EDR, MDR and XDR: A complete guide to endpoint detection and response cybersecurity solutions

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EDR, MDR and XDR: A complete guide to endpoint detection and response cybersecurity solutions

EDR MDR XDR

Cyber attacks have become more prominent with increased internet use, and the majority of these attacks start with human vulnerabilities at endpoints. Verizon reveals that nearly 90 percent of successful cyber attacks and up to 70 percent of data breaches start at endpoints, with ransomware often deployed within 24 hours of initial access.

In cybersecurity, an endpoint refers to any device that a human interacts with, such as computers, mobile devices and servers, that connects to a network and can be a potential target for cyber threats. Companies increasingly adopt cybersecurity solutions with real-time threat detection and response capabilities to avoid endpoint attacks.

In this blog, Craig Lusher, Product Principal of Secure Solutions at C8 Secure, will examine the three cybersecurity platforms leading today’s endpoint detection and response discussion. Discover the distinctive features that set each tool apart, gain valuable insights into the inner workings of each technology and explore the essential considerations for choosing the ideal solution tailored to your organization’s specific needs.

EDR, MDR and XDR: An introduction

Traditional endpoint security and antivirus solutions are reactive, relying on known patterns and signatures to detect threats. This liability makes them less effective against novel or zero-day malware.

Alternatively, endpoint detection and response (EDR), managed detection and response (MDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) are advanced cybersecurity solutions that offer a proactive approach to mitigate against today’s emerging cyber threats.

What is EDR?

EDR is a behavior-based and predictive tool that leverages real-time monitoring, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to detect anomalous activities. It effectively identifies zero-day and polymorphic threats. Additionally, EDR offers threat response and hunting capabilities. This includes blocking compromised processes, isolating infected endpoints, alerting security teams and providing forensic data for investigation.

What is MDR?

MDR is a comprehensive, outsourced security service that provides threat detection and response managed by a specialized provider. It offers a cost-effective alternative to maintaining an in-house security operations center (SOC) by handling threat hunting, monitoring, detection and remediation. It is beneficial for organizations of all sizes, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) seeking enterprise-level security without the complexity and expense of managing it themselves.

What is XDR?

XDR addresses the limitations of EDR, which only monitors and detects at endpoints. An XDR platform integrates and streamlines data ingestion, analysis and workflows across endpoints, networks, clouds, security information and event management (SIEMs) and email security systems. This technology suits businesses with complex IT environments or high cyberattack vulnerability.

Understanding the differences between EDR, MDR and XDR?

The three main detection and response tools have different capabilities, components, technology and cost structure. Understanding the key differences between each cybersecurity solution is essential to picking the right one.

Capabilities and components:

EDR can monitor endpoints for threats that have bypassed antivirus solutions and other preventive measures. It allows security teams to take actions like isolating infected endpoints or deleting malicious files from individual computers. Its components include real-time endpoint monitoring, behavioral analysis [Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and Indicators of Attack (IOAs)], threat intel database, network containment and remediation recommendations.
MDR has the same capabilities as EDR, with additional components for round-the-clock managed services. It is capable of not only endpoint containment but also broader incident response, investigation and guidance to mitigate threats. Additional components include a central communication and coordination hub for managed service and in-house teams.
XDR can provide a comprehensive, threat-focused security solution that consolidates data from multiple existing tools to enhance visibility and minimize risk. Its components include all EDR capabilities, including autonomous analysis, response and threat hunting, cloud-based ingestion, cross-domain correlation and actionable threat summaries.

Tools and technologies:

EDR uses a software-based solution for its technology.
MDR utilizes the endpoint protection platform (EPP).
XDR has many more technologies and tools than the other two. It uses network analysis and visibility (NAV), a next-gen firewall, email security, identity and access management (IAM), a cloud workload protection platform (CWPP), a cloud access security broker (CASB) and data loss prevention (DLP).

Cost structure:

EDR solutions are usually purchased by companies, which often involve ongoing maintenance and management costs.
MDR is commonly subscription-based and covers both the technology and expertise provided by the managed service provider.
XDR solutions are typically offered on a subscription basis, with pricing models that may be based on the number of endpoints, users or volume of data.

How Do EDR, MDR and XDR solutions work?

Each cybersecurity tool has a different defense mechanism against cyber threats.

Here’s how an EDR solution protects endpoints:

Continuous endpoint monitoring: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint installs agents on each device, logging relevant activity to ensure visibility for security teams. Devices with these agents are referred to as managed devices.
Telemetry data aggregation: Collects data from each managed device, including event logs, authentication attempts and application usage, which is then sent to the Microsoft Defender cloud platform for real-time analysis.
Data analysis and correlation: Utilizes AI and machine learning to analyze and correlate data, identifying IOCs and applying behavioral analytics based on global threat intelligence to detect advanced threats.
Threat detection and automatic remediation: Flags potential threats, sends actionable alerts to the security team and may automatically isolate affected endpoints or contain threats to prevent further spread.
Data storage for forensics: Maintains a forensic record of past events, aiding in future investigations and providing insights into prolonged or previously undetected attacks.

Meanwhile, MDR security builds on EDR and adds human expertise:

Prioritization: Continent 8’s Managed Security Operations Center (MSOC) manages alert fatigue by sorting through large volumes of alerts, using automated rules and human expertise to focus on severe threats and filter out false positives.
Threat hunting: Our security analysts actively search for undetected threats by analyzing attacker behavior and using data from security tools to uncover hidden cyber threats that standard detection methods might miss.
Investigation: Provides detailed analysis of security incidents to understand the breach’s scope, including how and why it occurred, its impact and the extent of the damage.
Guided response: Offers expert advice on responding to and containing identified threats, including actionable plans to mitigate risks and strengthen security.
Remediation: Assists in recovering from attacks by restoring systems to a secure state, removing malware and ensuring that networks and endpoints are fully operational and protected against future threats.

Lastly, XDR extends protection beyond endpoints by:

Cross-domain data collection: Gathers data from various security layers across the organization’s digital environment, including endpoints, network, cloud, email and identity systems.
Data normalization and enrichment: Standardizes and enhances collected data to ensure consistency and improve the quality of analysis across different security domains.
Advanced correlation and analytics: Correlates and analyzes the enriched data using advanced techniques to uncover patterns and anomalies, facilitating real-time threat detection across the entire security ecosystem.
Unified threat detection: Leverages insights from the analysis to identify potential threats across all security domains, creating a cohesive view of attack scenarios and reducing alert fatigue.
Orchestrated investigation and response: Detects threats and uses Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) capabilities to automate and coordinate responses across different security systems, enabling faster and more comprehensive remediation.

EDR, MDR or XDR: Which to choose?

When choosing an endpoint detection and response cybersecurity solution, it’s important to compare EDR vs MDR vs XDR to determine which tool best suits your organization’s needs. Consider the following questions to find the most suitable security solution for your company’s security needs:

What assets need protection? Determine which assets are most vulnerable.
What level of visibility is required? Assess the extent of visibility needed across your security environment.
Does the security team have the capacity? Evaluate if the team has the necessary skills, time and bandwidth.
What are the resource constraints? Identify any limitations in resources, including budget and existing security tools.
Who will handle threat analysis and response? Decide who will analyze, investigate and respond to threats and alerts.

Choose EDR if your organization:

Wants to enhance its endpoint security beyond Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV) capabilities. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides advanced features and deeper visibility into endpoint activities.
Already has Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 licenses that include Defender.
Employs an information security team that can act on alerts and recommendations generated by the EDR solution. This approach is effective when you have the internal resources to manage and respond to potential threats.
Aims to lay a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and foundation for a scalable security architecture. EDR helps establish robust endpoint protection and prepares your organization for future security growth.

Choose MDR if your organization:

Lacks a mature detection and response program capable of quickly remediating advanced threats with existing tools or resources. Continent 8’s MDR service provides managed services to fill this gap and enhance threat response capabilities.
Wants to introduce new skills and increase maturity without the need to hire additional staff. Our MDR offers access to expert resources and advanced capabilities without expanding your internal team.
Struggles with filling skills gaps within the IT team or attracting highly specialized talent. Our MDR services provide the necessary expertise to handle complex security challenges.
Wants protection that remains current with the latest threats targeting organizations. MDR services ensure continuous updates and adaptations to evolving threat landscapes.

Choose XDR if your organization:

Wants to improve advanced threat detection across multiple domains. Continent 8’s XDR solution provides integrated threat detection capabilities that span various security layers.
Aims to accelerate multi-domain threat analysis, investigation and hunting from a unified console. XDR offers a centralized approach for more efficient and comprehensive threat management.
Experiences alert fatigue due to a disconnected or siloed security architecture. XDR integrates data from various sources to reduce alert overload and enhance response effectiveness.
Seeks to improve response times through automated orchestration. Our XDR solution streamlines the response process by consolidating information and automating actions across security domains.
Seeks to improve ROI across all security tools. XDR provides enhanced visibility and correlation across different security layers, optimizing the performance and value of existing tools.

