“As each organisation’s IT system is different,” regardless of how it looks, any mistakes when it comes to the installation or configuration of networks, servers, and other infrastructure can cause a ripple effect throughout your entire organisation. The security of network devices is crucial for the operations of an organization. A single compromise may result in a huge loss of revenue and productivity.
WHAT IS A SECURE CONFIGURATION REVIEW?
The Secure Configuration Review intends to provide an appropriate level of security to the portion that has threats by identifying portions and rating each portion on the basis of the threat it can cause. To identify a portion of the network, assign a threat rating to each portion, and apply an appropriate level of security, It will identify the risks to the network, network resources, and data. The primary objective is to maintain a workable balance between security and required network access.
The IT policy of an organisation should ensure that security is always in mind while configuring the network devices. Security misconfigurations are one of the most common gaps that criminal hackers look to exploit. Therefore, organisations need to regularly conduct a quarterly security configuration review of network and app infrastructure for security measures that are implemented when building and installing computers and network devices in order to reduce unnecessary cyber vulnerabilities.
Configuration reviews can help ensure that servers and network devices are securely configured and alert you to any errors and misconfigurations. While vulnerability assessments and penetration testing provide an analysis from an external point of view, configuration reviews provide an in-depth view from within your servers and network devices.
Server
To detect insecure configurations in the server operating system and commonly used software.
Network
To detect insecure configurations in the operating system of networks and security devices.
Workstation
To detect insecure configurations in the operating system of end-user computers.
CONFIGURATION REVIEW PROCESS
Scan
Run scanning tools or conduct manual review to detect potential misconfigurations.
Verify
Perform manual verification to confirm the validity of detected misconfigurations.
Report
Analyse issues against best practices and recommend corrective action.
Retest
Verify if previously detected issues have been fixed adequately.
IMPORTANCE:
It plays a very important role as a detailed review and verification of the configuration settings of IT infrastructure components, including systems, network devices, and applications, to measure the security effectiveness of the IT environment.
At times, it might happen that expected secure configuration settings may not be implemented or somehow missed while you deploy, maintain, and enhance computing systems and network security devices. Poorly configured components of the IT environment can become a weak link that can allow adversaries to gain unauthorised access and make their way to possible outages and security breaches.
CHALLENGES:
1. Default configurations of new software: Manufacturers often set the default configurations of new software and devices to be as open and multi-functional as possible. In the case of a router, for example, this could be a predefined password, or in the case of an operating system, it could be the applications that come preinstalled.
2. Lack of reviewing: It’s easier and more convenient to start using new devices or software with their default settings, but it’s not the most secure. Accepting the default settings without reviewing them can create serious security issues and allow cyber attackers to gain easy, unauthorised access to your data.
3. Web server and application server: Configurations: play a crucial role in cyber security. Failure to properly configure your server’s every aspect, from the web to any application, can lead to a wide variety of security problems.
4. Computers and network devices should also be configured to minimise the number of inherent vulnerabilities and provide only the services required to fulfil their intended function.
Therefore, a regular check and evaluation of configuration should be done to ensure the IT environment of the organization. A typical secure configuration review activity is conducted in a white-box model where the assessment team has access to the in-scope IT infrastructure configuration files to identify misconfigurations. Making sure that one’s data is secure and prompted towards safety, along with more advanced features.
BENEFITS:
1. Reduction in risk of network device compromise and subsequent loss of revenue and productivity
2. Extends connectivity to achieve business objectives without sacrificing security
3. Verification of the operating condition and the effectiveness of your security configuration and rule sets
4. Establishment of a baseline for best security practices
5. Ensuring the investment in security to increase effectiveness
WAYS OF PREVENTION:
1. Remove and disable unnecessary user accounts.
2. Change default or guessable account passwords to something non-obvious.
3. Remove or disable unnecessary software.
4. Disable any auto-run feature that allows file execution without user authorization and
5. Authenticate users before enabling Internet-based access to commercially or personally sensitive data, or data critical to the running of the organisation.
CONCLUSION:
The notions of threats and harm, vulnerabilities, attacks and attackers, and countermeasures have always made attackers leverage threats that exploit vulnerabilities against valuable assets to cause us harm, but with proper knowledge and use of the software, we can devise countermeasures to eliminate means and opportunities, as a secure configuration review would identify the risks to the network, network resources, and data beforehand, save you from damage, and conserve your time.