Strategies for Hybrid Cloud Cyber Threat Mitigation

🚨NSA Releases Guidance on Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments🚨 The National Security Agency (NSA) recently published an important Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CSI): "Account for Complexities Introduced by Hybrid Cloud and Multi-Cloud Environments." As organizations increasingly adopt hybrid and multi-cloud strategies to enhance flexibility and scalability, understanding the complexities of these environments is crucial for securing digital assets. This CSI provides a comprehensive overview of the unique challenges presented by hybrid and multi-cloud setups. Key Insights Include: 🛠️ Operational Complexities: Addressing the knowledge and skill gaps that arise from managing diverse cloud environments and the potential for security gaps due to operational siloes. 🔗 Network Protections: Implementing Zero Trust principles to minimize data flows and secure communications across cloud environments. 🔑 Identity and Access Management (IAM): Ensuring robust identity management and access control across cloud platforms, adhering to the principle of least privilege. 📊 Logging and Monitoring: Centralizing log management for improved visibility and threat detection across hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures. 🚑 Disaster Recovery: Utilizing multi-cloud strategies to ensure redundancy and resilience, facilitating rapid recovery from outages or cyber incidents. 📜 Compliance: Applying policy as code to ensure uniform security and compliance practices across all cloud environments. The guide also emphasizes the strategic use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to streamline cloud deployments and the importance of continuous education to keep pace with evolving cloud technologies. As organizations navigate the complexities of hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, this CSI provides valuable insights into securing cloud infrastructures against the backdrop of increasing cyber threats. Embracing these practices not only fortifies defenses but also ensures a scalable, compliant, and efficient cloud ecosystem. Read NSA's full guidance here: https://lnkd.in/eFfCSq5R #cybersecurity #innovation #ZeroTrust #cloudcomputing #programming #future #bigdata #softwareengineering

NSA Releases Top Ten Cloud Security Mitigation Strategies “Unfortunately, the aggregation of critical data makes cloud services an attractive target for adversaries.  This series provides foundational advice every cloud customer should follow to ensure they don’t become a victim.” ~ Rob Joyce, NSA’s Director of Cybersecurity The ten strategies are covered in the following reports 1. Uphold the cloud shared responsibility model 2. Use secure cloud identity and access management practices 3. Use secure cloud key management practices 4. Implement network segmentation and encryption in cloud environments 5. Secure data in the cloud 6. Defending continuous integration/continuous delivery environments 7. Enforce secure automated deployment practices through infrastructure as code 8. Account for complexities introduced by hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments 9. Mitigate risks from managed service providers in cloud environments 10. Manage cloud logs for effective threat hunting Full article with each strategy report in the comment 👇🏾 #cybersecurity #cloudsecurity #cloudsec

Scattered Spider just evolved their playbook, and it’s getting scarier. See ⬇️ . . . . Microsoft’s latest research on Octo Tempest (aka Scattered Spider) reveals a disturbing shift in their attack methodology: https://lnkd.in/eXnyABNR ; These financially motivated threat actors are no longer just cloud-first attackers but are mastering hybrid environments with devastating precision. What’s changed? Instead of their usual cloud-to-on-premises pivot, they’re flipping the script: compromising on-premises infrastructure first, then escalating to cloud resources. This hybrid approach makes detection exponentially harder. Their new arsenal includes: - Advanced social engineering targeting helpdesks with impersonation tactics - SMS-based phishing using adversary-in-the-middle domains - DragonForce ransomware specifically targets VMware ESX hypervisors Recommendations: - Test your org’s hybrid defenses. Are your MFA implementations bulletproof against sophisticated social engineering? - Do password reset protocols require thorough verification beyond easily OSINTable information like birthdays or addresses? Consider decoupling verification and authentication requests entirely from your helpdesk and routing them to a dedicated security team for thorough vetting. Implement hardened PIM/PAM with just-in-time protocols, segment Authentication Administrator roles across specific administrative units, and place high-risk users in separate administrative units with even more stringent verification requirements. This friction can differ between a quick win for attackers and a failed intrusion attempt. Beyond #OSCP — #OffensiveSecurity #InitialAccess #RedTeam Hacker Hermanos