cyber security – MEC Networks Corporation

Email Phishing is a Pervasive Phenomenon. Fortinet Suggests 3 Things to Combat It.

Kait Donieto — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 07:00:13 +0000

In the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, email phishing is still a persistent ultimatum. Threat actors have long posed as trusted sources to target unsuspecting individuals through email and text messages, all in the quest to steal sensitive data.

Statistics from the Fortinet 2023 Global Ransomware Report highlight the effect of phishing as a top tactic, accounting for 56% of successful network infiltrations and ransomware attacks.

Gone are the days of easily recognizable email phishing attempts with glaring errors in spelling and grammar. The advent of AI-driven content tools has ushered in a new era where cybercriminals use artificial intelligence to create more convincing text messages and email phishing. This sophistication raises the stakes, increasing the likelihood of users unknowingly clicking on malicious links.

In this era of AI-crafted communications, employee vigilance is crucial in defending organizations against potential breaches. Traditional methods of spotting phishing attacks are no longer sufficient to ensure safety. To bolster organizational security, it is paramount to invest in the right technologies, such as robust spam filters and multi-factor authentication. Equally important is the ongoing education of employees, as their awareness and actions can make all the difference in protecting organizations from the ever-evolving threats of phishing and ransomware.

Phishing: The Top Weapon in Ransomware Attacks

Recent findings shed light on a concerning reality: phishing still reigns supreme as the primary delivery method for ransomware. This choice by cyber attackers is not without reason, as it continues to yield alarming success rates. Statistics from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reveal that a staggering 80% of organizations faced at least one incident where an employee was lured by a simulated phishing attempt.

Ransomware, a threat that knows no bounds in terms of industry or location, continues to plague businesses of all sizes. Despite 78% of business leaders believing they are well-prepared to obstruct ransomware attacks, the harsh truth is that half of them have fallen victim to such an attack within the past year.

Empower Your Workforce with Education Against Phishing

Safeguarding your enterprise from the ever-looming threat of ransomware begins with a well-informed workforce. Recognizing that most ransomware breaches enter through the gateway of phishing, employee education takes center stage. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this endeavor; the key lies in tailoring the education to your unique organizational needs.

Fortinet gives some strategic services and programs that can serve as a solid foundation for a comprehensive employee security awareness initiative.

1. Security Awareness Training

Your employees are high targets for threat actors. To keep your organization safe, an ongoing cyber-awareness education program is important. Fortinet’s Security Awareness and Training Service, a SaaS-based solution, offers prompt and up-to-date awareness training on the latest security threats. This service enables IT, security, and compliance leaders to foster a culture of cyber-awareness, making employees more adept at recognizing and evading potential attacks. For organizations with compliance requirements, this service also aids in fulfilling regulatory and industry compliance training obligations.

2. Phishing Simulation Services

Preparing your employees to identify malicious communications is a proactive approach to defense. FortiPhish Phishing Simulation Service conducts real-world simulations, allowing organizations to test and enhance user awareness and resilience against phishing threats. It equips users with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively when they suspect a phishing attack.

3. Free Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) Training

The Fortinet Training Institute offers free, self-paced NSE training modules. These modules empower users to find and shield themselves from various threat types, including phishing attacks. These resources can easily complement your existing internal training programs, reinforcing crucial concepts. Furthermore, Fortinet Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) supply instructor-led training, broadening access to the NSE curriculum on a global scale.

Stay One Step Ahead of Threat Actors Through Security Awareness Programs

As technology advances, so do the tactics of cybercriminals. They persistently explore new ways to exploit these innovations for their malicious agendas. In response, both security teams and every individual within organizations must heighten their vigilance against threats.

This underscores the importance of assessing and enhancing your existing cyber-awareness programs. The goal is to equip learners and employees with the latest, most pertinent knowledge, ensuring their ability to safeguard not only themselves but also the organization’s invaluable data.

In the constantly changing sphere of cybersecurity, knowledge is your best defense.

The post Email Phishing is a Pervasive Phenomenon. Fortinet Suggests 3 Things to Combat It. appeared first on MEC Networks Corporation.

Fortinet: 5 Risks for Firewalls without Zero Trust

MEC Updates — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 03:39:53 +0000

Any cybersecurity plan should include zero trust. Secure access is more important than ever as the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices grows, the network perimeter fragments, and the new norm of working from anywhere emerges. Security solutions that can cover all locations are required in today’s evolving work and resource systems, and zero trust is necessary.