Implementing endpoint detection and response cybersecurity with Continent 8

Continent 8 offers comprehensive endpoint detection and response cybersecurity solutions equipped to meet today’s emerging cyber threats, leveraging Microsoft Defender as our core EDR platform.

C8 Secure EDR solution: Our EDR service ensures real-time monitoring and protection of network endpoints using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. This service protects against ransomware, malware and phishing using enterprise-grade threat prevention technologies. It’s particularly beneficial for organizations already using Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 licenses, which include Defender capabilities.
C8 Secure MDR solution: Our MDR service combines Microsoft Defender for Endpoint with our MSOC and SIEM capabilities to offer continuous threat monitoring, detection, and incident response coverage. This service provides 24/7 monitoring of network devices, servers, endpoints and cloud environments for complete end-to-end protection, backed by our expert security analysts.
C8 Secure XDR solution: Our XDR offering extends our MDR service with SOAR capabilities. This comprehensive solution integrates security across multiple domains – including endpoints, network, cloud, email and identity – providing unified visibility, advanced correlation and orchestrated response to threats throughout your entire IT environment.

Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow

Continent 8 provides comprehensive, multi-layered threat prevention, detection and response solutions to secure your organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. By leveraging Microsoft Defender as our core EDR platform and enhancing it with our MSOC, SIEM and SOAR capabilities, we offer scalable security solutions that can grow with your organization’s needs.

For more information on how Continent 8 can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email info@c8secure.com or fill out our Contact Us page.

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How AI Is transforming zero-day dangers into zero hour threats

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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How AI Is transforming zero-day dangers into zero hour threats

C8 Secure CISO, Brian Borysewich, explores the emergence of zero-hour threats and the dangers they present in today’s cybersecurity landscape.

Cybersecurity has always been a game of cat and mouse. For years, “zero-day” threats have kept cybersecurity teams on edge – these are vulnerabilities that attackers exploit before anyone even knows they exist. These threats leave no time for preparation, hence their name. But now, the game is changing, and not for the better. With artificial intelligence (AI) in the mix, zero-day dangers are evolving into something far more alarming: “zero hour” threats.

What’s the difference? Zero-hour threats move at an unprecedented speed. Exploits don’t take weeks or days to develop anymore – they’re created, refined and launched within mere hours. This allows attackers to strike multiple times a day, leaving vendors and defenders scrambling to keep up. Let’s explore how AI is driving this shift and why it represents a big challenge.

How AI empowers cybercriminals

AI isn’t just helping us defend against attacks – it’s also making attackers far more dangerous.

Here’s how bad actors are using AI to tip the scales in their favor:

Finding vulnerabilities faster than ever – AI tools can scan vast amounts of code in a fraction of the time it would take a human. Cybercriminals use machine learning models trained on past vulnerabilities to analyze software for weak spots, identifying potential entry points far more efficiently than manual analysis ever could. This gives attackers an unparalleled speed advantage. The faster vulnerabilities are discovered, the quicker they can be weaponized, significantly reducing the window defenders have to preempt an attack.
Creating exploits automatically – Once a vulnerability is found, AI can generate the exploit code needed to attack it. In the past, this process required time and advanced technical skills, but today, AI models can automate the creation of complex exploit chains in minutes. These systems can simulate different attack scenarios, refining the exploit to be more effective and bypass defensive measures before deployment.
Crafting undetectable malware – Using AI, attackers can create polymorphic malware –code that changes itself every time it runs. This makes it almost impossible for traditional security tools to recognize or block it since its “signature” is never the same. For example, generative adversarial networks (GANs) can be used to create malware that evolves in real time, continuously adapting its behavior to avoid detection by antivirus or endpoint security tools.
Launching attacks at scale – AI allows cybercriminals to coordinate multiple attacks across thousands of targets simultaneously. By automating tasks like phishing, credential stuffing and exploiting vulnerabilities, attackers can orchestrate massive campaigns with minimal effort. They can also prioritize high-value targets using predictive analytics, focusing their efforts where the payoff is likely to be the greatest.

Why zero hour threats are so dangerous

With AI in their arsenal, attackers can now launch threats at an unprecedented pace. Instead of focusing on a single exploit, they can create and deploy many threats in a single day. Here’s why this is such a game-changer:

Limited reaction time – The window for detecting and responding to a threat has shrunk from days to hours or even minutes. Traditional cybersecurity measures like signature-based detection are too slow to adapt to the ever-evolving nature of zero hour threats. By the time a threat is identified, it has often already caused significant damage, and the attackers have moved on to the next exploit.
Overwhelming volume – Organizations may face dozens of unique attacks daily, all designed to slip past existing security measures. These attacks can vary in scope, targeting different systems, users or devices within an organization. The sheer volume of threats can overwhelm even the most well-resourced cybersecurity teams, leaving gaps for attackers to exploit.
Evolving attacks – AI-powered threats can adapt in real time, learning from failed attempts and improving with each iteration. Attackers use feedback loops to refine their techniques, making subsequent attacks more effective. For defenders, this means that even if one instance of an attack is blocked, the next version could bypass the same defenses.
Widespread targets – It’s not just big corporations at risk. Attackers can use AI to find and exploit vulnerabilities in smaller organizations, personal devices and even connected home systems. The growing adoption of IoT and cloud-based services increases the number of potential entry points, making it harder for organizations to secure every endpoint.

The challenge for cybersecurity teams

Defenders are fighting an uphill battle. Traditional tools and methods just aren’t enough anymore. Here’s why:

Too many attacks, not enough resources – Cybersecurity teams are being flooded with threats, and no amount of manual effort can handle the sheer volume. AI gives attackers the ability to create and launch more threats than human defenders can analyze in real time. This resource imbalance often forces teams to focus on mitigating the most obvious or immediate threats, potentially overlooking more subtle and dangerous ones.
Reactive systems aren’t cutting it – Most tools rely on recognizing known threats, but AI-generated exploits are brand new every time. This makes signature-based detection systems obsolete against these evolving attacks. Without proactive measures, organizations are left constantly reacting to threats rather than preventing them.
Patching takes too long – Even when vulnerabilities are identified, it’s hard to release fixes fast enough to keep pace with attackers. The traditional patch cycle is too slow, leaving systems exposed for critical periods. In the era of zero hour threats, the lag between discovering a vulnerability and deploying a fix can mean the difference between a successful attack and a secure system.

How defenders can fight back

The good news? AI isn’t just for attackers. It’s also a powerful ally for cybersecurity teams. Here’s what organizations need to do to stay ahead:

Use AI to detect threats in real time – Machine learning can identify suspicious behavior and anomalies faster than any human. For example, AI can monitor network traffic and flag unusual patterns that could indicate an attack in progress. By focusing on behaviors rather than signatures, AI can detect novel threats before they execute.
Automate responses – When attacks happen in minutes, waiting for human intervention isn’t feasible. Automated systems can isolate infected devices, block malicious traffic and roll out countermeasures instantly. For example, if an AI system detects malware spreading within a network, it can automatically quarantine affected endpoints to stop the spread.
Stay proactive – AI can help cybersecurity teams hunt for vulnerabilities in their own systems before attackers find them. For instance, AI tools can simulate attacks on a network to uncover weaknesses and recommend fixes. This proactive approach reduces the likelihood of being blindsided by zero hour threats.
Patch continuously – Vendors need to rethink how their update release strategies. Continuous patching, backed by automated testing, can help close cybersecurity gaps as they’re discovered. Automated systems can deploy patches without disrupting operations, ensuring vulnerabilities are addressed in near real time.
Share intelligence – Collaboration is key. By sharing data about new threats, organizations can collectively stay ahead of attackers. For example, threat intelligence platforms can distribute updates on emerging attack patterns to a global network of defenders. AI can analyze and disseminate this intelligence at scale, helping organizations prepare for attacks they haven’t yet experienced.

A new era of cybersecurity – Complacency will jeopardize your digital world

AI has changed the rules of the game. Zero-hour threats are faster, smarter and more dangerous than ever before. But the same technology that empowers attackers can also help us defend against them.

The future of cybersecurity isn’t about who has the best firewall or antivirus, it’s about who has the most advanced algorithms and the smartest defenses. As attacks become more sophisticated, so must our defenses. The fight against zero hour threats is a race against time, and the clock is ticking. Are you ready?

Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow

C8 Secure provides comprehensive, multi-layered threat prevention, detection and response strategies and solutions to secure your organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. For more information on how C8 Secure can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email info@c8secure.com or fill out our Contact Us page.

