January 2025 - Page 8 of 20

What is identity and access management (IAM)?

So, to be more precise, identity and access management is a cybersecurity framework that allows companies to assign specific access permissions to individual users within the organization to ensure they can access only the systems, networks, and services necessary for their role. This means that, instead of granting all employees equal access to all resources, businesses can control exactly who has access to their systems and data—and for what purpose.

How does IAM work, exactly?

IAM is just a strategy, so it doesn’t work on its own. Therefore, you need the right tools to be able to enforce it and put it into practice in your business. That’s where IAM systems come in.

By definition, the goal of IAM systems is to perform two core tasks: authentication and authorization. Both of these play a part in making sure that the right person will get access to the right resources for the right reasons. Here’s how it typically works:

First, the IAM system confirms the identity of a user by checking their credentials against a database that holds everyone’s identity and access permissions.
The IAM system grants the user access only to the resources they’ve been assigned.

As you might expect, an IAM system typically comes with a set of dedicated tools that operators can use to easily create, monitor, modify, and delete access privileges for all members of the organization.

The role IAM plays in security

If you’re still asking yourself the question “What is IAM in cybersecurity?”, we are here to tell you that IAM is considered a critical part of cybersecurity these days and that every organization should incorporate it into its cybersecurity strategy. Why? Because IAM security is concerned with reducing identity-related access risks, improving legal compliance, and improving business performance across the entire organization.

What is more, by helping companies manage digital identities and user access to company data, IAM tools make it very hard for non-authorized parties to hack into business networks and cause problems that could lead to big financial losses.

Enterprise identity and access management

As you can probably guess, “enterprise identity and access management” is a phrase that refers to all of the IAM policies, processes, and tools that large-scale businesses can use to manage access to their data and resources more securely and effectively.

Many of today’s enterprise-like organizations have massive IT infrastructures that consist of a vast range of servers, databases, applications, and cloud environments — to which dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of their employees must have easy access. Enterprise IAM solutions are, therefore, a way for those big enterprises to make their resources available to a large number of employees without making any compromises in regard to cybersecurity.

So, even if your business is a global one — that is, you have thousands of employees and run multiple projects around the world — many of the IAM solutions available today are powerful and flexible enough to give you the ability to manage user permissions and prevent unauthorized access with ease.

What is the difference between identity management and access management?

The difference between identity management and access management essentially boils down to the part each of these two frameworks plays in the process of providing users with access to company resources.

Identity management is about (as its name suggests) user identities and the many ways they can be recognized and verified. Access management, on the other hand, deals with giving or withdrawing permissions and access privileges.

IAM regulatory compliance

Many of today’s lawmakers around the world are striving towards creating and introducing new policies that will help protect the digital lives of their citizens. As a result, many of today’s data privacy regulations (including HIPAA, SOC2, PCI DSS, FERPA, and GLBA) require businesses to follow strict IAM policies, which means they are obligated to manage access to data very carefully.

As you can expect, however, identity and access management solutions can be used to meet some of the compliance requirements (including, of course, IAM compliance)—which is also one of the reasons why enterprises are interested in making them part of their IT environments.

Let us provide you with an example. To comply with the already-mentioned information security standard called PCI DSS, a vendor is required to establish strict IAM policies (including rules that clearly define user identities, authentication, and authorization methods), and processes that restrict access to environments where cardholder data is stored. Only with such IAM policies in place can a vendor become fully compliant with the PCI DSS standard.

Identity and access management benefits

Implementing IAM solutions offers numerous benefits for businesses, regardless of their size or location. These include:

Enhanced cybersecurity – IAM solutions can help all businesses – no matter their size or location – prevent data breaches and protect themselves against malware, identity theft, and phishing attacks.
Simplified work for IT administrators — With the use of IAM tools, IT administrators can develop new, advanced security policies and processes and implement them across the entire organization in a blink of an eye.
Real-time monitoring of company data access — IAM solutions allow you to remain in control of who can access what at your organization.
Ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations — IAM systems are designed to help users comply with legal requirements such as HIPAA, SOC2, and PCI DSS.
Minimizing financial and reputational losses — By allowing you to prevent fraudulent activities and unauthorized use of company resources, IAM solutions can help you maintain business continuity and avoid costly downtime.

Enterprise identity and access management with NordPass

NordPass Enterprise, an encrypted password, and passkey management platform, can be used as an IAM tool to securely provide members of your organization with access to company data, systems, and applications. How so?

First of all, when you use the Business version of the NordPass platform, you can share an unlimited number of digital entry points that you can assign to different departments or teams. This means that you can fully control access to shared credentials, payment information, and other sensitive data across the entire organization. Moreover, thanks to features such as the Activity Log, you can easily monitor all company logins to know exactly who accessed what and when.

Second, NordPass uses multi-factor authentication (MFA), as well as the single sign-on (SSO) authentication method, to identify and verify each and every user once they try to access one of the company accounts. The platform is equipped with three MFA options — an authenticator app, a security key, and backup codes — so that you can provide your team members with a few options in regard to how they can gain access to company resources.

