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Category: Threat Detection

Understanding NIST 800-53 Rev 4: What Business Owners Need to Know

It has become increasingly crucial for businesses to prioritize cybersecurity. We all need to be proactive in safeguarding sensitive information and protecting against cyber threats. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been providing standards for cybersecurity practices. We will now delve into the updates and key changes in the fourth revision of the renowned NIST 800-53 publication.

  1. Expanded Scope:
    NIST 800-53 Revision 4 broadens the standards scope to include private sector organizations dealing with sensitive information. This expansion reflects the need for all companies to implement cybersecurity best practices.
  2. Threats and Vulnerabilities:
    This revision incorporates emerging threats and vulnerabilities faced by organizations today, such as advanced persistent threats, insider threats, supply chain risks, and cloud computing challenges. It emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to identify and mitigate these risks effectively.
  3. Security and Privacy:
    NIST 800-53 Revision 4 highlights the connection between security and privacy. The guidelines provided help organizations maintain the delicate balance of ensuring data protection while respecting privacy rights.
  4. Continuous Monitoring and Assessment:
    One significant change is the emphasis on continuous monitoring. Instead of periodic assessments, companies are urged to implement an ongoing, systematic approach to monitor security, identify vulnerabilities, and respond to them in real-time. This proactive approach helps in detecting and mitigating threats promptly.
  5. Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC):
    Another notable addition is the strengthening of Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC). This approach ensures that users only have access to the information and functions that are needed to complete their jobs. Implementing effective RBAC helps minimize the risk of unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and data breaches.
  6. Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM):
    Revision 4 also emphasizes the need for proper Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) practices. It recommends involving suppliers and stakeholders in security assessments and due diligence processes to mitigate risks associated with third party software, hardware, and services.

Remember, cybersecurity is a journey, not a one-time event. Stay vigilant, adapt to evolving threats, and contact us to create a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy to safeguard your business assets and reputation.

Staying Vigilant: Protecting Your Business from AI Scams

Your security is our top priority, and we want to make sure you and your business stay protected from evolving threats. Recently, we’ve seen a rise in AI-related scams, particularly voice scams, that can pose significant risks to individuals and businesses alike. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe:

AI Voice Scams

Voice scams involve malicious actors using AI-powered technology to impersonate trusted individuals or entities, such as your colleagues, clients, or even vendors. They may request sensitive information or even financial transactions, all under the guise of a familiar voice.

Protecting Your Business
To safeguard your business from voice scams and other AI-related threats, here are some essential steps:

  • Verification Protocols: Establish strict verification procedures for any requests involving sensitive information or financial transactions, especially when received via voice communication.
  • Employee Training: Remind your team about the risks of voice scams and the importance of verifying requests, even if they sound legitimate.
  • Secure Communication Channels: Ensure that sensitive information is shared through secure channels and encrypted communication methods.
  • Regular Updates: Keep your security software, including anti-phishing and anti-malware tools, up to date to defend against evolving AI-driven threats.
  • MSP Support: As your MSP, we are here to help you implement these robust security measures and provide guidance on staying protected against AI scams.

We are committed to helping you navigate these challenges and keep your business secure. Please feel free to contact us if you have any specific questions or require assistance in strengthening your security protocols.

Safeguard Your Business: The Importance of Security Risk Assessments

Businesses face a growing number of cybersecurity threats. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics, making it imperative to prioritize their organization’s security. One crucial step in fortifying your business against potential breaches is conducting a comprehensive security risk assessment. Let’s look at the significance of security risk assessments and how they can shield your valuable data from falling into the hands of malicious actors on the dark web. 

Understanding Security Risk Assessments:

A security risk assessment is an in-depth evaluation of your organization’s digital infrastructure, systems, and processes. It aims to identify vulnerabilities and potential threats that could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your sensitive data. By analyzing your current security measures, a risk assessment helps you gauge your organization’s resilience to cyber threats, enabling you to implement targeted mitigation strategies. 

Why Security Risk Assessments Matter:

  • Proactive Threat Identification: Hackers often exploit vulnerabilities that go unnoticed until it’s too late. A security risk assessment enables you to proactively identify and address potential weak points in your network, applications, and data storage. By uncovering vulnerabilities before cybercriminals do, you can take preventive measures to mitigate risks and prevent unauthorized access.
  • Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Depending on your industry, you may be subject to various compliance regulations that mandate data protection measures. Conducting a security risk assessment ensures that your business aligns with these requirements, helping you avoid costly penalties and reputational damage.
  • Data Protection and Client Trust: Data breaches can have severe consequences, including financial loss, legal ramifications, and damage to your brand’s reputation. By investing in security risk assessments, you demonstrate your commitment to protecting your clients’ sensitive information, fostering trust and long-term relationships.
  • Dark Web Threat Mitigation: The dark web has become a thriving marketplace for stolen data, offering cybercriminals a platform to sell and exploit compromised information. By conducting regular security risk assessments, you can identify vulnerabilities that may expose your data to the dark web. This knowledge empowers you to implement robust security measures, reducing the likelihood of your data being discovered and abused in illicit activities.