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The role of SIEM and SOCs in strengthening cybersecurity

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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The role of SIEM and SOCs in strengthening cybersecurity

With the rapid evolution of technology, robust cybersecurity is vital for enterprises to protect sensitive information and systems from a range of cyber threats, including hacking, data breaches and malware attacks. As technology advances, so do the methods used by cyber criminals, necessitating the implementation of protective cybersecurity measures.

In this blog, Craig Lusher, Product Principal at C8 Secure, explores how Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms and Security Operations Centers (SOCs) allow organizations to adapt to emerging threats, maintain a robust cybersecurity posture and meet regulatory compliance.

What is SIEM?

SIEM solutions consolidate security monitoring across an organization’s diverse technology stack, enabling SOC engineers to detect and respond to threats through a unified management interface. SIEM solutions serve as the central hub of an organization’s security system, collecting and normalizing security logs and events from various IT sources including network devices, servers and security systems. They provide a central register for all security events and logs, performing event correlation, threat enrichment and analysis, filtering out informational events and promoting true security events and threats, helping organizations protect their systems from attacks and breaches.

What is SOC?

A SOC, or Managed Security Operations Center (MSOC), such as those offered by C8 Secure and Continent 8 Technologies, is a dedicated team that focuses on safeguarding the company’s systems from security threats. Utilizing various tools, such as a SIEM system, they watch over the company’s computer systems, spot any problems or attacks and respond to them quickly. The SOC functions as a cybersecurity team, ensuring everything is running smoothly and securely.

SIEM vs. SOC: the role of SIEM in SOC

SIEM systems are integral in SOC cybersecurity, offering SOC teams with a holistic view of their cybersecurity events.

To begin, the SIEM system correlates and analyses the aggregated security data from internal sources and external threat intelligence to identify any unusual or suspicious activities that could indicate a potential security issue. Upon detection, it promptly alerts the SOC team, enabling them to address the issue swiftly.

In the event of an incident, the SIEM system provides comprehensive information that assists SOC analysts in understanding the nature and severity of the threat. This insight aids in effective response and helps prevent future occurrences.

Additionally, SIEM systems support compliance efforts by generating reports and maintaining logs that demonstrate the organization’s adherence to necessary regulations. These systems are indispensable for managing security incidents and events, facilitating efficient monitoring, detection and management of security challenges by SOC teams.

Can you have a SOC without a SIEM?

Operating a SOC without a SIEM system would be quite challenging. A SIEM system provides the centralized tool required to gather and interpret security data, which is crucial for effectively preventing, detecting, investigating and responding to threats. While a SOC might use other tools and methods, SIEM systems are integral for streamlining these processes and ensuring comprehensive cybersecurity management. SIEM systems employ advanced analytics and automation to filter and prioritize security alerts, preventing the cognitive overload, or alert fatigue, that occurs when SOC engineers manually process a constant barrage of security logs. This intelligent filtering not only reduces the risk of human error and missed security events but also optimizes operational costs by allowing SOC engineers to focus their expertise on critical threat analysis and incident response rather than routine log review. The result is more efficient resource allocation and enhanced security effectiveness.

Keys to effective SIEM and SOC strategies

A successful SIEM and SOC strategy begins with defining clear objectives and goals for each system. Essential components of effective SIEM and SOC strategies include:

• Comprehensive data collection for the effectiveness of both SIEM and SOC systems. SIEM requires gathering and standardizing data from various sources, such as network devices and servers. The SOC then integrates this data to ensure a complete cybersecurity overview is maintained. The more sources and context provided to the SIEM, the better it will perform.

• Real-time monitoring and alerting by SIEM are essential for quickly identifying issues. The SOC also must respond to these alerts quickly, prioritizing and addressing potential threats effectively. The SIEM system’s advanced correlation and analysis capabilities help identify complex attack patterns, which SOC analysts use to understand and respond to threats. Security Orchestration and Automated Response (SOAR) technology enhances security operations by automating threat response within carefully defined parameters. By implementing pre-approved automated response protocols, SOAR significantly reduces incident response times while increasing the complexity and cost for potential attackers. This automated capability operates within a precise framework of predefined actions, allowing the SIEM system to execute security decisions autonomously yet safely. The integration of SOAR not only accelerates threat mitigation but also enables SOC analysts to focus on more complex security challenges that require human expertise and strategic thinking.

• SIEM should facilitate incident response by surfacing valuable data from the billions of events it may contain, while the SOC needs clear steps, playbooks, for handling and recording incidents – these can be customized to fit company processes and culture. SIEM makes compliance and reporting easier by automating these tasks, and the SOC ensures compliance with regulatory rules.

• Regular updates to the SIEM system for optimal performance, and the SOC should continually review and enhance its operations. Equally important is ongoing staff training, ensuring SOC analysts are well-versed in best practices to use the SIEM effectively.

• The SIEM system’s threat intelligence capabilities should be both sophisticated and multi-faceted. It must effectively ingest, evaluate and prioritize threat data from diverse sources, creating a comprehensive security perspective. This includes correlating internal intelligence gathered from customer systems with external threat feeds, industry-specific security data and intelligence collected from dark web monitoring and other specialized sources. This multi-layered approach to threat intelligence enables more accurate risk assessment and more effective security response.

• Effective communication within the organisation regarding security events, along with collaboration with IT and other teams, is crucial for effective cybersecurity management.

• Lastly, using vendor support and engaging with the cybersecurity community can provide valuable insights and help maintain a strong SIEM and SOC strategy.

C8 Secure’s SIEM and MSOC approach

C8 Secure offers a comprehensive SIEM and Managed SOC solution that addresses critical cybersecurity challenges. This platform provides centralized visibility of your entire infrastructure, coupled with 24/7 expert monitoring and rapid threat detection and response, ensuring regulatory compliance while allowing maintaining a robust cybersecurity posture.

Our SIEM and MSOC solution consists of the following key service components:

SIEM MSOC

C8 Secure’s SIEM platform is a comprehensive, multi-tenant solution that gathers and correlates security data across a customer’s infrastructure. Enhanced by AI-driven SOAR and correlation capabilities with integrated threat intelligence tools, it delivers advanced analytics and automated incident response workflows. The platform is built for high performance, scalability and real-time threat detection, ensuring rapid identification and resolution of security incidents.

C8 Secure’s MSOC solution is a fully managed, multi-tenant service offering real-time security monitoring and incident response for customers. Following the NIST framework, it leverages our sophisticated SIEM platform to collect and analyse security alerts, offering customers actionable insights and remediation strategies through tailored playbooks. By outsourcing security operations to Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) such as C8 Secure, customers can focus on their core business while benefiting from the expertise of C8 Secure’s 24/7/365 global SOC team.

C8 Secure’s Sentinel managed device is deployed within the customer’s network, aggregating logs and events from various systems, normalizing them and preparing the data for secure transmission to the SIEM. It utilizes encryption to ensure data integrity and privacy, compressing and deduplicating data to optimize performance. Sentinel enhances security visibility by enabling seamless data collection and forwarding.

C8 Secure’s Incident Response System integrates directly into C8 Secure’s SIEM to streamline incident response processes. It provides a centralized platform for managing and tracking security incidents from detection to resolution, with built-in automation for workflows and playbooks. By enabling collaborative responses and providing real-time data sharing, it significantly improves incident resolution times while enhancing post-incident analysis and reporting.

C8 Secure’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Service serves as a structured repository for aggregating, analysing and sharing cyber threat intelligence. It allows organizations to collect data on threats, actors and campaigns, helping security teams anticipate and mitigate potential attacks. Through its powerful visualization tools, the service enhances situational awareness and enables proactive threat detection.

C8 Secure’s Security Orchestration and Automated Response (SOAR) tool, implemented within C8 Secure’s SIEM, provides a no-code automation platform for orchestrating and automating security workflows. Its drag-and-drop interface simplifies the creation of complex incident response processes, reducing manual effort and improving efficiency. With pre-built templates and over 2,000 app integrations, it enables quick deployment of automated responses, ensuring consistent handling of security incidents.

C8 Secure’s Threat Analysers and Responders are automation tools integrated into C8 Secure’s SIEM that enrich security events with threat intelligence from multiple sources. With over 100 analysers, they provide critical context for observables such as IPs and URLs, supporting faster decision-making during investigations. These tools enhance threat detection and response by simplifying data analysis and improving the quality of incident responses.

C8 Secure’s Intrusion Detection System (IDS), combined with our proprietary C8 Secure Sentinel platform, provides advanced network security monitoring, threat detection and response capabilities, delivering unparalleled visibility and security throughout your entire network infrastructure.

MSOC ecosystem

SIEM and MSOC – cybersecurity essentials

SIEM and MSOC services deliver significant cybersecurity enhancements through real-time monitoring, detection and response. This proactive approach aids in the early identification and mitigation of threats by collecting, analysing and correlating data from across a customer’s network with other ongoing security events. Collaborating with MSSPs also guarantees access to a dedicated team of SIEM and MSOC specialists who work closely with your IT team, providing playbooks and optimal risk mitigation strategies to address specific exploits or vulnerabilities, thereby ensuring optimal cybersecurity posture.

Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow

C8 Secure provides comprehensive, multi-layered threat prevention, detection and response solutions to secure your organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. For more information on how C8 Secure can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email info@c8secure.com or fill out our Contact Us page.

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January 8, 2025

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Zero Trust: exploring the ‘never trust, always verify’ cybersecurity framework

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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Zero Trust: Exploring the “never trust, always verify” cybersecurity framework

C8 Secure Solutions

Zero Trust is a cybersecurity approach that emphasizes ongoing authentication, authorization and validation of all users, irrespective of their location relative to the organization’s network. This framework disregards traditional network boundaries, operating under the assumption that threats can exist both inside and outside the network.

While Zero Trust is not uniformly defined across the industry, various standards from established organizations offer guidelines for its implementation.

In this blog, we will explore how Zero Trust works, highlight the core tenants of the approach and examine the use cases and benefits of the cybersecurity platform.

How Zero Trust works

The core principle of Zero Trust is ‘never trust, always verify.’ This is achieved through rigorous user authentication and restricting access to the bare minimum required. The framework utilizes multi-factor authentication (MFA) based on risk assessment, identity protection measures, cutting-edge endpoint security and secure cloud technology.

These tools work together to continuously evaluate a user’s or system’s legitimacy, their access needs at any given moment and the overall system security. Data encryption, email security and ensuring the security of assets and endpoints before connection are also integral to the cybersecurity framework.

Zero Trust vs ‘trust but verify’ model

The Zero Trust approach represents a significant shift from the outdated ‘trust but verify’ network security model, which assumed inherent trust for users and endpoints within a network perimeter. This conventional model became less effective with the shift to cloud-based operations and the emergence of distributed work environments, particularly post-2020.

Under Zero Trust, organizations perpetually monitor and confirm that users and their devices are appropriately authorized and comply with the necessary policies. This process involves understanding and managing all service and privileged accounts, as well as determining their connectivity limits. Continuous validation is essential in Zero Trust, as threats and user attributes can change over time.

Enforcing Zero Trust policies requires real-time insight into various user and application identity attributes. This includes monitoring user identities, device privileges, behavior patterns, geographic locations, firmware versions, operating systems, installed applications and security incident detections. Leveraging analytics, incorporating vast amounts of enterprise data and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models for policy decisions are crucial for effective implementation.

Since a significant percentage of cyber attacks involve credential misuse, Zero Trust also extends to credential and data protection strategies. This includes enhanced email security and secure web gateways, which helps maintain password integrity, account security and compliance with organizational policies, while preventing the use of risky shadow IT services.

Tenants of Zero Trust include:

All data sources and computing services are considered resources.

- A network can consist of multiple classes of devices.
- A network might include small footprint devices that send data to aggregators/storage, use software as a service (SaaS), transmit instructions to actuators and perform other functions.
- An enterprise might decide to classify personally owned devices as resources if they can access enterprise-owned resources.

All communications are secured regardless of network location.

- Network location alone does not imply trust.
- Access requests from assets located on enterprise-owned network infrastructure (e.g., inside a legacy network perimeter) must meet the same security requirements as access requests and communication from any other non-enterprise-owned network. In other words, trust should not be automatically granted based on a device’s presence within the enterprise network infrastructure.
- All communications should be conducted in the most secure manner possible, protecting confidentiality and integrity and providing source authentication.

Access to individual enterprise resources is granted on a per-session basis.

- Trust in the requester is evaluated before access is approved.
- Access should be granted with the least privileges needed to complete the task. This might mean only ‘recently’ for a particular transaction and may not occur directly before initiating a session or performing a transaction with a resource. However, authentication and authorization to one resource will not automatically grant access to a different resource.

Access to resources is determined by dynamic policy – including the observable state of client identity, application/service and the requesting asset – and may include other behavioral and environmental attributes.

- An organization protects resources by defining what resources it has, who its members are (or the ability to authenticate users from a federated community) and what access to resources those members need.
- For zero trust, client identity can include the user account (or service identity) and any associated attributes assigned by the enterprise to that account or artifacts to authenticate automated tasks.
- The state of the requesting asset can include device characteristics such as installed software versions, network location, time/date of request, previously observed behavior and installed credentials.
- Behavioral attributes include, but are not limited to, automated subject analytics, device analytics and measured deviations from observed usage patterns.
- Policy is the set of access rules based on attributes that an organization assigns to a subject, data asset or application.
- Environmental attributes may include such factors as requestor network location, time, reported active attacks, etc.
- These rules and attributes are based on the needs of the business process and acceptable level of risk.
- Resource access and action permission policies can vary based on the sensitivity of the resource/data.
- Least privilege principles are applied to restrict both visibility and accessibility.

The enterprise monitors and measures the integrity and security posture of all owned and associated assets.

- No asset is inherently trusted.
- The enterprise evaluates the security posture of the asset when evaluating a resource request.
- An enterprise implementing a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) should establish a continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM) system or equivalent to monitor the state of devices and applications, applying patches and fixes as needed.
- Assets that are discovered to be subverted, having known vulnerabilities or not managed by the enterprise may be treated differently – including denial of all connections to enterprise resources – than devices owned by or associated with the enterprise that are deemed to be in their most secure state. This may also apply to associated devices (e.g., personally owned devices) that may be allowed to access some resources but not others. This, too, requires a robust monitoring and reporting system in place to provide actionable data about the current state of enterprise resources.

All resource authentication and authorization processes are dynamic and strictly enforced before access is allowed.

- This is a constant cycle of obtaining access, scanning and assessing threats, adaptation and ongoing trust reevaluation in communications.
- An enterprise implementing a ZTA would be expected to have Identity, Credential and Access Management (ICAM) and asset management systems in place. This includes the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) for accessing some or all enterprise resources.
- Continuous monitoring, with possible reauthentication and reauthorization occurs throughout user transactions, as defined and enforced by policy (e.g., time-based, new resource requested, resource modification, anomalous subject activity detected), aiming to balance security, availability, usability and cost-efficiency.

The enterprise collects as much information as possible about the current state of assets, network infrastructure and communications and uses it to improve its security posture.

- An enterprise should collect data about asset security posture, network traffic and access requests, process that data and use any insights gained to improve policy creation and enforcement. This data can also be used to provide context for access requests from subjects.

It is important to note that continuous monitoring is core to the Zero Trust tenants.

Zero Trust use cases

Zero Trust architecture is increasingly relevant for organizations that rely on network-based operations and handle digital data. Its application spans several common scenarios:

Firstly, many organizations are looking at Zero Trust to either replace or enhance their existing VPN solutions. While VPNs have traditionally been a cornerstone for secure data access, they may not adequately address the complexities and risks of current cybersecurity threats. Zero Trust offers a more robust solution by continuously verifying every access request, regardless of the location or nature of the network.

Another key application of Zero Trust is in supporting remote work. Unlike VPNs, which can create bottlenecks and reduce productivity due to their centralized nature, Zero Trust allows secure and efficient access control for remote connections. This approach aligns well with organizations deploying remote and distributed workforces, ensuring that security measures don’t compromise productivity.

Zero Trust plays a crucial role in cloud computing, particularly in multi-cloud environments. It ensures rigorous verification of all requests across cloud services, which helps mitigate the risks associated with unauthorized cloud services, often referred to as ’shadow IT.’ This approach empowers organizations to control and potentially block the use of unsanctioned applications, enhancing security in cloud-based operations.

For organizations that frequently onboard third parties and contractors, Zero Trust effectively extends secure, restricted access. This is particularly advantageous since these external parties often use devices not managed by the organization’s internal IT teams, posing a potential security risk.

Lastly, in rapidly growing organizations, Zero Trust facilitates the swift onboarding of new employees. It is a scalable solution that offers a stark contrast to conventional VPN setups, which might need additional capacity to accommodate a growing number of users. This makes Zero Trust an agile and adaptable solution for dynamic and expanding business environments.

Benefits of Zero Trust

Cloud computing environments are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals. These adversaries often aim at stealing, corrupting or holding hostage crucial business data, including personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual property (IP) and financial records.

In this context, Zero Trust is effective for:

Minimizing the potential for attacks and decreasing the likelihood of data breaches.
Offering detailed access control within cloud environments and for containerized applications.
Diminishing both the impact and severity of successful attacks, which in turn reduces the time and expense involved in recovery.
Assisting in meeting various compliance requirements.

The Zero Trust model is also crucial in IT infrastructures that are characterized by the extensive distribution of cloud resources, data and endpoints. This heightened level of scrutiny eases the burden for IT and security professionals, from administrators to Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs).

