Network Security Project 2: Tools For 20 Critical Controls

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Network Security Project 2 – Tools for 20 Critical Controls Successful deployment of the 20 Critical Controls will require a sophisticated suite of automated tools to support timely operations. This project is designed for you to survey the available tools and evaluate the tools ability to perform. Survey of Tools For each control Identify the features and requirement for automated tool Find a commercial product that supports this requirement Describe the operation of the tool Demonstrate the operation of the tool if possible Download and experiment with the tool if possible B Integration of tools 1.Identify where in your network architecture these tool would be configured Identify an operational schedule for use of this tool and management of results, alarms, etc What set of tools can be bundled together? Identify such tool sets Report your work Summary of your work Gaps in tools needed to support the 20 Critical Control Overall analysis and conclusions Grading (Team Project) Demonstrates Understanding of the 20 Critical Controls 50% Sound Approach to the Project 20% Sound Results 20% Quality of the analysis and presentation 10%

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The deployment of the 20 Critical Controls (CIS Controls) is a strategic approach to enhance cybersecurity defenses within an organization. To effectively implement these controls, organizations require a comprehensive suite of automated tools capable of supporting timely detection, enforcement, and management of security policies. This paper aims to survey available tools supporting each control, evaluate their features, demonstrate their operation where possible, and analyze how these tools can be integrated into a cohesive security framework.

Methodology

The process involved reviewing the 20 controls outlined by CIS (Center for Internet Security), identifying specific automation requirements for each, researching commercial products that meet these needs, and assessing their operational capabilities. Whenever feasible, the actual operation of these tools has been examined through demonstrations or trial versions. The integration aspect considered where in the network architecture these tools would be most effective and the operational schedules necessary for optimal performance.

Survey and Evaluation of Tools for the CIS Controls

The CIS Controls are categorized to address various aspects of cybersecurity, such as inventory management, vulnerability management, access control, and incident response. For each, specific automated tools are evaluated.

  1. Inventory and Control of Hardware Assets: Tools such as SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor support asset discovery by automating device identification and classification, providing real-time updates. These tools operate by scanning network segments periodically and integrating with asset management databases.
  2. Inventory of Software Assets: Software Asset Management (SAM) tools like Flexera enable automated tracking of software inventories, license compliance, and version control. They function by scanning endpoints and servers regularly, reporting anomalies or unauthorized installations.
  3. Vulnerability Management: Qualys Vulnerability Management automates vulnerability scanning, prioritizes risks, and facilitates remediation workflows. The tool operates by scheduled scans, analyzing system vulnerabilities against common exploit signatures.
  4. Secure Configuration for Hardware and Software: CIS-CAT Pro from CIS supports configuration assessment based on security benchmarks, allowing organizations to automate configuration validation and reporting.
  5. Access Control Management: tools like CyberArk Privileged Access Security automate privileged account management, enforcing least privilege and session monitoring through seamless integration with Active Directory.
  6. Continuous Vulnerability Assessment and Remediation: Tenable Nessus enables ongoing vulnerability detection with easy scheduling, alerting, and reporting features for rapid response.
  7. Malware Defenses: CrowdStrike Falcon offers endpoint detection and response (EDR), with real-time malware detection, analysis, and automated response capabilities.
  8. Data Recovery Capabilities: Acronis Cyber Backup automates data backup and recovery processes, integrating seamlessly with various storage solutions to provide rapid restore options.
  9. Network Monitoring and Defense: PRTG Network Monitor provides real-time network traffic analysis, alerts for anomalous activity, and detailed reports to support intrusion detection and prevention.
  10. Security Awareness and Training: KnowBe4 automates phishing simulations and staff training, with scheduled training modules and progress tracking.

Integration and Deployment of Tools

Integration strategies focus on aligning these tools within the existing network architecture. A typical deployment would involve placing vulnerability scanners and asset discovery tools at network aggregation points such as core switches and firewalls, ensuring comprehensive visibility. Automated tools should be scheduled for regular operation—daily scans for vulnerabilities, weekly configuration audits, and continuous network monitoring.

Operational schedules are crucial—they must balance proactive detection with network bandwidth considerations, often during maintenance windows or low-traffic periods. Managing alarms and alerts involves integrating tools within a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform, which consolidates logs, correlates data, and issues actionable alerts.

Bundling tools for cohesive operation enhances efficiency; for example, integrating vulnerability management, asset discovery, and SIEM solutions can streamline workflows. Vendor-specific suites like Cisco Security Suite or Palo Alto Networks Ecosystem can be considered, depending on the organizational infrastructure.

Gaps and Challenges

Despite the range of available solutions, gaps exist in areas such as real-time threat intelligence integration, automated response mechanisms, and user behavior analytics. Many tools lack seamless interoperability or require extensive manual configuration, highlighting the need for more unified security orchestration platforms.

Overall Analysis and Conclusions

Implementing the 20 Critical Controls through automated tools significantly enhances an organization's security posture by enabling proactive detection, rapid response, and continuous compliance. The selection of tools must consider the specific network architecture, operational requirements, and scalability. Proper integration of these tools into a unified security framework minimizes gaps and reduces response times to incidents.

Automation plays a pivotal role in maintaining an adaptive security environment, particularly when aligned with organizational policies and workflows. Regular evaluation and updates of tools are essential to adapt to evolving threats. While current tools offer robust capabilities, continual advancement and integration into comprehensive Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms are recommended to address remaining gaps and improve overall efficacy.

References

  • Center for Internet Security. (2023). CIS Controls Version 8. https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/
  • Qualys. (2023). Vulnerability Management Solutions. https://www.qualys.com/products/vulnerability-management/
  • CIS. (2023). CIS-CAT Pro Benchmarks. https://www.cisecurity.org/ciscat/
  • CrowdStrike. (2023). Falcon Platform Overview. https://www.crowdstrike.com/endpoint-security-products/falcon-platform/
  • CyberArk. (2023). Privileged Access Security Solutions. https://www.cyberark.com/solutions/privileged-access-security/
  • Flexera. (2023). Software Asset Management (SAM). https://www.flexera.com/products/software-asset-management.html
  • Acronis. (2023). Cyber Backup Solutions. https://www.acronis.com/en-us/business/cyber-backup/
  • Tenable. (2023). Nessus Vulnerability Scanner. https://www.tenable.com/products/nessus
  • PRTG Network Monitor. (2023). Network Management Tool. https://www.paessler.com/prtg
  • KnowBe4. (2023). Security Awareness Training. https://www.knowbe4.com/

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