Such websites include web forums, social networking websites, cloud computing services, legitimate but temporarily compromised websites and a range of other web infrastructure. Further guidance on multi-factor authentication is available at https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/publications/implementing-multi-factor-authentication. Furthermore, web browser ‘click-to-play’ functionality provides limited mitigation since it relies on users to make correct security decisions. JScript, VBScript, Windows Script File, HTML Application or PowerShell) – these files might be in a zip, RAR or other archive file. Multi-factor authentication is used to authenticate all users of remote access solutions. For example, in 2016 an Australian government organisation identified ransomware on a user computer and responded by simply reimaging the computer’s hard drive. Security solutions, such as Microsoft Threat Protection, provide multiple layers of threat protection across data, applications, devices, and identities and can help protect your company from … Why: To ensure information can be accessed and recovered following a cybersecurity incident (e.g. Configure web browsers to block Flash (ideally uninstall it if possible), advertisements and untrusted Java code on the internet. Analyse and action real-time log alerts generated by file activity monitoring tools to identify suspicious rapid and numerous file copying or changes. Apply all available software updates, automate the process to the extent possible, and use an update service provided directly from the vendor. Test the restoration process when the backup capability is initially implemented, annually and whenever IT infrastructure changes. ongoing vetting especially for users with privileged access, immediately disable all accounts (especially remote access accounts) of departing users, and remind users of their security obligations and penalties. Patch applications especially Adobe Flash, web browsers and web browser plug-ins/add-ons/extensions, Microsoft Office, Java and PDF viewers. End-point Anti-malware solution – May be able to detect malicious code and prevent execution. Prioritize cybersecurity risks. senior executives and their executive assistants, help desk staff, system and network administrators, and other users who have administrative privileges to operating systems or applications such as databases, all users who have access to sensitive data, including data that could provide a foreign government or organisation with a strategic or economic advantage. When installing new software, avoid creating hashes for added files that aren’t of an executable nature. The complementary Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents publication doesn’t explicitly provide mitigation guidance for the threat of ‘business email compromise’ or threats to industrial control systems. Examples include conducting unauthorised transfers of money or in some cases obtaining personnel details to commit tax fraud [13]. Use Credential Guard. is able to decrypt and perform analysis of email and web content that was encrypted by SSL/TLS when in transit over the internet, analyses emails before delivering them to users, to avoid users being exposed to malicious content, rapidly and effectively mitigates web content that has already been delivered to users and has subsequently been identified as malicious – mitigation might include blocking the user’s computer from having access to the internet infrastructure that the malicious content communicates with, or otherwise quarantining the user’s computer. There are a variety of approaches to deploying patches to applications and operating systems running on user computers, based on the organisation’s risk tolerance, as well as how many applications the organisation uses where the applications are legacy, unsupported, developed in-house or poorly designed. Capture network traffic to and from corporate computers storing important data or considered as critical assets, and network traffic traversing the network perimeter, to perform incident detection and analysis. If backups need to be stored online or otherwise connected to computers and the network, for example due to the use of continuous backup with cloud storage services, require the use of multi-factor authentication with human intervention to modify or delete backups. The ACSC has developed guidance for securing content management systems running on web servers, as part of the ACSC responding to cyber security incidents involving adversaries compromising internet-accessible web servers and using ‘web shells’ which can facilitate remote access, administration and pivoting to the organisation’s internal systems. In fact, "A 2019 ACSC Small Business Cyber Security Survey showed 62 per cent of small businesses reported they had previously been a victim of a cybersecurity incident. Security Control: 1401; Revision: 4; Updated: Oct-19; Applicability: O, P, S, TS. Block unapproved cloud computing services including personal webmail. Patch/mitigate computers (including network devices) with 'extreme risk' vulnerabilities within 48 hours. the threat intelligence is actionable by assisting the organisation to take informed action such as selecting and implementing mitigation strategies to prevent and identify cyber security incidents based on an awareness of the adversary’s goals, strategy, tactics, techniques, procedures