Controls 1 and 2 can help cut...
Blog

CIS Control 03: Data Protection

Key Takeaways for Control 3At the heart of a strong data management plan is awareness surrounding the 'Five Ws' of the enterprise's data:What data does the enterprise store or handle?Who should have access to it?Where is it stored or accessed?When should it be deleted?Why does it need protection?A comprehensive data management plan incorporates the answers to these questions with policy decisions...
Blog

CIS Control 04: Secure Configuration of Enterprise Assets and Software

Key Takeaways for Control 4Most fresh installs of operating systems or applications come with preconfigured settings that are usually insecure or not properly configured with security in mind. Use the leverage provided by multiple frameworks such as CIS Benchmarks or NIST NCP to find out if your organization needs to augment or adjust any baselines to become better aligned with the policies your...
Blog

Tackling the New CIS Controls

In the early part of 2024, the Center for Internet Security (CIS) released the latest version of the well-respected Critical Security Controls (CSC). The new version, 8.1, adds contours to the prior versions, making it more comprehensive and timely in today’s challenging cybersecurity environment.The CIS CSC has been a valued source of guidance for many organizations since its initial release in...
Blog

CIS Control 05: Account Management

Knowing who has credentials, how those credentials are granted, and how they are being used is the foundation of any secure environment. It begins with user accounts and the credentials they use. Maintaining a thorough inventory of all accounts and verifying any changes to those accounts as authorized and intentional vs unintended is paramount to establishing a secure environment, and this...
Blog

CIS Control 06: Access Control Management

CIS Control 6 merges some aspects of CIS Control 4 (admin privileges) and CIS Control 14 (access on a need-to-know basis) into a single access control management group. Access control management is a critical component in maintaining information and system security, restricting access to assets based on role and need. It is important to grant, refuse, and remove access in a standardized, timely,...
Blog

CIS Control 07: Continuous Vulnerability Management

When it comes to cybersecurity, vulnerability management is one of the older technologies that still play a critical role in securing our assets. It is often overlooked, disregarded, or considered only for checkbox compliance needs, but a proper vulnerability management program can play a critical role in avoiding a series of data breaches.CIS Control 07 provides the minimum requirements and table...
Blog

CIS Control 08: Audit Log Management

Audit logs provide a rich source of data critical to preventing, detecting, understanding, and minimizing the impact of network or data compromise in a timely manner.Collection logs and regular reviews are useful for identifying baselines, establishing operational trends, and detecting abnormalities. In some cases, logging may be the only evidence of a successful attack.CIS Control 8 emphasizes...
Blog

CIS Control 09: Email and Web Browser Protections

Web browsers and email clients are used to interact with external and internal assets. Both applications can be used as a point of entry within an organization. Users of these applications can be manipulated using social engineering attacks. A successful social engineering attack needs to convince users to interact with malicious content. A successful attack could give an attacker an entry point...
Blog

CIS Control 10: Malware Defenses

With the continuing rise of ransomware, malware defenses are more critical than ever before with regard to securing the enterprise. Anti-Malware technologies have become an afterthought in many organizations, a technology that they’ve always had, always used, and never really thought about. This control serves as a reminder that this technology is as critical as it ever was and lays out the...
Blog

CIS Control 11: Data Recovery

Data loss can be a consequence of a variety of factors from malicious ransomware to hardware failures and even natural disasters. Regardless of the reason for data loss, we need to be able to restore our data. A data recovery plan begins with prioritizing our data, protecting it while it is being stored, and having a plan to recover data. Key Takeaways for Control 11Prioritize your data and come...