Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

In one of the most important cybersecurity regulatory developments in recent memory, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently adopted new cybersecurity disclosure requirements for publicly traded companies, including a requirement to publicly disclose a “material” cybersecurity incident in Form 8-K within four business days of determining that it is material.

Critical Security Controls are a set of cybersecurity principles and actions that list defense tactics and best practices to mitigate against popular cyber-attack methods. But what makes them so valuable is that the framework prioritizes a small number of actions that all work to significantly reduce cybersecurity risk across your network. Keep reading to learn more about CIS controls, as well as which controls are essential for successful cyber defense.

Bitsight has identified nearly 100,000 exposed industrial control systems (ICS) owned by organizations around the world, potentially allowing an attacker to access and control physical infrastructure such as power grids, traffic light systems, security and water systems, and more. ICSs — a subset of operational technology (OT) — are used to manage industrial processes like water flow in municipal water systems, electricity transmission via power grids, and other critical processes.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a framework for data protection that gives strict obligations for organizations within the European Union. For many businesses, understanding and implementing GDPR vendor management is a daunting task. That’s why we are going to break down what GDPR vendor management is, who is involved in it, and what the requirements are.

Open port vulnerabilities pose a significant security risk to your organization. If left exposed, ports are a gateway for hackers to breach your network and steal your data. But what are open ports, why are they a security risk, and what can you do to close open port vulnerabilities? Let’s answer your open port questions.

Enterprise risk management (ERM) frameworks allow organizations to identify, assess, manage, and monitor risks across all levels of an organization. One of the most well-known approaches to ERM is the COSO ERM framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The framework offers guidelines and best practices for organizations seeking to achieve a balanced perspective on risk.

Risk mitigation is at the heart of cybersecurity. By connecting to the Internet, implementing upgraded IT systems, or adding a new vendor to your organization, you are automatically exposing your business to some level of cyber risk. With outsourcing on the rise and a growing reliance on vendors who are processing, storing, and transmitting sensitive data, assessing and mitigating risk is becoming increasingly important.

Welcome back to our Overcoming Cybersecurity Headwinds blog series—inspired by my latest webinar about third party risk with Marc Crudginton, CISO at Howard Hughes Corporation. In our last blog, we explored the wisdom of centrally managing cyber risk efforts across your organization and your third-party supply chain—a strategy that helps you do more with less in an era of budget constraints. Today, we dive deeper into the core of efficient Third Party Risk Management (TPRM): Automation.

Historically, IT and OT have operated in separate worlds, each with distinct goals and protocols. IT, shaped by the digital age, has always emphasized the protection of data integrity and confidentiality. In this space, a data breach can lead to significant consequences, making it crucial to strengthen digital defenses. On the other hand, OT, a legacy of the Industrial Revolution, is all about ensuring machinery and processes run without interruptions.

This post is part of an ongoing series where you’ll hear directly from Vanta’s own Security, Enterprise Engineering, and Privacy, Risk, & Compliance Teams to learn about the team’s approach to keeping Vanta—and most importantly, our customers—secure. In today’s post, you’ll hear from Rob Picard, who leads Vanta’s Security team, and Matt Cooper, who leads Vanta’s Privacy, Risk, & Compliance team. ‍