Securing your organization’s digital assets is of paramount importance.  By conducting regular security risk assessments, you gain crucial insights into potential threats and vulnerabilities, which allows you to implement targeted security measures. 

Protect your data from ending up on the dark web with a proactive and comprehensive approach.  We can help!

Understanding the Dark Web

The Dark Web is a part of the internet that requires special software to access. Often used by individuals who are looking to conceal their identities and activities, it has become the ideal environment for cybercriminals seeking to carry out illicit activities. They can move anonymously in this part of the internet often engaging in criminal activities such as the sale of stolen data, hacking tools, illegal drugs, counterfeit documents, and even illicit services.
 
Why Should You Be Aware of It?
 
While the Dark Web may seem distant and irrelevant to your everyday business operations, it poses serious risks that can have far-reaching consequences. Here’s why you need to be aware of it:

  1. Stolen Data Trade: The Dark Web serves as a marketplace for cybercriminals to sell stolen data, including usernames, passwords, financial information, and sensitive business data. By purchasing this data, hackers can launch targeted attacks against organizations like yours, leading to data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage.
  2. Credential Stuffing and Account Takeovers: Cybercriminals often utilize compromised login credentials from data breaches to carry out credential stuffing attacks. By leveraging automated tools, they attempt to gain unauthorized access to your business accounts. Once inside, they can exploit your resources, compromise customer data, and cause significant disruption.
  3. Sale of Exploit Kits and Malware: The Dark Web provides a platform for the sale of malicious software, exploit kits, and hacking tools. These tools can empower cybercriminals to launch sophisticated attacks against your business, including ransomware, phishing campaigns, and network infiltration.
  4. Insider Threats and Employee Monitoring: Employees with malicious intent may leverage the Dark Web to collaborate with external criminals or sell sensitive company information. Awareness of the Dark Web can help you implement appropriate security measures to detect and mitigate insider threats.
  5. Reputational Damage: In the event of a data breach or cyberattack, information about your business may end up on the Dark Web. This can severely damage your reputation, erode customer trust, and lead to potential legal and financial repercussions.

What Can You Do?
To protect your business from the risks associated with the Dark Web, we recommend the following actions:

  1. Strengthen Your Security: Implement robust cybersecurity measures, such as multi-factor authentication, strong password policies, regular software updates, and network monitoring. Conduct security awareness training for your employees to educate them about the dangers of the Dark Web and how to identify potential threats.
  2. Dark Web Monitoring: Engage with Farmhouse Networking to incorporate Dark Web monitoring solutions. These services scan the Dark Web for mentions of your business’s critical information and alert you if any compromised data is discovered.
  3. Incident Response Planning: Develop an incident response plan that includes protocols for handling potential Dark Web-related incidents. This plan should outline steps for containing, investigating, and recovering from a data breach or cyberattack.
  4. Regular Vulnerability Assessments: Perform periodic vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses in your network infrastructure and applications.

The Dark Web is a part of the internet that requires special software to access. Often used by individuals who are looking to conceal their identities and activities, it has become the ideal environment for cybercriminals seeking to carry out illicit activities. They can move anonymously in this part of the internet often engaging in criminal activities such as the sale of stolen data, hacking tools, illegal drugs, counterfeit documents, and even illicit services.
 
Why Should You Be Aware of It?
 
While the Dark Web may seem distant and irrelevant to your everyday business operations, it poses serious risks that can have far-reaching consequences. Here’s why you need to be aware of it:

  1. Stolen Data Trade: The Dark Web serves as a marketplace for cybercriminals to sell stolen data, including usernames, passwords, financial information, and sensitive business data. By purchasing this data, hackers can launch targeted attacks against organizations like yours, leading to data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage.
  2. Credential Stuffing and Account Takeovers: Cybercriminals often utilize compromised login credentials from data breaches to carry out credential stuffing attacks. By leveraging automated tools, they attempt to gain unauthorized access to your business accounts. Once inside, they can exploit your resources, compromise customer data, and cause significant disruption.
  3. Sale of Exploit Kits and Malware: The Dark Web provides a platform for the sale of malicious software, exploit kits, and hacking tools. These tools can empower cybercriminals to launch sophisticated attacks against your business, including ransomware, phishing campaigns, and network infiltration.
  4. Insider Threats and Employee Monitoring: Employees with malicious intent may leverage the Dark Web to collaborate with external criminals or sell sensitive company information. Awareness of the Dark Web can help you implement appropriate security measures to detect and mitigate insider threats.
  5. Reputational Damage: In the event of a data breach or cyberattack, information about your business may end up on the Dark Web. This can severely damage your reputation, erode customer trust, and lead to potential legal and financial repercussions.