Companies must take a zero trust approach to security by deploying strong authentication capabilities, network access control technologies, and ubiquitous application access controls to secure systems, networks, applications, and data. When considering security products, look for ones that can provide traffic SSL decryption and zero-trust capabilities for both cloud-based and on-premises assets, internal segmentation, and control zones.

Concerns have recently been raised concerning firewalls’ ability to enable a zero-trust environment. That could be the case with some next-generation firewalls (NGFW). They’re not up to the task, especially in terms of performance if SSL decryption is enabled. However, it is a mistake to dismiss firewalls totally. You can use the extensive capabilities of an NGFW with zero-trust network access (ZTNA) to control access for everyone across an extended network, covering both cloud and on-premises-based applications.

Fortinet NGFWs excel at supporting zero trust while also serving as part of a comprehensive cybersecurity solution for hybrid networks. No other firewall has ZTNA or bespoke security ASIC chips with SSL decryption hardware accelerators built in.

Here are the dangers companies will face if they would not deploy firewalls powered by zero trust.

Risks of Not Having Zero Trust Network Access

1. Growing Attack Surface

Networks are more spread than ever before, with more edges. The borders separating the home and the business workplace have eroded. This has provided cyberattackers with new, readily abused ways to gain access to corporate networks. Remote work also has a part in increasing the attack surface. Because home networks are frequently insecure, networks are subject to higher hazards.

Users and devices using zero trust are unable to access an application unless they supply the required authentication credentials. Zero trust hides apps behind a proxy server, allowing for a safe, encrypted connection. Zero trust connections are given to individual applications each session, unlike a standard VPN tunnel that offers unbounded access to the network and applications. Only once the device and the user have been validated is access permitted. Because, unlike with a VPN, location is no longer a reliable indicator of access, and ZTNA policy is implemented regardless of whether users are on or off the network.

2. Erratic Security

Users should be able to utilize ZTNA without having to think about it. It should function in the same way regardless of the user’s or applications’ actual location. Many firms, on the other hand, utilize different solutions to safeguard access for all employees. For remote workers, they may use a cloud-based zero trust solution, but for those on site, they would choose a different strategy. Using several products is inefficient, and it is also less secure since it adds complexity and reduces visibility. IT employees must deal with various policies in multiple locations and use multiple consoles or dashboards that aren’t integrated. Human mistake and misconfiguration are more likely due to the lack of central management.

User productivity is also harmed when accessing programs differs between working from the corporate office and working from home. Inconsistent access might lead to annoyance or confusion, especially if one of the products is difficult to use.

Zero trust should function in the same way regardless of where the applications or users are situated. Using a FortiGate to set up universal ZTNA ensures that policies and controls are consistent across all operating environments, including various clouds. Because ZTNA is incorporated into FortiOS, the same adaptive application access policy is utilized whether users are on or off the network. This connection with the Fortinet Security Fabric streamlines network management and visibility. ZTNA can be introduced in stages by simply altering parameters, allowing companies to start with a single network segment or certain zero-trust capabilities and gradually expand.

3. Heightened Costs and Complexity

Far too many companies treat network security as a mere add on, resulting in extra complexity and inadequate security postures. In a fragmented security environment, vital technologies like centralized administration, integrated networks, security operations center solutions, and AIOps cannot be deployed.

According to a Ponemon Institute survey, companies have installed more than 45 security solutions on average throughout their enterprises. Because these solutions function in silos, they contribute to network complexity by requiring frequent revisions to integration workarounds. In a Fortinet report, 82 percent of IT teams with ten or more security suppliers spend at least 30 percent of their time dealing with vendor complexity concerns.

With a single access policy for all locations maintained centrally, the Fortinet ZTNA solution simplifies security. Because ZTNA enforcement is handled by a firewall, all firewall regulations can be applied to that traffic as well.

4. Lateral Threats

Cyberattackers that penetrate the network perimeter can easily travel laterally to locate important resources, sow malware, and disrupt business when networks are set up as a flat, open environment with no security inspection past the boundary. When perimeter-based VPNs are replaced with ZTNA’s zero-trust architecture, every person or device requesting access to a resource is verified before access is granted.

5. Insufficient Security

Although ZTNA is frequently connected with cloud application access, many firms do not use the cloud for all of their apps. Users need access to cloud applications, but they also need access to programs that are hosted in a data center or a branch office. ZTNA should be utilized everywhere for complete security. It shouldn’t make a difference where the applications or users are. ZTNA’s presence ensures that policies and controls are consistent across all operational environments. ZTNA can’t be a cloud-only solution if it wants to be everywhere. ZTNA, which is built on a firewall, provides comprehensive coverage for all hosted sites, including SaaS applications.