Third, NordPass can help you achieve regulatory compliance. As mentioned, some standards (e.g., HIPAA and NIST) require organizations to implement secure access management solutions. With NordPass, not only can you easily manage access privileges, but you can also establish rules, procedures, and policies that will allow your company to meet certain specifications.

Of course, the fact that NordPass is an encrypted password management solution also means that you and your team members can use it to securely and easily generate, store, manage, and share company credentials. This is something that IAM tools cannot do — just as they cannot run password health check-ups or scan for data breaches to see if any of the credentials, payment information, or emails have been compromised – but NordPass can.

About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.

The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Essential software development security best practices to reduce risks

Summary: Focus on security from the start with MFA, safe defaults, and input validation. Prevent SQL injection, XSS, and memory exploits.

Cyber-attacks are growing more frequent and damaging. Critical sectors like healthcare and education are common targets. Threat actors are quick to exploit weak software. This leaves companies and users struggling to keep up. But there’s a better approach: build security into software from the start.

In 2023, CISA launched its Secure by Design campaign. It highlights the need for secure software development and corporate accountability. High-profile breaches like SolarWinds and Kaseya show the risks of weak defenses. They also show why software makers must take the lead on security.

This article will explore software development security best practices. It’s based on CISA’s guidelines and Secure Software Development Lifecycle ideas. Following these practices reduces risks and builds stronger, safer systems.

Why secure software development matters

Everyone agrees security is critical in software development, yet it’s often unclear how to achieve it. Without secure processes, businesses risk deploying vulnerable applications that bad actors can exploit.

Vulnerabilities by design

Technology powers every aspect of modern life. Internet-facing systems connect critical functions like healthcare and identity management. These innovations improve convenience but also create significant risks. Cyber-attacks have disrupted hospitals, leading to canceled surgeries and delayed care. A single flaw can let attackers exploit systems, threatening lives and data.

Secure software development tackles these risks by focusing on security from the start. Manufacturers who adopt secure design principles take responsibility for reducing risks. Features like default encryption and user authentication ensure fewer vulnerabilities for users.

Historical challenges with patching

Relying on patches after deployment creates extra work for users. For example, if a security flaw is discovered, customers must apply the fix themselves. This process can take time, leaving systems exposed to cyber-attacks. A real-world example is the WannaCry attack, which exploited unpatched systems worldwide.

Secure by Design addresses these challenges by fixing vulnerabilities before product launch. For instance, testing software for common weaknesses, like injection flaws, reduces the need for patches later. This approach aligns with secure software development lifecycle practices, saving time and boosting trust in the software.

Secure by design principles

Secure by Design means building security into every product from the beginning. A good example is adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a standard feature. It ensures users have a second layer of protection beyond passwords. Another example is setting safe defaults, like requiring strong passwords or enabling automatic updates.

Manufacturers should also follow software development security best practices, such as performing risk assessments during development. This step identifies potential threats and includes defenses against them. For instance, a defense-in-depth strategy can add multiple layers of protection, like firewalls, secure access controls, and network monitoring tools.

Reducing customer burden

Good software should make security easier for users. For instance, automated updates prevent users from forgetting critical patches. Another example is providing built-in network monitoring tools that alert about potential issues without manual setup. These features contribute to cloud security and cybersecurity resilience.

Manufacturers can also provide clear instructions to users. For example, warning users when they change secure default settings helps maintain safety. By easing the burden on customers, manufacturers ensure better protection and fewer missteps. Conducting security awareness training for users can further enhance security.

Leading by example in secure software

Some companies set the standard for secure development by making it a priority. For example, they use features like Cloud Firewall to support network segmentation. This strengthens security in development environments by blocking unauthorized access. It helps protect users, safeguard intellectual property, and improve access controls.

A strong example is a company implementing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to limit system access. By requiring users to verify identity and devices, they reduce risks. Such practices, combined with secure coding practices, highlight the value of adopting a secure software development framework.

Common cyber-attacks for software development

1. SQL Injection

SQL injection (SQLi) is a dangerous cyber-attack targeting databases. It happens when bad actors add malicious code to input fields. This trick lets them bypass normal security checks and access data. For example, they can use a login form to steal sensitive information. SQL injection remains one of the most common web application vulnerabilities.

The impact of SQL injection is severe. It allows attackers to steal or delete sensitive data. In some cases, they can even take full control of the system. For example, an attacker might enter “OR 1 = 1” into a login field. This tricks the database into granting access without a password. According to reports, SQLi attacks accounted for 23% of major vulnerabilities in 2023.

Organizations handling sensitive data are prime targets. SQL injection attacks can expose personal records, financial data, and trade secrets. For instance, an attacker could use SQLi to steal customer payment information. In extreme cases, attackers have deleted entire databases. Such attacks often result in financial loss, lawsuits, and reputational damage.