Zero Trust has numerous components to make up the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), including:

Policy Engine (PE): Responsible for the ultimate decision to grant access to a resource for a given subject.
Policy Administrator (PA): Establishes and/or shuts down the communication path between a subject and a resource (via commands to relevant Policy Enforcement Points or PEPs).
Policy Enforcement Point (PEP): Enables, monitors and eventually terminates connections between a subject and an enterprise resource.
Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) System: Gathers information about the enterprise asset’s current state and applies updates to configuration and software components.
Industry Compliance System: Ensures that the enterprise remains compliant with any regulatory regime that it may fall under (e.g., Federal Information Security Management Act or FISMA, healthcare or financial industry information security requirements).
Threat Intelligence Feeds: Provides information from internal or external sources that help the policy engine make access decisions.
Network and System Activity Logs: Aggregates asset logs, network traffic, resource access actions and other events that provide real-time (or near-real-time) feedback on the security posture of enterprise information systems.
Data Access Policies: Define the attributes, rules, and policies about access to enterprise resources.
Enterprise Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): Generates and logs certificates issued by the enterprise to resources, subjects, services and applications.
ID Management System: Creates, stores and manages enterprise user accounts and identity records (e.g., lightweight directory access protocol or LDAP server).
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) System: Collects security-centric information for later analysis. This data is then used to refine policies and warn of possible attacks against enterprise assets.

How C8 Secure’s Managed SOC and SIEM solutions helps

C8 Secure’s Managed Security Operations Center (SOC) and SIEM solution provides the SIEM platform, threat intelligence feeds, 24/7 analysts and a repository for network and system log events. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) with detection rules, suspicious events are correlated and investigated. Customer data sources can include traditional data centers, on-prem, remote workers and various hyperscaler cloud and SaaS providers.

In addition, C8 Secure’s Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution can provide an enhanced level of control at the device level for investigation and remediation. Remediation can be manual or leverage the integrated Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) capabilities for quick, automated responses. The following architecture illustrates these components.

Implementing Zero Trust with C8 Secure

We understand that implementing Zero Trust is about enhancing, not replacing, your existing network infrastructure. Our proactive prevention, detection and response approach integrates seamlessly with critical components like identity and access management, leveraging and complementing your current security tools and practices. We adapt these elements to align with the Zero Trust model, ensuring a robust and resilient defense against evolving cyber threats.

Choosing us for your Zero Trust implementation means entrusting your network’s security to experts committed to strengthening your cybersecurity posture. Our comprehensive, multi-layered services provide complete, 360-degree protection while maintaining the integrity and efficiency of your current systems. Discover how we can transform your network’s security at C8 Secure.

Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow

C8 Secure provides comprehensive, multi-layered threat prevention, detection and response solutions to secure your organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. For more information on how C8 Secure can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email info@c8secure.com or fill out our Contact Us page.

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The role of AI in cybersecurity: a complex and intriguing relationship

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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The role of AI in cybersecurity: a complex and intriguing relationship

C8 Secure CISO, Brian Borysewich, explores the evolution, challenges and exciting opportunities AI brings to the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.

Brian Borysewich

Intelligence is the capability to learn from experience, adapt to new situations, grasp complex ideas and apply knowledge to solve problems. It includes reasoning, problem-solving, understanding and perceiving relationships. In contrast, Artificial Intelligence (AI) simulates human intelligence through machines, specifically computer systems. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms and computational models, AI performs tasks that mimic human cognitive functions, such as learning, reasoning and self-correction. While human intelligence remains inherently dynamic and multifaceted, AI is meticulously designed to replicate specific aspects of human cognition in targeted and purposeful ways.

At C8 Secure, we are at the forefront of harnessing the power of AI to fortify the cybersecurity landscape. As technology pioneers, we continually assess how AI can elevate our capabilities while understanding its nuanced challenges and limitations.

The evolution of AI in cybersecurity – long-term solution or fleeting trend?

The rise of AI has sparked intense debate, mixing excitement with cautious scrutiny. Is AI the transformative catalyst that will spearhead a new era in cybersecurity, or is it merely the latest trend, captivating attention until its limitations are revealed? This is especially pertinent in the context of cybersecurity, where the stakes are higher than ever.

The current landscape – transformative potential meets real-world challenges

AI has already proven its mettle across industries, and cybersecurity stands as one of its most critical applications. At C8 Secure, we employ AI to detect threats, streamline responses and process data at scales and speeds that human analysts alone cannot achieve. AI-driven machine learning models are capable of predicting, identifying and neutralizing cyber threats before they escalate, making them invaluable assets in our suite of services. Tools like endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems, empowered by advanced algorithms, can swiftly analyze massive data streams to spot anomalies and initiate protective measures.

However, despite its effectiveness, there are compelling arguments suggesting that AI, while powerful, may still be subject to significant limitations. The fast-evolving landscape of cyber threats often demands nuanced, adaptive approaches that may elude AI without robust human supervision. Moreover, the rapid development of AI technologies sometimes leads to premature adoption without comprehensive testing, creating unforeseen vulnerabilities.

The dual role of AI: cyber defender and offender

AI’s role in cybersecurity is complex, embodying both defense and potential risk. C8 Secure recognizes that while AI is a formidable ally in combating cyber threats, it is also wielded by adversaries for more nefarious purposes, escalating the digital arms race.

AI as the good guy

C8 Secure leverages AI to bolster cybersecurity defenses. Through machine learning and behavioral analytics, we can identify unusual activity patterns that indicate malware, phishing attempts or insider threats. AI-powered User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) systems are a key part of this strategy, establishing baselines for “normal” user behavior and raising flags when deviations occur. For example, if an employee unexpectedly accesses large volumes of sensitive data outside of business hours, AI can detect this anomaly, prompting immediate investigation and intervention.

AI as the bad guy

However, the capabilities of AI are not solely utilized by defenders. Cyber criminals have harnessed AI to execute more sophisticated attacks. For instance, AI-driven phishing schemes now use natural language processing (NLP) to create personalized, convincing emails on a large scale. Furthermore, deepfake technology, generated through AI, can simulate executives’ voices and appearances for fraudulent purposes, adding a complex layer to social engineering attacks.

Attackers also leverage AI to automate operations that traditionally required manual effort. AI-enhanced malware, for example, can modify its behavior in real-time to evade detection, posing significant challenges for traditional, rules-based cybersecurity frameworks.

The future of AI in cybersecurity – navigating the path forward

What lies ahead for AI in the cybersecurity landscape? Will it evolve as the vigilant defender we envision, or will it be surpassed by the ingenuity of human and machine adversaries?

The path forward for AI in cybersecurity points to a future where AI is neither a standalone solution nor an abstract question, but rather an integrated part of an advanced, comprehensive strategy. At C8 Secure, we see AI transitioning from being a supportive tool to becoming an autonomous partner in defense – albeit under careful supervision. This evolution will hinge on continued advancements in transparency and the emergence of Explainable AI (XAI). XAI will be crucial in demystifying the “black box” of AI decision-making, enabling stakeholders to understand, trust and refine models to better detect errors and biases.

The use of AI by cyber criminals will also drive continuous innovation in defense mechanisms, creating a cycle of adaptation and response that echoes traditional warfare but at digital speeds. Collaboration between human insight and AI precision will be essential to remain ahead in this race. At C8 Secure, our commitment to collaborative intelligence ensures that we blend machine efficiency with expert human oversight to stay at the cutting edge of cybersecurity solutions.

AI in cybersecurity: the answer or the question?

Is AI the definitive answer or simply another layer of complexity in cybersecurity? The most accurate conclusion is that AI embodies both. It is a powerful tool and partner, but one whose ultimate effectiveness relies on human integration, strategic application and ethical governance. AI in cybersecurity is not a panacea; it is an evolving resource that will shape and be shaped by the sector’s progress.

C8 Secure remain committed to advancing this partnership, creating a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem where AI and human expertise complement each other. As threats grow more sophisticated, our vigilance, adaptability and commitment to innovation will ensure that AI remains a force for protection rather than a liability. Whether AI becomes the linchpin of our defenses or fades as a transient solution will depend on how we, as a community and an industry, steer its development and deployment.

Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow

C8 Secure provides multi-layered, AI-powered threat prevention, detection and response solutions to secure your organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. For more information on how C8 Secure can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email info@c8secure.com or fill out our Contact Us page.

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November 15, 2024

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How Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) can protect your business from cyber threats

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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How Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) can protect your business from cyber threats

Organizations face daily threats to their IT infrastructure, making Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) an essential practice for maintaining security and meeting compliance.

Cybersecurity threats pose significant risks to organizations worldwide, potentially leading to substantial financial losses and reputational damage. Consequently, investing in robust cybersecurity maintenance for IT infrastructure is crucial for business continuity.

Craig Lusher

Security professionals employ various strategies to safeguard IT infrastructure from threats. Among these, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) stands out as a predominant and essential practice for cybersecurity. In fact, certain sectors even require organizations to perform this testing regularly.

