ROI

By cliangNo Comments
Return On Investment (ROI) is the typical approach to justify the spending to acquire asset. For the sample solar renewable energy illustrated, this is simple: One-off cost like equipment purchase & installation Recurring cost like maintenance, insurance, administrative (if trading to grid is involved) In a 5 or 10 years total cost model, how much energy charges could be saved, or how much revenue is generated if energy is sold back to the grid vs how much expense to paid. However, there are risks that might affect the net gain: Sufficiency of sun light intensity Weather condition at the location Physical security of equipment against theft or sabotage In cyber protection technology, stake holders normally expect cyber-security is the baseline and integrated with the asset. Adding extra cost won't be seen as ROI.  A slightly adjusted model is to calculate the avoidance cost of a single cyber-security incident vs investment.  Therefore, the justification is to be: If we invest $X, then we could avoid spending...
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Network

By cliangNo Comments
Network exists in both physical and cyber worlds. Both have physical portion and content portion. Even in cyber perspective, both the physical media and the info exchange are required to protect but most focus is on the content part. If the adversary is able to access network equipment physically, then all those secured configuration will become insecure. Therefore, in any security assessment, physical aspect must not be forgotten....
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Born or Made

By cliangNo Comments
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are broadly categorized into 2 types: [a] Inherent weakness in the component, protocol (e.g. PLC, ftp) that is insecure by design [b] Improper deployment causes a secure component (e.g. FIPS-140-2 Level-4 certified crypto module) into insecure due to lack the required surrounding elements (likely broken business process or human negligence) Type [a] can be overcome at time of procurement to specify requirement. Type [b] can be identified via vulnerability assessment of the deployed solution in people, process and technology perspectives...
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Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)

By cliangNo Comments
As cyber attacks have already moved from network layer to application tier, DPI is a must to examine contents to detect malicious intention. Some technologies (like web proxy) even break the TLS for content inspection incurring cyber threats from user perspective that https is no longer trusted to be secure. In a corporate environment Privacy is not guaranteed via a blanket statement by consent to being monitored when start using the IT facilities, e.g. displayed in logon banner. As an user, check the site certificate if issued by site owner or another party to understand if traffic is being intercepted For network in public Usually connectivity is via WLANYou have no idea what is behind the infrastructure, whether it has been maniuplated for malicious intention. So, follow the OS platform recommended public network profile upon connection -- Don't allow your device being discovered -- Disable folder sharing -- Setup another web browser without login credential saved for general web surfing -- Never use insecure...
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Expectation & Limitation

By cliangNo Comments
Every technology has its own limitation. Don't just listen to Sales or look at Product Brochure. Their tactics are to highlight what are the strengths or success stories of the desirable protection scenarios and hide limitations. There are many examples of limitations quoted in previous blogs: Is network anomalies detection able to spot "missing" but not extra among "unusual" traffic from baseline profile?Is company "authorized" USB drive effective for DLP or limiting malware?Is Touch ID really secure,,, etc. Understand the technology what works and what doesn't. Set stake holders expectation for limitations and the required compensating controls. Voice these out before recommending the protection technology if really fit for adoption. ...
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Trust #2

By cliangNo Comments
When Internet is just launched to the consumer market, it's costly. Need to subscribe the service from your local Internet Service Provider (ISP) and connect from home via telephone line with dial-up modem. Both bandwidth and data volume are limited. Technology advancement makes the Internet become a default facility for the community. Free wi-fi hotspots and free Internet kiosks are available. The important thing to note - do you trust these platforms? Even though the providers do not have malicious intend, are these devices secured from planting malicious tools to capture sensitive information? If you need to use Internet like this, limit to just web surfing without login to search information. Always bring your own device as an integral part of your wallet when travelling. Use a VPN gateway service if possible to defeat MITM (Man-In-The-Middle) attack because certain web proxies are able to intercept TLS (Transport Layer Security, or https) traffic for content inspection. You...
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Trust

By cliangNo Comments
When you come across a free USB socket to charge your mobile device, will you trust and use it? You never know what is behind that your mobile device will connect to. Mobile device now contains lots of "useful" information for hacker. The information ranges from personal contact, photo, notes, corporate email to saved credentials. The best is to use own charging device. ...
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