SQL injection can also exploit error messages to learn about a system. Some attacks use “stacked queries” to execute multiple commands at once. For example, “DROP TABLE Users;” can delete critical data. In another example, attackers might extract usernames and passwords using the “UNION” SQL operator. This type of attack affects industries like retail, travel, and finance the most.

Preventing SQL injection requires strong secure coding practices. Developers should use prepared statements and validate all user input. Web application firewalls (WAFs) add an extra layer of defense. Regular security audits and vulnerability scans help catch issues early.

2. Command injection

Command injection is a critical software vulnerability. It lets attackers run harmful commands on systems. These commands can grant unauthorized access or full system control.

This issue arises when user input isn’t validated properly. Attackers craft input to manipulate how commands are executed. For example, CVE-2024-20399 involved crafted input to exploit Cisco NX-OS software. This allowed attackers to execute commands with root privileges.

The CVE-2024-20399 flaw affected many Cisco devices, including Nexus and MDS switches. A China-linked group called “Velvet Ant” used it in a cyber-espionage campaign. They targeted network devices to maintain long-term access to organizational systems.

Secure design practices, like input validation, can prevent these issues. Separating commands from input can reduce risks and stop attackers from exploiting systems.

3. Cross-site scripting (XSS)

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a common vulnerability in web applications. It happens when an application does not validate or sanitize user inputs. This allows bad actors to inject malicious scripts into the application. These scripts can then run on the browser of another user.

Attackers use XSS to manipulate or steal user data. For example, they might inject code into a comment section on a website. When another user views the comment, the script could steal their session cookies. These cookies can give attackers access to the victim’s account. XSS can also redirect users to fake login pages or load harmful files.

XSS is a big problem because it is widespread and preventable. A report from the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) lists XSS as one of the most common web application security issues. Proper input validation and using secure coding practices can stop these attacks. Modern web frameworks also help by encoding data to prevent malicious code execution.

Businesses need to take XSS seriously because it can harm many users. One mistake in code can expose millions of people to risk. Regular code reviews, automated tools, and aggressive security testing can help eliminate this threat. Addressing XSS early in the secure software development process is essential to protect applications and their users.

4. Exploitation of known vulnerabilities

Bad actors often exploit known vulnerabilities in software, tracked by unique IDs called CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). These vulnerabilities are listed publicly to help organizations manage and fix security flaws. When actively exploited, attackers use them to spread malware, steal data, or lock systems with ransomware. For example, some types of malware, like worms, spread automatically without user interaction, underscoring the urgency of remediation.

The KEV catalog highlights vulnerabilities actively exploited in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize fixing these issues using automated tools to save time and reduce risks. Installing updates, removing outdated software, or applying temporary fixes are key steps to protect systems from exploitation.

5. Memory safety exploits

Memory safety exploits are a common and serious threat. These happen when software written in memory-unsafe languages, like C or C++, mishandles memory. Mistakes in managing memory can cause vulnerabilities like buffer overflows or use-after-free errors. These allow attackers to take control of software, systems, or data. For example, a buffer overflow can let attackers execute malicious code.

Most open-source software (OSS) projects rely on memory-unsafe languages. About 52% of critical OSS projects analyzed include memory-unsafe code. In total, 55% of the lines of code in these projects are written in unsafe languages. Even projects written in memory-safe languages often depend on unsafe components. This increases the risk of memory safety vulnerabilities spreading through dependencies.

The largest OSS projects are more likely to have unsafe code. Among the ten biggest projects analyzed, the median unsafe code usage is 62.5%. In four of these projects, over 94% of the code is unsafe.

These vulnerabilities are especially dangerous in performance-critical software, like operating systems or cryptography tools. Attackers target these systems to exploit weaknesses.

Using memory-safe programming languages, like Rust, can reduce these risks. These languages automatically handle memory management, which helps prevent errors. However, developers sometimes disable safety features to improve performance. This can create new vulnerabilities. Memory safety exploits remain a major challenge and require secure coding practices to minimize risks.

Software development security best practices

Implementing software development security best practices is vital for creating secure applications. These strategies help protect users from security risks while improving software reliability. When applied throughout the secure software development lifecycle, they address vulnerabilities and strengthen defenses. Below are key principles and approaches to ensure secure software and reduce evolving threats.

1. Secure by default practices

Ensuring software is secure “out of the box” minimizes user burden and proactively addresses security vulnerabilities. This approach forms a foundation for secure software development.

Eliminate default passwords. Replace default credentials with strong, unique passwords during setup. For example, enforce minimum password lengths and block known compromised passwords to protect secure access.
Conduct field tests. Evaluate software security features in real-world environments. Insights from red team exercises can identify gaps in firewall settings or weak points in VPN implementations.
Discourage unsafe legacy features. Phase out insecure protocols like outdated TLS versions. Use seamless upgrade paths and in-product alerts to encourage the adoption of safer options while maintaining compatibility with cloud security standards.

