Cybersecurity Techniques

Reverse Engineering Techniques

• Sandboxing: Detects malicious software based on behavior rather than signatures, providing a safe environment to analyze potential threats.
• Disassembling software: Reveals components and functionality, though complex and time-consuming.

Machine Learning in Cybersecurity

• Automates analysis of vast security data, extracting valuable insights and patterns to identify potential threats.
• Enhances security tool capability by learning from previous experiences and improving detection and response times.

Efficiency and Process Improvements in Security Operations

• Streamlining operations, standardizing processes, and integrating tools enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of cybersecurity analysts.
• Reduces errors, improves response times, and ensures consistent application of security measures.

Serverless, Virtualization, and Containerization Concepts

• Serverless: Cloud computing model where the cloud provider dynamically manages resource allocation, abstracting infrastructure management.
• Virtualization: Creates a virtual version of something, enabling multiple operating systems and applications to run on a single physical server.
• Containerization: OS-level virtualization method where applications and dependencies are packaged into containers.

Network Architecture Concepts and Technologies

• On-premises, Cloud, and Hybrid Networks:
  • On-premises: Infrastructure hosted locally within an organization.
  • Cloud: Services and resources delivered via the internet by a cloud provider.
  • Hybrid: Combination of on-premises and cloud environments, providing flexibility and scalability.
• Security Concerns: Each model has unique security challenges.
• Network Segmentation: Divides a network into smaller segments to improve security and performance, limiting the impact of breaches and controlling network traffic flow.
• Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Zero Trust, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE):
  • SDN: Centralized management of network traffic using software-based controllers.
  • Zero Trust: Security model that assumes no trust within or outside the network perimeter, requiring strict access controls and verification.
  • SASE: Integration of networking and security functions to support secure access from anywhere.

Identity and Access Management

• Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Requires two or more verification factors to gain access.
• Passwordless Authentication: Methods like biometrics or cryptographic keys to authenticate without passwords.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Allows users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials.
• Federation: Collaboration between different identity management systems to enable seamless access across organizations.
• Privileged Access Management (PAM): Controls and monitors privileged accounts to prevent misuse and unauthorized access.
• Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB): Security policy enforcement points that sit between cloud service consumers and cloud service providers to secure cloud environments.

Risk Management

• Cybersecurity analysts identify potential risks, conduct a business impact analysis, and prioritize risks based on probability and impact.
• Vendors as a Source of External Risk: Vendors introduce external risks; performing vendor due diligence helps mitigate these risks.
• Risk Management Strategies:
  • Risk Avoidance: Changes business practices to eliminate or reduce risks.
  • Risk Mitigation: Reduces the probability or impact of risks through preventive measures.
  • Risk Transference: Shifts some risk to a third party, such as through insurance or outsourcing.
  • Risk Acceptance: Acknowledges the existence of a risk and continues normal operations while monitoring and managing the risk.

Software Security Testing Tools

• Static Code Analysis: Analyzes code structure and content without executing it, identifying potential vulnerabilities.
• Dynamic Analysis: Executes code to uncover runtime vulnerabilities and behavior.
• Fuzzing: Sends malformed or unexpected inputs to applications to uncover vulnerabilities.
• Debuggers: Analyzes and understands the behavior of executable code, aiding in identifying vulnerabilities or unintended behaviors.

Incident Response

• Every incident comprises one or more events, but not every event necessarily constitutes an incident.
• Four Phases of Cybersecurity Incident Response Process:
  • Preparation: Establishes an incident response team, defines roles and responsibilities, develops policies and procedures, and implements necessary tools and technologies.
  • Detection and Analysis: Monitors and identifies potential security incidents, analyzes the nature and scope of detected incidents.
  • Containment, Eradication, and Recovery: Contains the incident to prevent further damage, eradicates the cause of the incident, and restores affected systems to normal operation.
  • Post-Incident Activities: Conducts lessons learned sessions, documents the incident response process, and improves incident response procedures based on feedback and analysis.
• Security Event Indicators:
  • Alerts from IDPS, SIEM systems, antivirus software, and file integrity checking tools.
  • Logs generated by operating systems, services, applications, network devices, and network flows.
  • Publicly available information on new vulnerabilities and exploits detected in real-world environments or controlled settings.
  • Reports from internal personnel or external sources indicating suspicious activities that may suggest ongoing security incidents.

Policies, Procedures, and Playbooks in Incident Response

• Incident Response Policy: Establishes the framework and authority for incident response efforts at a high level within the organization.
• Procedures: Detailed tactical instructions that guide CSIRT members during incident response activities.
• Reports should be sent to stakeholders regularly and promptly, including compliance reports for regulatory purposes.

Vulnerability Management Metrics and KPIs

• Trend data: Indicates whether the vulnerability management program is effective or if new issues are emerging frequently.
• Top 10 lists: Identify the most common vulnerabilities within the organization, guiding prioritization efforts.
• Critical vulnerability lists: Focus attention on the most severe vulnerabilities that pose significant risk.
• Tracking zero-day vulnerabilities: Presents challenges due to their unexpected nature but may be required by leadership for awareness.
• Service level objectives (SLOs): Define goals for timely remediation and measure whether the organization meets these goals effectively.

Inhibitors to Remediation

• Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Define uptime and performance targets that may conflict with patching schedules.
• Organizational governance: Introduces processes that can slow down or add requirements to patching procedures.
• Business process interruption: Concerns about disruptions or degraded functionality due to patching activities.
• Legacy and proprietary systems: Lack of available patches or difficulty in installing patches without losing vendor support can hinder remediation efforts.

Critical Stakeholders for Incident Response

• Stakeholders for incident response include:
  • Legal: Advises on legal implications and compliance requirements.
  • Public relations: Manages communication with customers, media, and the public.
  • Regulatory bodies: Ensures compliance with reporting requirements.

This quiz covers advanced techniques in cybersecurity, including reverse engineering and machine learning in threat detection and analysis.