and to a lesser extent tools. Server application hardening helps the organisation to conduct its business with a reduced security risk of malicious data access, theft, exposure, corruption and loss. Vendor products increasingly advertise alternative approaches to determine whether applications, network communication, computer behaviour or associated logs exhibit indications of malicious activity. Additionally, adversaries might scatter USB flash storage devices, CDs and DVDs containing malicious content in the car park of targeted users. We would like for you to follow-up on these sites. Relating to the already discussed patch applications, one of the essential eight mitigation strategies is to specifically patch/mitigate computers (including network devices) with ‘extreme risk’ vulnerabilities within 48 hours. Microsoft’s free SysMon tool is an entry level option [42]. Focus on capturing traffic from computers on internal networks that store or access sensitive data. Sender ID is an alternative version of SPF that checks the legitimacy of the sender’s email address that is displayed to the email recipient. Privileged access to systems, applications and data repositories is limited to that required for personnel to undertake their duties. Installers, or installation packages, can install, modify or remove programs. Outbound web and email data loss prevention. those executed by advanced persistent threats such as foreign intelligence services), ransomware and external adversaries with destructive intent, malicious insiders, ‘business email compromise’, and industrial control systems. data transfers to unapproved cloud computing services including personal webmail, as well as the use of unapproved VPNs from the organisation’s network. The ACSC has developed guidance to facilitate a risk management approach to applying patches based on the severity and potential business impact of the associated security vulnerabilities. Use antivirus software from different vendors for gateways versus computers. A limited number of ransomware variants have cryptographic weaknesses or their master decryption key has been disclosed, enabling files to be decrypted in limited cases using free tools [9]. Users should also report potential cyber security incidents, including suspicious phone calls such as unidentified callers attempting to solicit details about the organisation’s IT environment. As such, patching forms part of the Essential Eight from the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber … According to a survey by BackBlaze, the number of users who back up their data daily was only 9%, with 20% never backing up and 25% only performing backups yearly. Once an inventory has been established, application control can be properly configured in ‘enforce’ mode to prevent unapproved programs from running. Personnel management assists to avoid employees having malicious intent, developing malicious intent, or carrying out their malicious intentions undiscovered until after damage has been done. Therefore, protect software distribution systems from modifications which are malicious or otherwise unauthorised, combined with implementing a robust change management process. Control removable storage media and connected devices. The firewall should be configured to only allow approved networking ports and protocols required for business functionality, and should be capable of handling IPv6 traffic. Three months later, the organisation’s IT staff realised that thousands of files needed for legal proceedings and stored on a network drive (file share) had also been encrypted by the ransomware. Relevant ISM Controls: Security Control: 1484; Revision: 1; Updated: Jan-19; Applicability: O, P, S, TS. Share with users the anecdotal details of previous cyber security incidents affecting the organisation and similar organisations, highlighting the impact that such incidents have to the organisation and to the user. Security Control: 1512; Revision: 0; Updated: Sep-18; Applicability: O, P, S, TS. Breaking down the ASD’s “top four” strategies to mitigate cyber security incidents. The ACSC recommends incremental or differential backups of relevant new/changed data, software and configuration settings, with offsite or disconnected storage and a retention period of at least three months. Cyber security threat mitigation refers to policies and processes put in place by companies to help prevent security incidents and data breaches as well as limit the extent of damage when security attacks do happen.. ‘Lockers’ are related malware that focus on preventing computers from functioning until a ransom is paid. web browsing, and viewing untrusted Microsoft Office and PDF files). An automated mechanism is used to confirm and record that deployed operating system and firmware patches or updates have been installed, applied successfully and remain in place. Don’t use Adobe Reader prior to version X, or unsupported Internet Explorer versions (currently version 10 and older) especially when accessing the internet. The ACSC has witnessed the benefit of EDR software deployed to user computers, especially before a targeted cyber intrusion occurs, that logs which programs ran (including individual processes and DLL files), what changes were made to the Windows Registry and the file system, and what network connections were attempted and established. Red Piranha information is also available