In the digital age, where data is the new gold, ensuring the security and efficiency of network communication is paramount for businesses of all sizes. The Server Message Block (SMB) protocol plays a crucial role in facilitating file sharing, network browsing, and printer access among devices on a network. Understanding SMB port numbers is essential for IT professionals looking to optimize and secure their networks.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, staying ahead of threats requires not just vigilance but advanced technology. Sentinel, Microsoft’s cloud-native Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution, represents a leap forward in the way organizations detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats.

In the ever-evolving terrain of artificial intelligence, OpenAI's LangGraph is making waves by introducing a groundbreaking approach to code generation and analysis. With the prominence of tools like GitHub Co-Pilot and the popularity of projects such as GPT-engineer, the demand for innovative solutions in this domain has never been higher. LangGraph aims to meet this demand by leveraging a flow paradigm inspired by recent advancements like AlphaCodium to enhance the efficiency of code generation.

By now, you are likely aware that the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program Proposed Rule was published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2023. This set into motion a series of deadlines, which will culminate in the full implementation of CMMC 2.0. It also set into motion a flurry of activity within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and the realization that a deadline for compliance looms large.

A ransomware attack can demoralize or debilitate organizations quite like no other. Not only does ransomware strike a company's morale, but it also causes massive financial losses along with reputational damage that could prove difficult to repair. Cybersecurity Ventures predicted global ransomware damage costs to reach $20 billion annually in 2021, up from $325 million in 2015. In eight years from now, the costs will exceed $265 billion.

New analysis of DNS queries shows material growth in phishing, malware and botnets and offers insight into how many threats the average person experiences. Most of the reports I cover use detection on an endpoint, a security solution, or the corporate network for their analysis, but the 2024 Annual Security Report from DNSFilter feels a bit more impartial because it uses DNS queries to determine whether whether malicious activity is occuring.

Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege to protect their sensitive data from unauthorized access. To implement the principle of least privilege, organizations need to define roles and permissions, invest in a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution, enforce MFA, automatically rotate credentials for privileged accounts, segment networks and regularly audit network privileges.

For defense contractors, cybersecurity is a non-negotiable priority. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program outlines rigorous assessment and affirmation requirements for contractors and subcontractors. Let’s dive into the key elements that shape this crucial aspect of CMMC compliance.

Highlighting the critical need for improved maintenance practices among users of open source software, the new 2024 “Open Source Security and Risk Analysis” (OSSRA) report catalogs security concerns caused by the significant lag many organizations have in keeping the open source components they use up-to-date.