Cybersecurity has become a critical issue for businesses around the world, and having a Security Operations Center (SOC) service is essential to protect all vulnerable attack surfaces. However, traditional SOCs are no longer able to cover with agility, speed and effectiveness the sophistication of today’s cyber-attacks and their constant evolution, from ransomware attacks to advanced malware and phishing. Therefore, the most effective defense approach is to have a modern SOC service in place. A modern SOC monitors and protects 24×7 against all cyber threats to which an organization is exposed, based on 3 fundamental requirements: technologies, processes and infrastructure, and people.

Technologies

Advanced security solutions and tools

There are many companies that deploy a SOC without having security solutions deployed, with the objective of obtaining visibility only of the security events of some business assets that they consider critical, for example, some specific servers. But this approach is not the right one because if a serious incident occurs in any of the assets that are not monitored by the SOC, the company will not be aware of it until the incident spreads to the monitored assets, being already too late.

If security solutions are not deployed, the following situations occur:

1. Reduced ability to detect internally occurring threats.
2. The ability to apply remediation actions to cyber threats is limited to disconnecting the network and local infrastructure; with a great negative impact on the business.

Therefore, first of all, it is imperative to have a high level of security with modern solutions that protect all attack surfaces and that are supported by detection and response tools such as:

• Intrusion Detection System (IDS).
• Connection point detection and response (EDR) system.
• Security Information and Event Management Systems (SIEM).
• Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) system.
• Extended and correlated detection systems on different attack surfaces such as Identities, Applications and data, devices and infrastructure (XDR).
• User and entity behavior analysis (UEBA) and machine learning (ML).

Only in this way is it possible to obtain a complete defense with a modern, intelligent and proactive SOC that is able to quickly identify, prevent and mitigate cyber threats.

Unified security platform

It is common for companies to use products and tools from different vendors, so it is necessary to also have a unified security management platform that enables the integration of all security tools and solutions. This helps to simplify the management and analysis of security data, and to provide complete visibility into enterprise systems and networks. Using security solutions that work under a single ecosystem, such as Microsoft’s cloud security solutions platform, allows us to correlate security events that affect all attack surfaces, so we have more capabilities to detect and investigate threats that may affect the organization.

2. Processes and infrastructure

Well-defined processes and scalable infrastructure

For the optimal functioning of a modern SOC, it is essential to have a robust and scalable cloud infrastructure to be able to collect, store, process and analyze large volumes of data, and to have well-defined and documented security processes and policies that establish the responsibilities and protocols to be followed to detect, respond to and mitigate security threats. Therefore, it is also important to foster collaboration between the SOC’s specialist team and other departments in the company, which can provide them with relevant information that allows them to better understand how cyber threats can impact the business in order to identify and mitigate risks much better. In addition, the SOC should coordinate with other departments to conduct incident response activities and communicate the results of security investigations to other departments.

3. Persons

Multidisciplinary team of cybersecurity experts

A modern SOC requires a multidisciplinary team of experts such as security engineers, security analysts, threat hunters, threat intelligence analysts and forensic investigators, with extensive knowledge of technologies for threat detection, prevention and analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as the tactics, techniques and procedures of the most advanced threats. Having all these internal resources available in the company is unfeasible in most cases due to high costs, lack of experience and qualified personnel, etc. Therefore, the most common and intelligent decision is to have a SOC service managed by a partner specialized in cybersecurity that provides all the necessary resources, personnel and knowledge.

Discover Max Global Defense

In Softeng we have designed a modern, intelligent and proactive SOC service, which combines Microsoft technology along with advanced security solutions themselves, to obtain and maximize a global defense against cyber threats. Discover in this DEMO the potential of our next-generation SOC to anticipate, react and respond to any cyber threat.

El incremento de los ciberataques seguirá creciendo a lo largo del tiempo, por lo que es un tema crítico para las empresas. Es fundamental que las empresas estén preparadas para un escenario cada vez más hostil y complejo de defender, en el que las empresas se enfrentan a desafíos cada vez mayores en la detección y mitigación de ciberamenazas.

En este artículo, analizamos los puntos débiles más comunes en la detección y mitigación de ciberamenazas para actuar sobre ellos y conseguir obtener una defensa completa y anticiparse a las ciberamenazas de manera efectiva.

1. Defensa insuficiente y aumento de los ciberataques

Si se cuenta con medidas de seguridad tradicionales y tecnologías que no se entienden entre sí, no se puede obtener visibilidad total de las ciberamenazas que nos afectan. Esto produce una falsa sensación de seguridad, ya que no se pueden mitigar las amenazas en una fase temprana, y cuando ocurren, es demasiado tarde. Entonces, el impacto es tan grande que, en muchos casos, ya no podemos reaccionar. Por ello, es crucial disponer de medidas de seguridad avanzadas que cubran todas las superficies de ataque.

