A Communication and Collaboration Platform (CCP) is a software solution that facilitates real-time and asynchronous interaction among individuals and teams within an organization and often with external parties. It typically includes tools for instant messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, and collaborative workspaces. CCPs aim to streamline communication, improve productivity, and enhance teamwork.

Why Organizations Should Know All External Implementations, Third Parties, and Supply Chain for Cybersecurity:

1. Sensitive Data Exposure: CCPs often house sensitive corporate communications, project discussions, personal information, and even confidential business strategies. Unauthorized access or breaches could expose this sensitive data, leading to reputational damage, financial loss, and potential legal liabilities.

2. 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 communication channels and disrupt business operations.

3. 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. This allows for setting security requirements, monitoring compliance, and addressing vulnerabilities.

4. 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 communication and collaboration capabilities.

5. 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 unauthorized access to communication channels or data breaches.

6. 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 CCP implementations across the organization's ecosystem:

1. Discovery and Visibility: ThreatNG discovers and maps all externally identifiable SaaS-based CCP implementations, including those used by third parties and suppliers. It provides comprehensive visibility into the attack surface, including shadow IT and unauthorized instances.

2. 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 and potential impact.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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:

1. ThreatNG Discovery: ThreatNG discovers an unsecured Slack workspace used by a contractor for communication with internal teams.

2. Risk Assessment: ThreatNG identifies that the owner of the Slack workspace has public channels accessible to anyone with the link and lacks restrictions on external file sharing.

3. Prioritized Alert: ThreatNG generates a high-priority alert, notifying the organization's security team and the contractor of the identified risks.

4. Remediation Collaboration: The organization collaborates with the contractor, guided by ThreatNG's recommendations, to make channels private, restrict external sharing, and implement more robust access controls for the Slack workspace.

5. Continuous Monitoring and Assurance: ThreatNG continues monitoring the Slack workspace, ensuring that the implemented security measures remain in place and no new risks emerge.

Desired Business Outcomes:

• Reduced Attack Surface: ThreatNG identifies and mitigates vulnerabilities in CCP 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 Communication and Collaboration: ThreatNG safeguards sensitive communications and ensures secure CCP operations, helping organizations maintain productivity, protect intellectual property, and preserve trust among employees and partners.