The Right Zero Trust Solution

Although not all firewalls are made equal, having a FortiGate is the first step toward ZTNA everywhere. Fortinet employs the client-initiated ZTNA architecture, which creates a secure tunnel using an agent on a device. A Fortinet infrastructure can be made into the newest part of a zero-trust architecture using FortiOS version 7.0 and above. ZTNA capabilities are used in FortiGate NGFWs and FortiClient endpoint protection, allowing for easier management. Because ZTNA is incorporated into FortiOS, the same adaptive application access policy is utilized whether users are on or off the network.

Management and visibility throughout the network are easier because the ZTNA components are tightly integrated into the Fortinet Security Fabric. Organizations may develop zero-trust strategies that function regardless of where their users, devices, or resources are located by starting with a firewall and integrating the other elements of the ZTNA solution under the cover of a single, integrated platform.

The post Fortinet: 5 Risks for Firewalls without Zero Trust appeared first on MEC Networks Corporation.

Hikvision: 5 Rising Security Industry Trends

MEC Updates — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 12:25:18 +0000

The security industry keeps shifting, adapting, and growing despite the circumstances around us. Beyond conventional “physical security,” an abundance of frontiers like AI, cloud computing, IoT, and cybersecurity are being quickly pioneered by organizations big and small in our industry.

The security industry is in a phase of redefining itself. It is advancing from mere security and safety protections to include a broader spectrum of activity that will boost safety while also obtaining new levels of intelligence and sustainability for communities, institutions, and societies.

Below, Hikvision shares some ideas and expectations about the key trends that will likely affect the security industry in 2022 and perhaps even further into the future.

1. AI will be everywhere

Nowadays, Artificial Intelligence is quite a familiar term in the security industry. More customers in the industry have realized the significance of AI, and have found unique uses for AI applications in diverse scenarios. Along with ANPR, automated event alerts, and false alarm reduction, AI technologies are being utilized for broader applications, like personal protective equipment (PPE) detection, fall detection for the elderly, mine surface detection, and much more. On the other hand, we have also seen more partnerships across the industry, with security manufacturers opening their hardware products to third-party AI applications, and launching open platforms for customers to design and train their own AI algorithms to meet their particular needs.

AI has been one of the elemental technologies to reshape the security industry. Profiting from the optimization of algorithms, as well as the improved computing performance and the reduced cost of chips due to the refinement of semiconductor technology in recent years. AI applications are gradually transforming the primary functions and capabilities accepted by all sectors in the industry.

2. AIoT will digitize and permeate industry verticals

With more security cameras and other security devices being linked to the network, the security industry is becoming a vital part of an IoT world, enhancing its visual capacities. The borders of the security industry are blurring, moving well beyond the physical security field.

The blend of AI and IoT, or as we call it, AIoT, is taking the security enterprise to an advanced plain, automating the workflows and processes of businesses and assisting in the digital conversion of different industry verticals like as energy, logistics, manufacturing, retail, education, healthcare, etc.

AIoT brings further possibilities to the industry with expanding applications for security devices and systems. Meanwhile, more perception capabilities like radar, Lidar, temperature measuring, humidity sensing, and gas leak detection are being added to security devices and systems to make them more powerful.

3. Converged systems will eliminate data silos

Employees throughout private establishments and public service sectors likewise would leap at the opportunity to get unburden themselves of obstructive “data silos.” Data and information scattered and cut off in different systems or groups creates walls to information sharing and collaboration, staving off administrators from gaining a holistic view of their operations.

The convergence of multiple information systems has proved to be a productive approach – hopefully enough to lead to an end to those silos. The trend in the security industry has been to make endeavors connect systems wherever possible, including video, access control, fire detection, alarm systems, and emergency operations. Further, additional non-security systems, like human resources, finance, inventory, and logistics systems are also focusing on unified operation platforms to increase collaboration and to support operation in better decision-making.

4. Biometric access control will usher in cutting-edge security and efficiency

In the previous decades, authorized access control has moved a long way down from keys, pin codes, and ID cards. We now see ourselves stepping into the height of biometrics. Access control demands are hastily getting immersed with biometric authentications, from fingerprint and palmprint recognition to facial recognition.