on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Adversaries whose compromise is contained within a non-persistent virtualised sandboxed environment will have a reduced ability to persist and to propagate throughout the organisation’s network. Users can notice and report unexpected behaviour such as a suspicious email, or a blank document or irrelevant document content being displayed when an email attachment is opened. Alternatively, adversaries could turn the organisation’s intranet website into a watering hole to compromise users when they visit. Disable Office VBA macros from executing through group policy. It is advisable to deploy application control in phases, instead of trying to deploy it to an entire organisation at once. OLE), web browsers and PDF viewers. It’s important to differentiate data breaches from other cybersecurity attacks. Further information about Microsoft LAPS is available at https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=46899. The concept of allowing only approved applications or network communications is a key theme of the mitigation strategies. Privileged access to systems, applications and data repositories is validated when first requested and revalidated on an annual or more frequent basis. Further guidance on securing content management systems is available at https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/publications/securing-content-management-systems. These technologies provide system-wide measures to help mitigate techniques used to exploit security vulnerabilities, including for applications which EMET is specifically configured to protect, even in cases where the existence and details of security vulnerabilities are not publicly known. Defining a list of approved types of web content will assist in removing one of the most common malware delivery techniques. This can be extended to include the disabling of Mshta, network scans, RDP, screensavers, scripts and powershell, autorun, developer utilities and Windows Remote Management. Paying for cyber insurance isn’t a substitute for investing in cyber security protection by implementing these mitigation strategies, although cyber insurance might encourage organisations to implement these mitigation strategies to reduce the cost of their cyber insurance premium. To prioritize risks and … Don’t use software which is no longer vendor-supported with patches for security vulnerabilities. Implement at least the four ‘essential’ mitigation strategies to ‘prevent malware delivery and execution’, particularly on computers used by the finance and human resources teams, senior executives and their assistants. Perform content scanning after email traffic is decrypted. Avoid phishing emails (e.g. Patching Applications and Operating Systems - Two of the Top 4 strategies revolve around patching applications and operating systems. Also, malicious insiders have the option of using removable storage media such as USB drives to exfiltrate data. It also helps to mitigate adversaries using malicious content in an attempt to evade application control by either exploiting an application’s legitimate functionality, or exploiting a security vulnerability for which a vendor patch is unavailable. Restrict access based on the connectivity required, user job role, business function, trust boundaries and the extent to which data is important. Enforcing proper management of privileged accounts mitigates several common adversary techniques such as account manipulation, credential dumping, exploitation of remote services, pass the hash, process injection and service execution. Security Control: 1497; Revision: 0; Updated: Sep-18; Applicability: O, P, S, TS. Perform pre-employment screening and ongoing vetting, consisting of verification of previous employment and education for all employees, as well as a criminal history background check at least for employees who have privileged access. Immediately disable all accounts and require sanitisation or return of mobile computing devices for departing employees and remind them of their security obligations and penalties for violations. Block access to such domains after confirming that the organisation does not access any legitimate websites using these domains. A NIDS/NIPS correctly configured with up-to-date signatures and supported by appropriate processes can provide some assistance with identifying cyber security incidents. Follow Office macro security best practices suitable for your environment. Hunt to discover cyber security incidents based on knowledge of adversary tradecraft. Keep Software Up-to-Date. This approach has lower potential user resistance and cost, although security vulnerabilities allowing sandbox escapes are periodically publicly disclosed. Information about BYOD and other enterprise mobility solutions is available at: Protect authentication credentials. The execution of unapproved code including PowerShell, MSHTA, DLLs and installers is associated with a vast number of threat actors as a method of execution after initial access through methods such as phishing or exploitation of public-facing applications. Using removable storage media and connected devices in a controlled and accountable manner reduces the security risk of malware execution and unauthorised data exposure. Adversaries might obtain Virtual Private Network (VPN) or other remote access account credentials, especially in the absence of