Month: November 2024

Securing Privileged Access: Best Practices for Managing High-Risk Accounts

Privileged accounts are the keys to any organisation’s critical systems, giving users access to sensitive data, administrative controls, and vital infrastructure. It’s no surprise, then, that because of the power of these accounts, they’re among the top targets for hackers and cyber criminals. Just one compromised privileged account could result in catastrophic breaches, leaving businesses with stolen data, damaged reputations, and significant financial losses. It’s vital that you protect these accounts, and in this blog, we’ll explore some of the best ways of securing privileged access – and protecting your digital assets.

Why Criminals Are After Privileged Access

Privileged accounts are a prime target for hackers and cyber criminals. Not only do they give users extensive access, they also give them control over an organisation’s critical systems, data, and infrastructure. These accounts, which are often used by administrators and IT personnel, are effectively the keys to the kingdom. With privileged access, users could modify configurations, access sensitive information, and execute high-level commands. If compromised, attackers can exploit this access to steal data, disrupt operations, or even deploy ransomware. The significance of these privileged accounts makes them a key target of cyber attacks, so robust security measures are needed to protect them. For any business looking to secure their privileged access, we recommend the below practices.

Implement the Principle of Least Privilege

The principle of least privilege is an approach to cyber security that ensures users, systems, and applications are only granted the permissions they need to perform their specific tasks –  nothing more, nothing less. By limiting access to only essential resources, businesses reduce their attack surface, making it harder than ever for hackers to exploit unnecessary privileges. For example, an employee working in your marketing department shouldn’t have access to IT infrastructure. Not only would they not need this access, but it could potentially open the door to unauthorised access or data manipulation. This principle also applies to applications and systems, as granting users too much privileges creates vulnerabilities that attackers will exploit if given the chance.

To implement the principle of least privilege, firms should follow key steps such as reviewing and auditing user roles and permissions to ensure they align with their current job functions. Default administrative rights should be removed from any accounts, particularly those not working in IT, to minimise potential risks. Role-based access controls can be used to assign permissions based on specific job responsibilities, ensuring that users only have access to the resources necessary for their tasks. It’s also important that you continuously monitor any changes to privileged accounts, and make sure that permissions are consistent with the user’s role and duties.

Use IAM and PAM Solutions

Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Privileged Access Management (PAM) are essential for any organisation looking to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorised users from accessing their network. By implementing IAM, businesses can enforce strong authentication policies, role-based access control, and centralised identity management, all of which safeguard your digital infrastructure from potential breaches. As cyber threats continue to evolve, securing every access point to your network helps minimise the risk of cyber incidents.

PAM, on the other hand, focuses specifically on controlling and monitoring access to privileged accounts, which would give attackers complete control over a company’s network if compromised. With PAM, however, businesses can enforce stricter access controls, such as just-in-time access and session monitoring, and limit the potential impact of any breach. By combining IAM and PAM, meanwhile, businesses can establish a security framework that reduces the likelihood of unauthorised privileged access while also giving you better visibility and control of high-risk accounts.

Regularly Audit Your Privileged Accounts

Cyber criminals are constantly adapting and there are always new threats to be on the lookout for. Because of this, continuous auditing is essential. This way, you can ensure that your privileged accounts are being used properly and in accordance with security policies. Regular audits also help businesses to identify any vulnerabilities, detect unusual behavior, and ensure that they’re complying with regulations like NIS2, GDPR, and HIPAA. To conduct effective audits, businesses should schedule periodic reviews of privileged accounts to identify dormant or unnecessary ones, and monitor for anomalies such as access attempts during off-hours. At Infosec K2K, we recommend using automated tools to generate detailed reports on privileged access activities.

Foster a Culture of Security

Technology alone isn’t enough to secure privileged access – your employees are essential when it comes to maintaining security. By fostering a security-conscious culture, organisations can reduce the risk of human error and insider threats. This can be achieved by regularly training employees and educating them on the risks associated with privileged accounts, encouraging them to report any suspicious activity, and establishing clear policies for both managing and using privileged accounts. We also advise recognising and rewarding the employees who follow cyber security best practices, as this can further strengthen any organisation’s overall security posture.

Privileged accounts are a high-value target for cybercriminals, and keeping them secure requires a comprehensive and proactive approach. Best practices such as following the principle of least privilege, using IAM and PAM solutions, and regularly auditing any accounts with privileged access, organisations can reduce the risk of breaches. At the same time, a culture of security across your business is also essential. By staying vigilant and using the latest cyber security tools, you can protect your network and your data.

Whatever solution you’re looking for, we can help. The experts at Infosec K2K can offer you specialist guidance, and help you find the product that’s the best fit for you.

Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can help you.

Phishing Attacks in 2024: New Tactics and How to Stay Ahead

Over the past few years, phishing tactics have become even more sophisticated, and 2024 hasn’t seen cyber criminals show any sign of slowing down. This year, malicious actors have been taking advantage of technologies like AI and automation to fool their victims and break into networks. With attackers turning to new, more tailored approaches, today’s organisations need to stay aware of these evolving threats if they want to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks in 2024 – and beyond.