2. Falta de presupuesto y concienciación

Las empresas que no invierten en ciberseguridad tardan un promedio de 279 días en identificar y contener una intrusión. Y por cada día que una ciberamenaza pasa sin ser detectada, el coste de recuperación y los daños aumentan exponencialmente. Es necesario fomentar una cultura digital en la empresa que posicione la ciberseguridad como parte del negocio para que su inversión sea tan prioritaria y estratégica como lo es en otras áreas de negocio.

La mayoría de las empresas que no alinean la ciberseguridad con el negocio, tarde o temprano acaban sufriendo la paradoja del castillo de naipes (link a la landing con el ebook), y son atacadas muy fácilmente paralizando el negocio.

3. Ampliación de la superficie de ataque

Hoy en día, la red corporativa se ha descentralizado y los activos de negocio se extienden más allá del perímetro corporativo interno. Esto provoca que se amplíe la superficie de ataque y sea necesario intensificar el control, supervisión y confianza sobre las conexiones y el uso dentro de la red. ¿Cómo? Mediante la implementación de soluciones de seguridad que permitan detectar y mitigar todos los riesgos en las diferentes superficies vulnerables.

4. No poder anticiparse ante los ciberincidentes

Las empresas que no cuentan con soluciones desplegadas que protejan todas las superficies de ataque ni con una estrategia de ciberseguridad definida, no tienen la capacidad de anticiparse ante las ciberamenazas. Si a esto le sumamos el aumento y la sofisticación de los ciberataques, las empresas están obligadas a cambiar el enfoque reactivo a uno proactivo; de “reaccionar cuando se produce un incidente” a «cómo puedo anticiparme de forma efectiva ante un ciberataque».

5. Falta de personal cualificado y dedicado 24/7

Cada una de las superficies vulnerables que se deben proteger traen consigo diferentes complejidades y casuísticas. Tener el know-how y tiempo para saber gestionar y controlar eficazmente todo lo que conlleva la ciberseguridad es, hoy en día, extremadamente complicado. Los equipos internos de IT porque muchas empresas no cuentan con personal cualificado con un equipo de expertos multidisciplinar que puedan tener una dedicación completa para actuar sobre todas las áreas de la ciberseguridad.

¿Cómo tener una defensa completa frente a las ciberamenazas?

Un SOC moderno es el enfoque de defensa más efectivo en comparación con un SOC tradicional. Ofrece mayores beneficios en términos de seguridad y también en cuanto a la infraestructura y eficiencia operacional.

Descubre en este evento digital bajo demanda cómo maximizar la protección de tu empresa con un SOC de última generación para anticiparte, reaccionar y responder a cualquier ciberamenaza.

I would like to start this article with a fact: by the end of 2025, the global cost caused by cyber-attacks is expected to exceed $10.5 trillion, 15% more than three years ago. This statistic leaves us with a clear message, and that is that there is no doubt that it is increasingly necessary to treat cybersecurity as a strategic business priority.

So, here are 3 key questions that every CEO should know how to answer to understand the cybersecurity context, and be prepared for what’s coming.

1. What will change in cybersecurity in 2024?

Undoubtedly, the most relevant change in cybersecurity will be – and already is – artificial intelligence.

But beware, the impact of AI on cybersecurity is paradoxical: it will be a transformative tool to improve defense against cyberattacks, but, at the same time, it will also increase the quality and quantity of cyberattacks.

We know that AI will be used by cyber attackers to launch more sophisticated and intelligent attacks. This will result in the dominant cybersecurity threats during 2024 being harder to detect, from personalized phishing to automated malware, because they will adapt to try to evade detections and compromise business assets.

However, it will be AI itself that will help us detect and respond to cyber threats in the shortest possible time, thanks to its real-time anomaly detection capabilities, machine learning and automated incident response, among others.

If we compare it to a game of chess, the AI will be the queen and will have the ability to create powerful strategic advantages for both the attacker and the defender.The management committee will have to make the most of the moves of this key piece because one wrong move could lose them the game.

2. Is there a way to get ahead of the attacker?

“Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win hundreds of battles,” says Sun Tzu in the military treatise “The Art of War.” Personally, I like to use this famous phrase as an analogy for cybersecurity…

• Know your enemy: It is vital to have up-to-date and accurate information about the cyberattack, based on 3 key elements: the techniques used by the attacker, the common characteristics of the cyberattack and the behavior of the cybercriminals once they have compromised the organization.
• Know yourself: For example, you should know what your business assets and weaknesses are, perform regular security audits, encrypt information, foster a culture of cybersecurity at all levels, etc.

Once we have identified both the enemy and ourselves, we have one last point to anticipate the attacker. To do so, I will use another phrase from Sun Tzu: “The best defense is a good offense”. In other words, it is going to be very important to have modern security solutions based on AI and behavioral analytics, along with a team of cybersecurity specialists and an incident response plan.

All this will allow us to identify the threat at an early stage, anticipate it quickly and effectively, improve our security posture, prevent in many cases a breach before it occurs, and minimize the impact on the business, thus becoming more cyber-resilient.