2. Secure product development practices

Embedding secure coding practices into every stage of the secure software development framework ensures long-term protection against threats and enables secure development.

Document secure SDLC framework conformance. Use frameworks like the NIST Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) to guide development. Publish security requirements and justify alternative approaches for unique use cases in cloud computing environments.
Mature vulnerability management. Move beyond patching to address root causes of security vulnerabilities. For example, implement quality improvement strategies to prevent recurring issues in applications involving VPN or network monitoring tools.
Foster a workforce that understands security. Conduct security awareness training to educate developers on secure coding practices. Integrate security topics into hiring processes and collaborate with institutions to strengthen cybersecurity skills among future developers.

3. Application hardening techniques

Application hardening strengthens software against exploitation by reducing security risks and making it more resilient.

Validate user input. Prevent common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting by sanitizing inputs. For example, in cloud computing environments, validate APIs to protect data integrity.
Adopt memory-safe programming. Use languages like Rust to eliminate memory-related security vulnerabilities. This is particularly critical in applications involving sensitive operations like network monitoring or firewall configurations.
Implement cryptographic safeguards. Secure sensitive data with encryption and hardware-backed key management. For instance, use hardware modules to store keys securely in VPN or cloud security systems.

4. Reducing attack surfaces

Minimizing unnecessary exposure is a critical component of software development security best practices. Reducing attack surfaces enhances secure software development.

Remove unused features. Disable or eliminate features no longer needed, such as legacy APIs. For example, retiring outdated services in cloud computing environments reduces security risks.
Create secure configuration templates. Provide templates tailored for low, medium, and high-risk environments. This simplifies secure development while ensuring adherence to security requirements.
Implement attention-grabbing alerts. Notify users of unsafe configurations like admin accounts without MFA. For instance, persistent alerts can improve software security by encouraging secure settings in applications.

5. Balancing security and usability

Effective security practices must balance protection with usability. A focus on user experience ensures that secure software development lifecycle measures are effectively implemented.

Reduce hardening guide complexity. Simplify guides for end users by automating security configurations. For instance, automated firewall rules and VPN policies can be used to streamline setup.
Provide clear nudges. Regular reminders encourage users to address potential security risks, such as enabling MFA or updating to more secure cloud security protocols.
Innovate thoughtfully. Design intuitive security features like Single Sign-On (SSO) to reduce friction for users. For example, SSO simplifies access without compromising secure access protocols.

These strategies ensure strong cybersecurity, effective protection in cloud computing, and robust safeguards through tools like VPN, firewall, and network monitoring.

Common mistakes to avoid

Building secure software requires careful planning and attention to detail. Common mistakes are grouped into product properties, security features, and organizational processes.

Product properties

Using memory-unsafe languages

Developing software in memory-unsafe languages like C or C++ without a roadmap to reduce vulnerabilities increases security risks. These languages can introduce critical flaws like buffer overflows, leaving systems exposed.

Software manufacturers should adopt a secure software development framework with a memory safety roadmap. Prioritize fixing vulnerabilities in sensitive areas, such as network-facing code and cryptographic functions. Following secure coding practices will significantly lower the likelihood of such security vulnerabilities.

Default passwords

Shipping products with default passwords is a dangerous practice. Default credentials are often easy to guess or publicly documented, making systems vulnerable to unauthorized access.

Always require users to set unique, strong passwords during installation.

Security features

Lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Failing to include MFA in products that authenticate users significantly weakens security. Passwords alone are insufficient to protect against breaches.

Ensure MFA is supported in all products, especially for admin accounts. This practice is crucial for secure development and reducing security risks in critical systems. Aligning MFA with a secure software development lifecycle further strengthens defenses.

Inadequate logging for intrusions

Products without robust logging capabilities make it difficult for customers to detect and investigate intrusions. Logs should include critical data, such as configuration changes and user activities.

Software manufacturers should provide industry-standard logging features. For SaaS and cloud computing products, include at least six months of log retention. Enhanced network monitoring and cloud security tools help organizations meet key security requirements.

Organizational processes

Releasing software with known vulnerabilities

Releasing software that includes known exploitable vulnerabilities undermines security. Attackers often exploit these flaws before patches are issued.

Manufacturers must follow secure software development lifecycle practices, including scanning for vulnerabilities before release. Maintain a software bill of materials (SBOM) to track dependencies and ensure timely updates. Cloud security solutions and firewalls can further mitigate these risks.

Failing to disclose vulnerabilities

Not publishing CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) for critical flaws reduces transparency and puts users at risk. Customers depend on timely information to manage vulnerabilities.

Publish CVEs for all high-impact vulnerabilities promptly. Include details like CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) codes to guide customers in understanding and mitigating risks. Conduct security awareness training for teams to improve processes and meet secure software development security requirements.

Case study: Successful software security with NordLayer

WeTransfer needed a reliable and flexible VPN to support global operations and meet ISO 27001 standards. Their outdated, on-site VPN couldn’t handle an office move or provide secure access for teams across 130+ regions. This created risks like phishing and ransomware.

