Major concern for many organizations with the constant changes and ongoing advances in cybersecurity

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1.Often budgets are a major concern for many organizations with the constant changes and ongoing advances in cybersecurity. Research compensating controls and provide a solution for the scenario:

You head up a small team of IT and cyber professionals tasked with ensuring network security. A recent malware has come to light that involves exploiting several ports and protocols, specifically port 22, port 25, port 53 TCP, port 80, and port 8080. Identify each of the ports and protocols associated. What compensating controls could be utilized to ensure security?

2. Investigate the advantages and disadvantages of hardware, software, and cloud firewalls. If you were asked to make a firewall recommendation for a business, what information would you need to know about the business to provide the best solution?

 

Sample Solution

. Compensating Controls for Network Security Vulnerabilities

Identified Ports and Protocols:

  • Port 22 (TCP):SSH (Secure Shell) – Used for secure remote access to servers.
  • Port 25 (TCP):SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) – Used for sending emails.
  • Port 53 (TCP & UDP):DNS (Domain Name System) – Translates domain names to IP addresses.
  • Port 80 (TCP):HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) – Used for standard web traffic (unsecured).
  • Port 8080 (TCP):Alternative HTTP port – Used for web traffic, may be unencrypted.

Compensating Controls:

Since the malware exploits these ports, here are some compensating controls to mitigate the risk:

  • Port Hardening:
    • Port 22:Limit access to SSH using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and restrict access to authorized IPs.
    • Port 25:Implement strong spam filters and Sender Policy Framework (SPF) to prevent email spoofing.
    • Port 53:Use DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) to add encryption and prevent DNS spoofing attacks.
  • Web Server Security:
    • Port 80 & 8080:For web servers, enforce HTTPS (port 443) for all communication, ensuring encryption.
    • Patch Management:Keep web server software updated to address vulnerabilities.
    • Web Application Firewalls (WAF):Deploy WAFs to filter malicious traffic targeting web applications.
  • Network Segmentation:Segment your network to isolate critical systems and limit the attack surface.
  • Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS):Deploy IDS/IPS to monitor network traffic for suspicious activity.
  • Endpoint Security:Install endpoint security software on all devices to detect and prevent malware infections.

Budgetary Considerations:

  • Open-sourcesolutions exist for many of these controls, making them more cost-effective for smaller teams.
  • Prioritizecontrols based on risk. Securing critical ports (e.g., 22) might be more crucial than others.
  • Focus on freesecurity awareness training for staff to identify phishing attempts and social engineering tactics often used to spread malware.
  1. Firewall Advantages and Disadvantages

Hardware Firewalls:

  • Advantages:Dedicated security appliance, faster performance, better for high-traffic networks.
  • Disadvantages:Higher upfront cost, limited scalability, requires physical maintenance.

Software Firewalls:

  • Advantages:Lower cost, easier to deploy and manage, scalable.
  • Disadvantages:Relies on system resources, can impact performance on resource-constrained machines.

Cloud Firewalls:

  • Advantages:Highly scalable, centrally managed, eliminates hardware maintenance.
  • Disadvantages:Reliant on internet connectivity, potential vendor lock-in.

Choosing the Right Firewall:

Information Needed for Recommendation:

  • Network Size and Complexity:Larger networks might benefit from dedicated hardware firewalls.
  • Security Needs:Highly sensitive data might require advanced features offered by some firewalls.
  • Budget:Hardware firewalls have a higher upfront cost, while cloud firewalls might have ongoing subscription fees.
  • Technical Expertise:Managing a hardware firewall might require specialized skills compared to cloud-based solutions.
  • Scalability:Consider future growth and choose a firewall that can adapt.

By evaluating these factors, you can recommend the most suitable firewall solution for a specific business.

 

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