The Evolution of Phishing

Phishing has come a long way from the days of poorly worded emails and obvious scams. These days, attackers have embraced AI-powered tools with open arms. These allow them to craft highly convinced methods, and launch automated attacks at a greater scale than ever before. Although phishing attacks in 2024 are more believable than ever – there are some key tactics and methods that you should be watching out for.

AI-Generated Content

Criminals are increasingly turning to AI tools, such as language models and deepfake technology, to produce highly convincing messages. Thanks to generative AI, these emails and text messages can closely mimic the tone and appearance of legitimate communications, and victims are more likely to believe they’re reading something from a trusted source. Unlike traditional phishing messages, which can be easy to spot thanks to spelling mistakes or awkward phrases, these AI-generated messages are harder to spot. This makes it more likely that people will click on malicious links or download malware – research published this year showed that one in five people are likely to click on content in AI-written phishing emails.

Voice Phishing 

Voice phishing, otherwise known as ‘vishing,’ has evolved into a sophisticated threat in recent years. Attackers are now using deepfake audio – and even video – to impersonate people and trick their victims. By creating realistic audio clips that sound like trusted figures, they can manipulate employees into transferring funds or revealing sensitive information like passwords. This approach is incredibly effective because these messages sound convincing – even to people who’ve been trained to recognise phishing attempts like these. When employees hear from someone in authority, they’re more likely to feel pressured and so won’t question the message, which makes vishing a serious security risk to watch out for.

Spear Phishing 

Spear phishing is a more targeted form of phishing, in which attackers will hone in on high-value individuals, and will often use AI-powered tools to gather information about them. Instead of casting out a wide net and sending out generic emails to hundreds or thousands of people, attackers will instead conduct reconnaissance on their targets. They’ll scan their social media and professional networks in order to better understand their victims. This helps them craft personalised messages – which are often designed to look like urgent requests from colleagues or customers. These are harder for victims to identify as phishing messages because they seem legitimate, making it easier for attackers to deceive their targets.

Automated Phishing Bots

These bots can engage with targets in real time, making phishing attempts feel like genuine conversations. The bots are interactive and can respond to replies from targets, seeming more natural and building trust with the victim. By changing their language based on the victim’s answers, the phishing bots seem more realistic, and can manipulate unsuspecting users into accidentally revealing sensitive information. Since these bots have such a high level of personalisation and adaptability, they’re particularly dangerous – victims may not even realise they’re not interacting with a person.

The Impact of Recent Phishing Attacks in 2024

A number of recent phishing incidents have highlighted the need for heightened vigilance. For example, in February this year, the retailer Pepco Group lost €15.5 million in a business email compromise (BEC) attack, after criminals used social engineering to trick employees into transferring funds. As well as using AI tools, cyber criminals have also been impersonating AI companies – in October, researchers uncovered a large-scale campaign targeting OpenAI’s customers. They sent out over a thousand emails that had been designed to mimic OpenAI’s, and were urgently requesting payment information.

Just this month, researchers at Check Point discovered a new phishing campaign they’ve dubbed CopyRh(ight)adamantys. The attackers have been impersonating legitimate companies, and claiming the victims have violated copyright on social media. The campaign, which has targeted multiple industries around the world, uses spear-phishing emails and automated tools to generate the phishing content. Incidents like these show how varied phishing attacks in 2024 can be, as well as the need for more robust cyber security measures.

Staying Ahead of Phishing Attacks

To stay ahead of phishing attacks in 2024, businesses should consider a more proactive cyber security strategy. Continuous employee training is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of falling victim to a phishing attack. By educating staff on the latest phishing tactics and conducting simulations, you can prepare your employees to identify suspicious messages. Businesses should also integrate AI-powered solutions into their defences, to detect and block phishing attempts in real-time. These tools can analyse emails and identify malicious content before it even has a chance to reach a user.

Infosec K2K can help by recommending and deploying AI-driven tools that monitor communications and detect threats automatically, offering your business an extra layer of protection. A Zero Trust security model is also key to defending yourself from phishing attacks. By assuming that all requests – whether they’re coming from inside or outside your network – are malicious, you can limit who can access your sensitive data, and reduce the risk of a phishing attack. At Infosec K2K, we help businesses to implement IAM frameworks (a key part of Zero Trust), ensuring their information is protected from unauthorised access. 

Staying One Step Ahead

Phishing attacks in 2024 are more subtle – and more dangerous – than ever, thanks to AI. To stay ahead, organisations should be proactive and keep updated on the latest phishing tactics and tools. By understanding what to watch out for, and ensuring your team is prepared for the most advanced attacks, you can protect your organisation and your data – and Infosec K2K can help you every step of the way.

Whatever solution you’re looking for, we can help. The experts at Infosec K2K can offer you specialist guidance, and help you find the product that’s the best fit for you.

Get in touch with us to find out more about how we can help you.