Biometric access controls bring advantages like advanced security and efficiency with less counterfeiting. They authenticate within seconds – or fragments of seconds – and prevent needless physical contact. Iris, palmprint, and facial recognition offer touchless access control, a sanitary practice more and more favored nowadays.

5. The Zero Trust approach will get the cybersecurity spotlight

With additional security devices connecting over the Internet than anyone ever envisioned, cybersecurity has become an immense challenge in the industry. Stricter data security and privacy protection policies have recently been presented in the world’s crucial markets, like the EU’s GDPR and the Data Security Law in China, placing greater demands on cybersecurity. And in 2021, several climactic ransomware attacks on an assortment of businesses induced us in no uncertain terms that organizations in every industry must support their network security infrastructure and fortify their online defenses.

So how do we contend with the increasing cybersecurity concerns? Though the concept developed in 2010, the term “Zero Trust” has become a popular word just in recent years. A strategic drive that evolved to avert data breaches by shutting out the concept of trust from an institute’s network infrastructure, Zero Trust is embedded in a philosophy of” never trust, always authenticate.”The concept has been dynamically accepted within the IT industry and it’s now also slowly but steadily shifting into the physical security realm, as it gradationally becomes a significant part of the IoT world.

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Why Cato SPACE Matters in Unleashing SASE’s Full Potential

MEC Updates — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 06:14:47 +0000

In 2019, Gartner presented the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). This took the industry by surprise. Unlike numerous advancements in technology, SASE was not a novel networking capability. It was also not a response to an unsolved security enigma. Instead, it dealt with an everyday yet business-critical question: how can IT help the business with the expected security, performance, and speed in an age marked by multiple complexities?

Gartner has replied to this question by delineating a SASE architecture as the convergence of many WAN edge and network security capabilities. It is deployed via a global cloud service that enforces a standard policy on every business edge: users, sites, and applications.

This new infrastructure represented a sizable ordeal for the current vendors who led the IT networking and security enterprise with a lot of disconnected point solutions. It was their infrastructures and designs that were chiefly liable for the pervasive complexity clients had to deal with over the past 20 years. Why was the SASE infrastructure such a challenge for them? Because following Gartner’s structure needed a tremendous re-architecture of legacy products that were in no way constructed to support a converged, global cloud service.

This is precisely the scenario in which Cato Networks creates a fresh opportunity for clients by launching the Cato Single Pass Cloud Engine (SPACE). Cato SPACE is the essential element of the Cato SASE infrastructure and was made from the ground up to command a global, scalable, and flexible SASE cloud service. Thousands of Cato SPACEs empower the Cato SASE Cloud to give a complete set of networking and security capabilities. It is meant for any user or operation, anywhere in the world and it is a cloud-scale service that can mend and manage itself.

Why Convergence and Cloud-Native Software are Critical to Authentic SASE Architecture

SASE was created as a cure to the complexity enigma. It goes against the approaches that drive complexity into the IT lifecycle. Such approaches only exhibit many points of failure and delay in decoding, examining, and re-encrypting packets within every point solution.

Convergence is the foremost step in reducing complexity by substituting the multiple capabilities of numerous point solutions with a single software stack. The single stack is easier to manage, facilitates more efficient processing, simplifies management through a single pane of glass, and more. Convergence, though, has strategic benefits, not just functional ones.

A converged stack can disseminate context and execute rich policies to make more intelligent decisions on optimizing and safeguarding traffic. This is not the case with point solutions that often have restricted visibility because of how they process traffic (e.g., proxy) and the information needed for the specific function they provide.

Cloud-native is adding to the significance of convergence by allowing the scaling and distribution of the converged software stack. The converged stack caters to many enterprises and the traffic flowing from their users, locations, and applications to any point on the WAN or Internet. The orchestration layer oversees the globalization, scalability, and resiliency of the service. This is not a mere retrofit of legacy product-based architecture, but an outcome of a novel service-based architecture.

Cato SPACE: The Secret Ingredient to Strengthening the Cato SASE Architecture

The Cato SASE Cloud is a worldwide cloud service that supports Cato’s customers. Each business organization is represented within the Cato SASE Cloud as a virtual network robustly assigned to the right traffic processing capacity. This optimizes and secures the client’s traffic from any edge to any destination.

The Cato SASE Cloud is constructed on a global network of Cato SASE Points of Presence (PoPs). Each point has a considerable number of compute nodes with numerous processing cores. Then each core processes a copy of the Cato Single Pass Cloud Engine, Cato SPACE, the converged software stack that optimizes and protects all traffic according to customer policy.

