Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

A list of 18 procedures (reduced from 20), or “controls,” recommended by the Center for Internet Security (CIS), must be followed to build an IT infrastructure resistant to cyberattacks. The CIS 4th Control advises to establish and maintain a secure configuration process for enterprise assets (end-user devices, including portable and mobile; non-computing/IoT devices; and servers) and software (operating systems and applications) (4.1).

With each new version of Windows Server released, comes new security risks. Whilst each update enhances functionality for users, it can sometimes come at the cost of new vulnerabilities. The Centre for Internet Security (CIS) Benchmarks serve as a security baseline, helping both individuals and companies implement best practices for a secure configuration.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the governmental body responsible for enforcing and overseeing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) proposed updates in December 2024, which were added to the Federal Register for comments on January 6th. These updates include changes to the Security Rule, looking to enhance cybersecurity to align with evolving security standards.

NIST hardening standards and best practices refer to a collection of guidelines and recommended methods created by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). These standards are crafted with the intention of strengthening the security and robustness of information systems. They serve as a structured approach for organizations to fortify their systems against possible security vulnerabilities and the risks associated with them.