Some 38 years ago, I started working for the systems group at CUCCA (Columbia Center for Computing Activities). I was fresh out of engineering school (Columbia, by coincidence) and a brand new junior systems programmer. In those days, we actually wrote modifications to the operating system in assembly language – it was a lot of…
DetailsHow do you measure how mature your vendor security risk assessment program is? How do you measure your ability to lead or develop such a program? Would it be safe to say that a majority of breaches are a direct result of vendors and the inability of companies to properly continuously vet and validate their…
DetailsWhen you’re on a roll, ride it out. I’ve been on the “Redux” train for a couple of days. I usually do this when I review our security architecture initiatives at the end of the year. Way back in 2000, I said in a USA Today interview that it wouldn’t surprise me if there were…
DetailsYep, it’s time to use this title again. This time we’re talking about Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) amplification attacks. One of the lists I monitor posted the following: Christian Rossow has done some great work on DDoS. The two interesting papers are: “Exit from Hell? Reducing the Impact of Amplification DDoS Attacks,” read here. The…
DetailsThe holiday season is filled with opportunities for the Bad Guys to take advantage of people who are filled with the holiday spirit, out and about having a good time and letting their guard down. Since I work at a university, I sometimes get asked to pass along tips to increase the awareness of how…
DetailsFor those contemplating using Amazon Web Services (AWS), their compliance page is quite assuring. With a who’s who of compliance standards from SSAE-16, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, to CSA, MPAA, FEDRamp, FIPS 140-2, HIPAA and more; it’s more than enough to give an auditor a warm and fuzzy feeling. Note that in this article, AWS…
DetailsIt is more important than ever to safeguard your business. As the drumbeat of news about breaches continues, the stakes have never been greater. You must stay a step ahead of the cyber criminals. The battlefield is no longer contained and the battle is daily. One fact remains constant: there are those inside and outside…
DetailsAggregating is the inverse of broadcasting. What complicates this is that many technologies are now used for both. Cell phones are the best example. They are a device originally designed for communication. Their original purpose was for transmitting information between individuals and they have evolved into one that can broadcast that information via social media. …
DetailsAt some point, I must have drunk the Cloud Kool-Aid. I find that despite my best efforts, I no longer develop the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when someone mentions “Moving to the Cloud.” This doesn’t mean that I get all warm and fuzzy inside, but I am now able to listen…
DetailsOk, I know the title sounds a little negative. I’m not against cloud services at all. We use cloud services here for a wide variety of business and personal purposes. Having said that, there are a couple of issues that bother me about the cloud and while some are philosophical, some are technical as well.…
DetailsAs security practitioners, we know that nary a day goes by when our schedule for the day (or week) goes as planned. There is always an alert to address, an attack to thwart, an email that takes priority or a senior leader that needs data right away. We’ve all experienced this, and we are only…
DetailsI’ve been known to say that ‘I’ve been in InfoSec since before it was cool.’ After 20 years of being on the front lines, first as a consultant, then as the one responsible for implementing a strategy and building the programs, I’ve truly lost count of the times I’ve heard others using F.U.D. to further…
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