NordLayer’s cloud-native solution offered a Dedicated server with Fixed IP for secure connectivity, Shared Gateway locations for secure internet access, and adaptive Okta integration to improve access control.

Switching to NordLayer improved operations. Developers can work faster with reduced network latency and secure access via NordLayer’s Business VPN. NordLayer also supported WeTransfer’s ISO 27001 compliance efforts. NordLayer’s platform helped WeTransfer secure its network and protect millions of users worldwide.

Explore our cybersecurity solutions for software development, or contact our sales team to learn how NordLayer can secure your operations.

About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.

The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Nord Security 2025 NordLayer

Centralized Log Management for the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)

The financial services industry has been a threat actor target since before digital transformation was even a term. Further, the financial services organizations find themselves continuously under scrutiny. As members of a highly regulated industry, these companies need to comply with various laws to ensure that they effectively protect sensitive data.

The adoption of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) places additional resilience compliance requirements on the European financial sector, ones that centralized log management can help them manage.

What is the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)?

Formally adopted by the European Parliament and goes into effect on January 17, 2025, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) established uniform network and information system security requirements across the financial sector and the third-parties that provide Information Communication Technology (ICT) services, including cloud platforms and data analytics services.

The DORA regulatory framework requires organizations to make sure they can withstand, respond to, and recover from ICT-related disruptions and threats. It sets out standardized requirements for preventing and mitigating cyber threats across all European Union (EU) member states.

Who will DORA apply to?

To achieve DORA’s resilience goals, the regulation applies to a long list of entities within the financial services industry and third-parties that enable them, including:

Credit institutions
Payment institutions
Account information service providers
Electronic money institutions
Investment firms
Crypto-asset services providers
Central security depositories
Central counterparties
Trading venues and repositories
Managers of alternate investment funds
Management companies
Data reporting service providers
Insurance and reinsurance undertakings
Insurance, reinsurance, and ancillary insurance intermediaries
Institutions for occupational retirement provision
Credit rating agencies
Administrators of critical benchmarks
Crowdfunding service providers
Securitisation repositories
ICT third-party service providers

What are DORA’s key provisions?

Section II outlines DORA’s key requirements including:

Article 6 ICT risk management framework: strategies, policies, procedures, ICT protocols and tools necessary to protect information and ICT assets
Article 7 ICT systems, protocols and tools: use and maintain updated ICT systems, protocols and tools that are appropriate to operational magnitude, reliable, equipped with sufficient capacity, and technologically resilient
Article 8 Identification: identify, classify, document, and engage in a risk analysis for all information and ICT assets and processes, including those on remote sites, network resources, and hardware equipment
Article 9 Protection and prevention: develop, document, implement, and maintain security policies and technical controls that protect data confidentiality, integrity, availability, and authenticity and continuously monitor the effectiveness of controls
Article 10 Detection: implement mechanisms and provide sufficient resources to monitor and detect, across multiple layers of control, anomalous activity by using defined thresholds and criteria that trigger and initiate incident response processes
Article 11 Response and recovery: establish and implement an ICT business continuity policy based on a business impact analysis (BIA) that includes dedicated, appropriate, documented, and tested arrangements, plans, procedures, and mechanisms for ensuring critical functions, responding to and resolving incidents, enable incident containment, estimate preliminary impact, damage, and losses, and establish communications and crisis management activities
Article 12 Backup policies and procedures, restoration and recovery procedures and methods: develop, document, implement and test backup, restoration, and recovery policies, procedures, methods, and service level agreements that can be activated without jeopardizing network ir information system security or data availability, authenticity, integrity, or confidentiality
Article 13 Learning and evolving: implement capabilities and staff to gather vulnerability and cyber threat information, develop ICT-security awareness programs, and review incident detection, response, forensic analysis, escalation, and internal and external communication capabilities to improve business continuity
Article 14 Communication: implement crisis communications plans and policies that inform internal staff and external stakeholders about ICT-related incidents or vulnerabilities

For small and non-interconnected investment firms, payment institutions, electronic money institutions, and occupational retirement provisions, or other exempt entities, Article 16 articulates a simplified ICT risk management framework that requires:

Implementing and maintaining an ICT risk management framework with mechanisms and measures that mitigate risk
Continuously monitoring ICT system security and functioning
Protecting data availability, authenticity, integrity, and confidentiality using sound, resilient, and updated ICT systems, protocols, and tools
Promptly identifying and detecting ICT-related risks, incidents, and anomalous activities
Identifying key ICT third-party service provider dependencies
Implementing business continuity plans, response, and recovery measures, including backup and restoration
Testing risk mitigation measures, data protections, and business continuity plans
Implementing changes based on tests and post-incident analyses, including changes to ICT risk profile, ICT security awareness programs, and staff and management digital operational resilience training

The Regulatory Technical Standards

On January 17, 2024, the final draft of the Regulatory Technical Standards was published. Under Section V ICT Operations Security, Article 12 Logging defines acceptable procedures, protocols, and tools.