In this blog, Craig Lusher, Product Principal at C8 Secure, examines the concept of VAPT, showcases VAPT in practice, provides a comprehensive guide to VAPT in cybersecurity and offers insights on selecting the right service provider.

What is VAPT?

VAPT is a testing methodology that combines vulnerability assessment with penetration testing to deliver a thorough security evaluation. Understanding the distinction between Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing is crucial, as each serves different purposes.

A vulnerability assessment involves examining the security weaknesses within an organization’s infrastructure. In contrast, penetration testing, or pentesting, is a more assertive approach where the tester seeks to understand how these vulnerabilities could impact the system.

Recognizing the potential consequences of leaving these security vulnerabilities unmitigated highlights the importance of VAPT for the organization. Below are the risks that organizations may encounter with a vulnerable IT infrastructure.

Data leaks

Organizations safeguard critical assets such as financial information and customer data within their information systems. Authorized personnel access these assets regularly for routine day-to-day operations.

However, a compromised information system is susceptible to security breaches, potentially resulting in data leaks. A data leak occurs when an organization’s sensitive information is inadvertently exposed, either during transmission (e.g., online) or while stored (e.g., on laptops or hard drives). This information can then be exploited by unauthorized individuals for personal gain.

Significant financial losses

Security breaches can cause significant disruption to business operations. They may block employees’ network access, hindering their ability to perform daily duties and obstructing communication with external partners.

A company can incur substantial financial losses if it cannot function effectively, even for a single day. It risks missing production targets and losing business opportunities. Prolonged disruptions have forced some companies to lay off employees due to financial constraints.

Reputational damage

A company’s reputation is built on multiple factors, including its ability to ensure confidentiality. Data breaches can severely damage a company’s hard-earned reputation.

Customers and partners may sever ties due to diminished trust. Rebuilding public trust becomes increasingly challenging once reputational harm has been done. Therefore, implementing a robust security system to safeguard confidential data is crucial.

Legal issues

Regions generally enforce laws requiring companies to uphold data security. Non-compliance with these laws can result in penalties or suspension of data processing permissions.

Users can initiate legal action against a company for failing to protect their personal data. Legal proceedings are not only time-intensive but also costly, prompting many businesses to proactively implement data protection measures to avoid such dilemmas.

VAPT in practice

VAPT is mandatory for organizations across many sectors in the IT industry, including iGaming and online sports betting. The gaming sector is a great example where VAPT is required because of the sensitive nature of the business. A gaming organization stores the financial data of its customers. If a security breach occurs and the data falls into the wrong hands, the financial implications will be significant for the company and the customers.

Two recent, high-profile security breach examples involved MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment:

In September 2023, MGM Resorts suffered a 10-day cyber attack. The breach affected systems across Aria, Bellagio and MGM Grand, including corporate email, reservations, bookings and digital key card access. At the G2E 2023 gaming show, MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle shared that the cyber attack disruption cost the company over $100 million.
Caesars Entertainment fell victim to a cyber incident in the same month, and it appears that the same hacker group was behind the attack. “Scattered Spider” or “Roasted 0ktapus,” an affiliate of the Blackcat ransomware group that deploys their ALPHV malware during attacks, accessed the “Caesar’s Rewards” loyalty program database. Caesars reveals making a $15 million ransom payment to prevent sensitive information from being made public.

A thorough VAPT can prevent such an incident from happening. It can identify the internal and external vulnerabilities in the system to prevent unauthorized data access by irresponsible parties.

A closer look: The three-part process to VAPT

A comprehensive VAPT security assessment contains three major portions: Vulnerability Assessment (VA), Penetration Testing (PT) and reporting and remediation.

What is Vulnerability Assessment (VA)?

VA is a systematic process of identifying and quantifying vulnerabilities in an organization’s IT assets:

VA involves scanning networks, systems and applications using automated tools and manual techniques to detect security weaknesses.
VA helps organizations prioritize vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact on the business.
Common vulnerabilities include misconfigurations, unpatched software, weak passwords and insecure protocols.

What is Pentesting (PT)?

Once vulnerabilities are identified, the security team advances to Pentesting (PT). PT, also known as ethical hacking, is a simulated attack on an organization’s IT infrastructure to evaluate its security posture:

Skilled security professionals (penetration testers or pentesters) use a combination of tools and techniques to exploit identified vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to systems and data.
PT helps organizations understand the real-world effectiveness of their security controls and incident response procedures.
Types of PT include network pentesting, web application testing, mobile application testing and social engineering.

Reporting and remediation

After conducting VA and PT, a detailed report is prepared, highlighting the identified vulnerabilities, their severity and the potential impact on the organization:

The report includes recommendations for remediation, such as patching software, strengthening access controls and improving security configurations.
Organizations can use the report to prioritize and implement security improvements to reduce their risk exposure.

Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration testing (VAPT)

Choosing the right VAPT service provider

Given the critical role of VAPT for any organization, selecting the right service provider is crucial. While cost is an important factor to many, there are several other considerations when choosing a VAPT service for your enterprise.

Engage with seasoned professionals to ensure you maximize value. Experienced VAPT specialists can efficiently identify system vulnerabilities and devise solutions.

Furthermore, the provider must possess a comprehensive understanding of industry regulations. As these standards are frequently updated by regulatory bodies, the provider must stay informed of the latest developments.

C8 Secure – A trusted VAPT service provider

C8 Secure, a managed security service provider (MSSP), offers VAPT services to industries such as finance, healthcare and iGaming and online sports betting. These services offer comprehensive security assessments of IT infrastructures and applications, assisting companies in meeting regulatory requirements, identifying vulnerabilities and enhancing their cybersecurity framework.

The C8 Secure team is dedicated to conducting an all-encompassing VAPT service to evaluate the security posture of the customer’s external and internal IT assets. Their certified security professionals collaborate closely with the customer’s team to establish the scope and objectives of the assessment. The VAPT encompasses rigorous testing of security aspects, including information gathering, configuration testing, authentication testing, session management testing and data validation, in adherence to the OWASP Top 10 standards.

This assessment employs a combination of automated tools and manual techniques to meticulously identify potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the customer’s systems. Upon completion, the customer receives a detailed report that outlines the findings, risk ratings and recommended remediation actions.

By engaging in regularly scheduled VAPT services, customers can ensure the compliance and robustness of their systems and safeguard sensitive end-user data. This proactive approach also helps customers stay ahead of the evolving cyber threat landscape, continuously enhancing their security posture while maintaining customer trust, managing reputation and supporting financial growth and stability.

Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow

C8 Secure provides comprehensive, multi-layered threat prevention, detection and response solutions to secure your organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. For more information on how C8 Secure can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email info@c8secure.com or fill out our Contact Us page.

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November 5, 2024

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DDoS explained: From attacks to solutions – Insights into safeguarding your network

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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DDoS explained: From threats to solutions – Insights into safeguarding your network

A Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, whether large or small, can cause significant downtime and financial loss.

Craig Lusher But what is exactly a DDoS attack?

In this blog, Craig Lusher, Product Principal at C8 Secure, will explore what a DDoS attack is, the different types of DDoS attacks and the best practices for mitigating DDoS attacks.

What is a DDoS attack?

A DDoS attack is like an unexpected traffic jam on an otherwise free-flowing highway. The attacks attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service or network by overwhelming it with a flood of Internet traffic.

DDoS attacks leverage multiple compromised computer systems as sources of attack traffic, including computers and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. They involve networks of Internet-connected devices infected with malware, controlled remotely by attackers and forming a botnet.

The process begins with the attacker creating the botnet by infecting multiple devices. Next, they send remote commands to the botnet, which then sends numerous requests to the target’s IP address. This flood of requests overwhelms the server or network, resulting in a denial-of-service for legitimate traffic.

Several high-profile DDoS attacks have made headlines in recent months, showcasing the damage these attacks can inflict, regardless of industry.

On August 9 and 10, DDoS attacks hit Final Fantasy 14 (FFXIV) online role-playing gaming data centers for two straight days. The DDoS attacks caused log-in delays and large-scale disconnections, preventing players from logging into the critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).
On August 8, a DDoS attack targeted the Kursk Region’s local services, as per the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation. The perpetrators aimed to potentially disrupt social services, damage the online infrastructure and/or obtain access to user data, but all attacks were successfully thwarted.
On July 30, a DDoS attack resulted in an eight-hour Azure outage. The Azure outage had global reach, impacting a subset of customers attempting to connect to a range of Azure, Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Purview services.

Types of DDoS attacks

DDoS attacks come in various forms. DDoS attacks can be categorized into three main types based on which part of the network connection they target.

Volumetric attacks

A volumetric attack aims to overwhelm the bandwidth between the target and the Internet with massive amounts of data. The attack often uses amplification techniques to ensure it consumes all available bandwidth.

