Table of Contents
Various threats loom over different facets of the IT infrastructure, including endpoints, applications, and identities. Understanding these threats is crucial for ensuring that the correct protective measures are in place.
Endpoints refer to end-user devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. These devices are gateways to the organizational network and are targeted by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access.
Applications, whether on-premises or cloud-based, are vital for day-to-day operations and are therefore a common target for cyber threats.
Identity threats involve attacks on the personal identifying information and credentials of users within an organization.
Type of Threat | Target | Examples |
---|---|---|
Malware | Endpoints | Viruses, Ransomware |
Phishing Attacks | Endpoints | Deceptive emails |
Zero-Day Exploits | Endpoints | Unpatched OS vulnerabilities |
MITM Attacks | Endpoints | Unsecured Wi-Fi eavesdropping |
SQL Injection | Applications | Database manipulation |
XSS | Applications | Malicious script injection |
DoS/DDoS Attacks | Applications | Traffic flooding |
Software Vulnerabilities | Applications | Unpatched application flaws |
Credential Stuffing | Identities | Reused password attacks |
Pass-the-Hash | Identities | Hashed password attacks |
Privilege Escalation | Identities | Unauthorized access expansion |
Account Takeover | Identities | Full account control |
To mitigate these threats, it’s imperative for organizations to implement robust security measures such as regular software updates, comprehensive user training, multi-factor authentication (MFA), endpoint protection platforms (EPP), web application firewalls (WAF), and identity and access management (IAM) tools.
In conclusion, understanding and identifying the most common threats against endpoints, applications, and identities are imperative for maintaining security and privacy in the digital space. By staying informed about the nature of these threats, entities can better anticipate and defend against them, securing their technology and information assets in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape.
True
Malware, or malicious software, is designed to harm or exploit any programmable device, service, or network and can target both endpoints like desktops and mobile devices, as well as applications.
True
Phishing attacks often involve tricking individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials, which can then be used to steal their identity.
False
Ransomware is actually a malicious software that encrypts the user’s data and demands a ransom for the decryption key.
B) Phishing
Phishing is directly targeted at stealing a user’s identity by tricking them into providing personal or sensitive information.
False
MFA significantly improves security as it requires more than one method of authentication to verify the user’s identity, thereby protecting against unauthorized access.
B) Many users with a common password
Password spraying is an attack method that attempts to access a large number of accounts (users) using common passwords.
C) Exploit vulnerabilities before the vendor has issued a patch
Zero-day exploits take advantage of security vulnerabilities for which a patch has not yet been released by the software vendor.
A) Antivirus software, B) Firewalls, D) Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
Antivirus software, firewalls, and IDS are all tools that help protect endpoints from various types of threats. MFA is typically used for identity protection.
B) Data in transit
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks involve an attacker intercepting communication between two parties to eavesdrop or alter the data being exchanged.
C) Databases and applications
SQL injection is a type of attack that targets databases through the application layer, aiming to manipulate or steal data by inserting malicious SQL statements.
False
Using the same password across different services poses a risk, as a breach in one service can lead to compromised security across all others that share the same password.
C) Brute force attacks
Strict password policies can help protect against brute force attacks by ensuring passwords are complex and difficult to guess.
Data protection refers to the set of practices, policies, and technologies used to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or destruction.
The most common types of data protection threats include malware, phishing attacks, data breaches, ransomware attacks, and insider threats.
Security management involves the processes and procedures used to protect an organization’s information assets from a range of security threats, including cyber attacks, physical security breaches, and other types of malicious activity.
The key components of security management include identifying and assessing risks, implementing security policies and procedures, monitoring and analyzing security data, and responding to security incidents.
Insider risk management involves the policies and procedures used to mitigate the risk of data breaches caused by insiders, such as employees, contractors, and business partners.
The most common types of insider threats include accidental data breaches, negligent behavior, malicious insiders, and third-party threats.
Compliance management involves the policies and procedures used to ensure that an organization is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
The Microsoft Compliance Manager is a tool that helps organizations manage and track their compliance status for various regulations and standards, such as GDPR and HIPAA.
The purpose of threat detection and response is to identify and respond to potential security threats in real-time, in order to minimize the impact of an attack or data breach.
Microsoft Threat Protection is a suite of security products that provide advanced threat detection and response capabilities for endpoints, identities, and applications.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a security solution that provides advanced threat protection for endpoints, such as desktops, laptops, and servers.
The purpose of identity and access management is to ensure that users have the appropriate level of access to organizational resources, based on their role and responsibilities.
Azure Active Directory is a cloud-based identity and access management service that provides single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, and access management for cloud and on-premises applications.
The purpose of application security is to protect applications from various types of security threats, such as SQL injection attacks, cross-site scripting, and buffer overflows.
The Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a security solution that provides advanced threat protection for Microsoft 365 applications, such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business.
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