The logging procedures and protocols should:

Identify the events to log
Retain logs for an appropriate time
Enable the secure handling of log data

When using logs to detect anomalous activities, organizations are required to collect log events related to the following:

Identity and access, including logical and physical access control
Capacity management
Change management
ICT operations, including system activities
Network traffic, including performance

The details captured in the logs should align with their purpose and usage to enable accurate alerting and forensic analysis. Under Chapter III, Article 23 organizations shall implement detection mechanisms allowing them to:

Collect, monitor, and analyze internal and external factors, including logs collected according to Article 12
Generate alerts for identifying anomalous activities and behaviors with automated alerts based on predefined rules
Prioritize alerts to manage incidents within the required timeframe
Record, analyze, and evaluate relevant information on all abnormal activities and behaviors either automatically or manually

When establishing criteria that triggers threat detection and incident response (TDIR), organizations shall consider the following criteria:

Indications that malicious actors carried out malicious activity or compromised a system or network
Data losses detected that impact data availability, authenticity, integrity, and confidentiality
Adverse impact on transactions and operations detected
System and network unavailability

Compliance Monitoring For DORA Compliance

Centralized log management with security analytics enables you to continuously monitor your environment and create high-fidelity alerts that enable faster response, investigation, and recovery. To help you meet DORA compliance requirements, you can use your centralized log management solution to support:

Access monitoring
Network monitoring
Endpoint security
Patch management
Data exfiltration/data loss
Incident and response

Further, it enables many of DORA’s key requirements, including:

Threat hunting
Detection with high-fidelity alerts
Remediation of vulnerabilities
Incident investigation

Access Monitoring

Your centralized log management solution ingests access logs from across your environment, including on-premises and cloud-based resources. When paired with user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA), it gives you a robust access monitoring solution to detect and investigate anomalous behavior, even within a complex environment.

By using a centralized log management solution with security analytics, you can engage in security functions like:

Privileged access management (PAM)
Password policy compliance
Abnormal privilege escalation
Time spent accessing a resource
Brute force attack detection‍

Network Monitoring

When monitoring network security, you’re usually correlating and analyzing data from several different tools.

Your firewalls define the inbound and outbound traffic, giving you the ability to detect suspicious activity like data traveling to a cybercriminal-controlled server.

Intrusion detection systems and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) provide visibility into potential evasion techniques. When combined with your firewall data, you have a more complete story.

When the centralized log management solution also incorporates security analytics, you can set baselines for normal network traffic that help you detect anomalies for visibility into a potential security incident.

Data exfiltration

Between credential-based attacks, malware/ransomware attacks, and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), monitoring your systems for data exfiltration is critical to DORA compliance.

If your centralized log management solution provides security analytics that you can combine with threat intelligence, your dashboards and high-fidelity alerts enable you to more rapidly detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents.

For example, when you can aggregate your network monitoring and antivirus logs then correlate them with UEBA to detect anomalies, you can create alerts that provide insights into abnormal data downloads indicating a security incident.

Incident response and automated threat hunting

With lightning fast search and proactive threat hunting capabilities, you can implement a robust incident response plan that enables digital resilience.

For example, if you can create queries using parameters instead of specific values, you can optimize search for real-time answers.

To take a proactive approach, you can create parameterized searches that look for advanced threat activities like:

Abnormal user access to sensitive information
Abnormal time of day and location of access
High volumes of files accessed
Higher than normal CPU, memory, or disk utilization
Higher than normal network traffic

Compliance reporting and post-incident learning

Your senior leadership team needs to know what happened and how quickly you responded, but it may not need the deep technical details. Your centralized log management solutions dashboards can provide the high level visualizations that enable everyone to evaluate the security incident after you restore and recover your systems.

For example, you could use a dashboard to show:

Start of incident: when logs documented changes
Incident activities: what types of changes the logs documented to highlight what the threat actor tried to do
Containment/Eradication: when logs stop reporting the activities indicating the threat actor is no longer acting in the system

Graylog Security: Security analytics without complexity

With Graylog’s security analytics and anomaly detection capabilities, you get the cybersecurity platform you need without the complexity that makes your team’s job harder. With our powerful, lightning-fast features and intuitive user interface, you can lower your labor costs while reducing alert fatigue and getting the answers you need – quickly.

Our prebuilt search templates, dashboards, correlated alerts, and dynamic look-up tables enable you to get immediate value from your logs while empowering your security team.