A good example is Domain Name System (DNS) amplification. This method is done through a small query to an open DNS server with a spoofed IP address, resulting in a large response being sent to the victim, ultimately overwhelming their bandwidth.

Protocol attacks

A protocol attack exploits weaknesses in network protocols, particularly layers 3 and 4 of the protocol stack. It disrupts service by consuming server resources or network equipment resources like firewalls and load balancers.

SYN flood is a popular method. It overwhelms the target by sending many TCP SYN packets with spoofed IP addresses, exhausting resources by never completing the TCP handshake.

Application layer attacks

The application layer attack targets the application itself, often appearing as legitimate traffic. It exhausts the target’s resources and creates a denial-of-service. The attack preys on the application layer (Layer 7 of the OSI model) where web pages are generated and delivered in response to HTTP requests.

HTTP flood method, for example, generates multiple HTTP requests to flood the server. These requests overwhelm the server and cause a denial-of-service. These can range from simple attacks with one URL and similar IP addresses to complex attacks using many IP addresses and random URLs.

Mitigation methods – A defense-in-depth, multi-layered approach

The main challenge in mitigating a DDoS attack is distinguishing between legitimate traffic and attack traffic. For example, a legitimate surge from a product release differs from an attack surge from known attackers.

These attacks are also multi-vector. This means they use multiple pathways to overwhelm targets, making it harder to distinguish between attack and normal traffic. A layered approach, such as combining DNS amplification (targeting layers 3/4) with an HTTP flood (layer 7), requires varied strategies for mitigation.

Due to these complexities, protecting a site from DDoS attacks requires a multi-layered approach. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, having a clear plan in place for responding to DDoS attacks can minimize downtime and damage.

Finding a service specializing in DDoS solutions can be a great help, but there are layers to the mitigation process.

It begins with securing all devices and keeping them updated to prevent their compromise and inclusion in a botnet. Regular updates and patches are particularly crucial for mitigating application layer attacks.
In DDoS mitigation, more redundancy means more reliability. Scaling network redundancy enhances reliability by distributing resources across multiple data centers, which helps balance the load during an attack. Increasing network bandwidth can also aid in handling volumetric attacks.
Having on-demand capacity to increase the resources to the affected asset. This can be achieved by either expanding vertically, by adding larger throughput connectivity or laterally by adding additional connectivity or by using Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) which absorb excess traffic by taking the load off the origin servers.
Implementing rate or connection limiting using Web Application Firewalls (WAFs). Rate and connection limiting controls the number of requests and connections a server accepts in a given timeframe.
Effective traffic monitoring combined with behavioral analytics is essential for identifying and responding to unusual patterns. In this case, traffic analysis tools improve efficiency.
Deploying WAFs and using advanced Intrusion Protection Systems (IPS) to act as a reverse proxy can help filter out malicious traffic. WAFs are also key to mitigating protocol attacks.

At C8 Secure, we advocate for a ‘defense-in-depth’ strategy, where multiple layers of security controls are implemented throughout the organization’s IT environment. This ensures that if one layer is breached, additional layers are in place to prevent or mitigate the attack.

C8 Secure’s defense-in-depth, multi-layered approach includes:

Coarse filtering: Ad-Hoc upstream traffic filtering and DDoS scrubbing
Medium filtering: Managed access control lists at the network edge
Medium/fine filtering: Layer 3 and 4 DDoS scrubbing
Fine filtering: Layer 7 Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) rate limiting and filtering
Polish: Traffic delivery with Endpoint Detection and Response/Managed Detection and Response (EDR/MDR) solutions and managed updates and hardening
Log event monitoring and threat protection: Security Operations Centre (MSOC) and Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) threat detection and response

C8 Secure for complete DDoS protection

C8 Secure offers the most comprehensive cybersecurity solutions equipped to meet today’s emerging DDoS threats.

DDoS solution: Our DDoS service offers a global network with 5 Tbps> of DDoS scrubbing and network capability. This ensures businesses are protected from volumetric layer 3/4 attacks. We use multiple layers of protection in our DDoS system from best-of-bread technology partners to our own intellectual property and processes.
EDR and MDR solutions: Our EDR and MDR services ensure comprehensive protection for endpoints against advanced threats such as ransomware, malware and phishing attempts. These solutions monitor endpoint activity in real-time, detect anomalies and respond to threats promptly.
Firewall solution: Our Firewall service includes customisable IDS/IPS capabilities. When combined with our SOC service, IDS/IPS events are enriched with specific threat intelligence and ingested into our SIEM platform. Our SOC analysts can then deliver powerful insights into a customer’s current threat state and perimeter activities, providing detection, prevention and responses to known and emerging threats.
SOC and SIEM solutions: Our SOC and SIEM services deliver continuous 24x7x365 monitoring, advanced threat detection to identify anomalies and potential risks, integrated threat intelligence to stay ahead of evolving and high-impact threats and a cutting-edge SIEM architecture for high-performance analytics and efficient incident management.
WAAP solution: Our WAAP service defends web applications and APIs from threats like OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, as well as credential stuffing, site scraping, malicious bots and other vulnerabilities and exploits. This cloud-based solution is scalable and flexible, allowing businesses to adapt their security measures as needed.

Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow

C8 Secure provides comprehensive, multi-layered threat prevention, detection and response solutions to secure your organization’s digital assets in the face of evolving cyber threats. For more information on how C8 Secure can support your cybersecurity initiatives, email info@c8secure.com or fill out our Contact Us page.

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September 26, 2024

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Web application and API protection (WAAP) security: A guide to overcoming today’s complex digital landscape

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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Web application and API protection (WAAP) security: A guide to overcoming today’s complex digital landscape

Craig Lusher

Executive summary

Today, web applications are indispensable for businesses across all sectors. C8 Secure recognizes that the hybrid and multi-cloud environments, modern application architectures and the necessity of securing remote work whilst maintaining high service availability pose significant challenges in securing these applications. Our comprehensive approach to application security is designed to mitigate the many challenges of protecting web applications and APIs from a diverse range of threats.

Despite the availability of numerous web application security solutions, businesses often struggle due to resource constraints (budgetary and expertise), the complexity of modern applications (including microservices, API ecosystems and continuous updates), and issues with false positives and negatives resulting from outdated security policies.

In this blog, I’ll explore the current threat landscape for web applications, examine the biggest challenges in securing modern applications, highlight the business implications of security breaches and offer insights and best practices into navigating today’s ever-evolving digital landscape.

Evolving threat landscape and its implications

The threat landscape for web applications is ever-changing, presenting businesses with intricate challenges. Key aspects include:

Human threats: These encompass hackers, insiders and other malicious actors who exploit vulnerabilities in web applications.
Bot threats: Malicious bots are increasingly sophisticated, often used to breach user accounts with stolen credentials and mimic legitimate user behaviour, causing significant harm.
OWASP Top 10 risks: Common attack vectors like (Structured Query Language) SQL injection and cross-site scripting highlight the critical security risks identified in the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10, necessitating robust security measures.

What are the biggest challenges in securing modern applications?

Modern applications are inherently difficult to secure due to several factors:

Distributed infrastructure: Applications spread across data centres and cloud environments complicate security efforts.
Microservices and APIs: These add complexity to data flows, making it harder to monitor and protect.
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Frequent changes by development teams can introduce new vulnerabilities.
Skilled resource shortage: The industry-wide lack of skilled security experts exacerbates these challenges.
Evolving threats: Sophisticated and evolving threats require constant vigilance and advanced security solutions.

How security breaches impact your business

Failure to secure web applications and APIs can have far-reaching business consequences:

Financial impact: Breaches can lead to substantial financial losses from both direct costs (response and recovery) and indirect costs (lost revenue and brand damage).
Reputational damage: Customer trust and brand reputation can be severely affected, leading to customer churn and long-term damage.
Regulatory and legal consequences: Non-compliance with data protection laws can result in hefty fines and legal penalties.

C8 Secure’s holistic application protection approach

To address these challenges, C8 Secure advocates for a comprehensive set of best practices in web application and API security:

Regular Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing (VAPT) assessments: Both automated and manual testing help identify and address weaknesses.
Patch management: Keeping software and libraries up-to-date is crucial for preventing exploitations of known vulnerabilities.
Secure coding practices: Training for development and operations teams on secure coding reduces the introduction of vulnerabilities.
Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) security: Emphasis on authentication, authorization and rate limiting for APIs is essential.
Incident response plan: A well-defined plan ensures quick and effective responses to security breaches.

Building a resilient web application and API security framework

Securing web applications is a complex challenge requiring a holistic approach. By understanding the evolving threat landscape, recognising the business implications of security breaches and implementing best practices, businesses can significantly enhance their security posture. C8 Secure is dedicated to providing robust security solutions that help businesses protect their critical web applications and APIs, ensuring resilience against the complex threats of today’s digital landscape.

