Está diseñando un sistema pensando en la comodidad del usuario. ¿Cómo te aseguras de que también sea seguro?

Secure and convenient systems will complement each other. Focus on clear, built-in security features like password managers and 2 factor authentications keep authentications simple with intuitive interfaces and pre-configured settings. Automating tasks and educating users on security practices will also help. Rigorous testing can be adopted to ensure hidden flaws are addressed. This way, security becomes seamless, not a hurdle .

SSO allows users to log in once and access multiple services without re-entering credentials. Integrate SSO with identity providers that support strong security protocols, ensuring secure access across platforms. Complex password policies can frustrate users, leading to poor password practices. Encourage the use of passphrases and implement password managers to store and generate strong passwords. Combine this with MFA for added security. Pre-configure security settings such as encryption, privacy options, and automatic updates to ensure security out of the box. Provide clear, concise training and regular reminders about phishing, safe browsing, and other security practices through interactive tutorials or mandatory training sessions.

It requires a multifaceted approach. To reduce password fatigue, deploy Single Sign-On (SSO) to streamline access and allow users to log in once for numerous applications. Add Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add a crucial degree of protection, requiring a text message code or authentication app. Use biometric authentication like fingerprint or face recognition for security and convenience. Use Adaptive Authentication to adapt security based on user behaviour and context, like location and device. To encourage strong, unique passwords, enforce strong password regulations and provide safe password management tools. Promote security awareness by periodically educating users about phishing and secure procedures.

User Auth (/ bypass) is becoming one of the most prevalent forms of security challenges we are facing. Tech around users is functionally good (if implemented well) especially MFA and SSO but there is inherent weaknesses around the human. Two contexts: 1. The human "user" who is susceptible to induced error (not just phishing) 2. The human driven security teams who deploy such solutions. The technical controls available to us are good, but not even well-trained eyes can spot human-factor abuse now. I do not refer to phishing here as its become so much more than that. MFA is only part of the solution as the context is now much greater. We see misconfigurations, controls failure, bypass scenarios daily. MFA itself = not the solution.

By thoroughly vetting vendors, drafting explicit security expectations in contracts, and educating your team on fundamental security principles and common threats, you establish a strong foundation for a secure environment. Implementing advanced protocols, such as firewalls, encryption, strong passwords, regular software updates, and multi-factor authentication, further fortifies your defenses. By making these concepts accessible and emphasizing their importance, you empower your team to take proactive steps in maintaining security, ultimately protecting your organization from potential breaches and ensuring continuous, secure operations.

Educating users on the significance of encryption is crucial. It helps them understand how encryption safeguards their data privacy and confidentiality. Designing systems to automatically encrypt data by default simplifies security practices for users, ensuring that sensitive information is consistently protected without requiring additional user intervention. By implementing these practices, organizations can uphold data security standards effectively, mitigating risks associated with data breaches and unauthorized access.

Again, like MFA is it the encryption that gets broken? Often no. Bad actors attack the system top gain privilege to then use its own decryption process to bypass the fact that the encryption is there. OR we attack the user; the human-factor specifically, that has access and priv to the data that is of course decrypted for them to be able to use it. We need to think laterally here. Yes, we must tackle encryption challenges, we must deploy it (including protecting the architecture, following best practice, and preventing other standard vectors for breach) but its the overall system again that we see gets compromised. Data in transit, rest or even running is absolutely crucial for good design but we must model the other ways to break it.

In my experience, it is found that the strong encryption standards for data at rest can greatly help in protection against the unauthorized use of sensitive information. In our case, the database got encrypted using a method which was known as AES-256.

Integrate security features seamlessly into the user experience. For example, use background encryption processes that don’t require user intervention or offer password managers that simplify the creation and storage of strong passwords.

Data encryption is critical in securing sensitive information both at rest and in transit. Use strong, industry-standard algorithms like AES-256 for data at rest and TLS for data in transit. To maintain user convenience, ensure that encryption processes are transparent to the user, with automatic encryption and decryption as data moves in and out of your system. This method secures data without impacting the user experience.

Something that has helped somewhat is minimizing user disruption by automating the update process. One assignment we did was to configure our systems to automate updates in off-peak hours, so that essential patches were applied without disrupting the daily operations.

To maintain system security, it's essential to regularly update software and applications. It's crucial to communicate the significance of updates to users clearly. Emphasize that updates are essential for protecting against emerging threats and maintaining the integrity of their data. Provide straightforward instructions for instances where user involvement is required, ensuring they understand how to proceed effectively. By prioritizing regular updates and employing automated mechanisms, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture, reducing the risk of security breaches and ensuring ongoing protection of sensitive information.

