With few exceptions, businesses of any scale depend on the internet. So, it’s all-important to manage and protect the external attack surface it presents to the world. An organization's external attack surface consists of the totality of possible entry points through which an unauthorized user can access an IT environment. This includes everything from websites, web applications and APIs to remote access points and cloud services.

Ever need to visualize the data your working with? storejson() to the rescue! Let’s re-visit our example for sys.os_release from Feature Friday: Special variables: So, we saw the value of a single key, but if we don’t know what keys are available it can be useful to render the JSON representation. The with attribute in combination with storejson() provides a convenient way to visualize the JSON representation of structured data in CFEngine.

Cybercrime is expected to exceed $10.5 trillion in 2025. To put that into perspective, the total U.S. GDP in 2023 was $21 trillion. So why is cybercrime so profitable? The answer lies in the ‘perfect storm’ of conditions we currently face. Today’s organizations are totally reliant on their digital assets to function. This dependence gives bad actors the opportunity to extract data, digital assets, and money once they are inside a network—often without human intervention.

Apache Kafka is the go-to solution for companies needing to move data fast and efficiently, but here’s the catch—when you’re handling sensitive data, the stakes are high. One misstep in your security configuration, and you’re not just dealing with a hiccup; you could be looking at full-blown security breaches, unauthorized access, or lost data. No one wants that. Yet, many organizations still stumble into the same security pitfalls.

One significant challenge organizations encounter is the management and maintenance of network security infrastructure. Many businesses do not have the in-house expertise or resources required to operate and manage complex firewall systems effectively. Deploying, configuring, and continually updating these systems to protect against the latest threats demands a level of technical proficiency and time investment that can strain internal IT teams.

The first line of defense in any robust IT infrastructure is controlling who can physically access critical hardware and data centers. Implementing security measures like biometric authentication, RFID badges, and access control systems drastically reduces the risk of unauthorized entry. This is particularly crucial for preventing insider threats and external breaches that could lead to data theft or system tampering.

Data fabrics are cohesive data layers that bridge data sources with data consumers, including analytics platforms such as SIEMs. They automate tasks like data ingestion, integration, and curation across diverse data sources, improving the agility and responsiveness of data ecosystems. More specifically, a security data fabric adds additional capabilities, including governance and compliance, security enrichment, and the integration of security events.

Network access control (NAC) is a critical component of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy. As companies adopt increasingly flexible work environments and emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), their networks have expanded rapidly. More users, devices, and access points mean more potential vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. Implementing NAC solutions lets organizations stay securely connected despite relying on a complex, dynamic infrastructure.

Cyber threats are a major concern. Individuals, governments, and businesses all feel the impact. The emergence of advanced persistent threats is one of the most alarming forms of cyber espionage (APTs). These hacks are notable for their intricacy, tenacity, and broad penetration capabilities, whether they target a mobile or web application. APTs can harm the target network, including heightened geopolitical tensions, data theft, and protracted service interruptions.