C8 Secure WAAP solutions represent a proactive approach to web application and API security.

To support organizations enhance their web application and API security framework, C8 Secure is offering 3 months of FREE WAAP services for the first 50 customers to sign up to a 15-month contract*.

Learn more about the WAAP solution here.

For further information and detailed guidance on securing your web applications, email info@c8secure.com or fill out our Contact Us page.

*T&Cs apply. Limited-time offer; subject to change. First 3 months free, when signing up to a 15-month contract.

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September 3, 2024

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The Philippines’ cybersecurity issue: More than 5 billion cyber attacks daily, report says

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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The Philippines’ cybersecurity issue: More than 5 billion cyber attacks daily, report says

The Philippines saw a sharp increase in cyber attacks in the first quarter of 2024, with the number of attacks reaching a staggering five billion per day . This is a significant 28 percent increase from the previous quarter’s 3.9 billion.

In this blog, we will explore some of the most popular types of cyber attacks in the Philippines in 2024, recent high-profile cases and the necessary measures that the government and organizations must adopt to ensure they remain resilient against evolving cyber threats.

Cybersecurity threat #1: DDoS attacks

Cybercrime in the Philippines takes various forms, employing different methods depending on the objectives, whether obtaining bank information, personal data or other sensitive information.

Among them are Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, which aim to disrupt online services by overloading their traffic.

An infamous group known as Exodus Security has been responsible for carrying out DDoS attacks on Philippine government websites. The group has been involved in leaking stolen data from its targets in the Philippines, as well as other countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Indonesia, and India.

Recently, there have been cyber attacks in the Philippines by a local group called DeathNote Hackers. They are said to have leaked data from the Bureau of Customs, with the stolen data amounting to 4.5 gigabytes and containing personal information of over 2,200 employees and approximately 80,000 customers.

Cybersecurity threat #2: Malware attacks

Malware presents a high-risk cyber attack threat. Malware, short for malicious software, is any app or software designed to disrupt device or computing operations, steal sensitive data or gain access to system resources. It can take different forms, including computer viruses, ransomware, spyware, Trojan horses and worms.

In February, hackers used malware to access and control the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) Facebook page, posting two malicious videos. This was the third time the PCG has been targeted by hackers this year. In mid-February, the PCG’s X (formerly Twitter) account was hijacked for several hours. The month before, the PCG’s website was one of several Philippine government sites attacked by hackers with IP addresses in China.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also recently experienced several system breaches. The hackers gained access to the PNP’s Logistics Data Information Management System, which is the official repository for data on police equipment and physical assets. They also breached the online permits application platform of the PNP-Firearms and Explosives Office. The PNP is working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to investigate potential malware activity and malicious accounts created for the cyberattacks.

Then again in July, the DICT itself was compromised by a threat actor known as ph1ns. This hacker group, notorious for reigning havoc and causing disruption across various government systems in the Philippines, infiltrated the DICT’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Division and disclosed screenshots and detailed system descriptions on a dark web forum.

A message posted on the DICT-DRRMD website revealed ph1ns’s motivations from a hacktivist position, stating, “This attack is not merely to ridicule DICT’s reputation but also to fortify the nation’s cyber defense by embarrassing them.”

5 measures for mitigating cyber risk

The Philippines will continue to be a target for cyber attacks. To mitigate against these ongoing threats, local government agencies and organizations must adopt a proactive and layered defence strategy.

Here are some of the best measures they should consider:

Regular security audits and assessments
- Conduct regular security audits and assessments.
- Perform internal and external evaluations.
- Update vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) regularly.
Advanced threat detection and response using latest technologies
- Invest in AI-driven analytics, machine learning and behavioral analysis tools.
- Implement Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems.
Robust incident response and mitigation plans
- Develop and maintain clear procedures for detecting, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents.
- Regularly test and update these plans through simulations and drills.
Comprehensive training and awareness programs
- Provide ongoing cybersecurity training and awareness programs for all employees.
- Educate staff on recognizing phishing attempts, social engineering tactics and other common attack vectors.
Legislative and regulatory compliance
- Ensure compliance with relevant cybersecurity regulations and standards, and not simply performing Checkbox Security.
- Stay abreast of legal requirements and industry standards.

Cybersecurity solutions for a safer tomorrow

With cyber threat incidents on the rise, C8 Secure is committed to working closely with corporations and governmental agencies to provide practical, adaptable, preventable and problem-solving security solutions.

Learn how our expertise can help your organization stay ahead of cyber threats – contact us today!

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July 9, 2024

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Key takeaways from Infosecurity Europe 2024

By Varshita MuddanaFeatured

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Key takeaways from Infosecurity Europe 2024

Leon Allen, Director of Cybersecurity at C8 Secure, alongside several of his colleagues in the global Continent 8 and C8 Secure cybersecurity team, recently attended Infosecurity Europe 2024. Infosecurity Europe is the UK’s premier cybersecurity event, bringing together senior leaders of the cybersecurity community to pool their expertise and tackle the pressing challenges they face daily in the information security sector.

Here, Leon shares his key takeaways from the event.

Tell us about your impressions of Infosecurity Europe 2024? What did you enjoy most about the show?

Infosecurity Europe always offers valuable learning opportunities. These come in the form of conference sessions and networking discussions with cybersecurity experts and professionals, allowing for the exchange of ideas and sharing of lessons learned from diverse practices, backgrounds and applications.

In addition, a small but appreciated observation is Infosecurity Europe’s new floor plan layout. The distinct startup, technology and networking zones made it easier to navigate the exhibition for an improved attendee experience.

While at Infosecurity Europe 2024, did you see a common themes at the event?

The event covered a wide range of relevant themes and topics that were of interest to the cybersecurity community. These ranged from AI (overload; of course!) to securing the supply chain to ransomware. Organizational-specific topics also included encouraging diversity in cybersecurity and creating a security-focused culture.

Were there any topics or specific conference sessions that were of interest to you?

I always look forward to Infosecurity Europe’s agenda as it never disappoints. I try to attend as many conference sessions as I can over the three-day period – I thoroughly enjoy all of them!

While it’s too lengthy to detail all sessions details, here are some of the highlights, notes and key takeaways from two of the ransomware and AI presentations that I attended:

Session 1: Ransomware: Time to Decide – Will You or Won’t You Pay?

1 billion paid in ransom in 2023!
Skill shortage across cybersecurity remains (and is getting worse)
There is no legislation in the UK mandating reporting of cyber ransoms
Figuring out who’s on the other end of the table is important (e.g. do they have the decryption key or are you a victim of a ransom of a service with no real technical expertise?)
Advice:
- Three Ps
  - Prepare: This will happen.
  - Plan: Understand who are the stakeholders.
  - Practice: Can you use your insurance provider or managed
    security provider to perform a tabletop exercise?

Session 2: How to Win the AI Arms Race

Projection that cybercrime will be worth 10.5 trillion dollars in 2025! (To put it in perspective, that would make it the third richest country in the world in terms of GDP)
Threats:
- Generative AI (targeted emails; improving virus’)
- AI constructive programs
- AI Red Teaming
- Polymorphic attacks (e.g. Black Mamba – where a virus morphs over time)
How can AI help defence in depth?
- 92% of malware uses DNS and traditional tools only look at basic DNS
  - E.g. Suburst Solarwinds Compromise
  - AI could help us identify nefarious domains to expediate efforts in blocking these compromises
- 91% of attacks involve email
  - Using AI to scan emails to look for abnormalities
- AI-powered end-point protection
  - AI-powered XDR; including deep learning
- Deep Learning AI is closing the gap
- Updates and patch management
  - AI patch management vendors are coming to market
- Training and awareness
  - Culture AI – scanning the network and recommend targeted training
- Incident response planning
  - Micro segmentation
Summary:
- Know your enemy
- AI is only part of the solution
- Create a multi-layered defence

I’ve already marked my calendar for Infosecurity Europe 2025. Hope to see you there!

With cyber threat incidents on the rise, C8 Secure is committed to working closely with corporations and governmental agencies to provide practical, adaptable, preventable and problem-solving security solutions.

Learn how our expertise can help your organization stay ahead of cyber threats – contact us today!

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

For more information, please download our solutions brochure

DOWNLOAD

Let’s Get Started

info@c8secure.com

+1 (877) 861-1611

C8 Secure

July 2, 2024

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Varshita Muddana

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EDR, MDR and XDR: A complete guide to endpoint detection and response cybersecurity solutions

EDR, MDR and XDR: An introduction

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Understanding the differences between EDR, MDR and XDR?

Capabilities and components:

Tools and technologies:

Cost structure:

How Do EDR, MDR and XDR solutions work?

EDR, MDR or XDR: Which to choose?

Implementing endpoint detection and response cybersecurity with Continent 8

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How Zero Trust works

Zero Trust vs ‘trust but verify’ model

Tenants of Zero Trust include:

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