These are the 6 primary features of the Cato SPACE:

Consolidated software stack, single-pass processing: The Cato SPACE comprehensively handles global route optimization, WAN and cloud access acceleration, and security. It is also a service with a next-level firewall, safe web gateway, next-gen anti-malware, and IPS. Cato is constantly developing the software stack with more capabilities but is consistently minding the same SASE architectural framework.
Every client, edge, and flow: The Cato SPACE is not limited to any particular customer network or edge. Through a procedure of active flow orchestration, a certain edge tunnel is assigned to the least busy Cato SPACE within the Cato SASE PoP closest to the client edge. The Cato SPACE can thus manage any number of tunnels from any number of clients and edges. This creates an intrinsically load-balanced and rapid environment.
On-time contextual policy implementation: Once assigned to a Cato SPACE, the flow’s context is drawn, the relevant policy is dynamically pulled and associated with the flow, and traffic processing is executed according to this context and policy.
Cloud-scale: Each Cato SPACE can take on up to 2GBPS of encrypted traffic from one or additional edge tunnels with all security engines enabled. Edge tunnels are flawlessly disseminated within the Cato SASE Cloud and across Cato SPACEs to acclimate to changes in the whole load. Capacity can also be expanded by adding compute nodes to the PoPs as the Cato SPACEs are fully proportional and can be staged into the service at any time.
Independent mending: Cato SPACE can take over any tunnel operated by any other Cato SPACE. The orchestration layer moves the tunnels across Cato SPACEs if failure ever happens. If a Cato PoP becomes unavailable, edge tunnels can relocate. This is possible within the same region or across regions according to customer policy. Clients no longer must develop failover strategies for their regional hubs.
Independent management: Cato DevOps, Engineering, and Security units are in charge of maintaining all aspects of the Cato SASE Cloud. Software innovations and improvements are applied behind the scenes across all Cato PoPs and Cato SPACEs. New IPS regulations are designed, tested, and executed by Cato SOC to address arising threats. Cato DevOps and NOC units perform all-day monitoring to ensure top-notch performance. Clients can, thus, concentrate on policy configuration analytics using Cato’s management platform that delivers a single-pane-of-glass for the whole service.

Your Choice of SASE Architecture Matters

SASE was called transformative technology by Gartner for a reason. It alters the way IT supplies the whole networking and security capability to the enterprise. SASE functional capabilities will keep increasing over time with all vendors. But, without the apt fundamental architecture, businesses will not discover the transformational power of SASE.

Cato is the trailblazer of the SASE category. They built the only architecture purposely designed to showcase the value of SASE. You can rest assured and be ready for whatever comes next with this solution from Cato.

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Fortinet Honored as a Visionary by Gartner (Magic Quadrant 2021)

MEC Updates — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 04:51:05 +0000

In the networking industry, wired and wireless local area network (LAN) infrastructure technologies have been around for quite some time now, and they have definitely stood the test of time.

However, Fortinet believes that there is always room for innovation. With that in mind, their vision for wired and wireless networking leverages Fortinet’s ground-breaking Security-Driven Networking approach and AIOps, which expand their LAN Edge solution beyond usual market offerings.

Fortinet particularly maximizes extensive, deployment-wide data for better outcomes. They break down technology silos for intelligent networking to diminish complexity, decrease costs, guarantee consistent user experiences, and strengthen security.

In Security-Driven Networking, unified cybersecurity and control of the network edge are necessary. These get rid of security gaps and offer uncomplicated management. This method compels Fortinet to give built-in, base network access control (NAC) features at no extra cost. And with FortiAIOps, they can leverage the Security Fabric’s extensive data collection to offer exceptional artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities to lighten the weight on network operations teams.

Fortinet believes that this continuous motivation to build upon their Security-Driven Networking vision has given them the opportunity to be recognized as a Visionary in the 2021 Gartner® Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure for two years in a row.

Source: Gartner 2021

You can freely access the full Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure report for further information.

Fortinet Networking Accomplishes Unique Services

Fortinet Security-Driven Networking is achieved through a platform approach, empowering Fortinet to present simplified operations with one interface and operating system (FortiOS). This provides centralized management, automation, and orchestration of not only the wired and wireless LAN edge.

The decrease in complexity is not confined to technology. Fortinet’s wired and wireless LAN solution goes against the popular trend of authorizing core features (and even operating systems) by offering fewer licenses with more function for clear-cut value.

