The Security Accounts Manager (SAM) is a database file in Windows operating system that comprises of usernames and passwords. The main aim behind SAM is to make our system more secure and reliable by protecting credentials in case of a data breach. Configuring SAM gives users the ability to authenticate themselves to the local machine if an account has been created for them in security accounts manager.

Transport Layer Security is a security protocol used for facilitating seamless and safe communication between servers and web browsers. Put it his way, TLS encrypts data so that only the intended recipient and the sender can access it. Currently, TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 are the most commonly used TLS versions. After some major upgrades, TLS’s 1.3 version has emerged as one of the most extensively used and the safest security protocols for websites that need a high-end encryption service.

The National Security Agency (NSA) and partner cybersecurity authorities recently released an information sheet recommending proper configuration and monitoring of PowerShell, as opposed to removing or disabling PowerShell entirely. PowerShell is a built-in scripting language and a command-line executor developed by Microsoft to provide a better interface for system administrators to simplify and automate administrative tasks.

In March 2022, PCI DSS launched a 4.0 version, which sets the operational and security standards for users. This new version is the replacement for the 3.2.1 variant. The authorities have upgraded the version to enhance security measures and help individuals and businesses handle growing security threats seamlessly. Financial companies have been sending feedback for the inefficient payment systems, due to which the PCI DSS launched a new security version PCI-DSS v4.0.

NIST stands for National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST was founded in 1901 and is a part of the U.S Department of Commerce. It is one of the oldest physical science laboratories in the US and was formed to remove challenges related to industrial competitiveness.

Some standards, guidelines, and best practices to meet the industrial, public, and federal agencies’ needs in Cybersecurity are developed by NIST. The cybersecurity framework by NIST has an outcome-based approach and this set it to be applied in any sector and on any size of business. There are three basic pillars of the NIST cybersecurity framework, namely; The framework core has five major functions.

As delivered from the manufacturer, your network systems’ default configurations are often function-oriented rather than security-oriented. Changing the system’s default configuration to a more secure form is what we refer to as system hardening.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a PDF of a cybersecurity self-assessment tool. The Baldrige Cybersecurity Excellence Builder v1.1 2019 is a self-assessment tool to help organizations better understand the effectiveness of their cybersecurity risk management efforts.

Server security hardening is an essential element for preventing targeted attacks, as outlined in recent researches reported by both Gartner and the NSA. Consistent, continual IT security hardening is your enterprise’s most valuable security control.

As the data of the world continues growing at an exponential rate year after year, cybercriminals have come up with highly complicated ways to get access to your personal information. They make use of simple password hacks to malware attacks and even phishing scams. It implies that if you wish to stay alert about all types of potential attacks, selecting a good, strong password is an important aspect to consider.