Security Configuration Review
Intelligence Driven Cyber Security Operations
Security Configuration Review
Secure Configuration is one of the pivotal pillars mandated by the UK Government’s Cyber Essentials scheme, encompassing measures that bolster cybersecurity during the construction and installation of computers and network devices. This practice significantly diminishes unnecessary cyber vulnerabilities. Within Certcube’s Labs, we conduct build and configuration reviews, commonly referred to as secure configuration hardening reviews. These assessments involve scrutinizing the underlying Operating System and interconnected components, such as firmware and removable media interfaces, in strict alignment with recognized security best practices.
Clients often request these reviews to align with esteemed frameworks like CIS, NIST, or internal guidelines. This procedure takes the form of a white-box penetration testing exercise, offering comprehensive insights into your system’s intricate infrastructure.
A server lacking proper hardening or plagued with misconfiguration issues holds the potential to serve as an unauthorized access point, potentially leading to network compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive information.
A weakly configured infrastructure not only introduces vulnerabilities into your network but can also provide a breeding ground for concealed threats like rootkits or backdoors that remain hidden for prolonged periods.
Our review methodology is designed to unearth and address configuration weaknesses, empowering you to rectify these issues in harmony with the highest industry standards.
Furthermore, Secure Configuration Reviews are a fundamental process of examining and assessing an organization’s IT systems and applications to detect vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and security risks. This plays a crucial role in preemptively identifying and mitigating security gaps before malicious actors can exploit them.
These reviews aim to provide an optimal level of security by identifying vulnerable areas and assigning threat ratings based on potential risks. This process enables us to pinpoint portions of the network that require enhanced security. By assigning threat ratings, we can assess risks to the network, its resources, and data. The ultimate goal is to strike a balance between security and necessary resource access, ensuring that your organization maintains an efficient equilibrium between the two.
In today’s digital landscape, Secure Configuration Review stands as an imperative for any organization striving to safeguard its data integrity and uphold its reputation. The relentless innovation of cybercriminals necessitates a proactive stance against security breaches. To this end, regular configuration reviews emerge as a crucial practice, enabling organizations to pinpoint vulnerabilities and frailties in their systems and proactively rectify them.
The significance of Secure Configuration Review cannot be overstated. Through meticulous scrutiny and validation of configuration settings across IT infrastructure components—ranging from systems to network devices and applications—it gauges the efficacy of security measures within an IT environment.
In the deployment, maintenance, and enhancement of computing systems, networks, and network security devices, the execution of expected secure configuration settings might inadvertently fall short or even be overlooked. Such missteps render IT components susceptible, potentially paving the way for unauthorized access and triggering service disruptions and security breaches.
Mismanaging server configuration can engender an array of security issues. Specifically, it can empower malicious actors to efficiently detect vulnerabilities using commonly employed security scanning tools. Once vulnerabilities are spotted, swift exploitation can lead to the complete compromise of systems, websites, databases, and corporate networks.
A compelling instance illustrating the repercussions of inadequate secure configuration is the breach encountered by Premera Blue Cross, a US health insurance provider. This breach exposed the records of 11 million customers, casting a spotlight on secure configuration concerns. An audit revealed delayed patch implementations, vulnerable server configurations identified through vulnerability scans, and the absence of documented baseline system software configurations—limitations that hindered a comprehensive security configuration audit.
At Certcube Labs, we underscore the indispensable nature of Secure Configuration Review. Our specialized approach empowers organizations to pre-empt potential risks, bolster their security resilience, and uphold regulatory adherence. By partnering with us, businesses can navigate the ever-evolving threat landscape with confidence, safeguarding their critical assets from emerging vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing Services
Security Configuration Review areas
Cloud Infrastructure
A cloud security configuration review involves the thorough examination and evaluation of an organization’s cloud infrastructure, such as AWS, Azure, and others, with the goal of ensuring its secure configuration and adherence to regulatory standards. While similar to traditional infrastructure reviews, cloud assessments must consider variations in security controls and access management procedures, which can often be overlooked due to the unique nature of cloud environments.
Network Devices
- Firewall Rule Assessment: The evaluation of firewall rules and policies is undertaken to confirm their current and efficient status in safeguarding your network against unauthorized access.
- VLAN Examination: VLAN configurations undergo a meticulous review to validate their accurate setup and adherence to security and performance best practices. This entails inspecting VLAN access controls, scrutinizing VLAN tagging and trunking, and auditing VLAN memberships to ascertain their accurate configuration.
- Wireless Network Evaluation: The wireless review encompasses a thorough analysis of wireless network settings across your network devices, aiming to guarantee their proper and secure configuration.
Servers
Enterprise Server Security: involves securing a server’s operating system and software to reduce vulnerability to potential threats and attacks. The objective is to minimize the server’s attack surface, bolster its defenses, and improve its overall security posture. This is crucial for servers hosting critical applications, databases, websites, or sensitive data, as they are prime targets for malicious entities.
Database Security: This review encompasses a set of best practices, including the implementation of robust authentication mechanisms, encryption of sensitive data, establishment of effective access controls, routine application of security patches and updates, vigilant monitoring and logging of user activities, and the formulation of a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.
Applications
Value and
- Secure your assets from the outset of their lifecycle.
- Adopt a proactive stance in line with cyber security best practices.
- Enhance your internal build methodology through one-time reviews.
- Receive support for achieving compliance with PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and GDPR standards.
- Showcase a security by design ethos to your business and supply chain.
- Uphold service quality as the foundation of all our operations.
Test Cases for
Deficiency in Secure Hardening Assessments
Vulnerabilities in Networking, Security, Telecommunications, and Internal Equipment, as well as Operating Systems and Endpoints.
Weak Logging and Monitoring Controls
The review focuses on logging and monitoring controls to pinpoint weaknesses in event collection, analysis, and threat identification.
Evolving Threats
As security threats evolve, regular secure configuration reviews and assessments are crucial to safeguard your network and devices.
Management of OS Modules and Patching
Effective patch management plays critical role in closing window of opportunity for attackers, thats between the vulnerability disclosure and patch release.
Disk Encryption
Full disk encryption safeguards an entire hard drive, including data and programs. Without it, stolen or accessed devices can expose sensitive information.
Authentication Controls
Authentication serves as a vital element in enforcing cybersecurity measures for a wide range of assets. Following our specific methodology and project scope, we conduct two types of password assessments: a comprehensive password policy review and a password cracking exercise. This is then followed by in-depth statistical analysis to identify complexity levels and character patterns in the passwords being used.
Configuration and Enforcement of Group Policy Settings
Group Policy allows administrators to set security rules for users and servers in a network, mainly for Windows. It covers password rules, media access, network controls, patches, and app limits. Implementing best practices in group policy boosts network security and reduces chances for unauthorized access by attackers.
BIOS/Boot Security
Your network devices or server's BIOS or UEFI Firmware provides the option to set passwords at a lower level. These passwords prevent unauthorized server booting, booting from external devices, and altering BIOS or UEFI settings without administrator approval.
Third Party Patch Management
The majority of cyberattacks exploit well-known vulnerabilities in software and hardware. Unpatched software, including both the operating system (OS) and third-party applications, can attract malicious code to vulnerable servers. Employing software patching serves as a defensive shield that thwarts malicious attacks and safeguards your organization from various exploits. This observation is assessed through penetration testing and build reviews.