You must know the enemy, know yourself and counterattack when an incident occurs, as this will be the art of getting ahead of the attacker.

3. What is the first step my company should take in 2024 to increase its cybersecurity?

There are several steps companies should consider to boost their cybersecurity. The first of these is not technical, but rather organizational: raising awareness of the need to invest in cybersecurity and adapt it to business models and assets.

It is common for most companies not to question investing in ERP, inventory software or invoicing processes, for example. But only companies with ambition know that if none of them are secured, the moment these assets are compromised, the business will be affected and thus cause a total shutdown of the company with all the economic and reputational damage that goes with it.

Security must be brought into the digital environment just as physical security is invested in and prioritized with security cameras, access controls or anti-theft locks, among many others.

Once this is clear, there is one more step. Last but not least, it is essential to have a team of cybersecurity specialists.

This is where a security operations center(SOC) comes into play, bringing together technologies and a cybersecurity team to analyze, manage and respond to emerging security breaches.

As a cybersecurity guard and 24×7 video surveillance service, a modern SOC allows you to reduce the risk that your assets could be compromised by a security breach.

Discover in this DEMO
the potential of our state-of-the-art SOC to anticipate, react and respond to any cyber threat.

Don’t wait for an attack to protect your business

Those of us who work in the world of cybersecurity know the great consequences that cyberattacks can have for a company, no matter how common they may seem. Therefore, the main mistake is that many – not to say the vast majority – are still waiting for problems to appear before taking action. And sometimes it’s too late, because being reactive is very expensive.

Digitally ambitious CEOs know that in this new era of artificial intelligence, they will only be able to protect business assets well if, on the one hand, they promote cybersecurity awareness throughout the organization, and, on the other hand, if they adopt a Zero Trust security strategy.

As a conclusion, in 2024 the dangers will advance, but so will the technology and the awareness of the importance of cybersecurity in companies. However, it is up to each individual which path he or she wants to take. Shall we move forward together?

The pandemic has been a turning point for many companies, highlighting the importance of being agile to surf the waves of change generated by a world that is increasingly digital, more connected – and with greater security risks, for this reason – and which is advancing at a high speed pace.

Those futuristic science fiction movies are already a thing of the past in the present that we live in. An example of this is IoT applications, the use of data, process automation, the application of artificial intelligence… where the playing field is the cloud.

Today, the cloud is a necessity, but the vast majority of companies do not take advantage of its full potential. This hinders their possibilities when it comes to innovating and advancing with the speed and security necessary to progress and always remain competitive. However, only those companies with digital ambition understand the importance of driving innovation as a competitive advantage to lead tomorrow.

The DNA of companies with digital ambition

The genome is the unique combination of genes and constitutes the operations manual with all the instructions for any living organism to develop and grow. Like human beings, in companies we can also talk about a genome that influences their growth and development, whose DNA contains the genes of each company that are expressed through its vision, value proposition, training, corporate culture, etc

Technological advances, digitization, cyberattacks… have caused the genome of some companies to evolve over the rest to continue advancing and remain competitive. We are talking about companies with digital ambition, and they have 3 unique genes that are decisive in influencing their development and growth: the innovative, resilient, and analytical genes.

The innovative gene (INVR)

Digitally ambitious companies are constantly looking for new ways to use technology to improve their business processes, products and services. They are aware of the importance of the cloud and, therefore, seek innovative solutions in order to maximize its full potential.

For this reason, they have a strategic vision of investment in IT, being a key area, and they are aware that innovation is a fundamental part of the business, so they are also willing to experiment with emerging technologies and take risks to get the most out of it. technology party.

The resilient gene (RSLT)

Companies that develop the resilient gene increase their ability to adapt, compete and thrive in a changing and uncertain environment. A resilient company is more sustainable, that is, it is capable of maintaining its stability and continuity over time despite obstacles, adversities and the competition itself in its sector.

For this reason, and in an environment where security threats and attacks are increasing and more sophisticated, a company with digital ambition knows the value of investing in cybersecurity to protect not only its digital assets, but also its reputation and the trust of its stakeholders, from customers to shareholders.

The analytical gene (ANLTC)

Companies with digital ambition promote a data-driven culture. Companies that understand the value of data and the importance of analytics to convert information into business insights and make better data-based decisions; not in assumptions. The analytical gene means that these companies have a clear tendency towards operational excellence and a clear customer focus.

For this reason, companies with digital ambition have solid strategies focused on optimizing processes and taking advantage of the maximum potential of data with automation solutions, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.

The CIO, business leader

If before we talked about the genome as an instruction manual, it has no value if nobody follows it. In the case of companies with digital ambition, it is the CIO or technology director who must guide the company from the Management Committee to follow this manual and promote it to create that competitive advantage that can be developed with these differential genes.

Today, the CIO is a leader with a strategic vision who understands the objectives and priorities of the business and leads the IT area so that the company continues to grow and always remains competitive.