Fortinet has a unique take on the LAN edge. They start by leveraging their FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) as a network controller. This integration is enabled through FortiLink, a protocol that combines Fortinet’s secure Ethernet and secure wireless access products and the Fortinet Security Fabric. FortiLink enables the FortiGate to immediately control, configure, and manage FortiAPs and FortiSwitches as if they were part of it. These Ethernet switches and Wi-Fi access points are intentionally engineered and designed to be part of the Fortinet Security Fabric.

Fortinet’s High-level of Expertise Goes Beyond the LAN

Building upon Security-Driven Networking and integrating solutions across Fortinet’s expansive portfolio offers a simplified, better-performing solution that goes beyond the LAN edge. For example, they leveraged critical centralized data to develop FortiAIOps. FortiAIOps leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to allow IT administrators to lessen, if not eliminate, the more routine daily tasks. This also enables quicker identification and resolution of network operations problems.

Fortinet Takes Pride in Being a Visionary Once Again

Fortinet is excited to be recognized as a Visionary in the 2021 Gartner® Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure. Fortinet continues to invest, develop, and improve, following its clear vision to be different in a mature market.

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Cato Networks Software Defined Perimeter (SDP)

MEC Digital — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 08:33:00 +0000

Optimized and Secure Remote Access for Everyone and Everywhere

Enterprises are seeing a growing need for employees to work remotely. In particular, during times of crisis, the ability to work securely and productively from home is a critical pillar of business continuity planning. Cato SDP enables remote users, through a client or clientless browser access, to access all business applications, via the secure and optimized connection.

Why choose CATO SDP?

Cloud-native SDP delivers secure remote access as an integral part of a company’s global network and security infrastructure. A global, cloud-scale platform supports any number of remote users within their geographical regions. Performance improves with end-to-end optimized access to any application using a global private backbone. Risk is minimized before and after users access the network through strong authentication and continuous traffic inspection for threat prevention. Cloud-native SDP makes mobile access easy — easy to deploy, easy to use, and easy to secure.

Easy deployment, instant secure access

Multi-factor Authentication & Single-Sign-On

Flexible Client-based or Clientless Access Options

Continuous Security Inspection for All Remote Access Traffic

Access Performance Optimization to All Applications

Cloud-scale Remote Access for Everyone, Anytime and Anywhere

Browse Cato Networks Solutions

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Cato: Cybersecurity Threat Insights

MEC Updates — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 02:09:15 +0000

In the first quarter of 2021, 190 billion traffic flows passed through the SASE Network of Cato.

With this in mind, the organization set out to dissect and identify new pitfalls and critical trends related to cybersecurity. They have just published their findings in the SASE Threat Research Report, and now, we present the five crucial highlights that will help you gauge the strength of your network security.

Crucial Insights from the SASE Research Report of Cato Networks

1. Top 5 Threat Types in 2021

Using machine literacy to identify high-risk dangers and authenticated security incidents, Cato capably identified and observed the most common types of attacks. These include:

Network Scanning – CATO detected the attacker testing different ports to see which services are running and are most vulnerable.
Reputation – There were inbound or outbound messages pointing to known-bad domains or IP addresses.
Vulnerability Scan – The attacker uses a vulnerability scanner that runs against the systems of a company.
Malware – This was seen proliferating within the network traffic.
Web Operation Attack – The bad actor tried to take advantage of a web application vulnerability, similar to cross-site scripting (XSS) or SQL injection.

The threat types above prove that cyberattackers accomplish espionage operations on a company’s systems. They can also successfully gain original access (as demonstrated by the quantity of inbound and outbound suspicious business flows).

2. Regional Bans Produce a False Sense of Security

The latest news attributes the top cybercrime and other online vicious acts to a small set of countries only.

It might seem logical that having firewall rules to block businesses to and from these countries would enhance security. Still, these domestic bans produce a false sense of security. The immense quantity of vicious attempts originates in the US, which counts for more than the four largest sources (namely, Venezuela, China, Germany, and Japan) put together. Regional restrictions have little to no impact because top malware sources and command and control servers are in the US.

3. Cyberattackers Prey upon Remote Administration Tools

Remote access and administration tools like TeamViewer grew significantly prevalent during the pandemic. These tools empowered businesses to continue performing their tasks despite an unforeseen and mandatory transition to remote work.

But keep in mind, these tools are desirable for cyberattackers as well. These malicious actors will try to phish credentials for these services. Then, they will use them to gain direct access to the resources of a company. RDP is now a common delivery vector for ransomware. An inadequately secured TeamViewer allowed the Oldsmar water treatment hack to be possible.