About Graylog
At Graylog, our vision is a secure digital world where organizations of all sizes can effectively guard against cyber threats. We’re committed to turning this vision into reality by providing Threat Detection & Response that sets the standard for excellence. Our cloud-native architecture delivers SIEM, API Security, and Enterprise Log Management solutions that are not just efficient and effective—whether hosted by us, on-premises, or in your cloud—but also deliver a fantastic Analyst Experience at the lowest total cost of ownership. We aim to equip security analysts with the best tools for the job, empowering every organization to stand resilient in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

2025 Graylog

5 Benefits of Business VPN Solution

1. Secure Data Transmission

Consider sending sensitive information to a client or sharing company reports over an email. Without the right security measures, those communications could be intercepted by hackers. Here, by encrypting your data, a VPN ensures that what you send stays private, no matter what.

Encryption means that any data traveling across your network is scrambled into unreadable code until it reaches the intended recipient. Without encryption, your business is exposed to a whole world of potential breaches. VPNs make sure no one can eavesdrop or manipulate your communications.

So, whether it’s financial information, employee details, or client data, a business VPN is your lock and key for secure data transmission. You’ll never have to worry about sending a document or email and wondering who might be watching.

2. Safe Remote Work Enablement

With employees scattered across the globe, it’s essential to ensure that they can safely access company resources around the world. This secure connection allows them to access company files, applications, and resources without risking exposure to hackers. VPNs create a secure tunnel between the employee’s device and the company network, ensuring no one can hijack the connection.

Plus, with VPNs, you avoid the headaches that come with managing multiple devices and work environments. Whether employees are on a laptop, tablet, or phone, a VPN ensures their connection is secure, empowering them to work from anywhere without compromising security.

3. Prevents DNS Leaks for Enhanced Security

A Domain Name System (DNS) leak can expose sensitive information about your online activities, even when you’re using a secure network. Details like your network’s IP address, browsing history, and the IP addresses of websites visited can fall into the wrong hands. Hackers often exploit this seemingly minor information to launch targeted attacks, such as stealing employees’ login credentials or carrying out phishing scams.

A business VPN prevents DNS leaks by routing all DNS requests through its secure servers instead of your internet service provider (ISP). This ensures that your company’s online activities remain private and protected. By encrypting DNS queries, a VPN minimizes the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and shields your business from potential cyber threats.

4. Simplicity and Power with Veltar VPN

When it comes to balancing security and simplicity, Veltar VPN stands out. Known for its lightweight yet robust encryption, Veltar ensures data integrity without the complexity of traditional VPN protocols. Its streamlined design eliminates unnecessary overhead, making configuration incredibly simple for IT teams while maintaining powerful security features.

Veltar’s minimal codebase not only enhances performance but also reduces the chances of vulnerabilities. Whether it’s setting up secure connections or managing network traffic, the simplicity of Veltar makes it an ideal choice for businesses. With Veltar at its core, a business VPN ensures seamless integration, efficient operation, and uncompromised security, allowing your team to focus on productivity without getting bogged down in technical hurdles.

5. Lower Latency and Faster Performance

One of the standout benefits of WireGuard®-powered VPNs is the ability to offer lower latency and faster performance compared to traditional VPN solutions. Its streamlined design and minimal codebase result in quicker connection speeds and reduced lag, even when accessing resources remotely.

Businesses can enjoy smooth, uninterrupted access to critical tools and data, improving overall productivity. Whether it’s for real-time communication or accessing cloud-based applications, the reduced latency ensures that your teams can work seamlessly, regardless of their location. In a world where speed matters, this performance-enhancing feature provides a crucial advantage for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Essential Benefits of Business VPNs

Unlock the Full Potential of Business VPN with Veltar

Incorporating a VPN into your business operations benefits you with unlocking efficiency, enabling seamless remote work, and safeguarding your competitive edge. With Veltar, you gain more than just a secure tunnel. Powered by WireGuard®, Veltar provides customizable VPN tunneling, enhanced encryption, and centralized management, making it an essential tool for modern businesses.

Whether you need to secure sensitive data, optimize traffic routing, or maintain effortless control through a user-friendly console, Veltar empowers your IT admins to keep your corporate resources protected and accessible.

To know more, contact our experts and schedule a demo. Secure your operations and elevate your business workflows with Veltar.

About Scalefusion
Scalefusion’s company DNA is built on the foundation of providing world-class customer service and making endpoint management simple and effortless for businesses globally. We prioritize the needs and feedback of our customers, making sure that they are at the forefront of all decision-making processes. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive customer support services, and place emphasis on customer-centric thinking throughout the organization.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

2025 Scalefusion

What Is Identity And Access Management?

If you asked an IT expert for a definition of identity and access management, also known as simply “IAM,” they would probably tell you that it is a cybersecurity discipline that, when followed, can help a given organization provide their employees with access to the IT tools that they need to perform their jobs efficiently.

In other words, IAM is a framework that allows companies to significantly boost their cybersecurity. This is done by restricting access to organizational resources to only those people whose identity has been confirmed and who have been assigned specific access privileges.

How does IAM work?

By definition, the goal of today’s IAM systems is to perform two core tasks: authentication and authorization. Both of these play a part in making sure that the right person will get access to the right resources for the right reasons. The process usually goes as follows:

An IAM system confirms the identity of a given user by authenticating their credentials against a database that contains all users’ identities and access privileges.
The IAM system provides that user with access to only those resources to which they were assigned.

