Continuous Security Ratings
Continuous Security Ratings (CSR) in cybersecurity refer to the ongoing assessment and measurement of an organization's security posture using a data-driven, objective approach. They provide a dynamic and quantifiable view of an organization's cybersecurity risk, often presented as a simple, easy-to-understand score or grade (like a credit score).
Here's how it works:
Data Collection: CSR solutions continuously gather information about an organization's security posture from various sources:
External Scans: Scanning public-facing assets (websites, servers, networks) for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and security weaknesses.
Threat Intelligence: Analyzing threat feeds, dark web data, and security incident reports to assess potential risks.
Social Media Monitoring: Tracking social media for mentions of security incidents, data leaks, or negative sentiment related to the organization.
Public Records: Examining public records for security breaches, legal issues, or financial events that could impact security.
Risk Assessment: The collected data is analyzed and correlated to assess the organization's security risk level. This involves evaluating factors like:
Vulnerability Exposure: The number and severity of identified vulnerabilities.
Security Controls: The effectiveness of security measures in place.
Threat Landscape: The likelihood of attacks based on current threat intelligence.
Historical Performance: Past security incidents and breaches.
Scoring and Rating: The risk assessment is translated into a quantifiable score or rating, often presented on a scale (e.g., A-F or 0-100). It allows for easy comparison and benchmarking against industry peers or internal targets.
Continuous Monitoring: The process is ongoing, constantly monitoring and reassessing the organization's security posture. This allows for dynamic tracking of changes and improvements over time.
Benefits of Continuous Security Ratings:
Objective Measurement: Provides an unbiased, data-driven view of security performance.
Increased Visibility: Highlights areas of weakness and potential risks.
Improved Communication: Facilitates communication about security posture with stakeholders, including executives, board members, and insurers.
Enhanced Risk Management: Enables proactive identification and mitigation of security risks.
Vendor Risk Management: Helps assess and monitor the security posture of third-party vendors and suppliers.
Benchmarking and Comparison: Allows for comparison against industry peers and best practices.
Compliance: Supports compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Key takeaway: Continuous Security Ratings provide a valuable tool for organizations to monitor and improve their cybersecurity posture continuously, enabling them to make informed decisions and proactively manage risks.
ThreatNG is well-suited to support Continuous Security Ratings (CSR) due to its comprehensive approach to external attack surface management and digital risk protection. Here's how it helps, how it works with other solutions and specific examples:
How ThreatNG Helps with CSR:
Continuous Monitoring: ThreatNG continuously monitors the external attack surface for changes, new vulnerabilities, and emerging threats, providing real-time visibility into security posture.
Data-Driven Assessment: ThreatNG uses a data-driven approach to assess security posture, leveraging external scans, threat intelligence, social media monitoring, and public records to provide an objective view of risk.
Quantifiable Scoring: ThreatNG generates security ratings that quantify an organization's risk level, allowing for easy benchmarking and progress tracking over time.
Actionable Insights: ThreatNG provides actionable insights and recommendations for improving security posture, helping organizations address identified weaknesses and reduce risk.
Integration with CSR Platforms: ThreatNG can integrate with dedicated CSR platforms, providing comprehensive data and enriching risk assessments.
Working with Complementary Solutions:
ThreatNG can work with other security solutions to enhance CSR:
Vulnerability Scanners: ThreatNG can ingest vulnerability scan data and correlate it with threat intelligence to provide a more accurate risk assessment.
Threat Intelligence Platforms: ThreatNG can integrate with threat intelligence platforms to enrich its risk assessments with contextual threat information.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: ThreatNG can feed security ratings and risk data into SIEM systems to provide a holistic view of security posture.
Examples Using ThreatNG's Investigation Modules:
Identify and track the number of known vulnerabilities associated with the organization's domains.
Monitor the configuration of email security settings (DMARC, SPF, DKIM) to assess phishing susceptibility.
Detect exposed APIs and development environments that could increase risk.
Track social media mentions of security incidents or data leaks related to the organization.
Monitor for negative sentiment or brand impersonations that could impact reputation.
Identify exposed code repositories containing secrets or sensitive information.
Assess the security posture of mobile apps associated with the organization.
Discover sensitive information inadvertently exposed through search engines.
Identify vulnerable servers and files accessible through public searches.
Detect unsanctioned cloud services and shadow IT that expand the attack surface.
Identify misconfigured cloud storage buckets or SaaS applications that could lead to data breaches.
Uncover sensitive information shared on code-sharing platforms or online forums.
Monitor for negative news or financial events that could impact security posture.
Track ESG violations that could affect the organization's reputation and risk profile.
Discover outdated or forgotten web pages containing vulnerabilities or sensitive information.
Identify compromised credentials or mentions of the organization in dark web forums.
Monitor for ransomware threats or data leaks related to the organization.
By leveraging ThreatNG's comprehensive capabilities and integrating them with complementary solutions, organizations can effectively utilize continuous security ratings to gain a dynamic and objective view of their security posture. It enables them to proactively manage risks, improve security performance, and communicate effectively with stakeholders about their cybersecurity efforts.