4. Legacy Software and PHP are Constant Targets

By breaking down the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) most targeted by cyberattackers, intriguing trends are revealed. The first is that vulnerabilities related to the programming language, PHP, are extremely notorious. This substantially permits an attacker to succeed in remote code execution (RCE).

Another significant takeaway is that cyberattackers are targeting age-old dangers lurking on company networks. Cyberattackers are generally surveying for unsubstantiated and defenseless systems that are greater than twenty times old.

5. Business Traffic Flows Are Not Always Predictable

Dissecting the business network traffic flows demonstrates that Microsoft Office and Google operations are the two most typically used cloud apps in company networks.

Nevertheless, that is not to say that they are the only frequent network flows on enterprise networks. The average organization has additional traffic on TikTok than Gmail, LinkedIn, or Spotify. These TikTok flows put enterprise security in danger. Bad actors take advantage of consumer operations to distribute malware or phishing content, and the use of unsanctioned apps creates fresh weaknesses and implicit attack vectors within the network of a company.

Enhance Your Network Visibility and Cybersecurity with Cato

The latest SASE Threat Research Report from Cato demonstrated the significance of deep network visibility and understanding for enterprise security. While some trends (similar to the exploitation of remote access issues) may have been expected, others were much less.

Cato was qualified to accomplish this report grounded on the deep visibility given by its SASE network. Choosing to partner with Cato to achieve this standard of visibility is necessary for your company’s protection and so that you can pinpoint the pitfalls within your network.

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Sonicwall TZ Series

MEC Digital — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:49:23 +0000

Deliver enterprise-class security without the enterprise-grade complexity

SonicWall TZ firewalls deliver enterprise-grade protection without the cost or complexity.

Protect your small business or branch location from intrusion, malware, and ransomware, with an easy-to-use, integrated security solution designed specifically for your needs.

Detect sophisticated threats, including encrypted attacks, with advanced networking and security features, like the multi-engine Capture Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) cloud-based sandbox service with patent-pending Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection (RTDMI). With optional features like PoE/PoE+ support and 802.11ac Wi-Fi, create a unified security solution for wired and wireless networks.

SonicWall Gen7 TZ Series Does It Better

First desktop firewall to deliver multi-gigabit malware and ransomware protection

Branch capabilities and a redesigned cloud-native management console.

First SonicWall desktop firewall to deliver redundant power.

Groundbreaking performance in desktop firewall

Share license across HA unit at no extra cost

Side Channel attack protection

Browse SonicWall Security Solutions

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Sonicwall Capture Client powered by SentinelOne

MEC Digital — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 22:11:44 +0000

Effective, Holistics, and Consumable Next-Generation Endpoint Protection Solution

Benefits of Capture Client

– Independent cloud-based management

– Synergizes with SonicWall firewalls

– Security policy enforcement

– DPI-SSL certificate management

– Continuous behavioral monitoring

– Highly accurate determinations achieved through machine learning

– Multiple layered heuristic-based techniques

– Unique rollback capabilities

Offerings and Platform Support

The SonicWall Capture Client is available in two offerings:

SonicWall Capture Client Basic

delivers all SonicWall next-generation malware protection and remediation features, along with DPI-SSL support capabilities.

SonicWall Capture Client Advanced

delivers everything listed above for Basic, plus Advanced rollback capabilities and Capture ATP integrations.

Both offerings are available for Windows 7 and higher, as well as for Mac OSX.

Browse SonicWall Security Solutions

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Sonicwall SonicOS 7

MEC Digital — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 00:25:08 +0000

Scale Faster, Protect More, and Regain Control

What’s New in SonicOS7

Multi-instance Support

SonicOS 7’s multi-instance support for NSsp enterprise firewalls allows multiple independent firewall instances to run on the same hardware, achieving multi-tenancy and maximizing operation simplicity.

Advanced Protection Against Encrypted Threats

TLS 1.3 decryption detects threats hiding in encrypted traffic without sacrificing performance.

Easy, Zero-Touch Deployment

The new SonicExpress Mobile App offers true zero-touch deployment, eliminating truck rolls, saving money, and easing the deployment of golden configs at branch locations.

Simplified Integrations

New Rest APIS allows SonicWall firewalls to be integrated with other security solutions, including hybrid policy orchestrators, SIEM, RMM, NAC, SOAR, and more.