An IAM system usually includes a series of dedicated tools which operators can use to easily create, monitor, modify, and delete access privileges for all members of the organization.

The role IAM plays in security

If you’re still asking yourself the question “What is IAM in cybersecurity?”, we are here to tell you that IAM is considered a critical part of cybersecurity these days and that every organization should incorporate it into its cybersecurity strategy. Why? Because IAM security is concerned with reducing identity-related access risks, improving legal compliance, and improving business performance across the entire organization.

What is more, by helping companies manage digital identities and user access to company data, IAM tools make it very hard for non-authorized parties to hack into business networks and cause problems that could lead to big financial losses.

Enterprise identity and access management

As you can probably guess, “enterprise identity and access management” is a phrase that refers to all of the IAM policies, processes, and tools that large-scale businesses can use to manage access to their data and resources more securely and effectively.

Many of today’s enterprise-like organizations have massive IT infrastructures that consist of a vast range of servers, databases, applications, and cloud environments — to which dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of their employees must have easy access. Enterprise IAM solutions are, therefore, a way for those big enterprises to make their resources available to a large number of employees without making any compromises in regard to cybersecurity.

So, even if your business is a global one — that is, you have thousands of employees and run multiple projects around the world — many of the IAM solutions available today are powerful and flexible enough to give you the ability to manage user permissions and prevent unauthorized access with ease.

What is the difference between identity management and access management?

The difference between identity management and access management essentially boils down to the part each of these two frameworks plays in the process of providing users with access to company resources.

Identity management is about (as its name suggests) user identities and the many ways they can be recognized and verified. Access management, on the other hand, deals with giving or withdrawing permissions and access privileges.

IAM regulatory compliance

Many of today’s lawmakers around the world are striving towards creating and introducing new policies that will help protect the digital lives of their citizens. As a result, many of today’s data privacy regulations (including HIPAA, SOC2, and PCI DSS) require businesses to follow strict IAM policies, which means they are obligated to manage access to data very carefully.

Luckily, identity and access management solutions can be used to meet some of the compliance requirements — which is also one of the reasons why enterprises are interested in making them part of their IT environments.

Let us provide you with an example. To comply with the already-mentioned information security standard called PCI DSS, a vendor is required to establish strict IAM policies (including rules that clearly define user identities, authentication, and authorization methods), and processes that restrict access to environments where cardholder data is stored. Only with such IAM policies in place can a vendor become fully compliant with the PCI DSS standard.

Identity and access management benefits

Implementing IAM solutions offers numerous benefits for businesses, regardless of their size or location. These include:

Enhanced cybersecurity – IAM solutions can help all businesses – no matter their size or location – prevent data breaches and protect themselves against malware, identity theft, and phishing attacks.
Simplified work for IT administrators — With the use of IAM tools, IT administrators can develop new, advanced security policies and processes and implement them across the entire organization in a blink of an eye.
Real-time monitoring of company data access — IAM solutions allow you to remain in control of who can access what at your organization.
Ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations — IAM systems are designed to help users comply with legal requirements such as HIPAA, SOC2, and PCI DSS.
Minimizing financial and reputational losses — By allowing you to prevent fraudulent activities and unauthorized use of company resources, IAM solutions can help you maintain business continuity and avoid costly downtime.

Enterprise identity and access management with NordPass

NordPass Enterprise, an encrypted password, and passkey management platform, can be used as an IAM tool to securely provide members of your organization with access to company data, systems, and applications. How so?

First of all, when you use the Business version of the NordPass platform, you can share an unlimited number of digital entry points that you can assign to different departments or teams. This means that you can fully control access to shared credentials, payment information, and other sensitive data across the entire organization. Moreover, thanks to features such as the Activity Log, you can easily monitor all company logins to know exactly who accessed what and when.

Second, NordPass uses multi-factor authentication (MFA), as well as the single sign-on (SSO) authentication method, to identify and verify each and every user once they try to access one of the company accounts. The platform is equipped with three MFA options — an authenticator app, a security key, and backup codes — so that you can provide your team members with a few options in regard to how they can gain access to company resources.

Third, NordPass can help you achieve regulatory compliance. As mentioned, some standards (e.g., HIPAA and NIST) require organizations to implement secure access management solutions. With NordPass, not only can you easily manage access privileges, but you can also establish rules, procedures, and policies that will allow your company to meet certain specifications.

Of course, the fact that NordPass is an encrypted password management solution also means that you and your team members can use it to securely and easily generate, store, manage, and share company credentials. This is something that IAM tools cannot do — just as they cannot run password health check-ups or scan for data breaches to see if any of the credentials, payment information, or emails have been compromised – but NordPass can.

About NordPass
NordPass is developed by Nord Security, a company leading the global market of cybersecurity products.

The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Nord Security 2025 NordPass