Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Platform
Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Platform (BI&DA) platforms are software solutions that enable organizations to collect, process, analyze, and visualize data from various sources. These platforms empower businesses to derive valuable insights, identify trends, and make informed decisions. BI&DA platforms can be deployed on-premises or as SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions.
Why Organizations Should Know All External Implementations, Third Parties, and Supply Chain for Cybersecurity:
Critical Data Exposure: BI&DA platforms often house an organization's most sensitive data, including financial records, customer information, operational metrics, and strategic plans. Knowing where this data resides and how it flows through external systems is essential for data protection and privacy compliance.
Expanded Attack Surface: Each external SaaS-based implementation, third party, and supplier in the supply chain introduces a potential entry point for cyberattacks. Identifying these connections helps assess and mitigate the expanded attack surface, reducing the risk of breaches that could compromise critical data assets.
Third-Party Risk Management: Third-party vendors and suppliers may have different security standards and practices. Understanding their cybersecurity posture is crucial to managing the risk they introduce to your organization's data and systems. It allows for setting security requirements, monitoring compliance, and addressing vulnerabilities.
Incident Response and Recovery: Knowing all external connections enables a swift and targeted response to a security incident. Organizations can quickly identify affected systems, isolate the breach, and implement recovery measures, minimizing the impact on operations and reputation.
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Cybersecurity threats can originate from direct third parties and deeper within the supply chain. Vulnerabilities in a fourth or fifth-party vendor can still impact the organization, potentially leading to data breaches or disruption of critical business intelligence processes.
Regulatory Compliance: Various industries have specific regulations regarding data protection and privacy (e.g., GDPR, CCPA). Identifying all external implementations and their associated entities ensures that the organization complies with these regulations, avoiding legal penalties and reputational damage.
How ThreatNG Helps Secure Organizations, Third Parties, and Supply Chain:
ThreatNG, as an all-in-one EASM, DRP, and security ratings solution, can enhance the security of BI&DA software implementations across the organization's ecosystem:
Discovery and Visibility: ThreatNG discovers and maps all externally identifiable SaaS-based BI&DA implementations, including those used by third parties and suppliers. It provides comprehensive visibility into the entire attack surface.
Risk Assessment and Prioritization: ThreatNG assesses the respective owner of each implementation's security posture, identifying vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and potential attack vectors. It analyzes configuration settings, user access controls, and data exposure risks. These risks are then prioritized based on their severity.
Continuous Monitoring and Alerting: ThreatNG monitors all discovered implementations for configuration changes, new vulnerabilities, and emerging threats. Real-time alerts notify security teams of any identified risks, enabling immediate action.
Remediation and Mitigation: ThreatNG provides actionable remediation guidance, including specific configuration changes, patching instructions, and best practices. It also facilitates collaboration with third parties to ensure they implement necessary security measures.
Integration with Complementary Solutions: ThreatNG integrates with SIEM, GRC, SSPM, and vulnerability management solutions. This integration allows for comprehensive risk assessment, automated compliance checks, centralized security management, and streamlined vulnerability remediation.
Example Workflow:
ThreatNG Discovery: ThreatNG discovers an unsecured Looker instance used by a marketing analytics partner.
Risk Assessment: ThreatNG identifies that the organization that owns the Looker instance is susceptible to many vulnerabilities and risks.
Prioritized Alert: ThreatNG generates a high-priority alert, notifying the organization's security team and the analytics partner.
Remediation Collaboration: The organization collaborates with the partner, guided by ThreatNG's recommendations, to strengthen access controls, implement robust encryption, and enforce MFA for the Looker instance.
Continuous Monitoring and Assurance: ThreatNG continues monitoring the Looker instance, ensuring security measures remain practical and new risks are promptly addressed.
Desired Business Outcomes:
Reduced Attack Surface: ThreatNG identifies and mitigates vulnerabilities in BI&DA implementations, reducing the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.
Improved Third-Party Risk Management: ThreatNG ensures third parties and suppliers adhere to security best practices and not introduce undue risks.
Enhanced Compliance: ThreatNG automates risk assessments and tracks remediation, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
Strengthened Security Posture: ThreatNG provides a holistic view of the organization's security posture, enabling effective risk management and incident response.
Protected Critical Data: ThreatNG safeguards sensitive data in BI&DA processes, helping organizations maintain data integrity, protect intellectual property, and preserve customer trust.
