How to Strengthen Cybersecurity Infrastructure

Is your security team stuck in firefighting mode? Use this Cybersecurity Strategy Matrix to build a balanced security roadmap: 𝟭. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 (Existing Systems + Existing Controls) → Strengthen password policies and access management → Enhance patch management processes → Conduct deeper security awareness training → Low risk, focuses on security fundamentals 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲: Strong foundation with minimal disruption 𝟮. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (Existing Systems + New Controls) → Implement EDR/XDR solutions over traditional antivirus → Deploy AI-based threat hunting capabilities → Adopt zero-trust architecture frameworks → Moderate risk, leverages advanced protections 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲: Significantly improved protection without system overhaul 𝟯. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (New Systems + Existing Controls) → Extend current security monitoring to cloud workloads → Apply existing controls to newly acquired systems (M&A) → Secure shadow IT with established security baselines → Moderate risk, focuses on consistent security coverage 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲: Unified security posture across your growing environment 𝟰. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (New Systems + New Controls) → Build security for containerized environments → Implement quantum-resistant encryption → Develop custom security for IoT/OT environments → Highest risk, prepares for emerging threat landscapes 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲: Future-proofed security ready for emerging threats Effective cybersecurity requires balancing immediate needs with long-term resilience. Where is your security program investing today?

To all vendors, contractors and IT staff... this basic #cybersecurity stuff applies to ALL of us. The recent #Powerschool mayhem is a reminder of the damage a compromised contractor IT user/device can do. IT users (and IT contractors) accounts and devices often have exceptional rights and access across your organization (or multiple organizations), and could do great harm if compromised. If the device is compromised, even MFA may not be enough to stop the potential harm. PLEASE - a) IT folks and contractors need to stop browsing the web, playing games, and reading email using an account that has local administrator rights on those support devices. b) Make SURE any device you authorize for VPN access has appropriate controls on it, for example, it should be impossible to disable the antivirus/XDR controls, even with admin rights (we call that tamper protection). Consider prohibiting personal use devices for VPN support activities. c) Make sure IT and contractor support devices are setup on an aggressive patching schedule. Patch within 14 days, for both operating system and applications. If you are a developer, make sure the update hash matches the download, and PLEASE don't randomly search the web for a missing driver. d) Stop reusing credentials across clients, AND stop reusing administrator passwords on systems and machines. If one ring can rule them all, and the ring gets stolen, it's game over. e) Minimize the access to least priv for all roles. I suspect a LOT of attacker intel can be gathered from your helpdesk ticketing system. Does EVERYONE need rights to ALL the tickets? Do developers need access to ALL the databases or just a few? Do they need admin rights on all ALL the servers or just run-as admin rights for certain tools. Yes it's more work, but the consequences of NOT limiting access have gotten a lot worse. I have a template signature document I have vendors and contractors sign when they request our zero-trust VPN. I will be modifying that template to include these explicit callouts (and probably a few more).

Relying on perimeter security in any major way in 2025 is suicide. It's like fighting from a trench when your enemy has drones. You're already dead. You just don't know it yet. Here's what you need instead: Cyber resilience: being "hard to hack and fast to fix". The old way: ↳ Build higher, thicker digital walls ↳ Hope attackers stay out ↳ Fail to notice when they get in until it's too late The new way: ↳ Assume they're already inside ↳ Detect and contain them quickly ↳ Recover faster than they can hurt you Smart companies use the NIST Cybersecurity Framework v2: • Govern • Identify • Protect • Detect ← Focus here • Respond ← Focus here • Recover ← Focus here Most orgs are over-invested in "Protect" relative to the rest. This is backwards in today's context. In 2025, successful attacks aren't "if" but "when." The question isn't "Can we stop them?" It's "How fast can we bounce back?" 3 steps to start today: 1. Map your crown jewels ↳ What systems or data would kill your company if lost? 2. Build detection systems ↳ Know when someone's touching your valuables; honeypots rule! 3. Practice your recovery ↳ Run drills like firefighters, not like wishful thinkers Remember: The strongest companies aren't those that never get hit. They're the ones that get up fastest after a knockout. ♻️ Repost if your security is stuck in 2010.

#Cybersecurity Strategies for #Retail - Effective cybersecurity embraces basic principles. Prioritize the threats. Maximize the impact of each investment. Keep it simple. Some suggestions to consider: 1.) Implement basic cyber hygiene 2.) Protect critical systems against ransomware and zero-day 3.) Protect devices that can't protect themselves 4.) Segment your remote network 5.) Respond to alerts promptly. 6.) Restrict employees access on a "need-to-know" basis. 7.) Simplify 1.) Implement basic cyber hygiene - Conduct regular employee training to mitigate the phishing threat, keep software up-to-date, backup data, implement multi-factor authentication #MFA, etc. 2.) Protect critical systems against #ransomware and #zeroday - While the POS is often protected with P2PE encryption, the store manager's PC is often overlooked. Install Endpoint Protection (#EPP) on the store manager's PC to check every incoming file for ransomware and zero-day threats before they can threaten the business. 3.) Protect devices that can't protect themselves - As retail becomes increasingly dependent on technology, every networked device increases the threat landscape. Please pay particular attention to those devices that can't defend themselves. Video cameras, thermostats, and IoT appliances typically don't support cybersecurity software agents. Use Network Detection and Response (#NDR) to analyze network traffic to detect and identify dangerous threats. 4.) Segment your remote network - Segmentation will provide additional protection if a data breach occurs. Use a Managed Firewall to isolate systems virtually and physically, according to their impact on the business. 5.) Respond to alerts promptly. Unfortunately, all efforts to detect an intruder are wasted without an appropriate response. Employ Managed Detection and Response (#MDR) services to act immediately when a threat is detected. 6.) Restrict employees access on a "need-to-know" basis. Providing employees with unnecessary access to critical systems undermines the business's cybersecurity posture. Implement Secure Access Service Edge (#SASE) and Zero Trust Network Access (#ZTNA) to limit employees (and the cyber threats) to only what is necessary to fulfill their responsibilities. 7.) Simplify - The more vendors and technologies involved, the more complicated the infrastructure and the operations. Where possible, consolidate. The simpler the operations, the more effective and sustainable the cyber defensive posture. Make proportionate investments in cyber as your business grows. If your business's value grows beyond your cyber defenses' capability, bad actors will become increasingly motivated to monetize the gap. #TimTang Hughes #NRFBigShow #NRF2024

