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OPSEC

Threat NG Staff

In cybersecurity, OPSEC stands for Operational Security. It's a risk management process that helps organizations protect sensitive information from unauthorized users and potential attackers. Initially developed by the military, OPSEC is becoming increasingly important in today's digital world.

Here's how OPSEC works in cybersecurity:

  • Identify Critical Information: The first step is to identify what data needs protection. It could be financial records, customer data, intellectual property, or any other information that could be damaging if exposed.

  • Analyze Threats and Vulnerabilities: Once you know what needs protection, you must understand the potential threats. Who might want this information? How could they try to get it? You must also identify weaknesses in your systems and processes that could be exploited.

  • Assess Risks: You can assess risks by combining threats and vulnerabilities. How likely is it that an attacker will try to steal the information? How much damage could they cause if they succeed?

  • Apply Countermeasures: Finally, you can implement safeguards to address the risks. It could involve technical measures like encryption and security software and non-technical measures like employee training and social media policies.

Following these proactive steps, OPSEC empowers organizations to create a layered defense against cyberattacks. This process is ongoing as threats and vulnerabilities constantly evolve, putting the organization in control of its security.

How ThreatNG supports OPSEC

ThreatNG, as an all-in-one EASM, DRP, and security ratings platform, can significantly strengthen an organization's OPSEC posture through the following functionalities:

1. Identifying Critical Information:

  • ThreatNG crawls the internet to discover and map the organization's external attack surface, including websites, domains, subdomains, and exposed assets. It helps identify information potentially accessible to attackers.

2. Analyzing Threats and Vulnerabilities:

  • ThreatNG continuously scans the attack surface for vulnerabilities like misconfigurations, outdated software, and exposed data breaches. It also analyzes threat intelligence to identify potential adversaries and their tactics, giving you the confidence that you're always one step ahead.

3. Assessing Risks:

  • ThreatNG assigns risk scores to vulnerabilities based on exploitability and potential impact. It allows for prioritizing mitigation efforts based on information criticality and likelihood of attack.

4. Applying Countermeasures:

  • ThreatNG can directly integrate with vulnerability management systems to facilitate patching and remediation of identified vulnerabilities. Additionally, it can help prioritize security awareness training for employees based on the identified threats.

Complementary Solutions and Workflow:

ThreatNG works seamlessly with other security solutions to create a comprehensive OPSEC workflow:

  1. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): ThreatNG can feed discovered vulnerabilities and threat intelligence into a SIEM for further investigation and incident response.

  2. Vulnerability Management System (VMS): As mentioned earlier, ThreatNG can integrate with VMS to prioritize and automate vulnerability patching processes.

  3. Identity and Access Management (IAM): ThreatNG can inform IAM solutions to implement more robust authentication methods by identifying exposed credentials or weak access controls.

Workflow Example:

  1. ThreatNG discovers an exposed database containing customer information on a forgotten subdomain.

  2. Based on the sensitivity of the data, ThreatNG assigns a high-risk score to the vulnerability.

  3. ThreatNG automatically sends an alert to the security team and integrates with the VMS to prioritize patching the exposed server.

  4. The security team investigates the exposed data breach and initiates incident response procedures.

  5. ThreatNG can also trigger an update in the IAM system to strengthen access controls on critical databases.

ThreatNG is the initial reconnaissance solution identifying the external attack surface and potential vulnerabilities. It then works with other security solutions to assess risk, prioritize mitigation efforts, and improve the organization's overall OPSEC posture.