What Can You Do?
To protect your business from the risks associated with the Dark Web, we recommend the following actions:

  1. Strengthen Your Security: Implement robust cybersecurity measures, such as multi-factor authentication, strong password policies, regular software updates, and network monitoring. Conduct security awareness training for your employees to educate them about the dangers of the Dark Web and how to identify potential threats.
  2. Dark Web Monitoring: Engage with Farmhouse Networking to incorporate Dark Web monitoring solutions. These services scan the Dark Web for mentions of your business’s critical information and alert you if any compromised data is discovered.
  3. Incident Response Planning: Develop an incident response plan that includes protocols for handling potential Dark Web-related incidents. This plan should outline steps for containing, investigating, and recovering from a data breach or cyberattack.
  4. Regular Vulnerability Assessments: Perform periodic vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses in your network infrastructure and applications.

The Importance of Cyber Security Training

In today’s digital age, where technology has become an essential part of our lives, ensuring the security of our online information has become more crucial than ever before. With cyber threats and attacks on the rise, it is vital for individuals and organizations to invest in comprehensive cyber security training. In this blog article, we will explore the importance of cyber security training and why it should be a top priority for everyone.

Protecting Confidential Information

One of the main reasons why cyber security training is essential is to protect confidential information. In our increasingly connected world, we store sensitive data, such as financial information, personal details, and business data, online. Without proper training, individuals become vulnerable to malicious attacks, such as phishing scams, data breaches, and identity theft. Cyber security training equips individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and prevent such threats, ensuring the protection of confidential information.

Mitigating Financial Losses

Cyber attacks can have devastating financial consequences for individuals and organizations. The cost of recovering from a cyber attack, including restoring compromised systems, investigating the breach, and compensating affected parties, can be significant. By investing in cyber security training, individuals and organizations can minimize the risk of falling victim to cyber attacks, thereby avoiding potentially crippling financial losses.

Safeguarding Reputations

In today’s hyper-connected world, reputation is everything. A cyber attack not only compromises the security of your information but also tarnishes your reputation. News of a data breach or cyber attack can spread like wildfire, damaging the trust that customers, clients, and partners have in you. By taking proactive measures and investing in cyber security training, individuals and organizations can safeguard their reputations and maintain the trust of those they interact with.

Staying Ahead of Evolving Threats

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, with hackers employing new techniques and strategies to breach systems and access sensitive information. Cyber security training ensures that individuals and organizations stay up to date with the latest cyber security practices, emerging trends, and new vulnerabilities. By staying ahead of evolving threats, individuals can better defend themselves against attacks and organizations can maintain a robust cyber security posture.

Building a Culture of Cyber Awareness

Cyber security is not just the responsibility of IT professionals; it is everyone’s responsibility. By promoting cyber security training, organizations can build a culture of cyber awareness among their employees. Ensuring that employees are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to identify and report potential threats reduces the attack surface and strengthens the overall security posture of the organization.

Conclusion

In a world increasingly reliant on technology and interconnectedness, the importance of cyber security training cannot be overstated. From protecting confidential information to mitigating financial losses and safeguarding reputations, cyber security training is crucial for individuals and organizations alike. By investing in comprehensive training programs, we can enhance our ability to identify and prevent cyber threats, ultimately creating a safer digital environment for all.

If your company is one of the 47% of companies that plan to add or change their cybersecurity solution this year, then contact us for assistance.

[Portland Tribune] What can hackers do with stolen DMV information?

Farmhouse Networking was recently approached by the Portland Tribune for comment on the hack of the DMV. We were quoted in their article published yesterday. Here is our full advice:

What to do post DMV hack?