❌ Stop thinking AI in cybersecurity is only a force for good. You need to know both sides of the coin to stay ahead in today’s threat landscape. 👀 Is this you right now? You hear about AI revolutionizing cybersecurity—automated threat detection, AI-driven firewalls, and machine learning models identifying attacks in real time. You think AI is your ultimate solution. But here’s the truth: AI is a double-edged sword. While it can bolster your defenses, it’s also empowering cybercriminals to launch more sophisticated attacks. 🔑 Here’s the strategy you should adopt to leverage AI for defense while preparing for AI-powered attacks: 1️⃣ Invest in AI threat detection tools → AI can detect anomalies faster than humans. → Equip your systems with AI to recognize threats before they escalate. 2️⃣ Monitor AI-generated threats → Cybercriminals use AI to craft more convincing phishing emails and malware. → Stay informed on emerging AI-powered attack methods to stay one step ahead. 3️⃣ Build a human-AI hybrid defense → AI is powerful, but human expertise is still crucial for analyzing complex threats. → Combine AI capabilities with skilled security professionals to form a resilient defense. 📌 Bonus tip for you: Test your own defenses with AI tools → Use ethical hacking tools powered by AI to simulate potential attacks on your network. → Strengthen your systems by identifying weak spots before cybercriminals do. 👀 Ready to embrace AI as both friend and foe in your cybersecurity strategy? Start by adopting these tools and stay vigilant. The future of cybersecurity is AI-driven, but it’s a race between defense and attack.

With the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites on June 21, 2025, we could be entering a new phase of geopolitical tension, and not just in the skies, but in cyberspace. Historically, Iran has leveraged cyberattacks as an asymmetric response to military pressure. In fact, analysts now warn that Iran-linked cyber actors may target U.S. critical infrastructure (energy, water, finance, agriculture, etc.), as a form of retaliation  . If you’re managing cybersecurity—for your organization or clients—now is the time to go Shields Up: ▪️Strengthen detection for wiper and ransomware attacks ▪️Validate patching and MFA across critical assets ▪️Review VPN and remote access logs for unusual geographic access patterns or failed login attempts ▪️Harden external-facing systems (firewalls, RDP, web apps) and disable unused services or ports ▪️Revalidate backup integrity and offsite storage to ensure you can recover from data loss or encryption ▪️Monitor for Iranian TTPs using updated threat intelligence feeds or MITRE ATT&CK mapping ◾️Pay attention ISACs for real-time threat intel ▪️Remind employees of heightened phishing risk, especially spear phishing from spoofed sources #CyberSecurity #ThreatIntel #CriticalInfrastructure #ShieldsUp #CyberWarfare #CISO #Geopolitics #RiskManagement https://lnkd.in/ec3KcrHV

Yesterday, the National Security Agency Artificial Intelligence Security Center published the joint Cybersecurity Information Sheet Deploying AI Systems Securely in collaboration with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, the New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre, and the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre. Deploying AI securely demands a strategy that tackles AI-specific and traditional IT vulnerabilities, especially in high-risk environments like on-premises or private clouds. Authored by international security experts, the guidelines stress the need for ongoing updates and tailored mitigation strategies to meet unique organizational needs. 🔒 Secure Deployment Environment: * Establish robust IT infrastructure. * Align governance with organizational standards. * Use threat models to enhance security. 🏗️ Robust Architecture: * Protect AI-IT interfaces. * Guard against data poisoning. * Implement Zero Trust architectures. 🔧 Hardened Configurations: * Apply sandboxing and secure settings. * Regularly update hardware and software. 🛡️ Network Protection: * Anticipate breaches; focus on detection and quick response. * Use advanced cybersecurity solutions. 🔍 AI System Protection: * Regularly validate and test AI models. * Encrypt and control access to AI data. 👮 Operation and Maintenance: * Enforce strict access controls. * Continuously educate users and monitor systems. 🔄 Updates and Testing: * Conduct security audits and penetration tests. * Regularly update systems to address new threats. 🚨 Emergency Preparedness: * Develop disaster recovery plans and immutable backups. 🔐 API Security: * Secure exposed APIs with strong authentication and encryption. This framework helps reduce risks and protect sensitive data, ensuring the success and security of AI systems in a dynamic digital ecosystem. #cybersecurity #CISO #leadership