Simplify Oversight with a Modern User Interface

Enhanced Dashboards

Network and threat dashboards provide a top-level summary of the overall health of the appliance and threat insights based on what the firewall sees in your network.

Security Rule Optimization

SonicOS 7 includes new features such as visibility in custom rules and hit counts, shadow rule detection, and rule optimization to eliminate misconfigurations.

Security Rule Visualization

To reduce user’s cognitive load, SonicOS 7 features rule visualization that offers quick and intuitive insights into the type of traffic the rule is for, what it does from a security inspection perspective, and what traffic is hitting it.

Unified Improved Visibility

SonicOS 7 provides a topology view of your firewall and the endpoints behind it – including dashboards that detail the traffic passing through your firewalls, who is responsible for it, and what threats it contains.

Browse SonicWall Security Solutions

The post Sonicwall SonicOS 7 appeared first on MEC Networks Corporation.

cyber security – MEC Networks Corporation

Email Phishing is a Pervasive Phenomenon. Fortinet Suggests 3 Things to Combat It.

Phishing: The Top Weapon in Ransomware Attacks

Empower Your Workforce with Education Against Phishing

1. Security Awareness Training

2. Phishing Simulation Services

3. Free Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) Training

Stay One Step Ahead of Threat Actors Through Security Awareness Programs

Fortinet: 5 Risks for Firewalls without Zero Trust

Risks of Not Having Zero Trust Network Access

1. Growing Attack Surface

2. Erratic Security

3. Heightened Costs and Complexity

4. Lateral Threats

5. Insufficient Security

The Right Zero Trust Solution

Hikvision: 5 Rising Security Industry Trends

1. AI will be everywhere

2. AIoT will digitize and permeate industry verticals

3. Converged systems will eliminate data silos

4. Biometric access control will usher in cutting-edge security and efficiency

5. The Zero Trust approach will get the cybersecurity spotlight

Why Cato SPACE Matters in Unleashing SASE’s Full Potential

Why Convergence and Cloud-Native Software are Critical to Authentic SASE Architecture

Cato SPACE: The Secret Ingredient to Strengthening the Cato SASE Architecture

These are the 6 primary features of the Cato SPACE:

Your Choice of SASE Architecture Matters

Fortinet Honored as a Visionary by Gartner (Magic Quadrant 2021)

Fortinet Networking Accomplishes Unique Services

Fortinet’s High-level of Expertise Goes Beyond the LAN

Fortinet Takes Pride in Being a Visionary Once Again

Cato Networks Software Defined Perimeter (SDP)

Optimized and Secure Remote Access for Everyone and Everywhere

Why choose CATO SDP?

Easy deployment, instant secure access

Multi-factor Authentication & Single-Sign-On

Flexible Client-based or Clientless Access Options

Continuous Security Inspection for All Remote Access Traffic

Access Performance Optimization to All Applications

Cloud-scale Remote Access for Everyone, Anytime and Anywhere

Cato: Cybersecurity Threat Insights

Crucial Insights from the SASE Research Report of Cato Networks

1. Top 5 Threat Types in 2021

2. Regional Bans Produce a False Sense of Security

3. Cyberattackers Prey upon Remote Administration Tools

4. Legacy Software and PHP are Constant Targets

5. Business Traffic Flows Are Not Always Predictable

Enhance Your Network Visibility and Cybersecurity with Cato

Sonicwall TZ Series

Deliver enterprise-class security without the enterprise-grade complexity

SonicWall TZ firewalls deliver enterprise-grade protection without the cost or complexity.

Integrated Security Solution

SD-WAN and Zero-Touch Deployment Capabilities

SSL/TLS Decryption and Inspection

Deep Memory Inspection

Superior Performance and Features

Single-pane-of-glass’ Management & Reporting

With Zero-Touch Deployment and simplified centralized management, installation and operation are easy.

SonicWall Gen7 TZ Series Does It Better

Sonicwall Capture Client powered by SentinelOne

Effective, Holistics, and Consumable Next-Generation Endpoint Protection Solution

Benefits of Capture Client

Offerings and Platform Support

SonicWall Capture Client Basic

SonicWall Capture Client Advanced

Sonicwall SonicOS 7

Scale Faster, Protect More, and Regain Control

What’s New in SonicOS7

Multi-instance Support

Advanced Protection Against Encrypted Threats

Easy, Zero-Touch Deployment

Simplified Integrations

Simplify Oversight with a Modern User Interface

Enhanced Dashboards

Security Rule Optimization

Security Rule Visualization

Unified Improved Visibility