multi-factor authentication, and use this encrypted network connection for exfiltrating data, with the aim of defeating network-based monitoring. Configure the EDR software to achieve a balance between identifying malware, while avoiding negatively impacting users and the organisation’s incident response team due to false positives. Network segmentation helps to prevent adversaries from propagating throughout the organisation’s network. modifications to user account properties, such as ‘Store password using reversible encryption’ or ‘Password never expires’ configuration options being activated. Some organisations might choose to support selected websites that rely on advertising for revenue by enabling just their ads and potentially risking compromise. … Multi-factor authentication provides additional steps to authorise access to systems compared to traditional single-factor authentication such as passwords or PINs. ‘Extreme risk’ security vulnerabilities in operating systems used by the organisation can enable adversaries to perform actions such as elevating their privileges, which can result in significant consequences for the organisation. Require long complex passphrases. Application control is implemented on all workstations to restrict the execution of executables, software libraries, scripts and installers to an approved set. To help mitigate this security risk, ensure that publisher certificate rules specify the ‘Product Name’ in addition to the ‘Publisher Name’. Software-based application firewall, blocking incoming network traffic that is malicious or unauthorised, and denying network traffic by default (e.g. Mitigation guidance for OT environments includes: Mitigation guidance for IT environments includes implementing the mitigation strategies listed in the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents for both targeted cyber intrusions as well as for ransomware and external adversaries with destructive intent, especially focusing on the computers that administer OT environments, develop software for OT environments, or otherwise can interact with OT environments. In Singapore, as an example, to sell to Government, you must have ISO 27000 accreditation. When configuring the new security feature added to Microsoft Office to block macros from the internet, also configure the Microsoft Windows Attachment Manager to prevent users from removing zone information to circumvent this security feature. Security vulnerabilities in operating systems and firmware assessed as extreme risk are patched, updated or mitigated within 48 hours of the security vulnerabilities being identified by vendors, independent third parties, system managers or users. Examples include: Servers that store user authentication data and perform user authentication are frequently targeted by adversaries, therefore additional effort needs to be invested to secure such servers. The Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents is a prioritised list of mitigation strategies to assist organisations in protecting their systems against a range of adversaries. eCISO takes advantage of the high degree of automation, eliminating the need to integrate multiple vendor systems, which are often not compatible with each other and is backed by Red Piranha's team of experts, to provide Governance, Compliance and Reporting functions to a customer, blended with some on-site services such as reporting at Board meetings. The first control, and therefore the control considered the most important of the eight defined mitigation strategies, is the prevention of execution of unapproved/malicious applications. Host-based intrusion detection/prevention system (HIDS/HIPS) to identify anomalous behaviour during program execution (e.g. Benefits of computers and network devices having a consistent managed SOE configuration include: Harden file and Windows Registry permissions, for example where possible, prevent users (and therefore malware running on the user’s behalf) from running system executables commonly used for malicious purposes as listed in mitigation strategies ‘Application control’ and ‘Continuous incident detection and response’. Mitigations – Multi-Factor Authentication, Enable multi-factor authentication on VPN, RDP, SSH and other remote access systems, Enforce multi-factor authentication for privileged actions or access to sensitive/high-availbility data repositories. Application Whitelisting/Application Control  The first step is to ensure that all IT software and operating systems are … Such persistence involves malware attempting to persist after the computer is rebooted, for example by modifying or adding Windows Registry settings and files such as computer services. Organisations need to identify the type and location of their sensitive data stored electronically, as part of a security risk assessment performed to identify the level of protection that their assets require from various threats. Security Control: 1515; Revision: 1; Updated: Jul-19; Applicability: O, P, S, TS. preferably register domains that look very similar to the organisation’s domain when letters such as ‘l’ and ‘o’ are replaced by digits such as ‘1’ and ‘0’. Windows Installer package files have an operational requirement to perform installation or modification of in. If operating system programs and other data storage systems ) disable Office VBA from! 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