The breach that effected the Oregon DMV was part of a larger hack of the software known as MOVEit. The exploit of the vulnerability in this software was used to gain access to over 3.5 million Oregonians information including:

  • Name
  • Home and mailing address
  • License or ID number
  • Last four digits of Social Security number

This information can be used by hackers and other darkweb criminals to assume the identity of those whose information has been compromised and perform identitiy theft activities like applying for credit cards or tax fraud. Anyone with an active Oregon ID card or driver’s license should begin monitoring their credit report and look for any suspicious activity. If suspicious activity is found they should immediately call the following to freeze their credit and take actions to reverse the damages done:

Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services or 1-800-685-1111
Experian: experian.com/help or 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-help or 1-888-909-8872

If your company is concerned about the possibility of a similar breach, then contact us for assistance.

Our New Email Analysis and Education Tools Helps Keep Your Employees Safe

Phishing-Scams

As you know, we take cybersecurity and the protection of your accounts and data very seriously. That’s why we are always striving to provide you with tools and resources to help keep you and your employees safe from cybercrime.

The most common threat we are seeing is phishing messages delivering malware or stealing credentials. Even though your company might be protected with spam filtering, there are instances where these malicious messages could still appear in your employee’s inboxes. And it’s important we both arm them with as much education and resources as possible to understand and identify these phishes.

We have a new tool that we’d love to demonstrate for your or talk more about. It’s called Catch Phish, and it’s an email analysis and training tool. It connects right to your employee’s Outlook as a clickable application on every message. When clicked, the tool quickly, but safely, scans the important details of the message to find potential threats such as suspicious links or attachments, sender details, or message details such as threatening language or deactivation scares.

This tool is included in our cybersecurity training packages and can help provide the much needed cybersecurity education to all levels of staff.
 
Do you have 30 minutes to talk about reducing your risks with Catch Phish and our other cybersecurity awareness training tools, then contact us for assistance.

Zero Trust – Cyber Security Audit

Security Audit - Grants Pass, OR

This is the tenth and finale in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on Cyber Security Audit. 
 

Cyber Security Audit

Cyber Security Audit is a process where both internal and external systems are tested for their ability and susceptibility to being successfully attacked by hackers. This usually involves an inventory of current systems, research into known vulnerabilities, and testing of those found to see what information can be accessed. Once this process is complete a report is generated to detail both what is found and how those vulnerabilities can be addressed to protect the business’ most valuable commodity – information (intellectual property and client data). Here are some questions to ask:

  • Do you have an inventory of all assets in your organization? Is it up to date?
  • Have you tested your internal network for vulnerabilities?
  • Have you had a penetration test performed on your external network?
  • Do you know what compliance standards apply?
  • How do you document policies and procedures? Who oversees that?

If your company is wanting to have a free cyber security audit, then contact us for assistance.

Zero Trust – Network Security

This is the ninth in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on Network Security. 

Network Security

Network Security is having the proper hardware and configuration of that hardware in place to protect the business network. This configuration includes segmenting network traffic to keep specific types of traffic, like guest devices, separate from traffic of business devices. It also includes keeping outsiders out of the network and detecting when they have breached security measures. Here are some questions to ask:

  • Do you have a business class router / firewall?
  • Do you have business class switches and access points that support segmentation?
  • Is your network configured to segment business traffic from guest traffic?
  • Are devices like VoIP phones and network cameras on their own network?
  • Is geo-location blocking turned on for non-essential countries?
  • Is network traffic being analyzed for suspicious activity?
  • Do you filter internet traffic?
  • Can your network detect and respond to a breach?

If your company is wanting to lock down network security, then contact us for assistance.

Zero Trust – Endpoint Security

Endpoint Security - Clackamas, OR

This is the sixth in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on endpoint security. 

Endpoint Security

Endpoint security is a fancy term used to describe how the computers on the network are protected. This used to be done by antivirus but due to the complexity of the attacks hackers are using to compromise networks these days, the definition has expanded greatly. This now includes things like Enhanced Detection & Response software, Security Operations Centers, DNS Filtering, employee train and more. Here are some questions that you should be asking yourself:

  • Are your endpoints protected by antivirus or enhanced detection & response?
  • Is website traffic being monitored? Restricted?
  • Are your employees being trained in cyber security?
  • Are computer logs being monitored for malicious activity?
  • Would unusual or suspicious activity on a computer be noticed? Alerted on?
  • Do you have security permissions set on all file shares?
  • Do you have least privileged access configured on those shares?
  • Do you keep track of what software is installed on all workstations?
  • Do you block access to unauthorized software?
  • Are files encrypted on servers and workstations?
  • Are your mobile devices managed? Can you wipe them remotely?
  • Are USB ports blocking removeable storage devices?
  • Are endpoints set to automatically log-out?

If your company is going to use full disk encryption or has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.

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And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. - 2 Corinthians 9:8-10