Regular updates are hygiene. I have always thought of the wonders of patching - the vendor assimilates and understands the bug, creates clever solutions, distributes the solution. Marvellous isn't it all that engineering. We then fail to deploy it. I advocate for patching yes, but that is not a binary matter or patch or don't patch. There is risk assessment, critical path analysis to ensure our workflow and processes are not disrupted etc. So perhaps we should patch what is material; what is important. And the focus the rest of our attention on making sure our controls are working correctly and we have thought about the bigger picture. No point patching a low level, non exploitable bug, if we have failed to deploy MFA for example!

Keeping your system secure without burdening the user involves maintaining and updating your software regularly. Automate software updates to ensure that they're applied as soon as they're available, minimizing vulnerabilities. For user convenience, schedule updates during low-usage times and provide users with clear information on what the update entails and why it's necessary for their security.

Keep the system updated with the latest security patches. Automate updates where possible to reduce the burden on users while ensuring the system remains secure against known vulnerabilities.

APIs are the hidden gems of ways into applications. They can be vast and undocumented. But we must manage our tokens and keys too! I cannot stress how many leakages of keys such as OAuth2 keys and other creds we find as part of this analysis. Why hack the API when we can simply find and pickup the key in a Git repo thats public, or on Postman etc. We see this ALL THE TIME! So much energy goes into secure architecture design, pen testing, red teaming etc and even EDR and SOC etc .... only for the breach to happen with the keys to the house and through normal behavious that goes undetected. We must address the fundamentals around our code and deployments and testing as well as secure the API. Its the fundamentals again.

When integrating third-party services via APIs, security is paramount. Ensure all APIs are secured through authentication tokens, SSL/TLS encryption, and access controls that limit data exposure. Regularly review and update API security policies and test integrations for vulnerabilities. Keeping API interactions secure and efficient helps maintain system integrity and user trust without compromising convenience.

Secure APIs protect data and services from unauthorized access. Key practices: use strong authentication (API keys, OAuth), validate inputs, enforce HTTPS, limit data exposure, rate-limit requests, monitor usage, employ error handling, and regularly update API security measures. This prevents breaches, mitigates attacks, and ensures data integrity and confidentiality.

User awareness and education is one of the key aspects in creating a right environment in any business. As far as Information security is concerned the same assumes much more prudence. The users need to be educated about cyber safe world through infosec tips , awareness posters and training sessions followed by an assessment quiz. Awareness can really save an organization from a potential cyber attack on its critical information infrastructure only by sensitising its team members. Thats the real power of user awareness of being cost effective but extremely result driven.

Educate users about security best practices, such as recognizing phishing attempts and the importance of updating software. Regular, concise training sessions can empower users to make safer choices without feeling overwhelmed.

Educating users about security is a proactive way to enhance system safety. Create simple, engaging educational content that explains common security risks and best practices. Regularly update training materials to cover new threats and encourage secure behavior. Make education part of the user experience, integrating tips and advice directly into the user interface to reinforce security without sacrificing convenience.

User education enhances security awareness and practices. Key aspects: provide regular training on phishing, password management, and safe browsing; simulate attacks for practice; promote the use of strong, unique passwords and MFA; update users on the latest threats; and encourage reporting of suspicious activities. This builds a security-conscious culture and reduces the risk of human error.

Continuous monitoring is fine. But have we tuned such monitoring. This is one of my top concerns of the moment. We are in a perfect storm; 1. Resource crunch 2. Vendors mis-selling monitoring solutions 3. Lack of investment in the long-tail of deployment 4. Infrequent simulations aka Purple 5. A dependency on third parties 6. A lack of accountability 7. Dependency on AI Monitoring should be transparent and seamless (no pun intended). But it should also be educated and not reliant on AI to fill the gaps. We face the challenge that we have to spread our resources thinly and that they may not have the knowledge or context too. Companies also do not know their key assets (not ideal). Monitoring depends on fundamentals done well.

Implement continuous monitoring tools to detect and respond to security threats in real-time. Use automated systems to track unusual access patterns or behaviors that could indicate a security breach. This proactive monitoring allows you to address potential issues before they impact the user, maintaining both security and system performance.

Continuous monitoring ensures ongoing security and compliance. Key practices: use automated tools to track system activity, set up alerts for suspicious behavior, regularly review logs, perform vulnerability scans, update threat intelligence, and conduct periodic audits. This helps detect and respond to threats in real-time, maintaining a strong security posture.

Beyond these core areas, consider implementing a comprehensive incident response plan and regularly testing your security measures through penetration testing and security audits. Privacy by design should be a cornerstone of your development process, ensuring that user data is protected at every stage. Lastly, foster a culture of security within your organization, where every team member understands their role in maintaining security and enhancing user convenience.