Software Asset Inventory
a complete and detailed inventory of all of the organization's cybersecurity software assets.
Risk analysis
an assessment of risks to software assets, considering internal and external factors, such as threats, vulnerabilities, impacts, probability and severity.
Action plan
manage software assets, defining objectives, goals, responsibilities, deadlines, resources and indicators.
Implementation and monitoring
Execution of the action plan, with the support of appropriate tools and techniques.
Report and recommendations
A final report with the results obtained, lessons learned, best practices, opportunities for improvement and recommendations for the future.
Cybersecurity is one of the biggest challenges in the world today. With increasing digitalization and connectivity, the risks of cyber attacks are also growing exponentially.
Faced with this scenario, organizations need to invest in cybersecurity solutions that are capable of preventing, detecting and responding to incidents quickly and efficiently. However, It’s not enough to just purchase cybersecurity software and tools. It is also necessary to manage them appropriately, to ensure that they are aligned with the needs and objectives of the business., that are up to date and in compliance with standards and regulations, and that offer the best return on investment.
That's where cybersecurity asset management (CSAM) comes in, a process that aims to identify, prioritize, manage and monitor risks to the software assets that are essential to an organization's security.
The global average cost of a data breach in 2020 was US$3.86 million, an increase of 10% from the previous year. Additionally, the average time to identify and contain a data breach was 280 days
Source: IBM Report
CSAM is an approach that uses several methods and resources to identify the assets present on a network and then check what security measures each asset adopts and whether each asset is well protected. CSAM can involve, among other things, device discovery and cataloging, vulnerability management, network and security monitoring, risk analysis and assessment, incident response, and policy implementation. CSAM can also contribute to regulatory compliance.
SecOps teams can achieve CSAM from existing tools, but because these tools are often siled, it can be difficult to correlate their data. Many vendors currently offer specific cybersecurity asset management platforms that aim to assist with this work.
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Benefits of Cybersecurity Asset Management
ITAM is a tool that most information security directors today are familiar with, as they know what it is for and why it is necessary. CSAM is a part of ITAM. ITAM performs the same asset discovery, inventory, management and monitoring activities, but with different objectives than CSAM. ITAM is more interested in business demands, such as software licensing, warranties and support contracts.
CSAM has a specific purpose: to understand not only what is on the network and where it is, but what these assets do on the network, how they are currently protected, and what extra protections they need.
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Cyber risk management is the process of identifying, assessing and managing risks for information systems. It involves identifying threats, vulnerabilities and potential impacts, as well as implementing security measures to minimize risks.
Businesses face multiple cyber risks, including phishing attacks, malware, ransomware, denial of service (DDoS) attacks, data breaches, and identity theft. These risks can result in data loss, service interruption, reputational damage and financial loss.
Companies can assess and manage their cyber risks through a systematic approach that involves identifying critical assets, assessing risks, implementing security controls, and continuous monitoring. Risk assessment involves identifying threats and vulnerabilities, as well as evaluating the potential impact of these risks. Security controls can include technical measures such as firewalls and encryption, as well as organizational measures such as security policies and procedures.
Some of the best practices for protecting information systems from cyberattacks include keeping software up to date, using strong and unique passwords, implementing two-factor authentication, regularly backing up data, educating employees about cybersecurity, and implementing physical security measures such as access control and video monitoring.
Companies can prepare to deal with cybersecurity breaches by implementing an incident response plan. The plan must include procedures to detect, contain, and remediate security breaches, as well as to notify relevant stakeholders, such as customers and regulatory authorities. Companies should also conduct regular testing of the plan to ensure it is up to date and effective.