Technology is developing at an incredible rate. Things we thought impossible 20 years ago are now standard practice in today’s society. We now have the ability to work online in creative ways, and we no longer have to be in the same room to work collaboratively. But with the vast possibilities that technology offers us,…
Cybersecurity is the process of meeting standards and regulations that ensure companies are secure. These standards can be general, like GDPR, or industry-specific, like HIPAA for healthcare providers and COBIT for tech businesses, among many others. Depending on your business, different standards will have different implications. For example, if you’re in the healthcare industry and…
When financial information, sensitive employee data, and customer information are not protected, cybercrimes and data theft can harm a small business’s brand and growth. As a result, creating and implementing a thorough cyber security policies to make sure your small business has the necessary security measures in place is essential. Cyber security policy aids in…
The environment for cyber threats is constant and ever-changing. Every day, new vulnerabilities are discovered. Attacks are becoming more complicated and innovative, smoothly getting under the radar of conventional detection tools. The same is for the climate of companies – it isn’t constant either. Every time a business makes a change—whether it’s adding new network…
The networks that power your organization can also pose huge liabilities. Avoiding bad outcomes – like hacks, and breaches – is an impossible job without a strong plan in place. A network security policy is an official document outlining the rules and procedures for ensuring the safety of your networks and users. By defining a…
Cybersecurity breaches are more common than ever before. They strike businesses and organizations of all types and sizes every day. While some intrusions are minor, others are more significant and cost companies millions of dollars – or more. Some intrusions are even catastrophic. Investing in network security monitoring is an effective way to protect your…
In 2022, we know that cybersecurity is a living facet of any company. You don’t just install a firewall or antivirus and go. You have to continually review and revise your protection to make sure it’s capable of warding off threats of all shapes and sizes. It’s your job to understand their risks and determine…
When it comes to working with technology and data, there are many ways your equipment and information can become compromised. From malware to phishing, all networks are vulnerable to cyberattacks. If you think your company is well overdue for a vulnerability assessment, and your network might be compromised, read on. In this article we’ll show…
Is your organization prepared to defend against today’s cyber threats? From the WannaCry ransomware attack to the Equifax data breach, it’s clear that no company is immune to cybersecurity threats. In fact, 43% of all data breaches involve small and medium-sized businesses, meaning that your company is just as likely to be targeted as a…
Access control is a set of principles that govern who and what can access sensitive information, typically in (but not limited to) computer systems. Proper implementation of access control mechanisms prevents unauthorized access to an organization’s sensitive proprietary data, preventing data leaks, and saving time, energy, and money. With more and more organizations moving to…
No organization would leave its physical doors open to criminals and violent attackers. But, sadly, several organizations have the door guarding their data and digital information wide open to allow the entry of any form of cybersecurity crime. With the fast-rising rate of internet users in the world today, cybersecurity is one sector that is…
According to Gartner researchers, by 2025, more than 85% of enterprises will adopt a cloud-first approach and need to deploy cloud-native architectures and technologies to implement their digital plans properly. “Adopting cloud-native platforms means that digital or product teams will use architectural principles and capabilities to take advantage of the inherent capabilities within the cloud…
The goal of penetration testing is to exploit vulnerabilities or weaknesses in systems, human resources, physical assets, and networks and stress test the effectiveness of the controls that are in place. You will find there are a few types of penetration tests. These include: · Network services · Social…
BlueSteel Cybersecurity, LLC, announced today it has been awarded a new Information Technology (IT) Schedule 70 contract by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). BlueSteel Cybersecurity, a firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, provides a variety of security services for different sectors, with specific needs for the Government that include Application & Network Security, Information Assurance,…
When it comes to cybersecurity, we know that you need to be proactive. If a cyber-attack is made against your company or network, it could lead to information being lost, money stolen, and even the loss of your reputation. In order to prevent this from happening, you need a comprehensive security solution. And with the…
How nice is it to be able to access all of your business or client contacts, emails, calendar events, files, company resources, and network tools without having to maintain multiple devices? To be able to use your preferred device—one you’re accustomed to and likely more productive with—is a must. With the rise of hybrid and…
Cyber monitoring is a process used to continuously observe an IT system to find or detect cyber threats, data breaches, and other potential system vulnerabilities. Unlike other cybersecurity-related services, cybersecurity monitoring is a proactive approach. Investing in this helps your IT team evaluate cyber events to find those that could pose risks or threats to…
As a proactive defense against threat intelligence, continuous cybersecurity monitoring (CSM) automates security monitoring to offer real-time actionable security information. Businesses have quick access to information about their security posture, cyber threats, and vulnerabilities thanks to solutions for continuous security monitoring. As part of a comprehensive network-wide security program, many enterprises are incorporating CSM solutions…
What is CMMC – 2022 Update Despite advancements in cybersecurity technology and methods, the threat of cybersecurity attacks still lingers over the head of most business executives. There’s a good reason for this; a report by Statista shows that in the second quarter of 2022, internet users worldwide dealt with about 52 million data breaches.…
We live in a digital-first world today, where small and large organizations rely on the internet to conduct business. Most companies turn to digital solutions not only for selling products and services, but also utilize these technologies for internal management procedures like storage of customer data, employee information, future projects, and other confidential information. As…
The demand for cyber insurance is starting to increase. As a result, the price of cyber insurance is starting to increase drastically. One of the main reasons for this increase is that cyberattacks, in general, are starting to become a significant problem for all organizations. With an increasing number of organizations operating online, the risk of…
Introduction With the recent upswing in COVID-19, many businesses have now started to realize the benefits of moving their On Premises infrastructure entirely onto a major Cloud based platform, such as that of the AWS or Microsoft Azure. While this does have many advantages to it, one of the common themes that is coming out…
Introduction Ever since the COVID19 pandemic reached its peak last spring, many CISOs were left scrambling trying to deal with the new normal of a 99% Remote Workforce. One of the lessons learned is the dire need for Incident Response (IR) and Business Continuity (BC) plans. But there is still confusion between the two, and…
What Is A Virtual Network? Before even the term “Cloud” became a household term, networks have always existed, in some shape or form. Typically, this involved hardwiring servers together, and using other hardware-based components, such as routers, switches, hubs, firewalls, etc. But given the huge and dramatic advances in technology, especially with the Cloud based…
Introduction There is no doubt that 2021 has probably been the most challenging in terms of the Cyber threat landscape. The biggest catalyst for this has been of course the sheer number of Ransomware attacks that have occurred, across all industries. Unfortunately, this is only expected to get worse in the remaining months of 2022…
Introduction If there is one thing good that the COVID-19 pandemic did to Corporate America was to sound the alarm bells for the CISO to have a good Security Policy in place, which will serve as the benchmark of what to do when another disaster strikes. This was an often-ignored document, but now they are…
Introduction Back in December of 2019, when COVID-19 first started to erupt in the Wuhan province of China, the first thought was it would stay there, and not spread too far. But two years later, the world has been literally turned upside down, and changed in ways that were not even thinkable. This is especially…
A Data Flow Diagram or DFD is a visual representation of the flow of data or information within a certain system. A DFD allows you to understand the transmission of information (delivered to and provided by) by the people taking part in different processes of a system. Any organization can utilize the power of DFDs,…
As the world spins more and more in favor of technology-driven work processes and electronic data, our vulnerability to losing said data as well as information technology infrastructure in the event of a disaster also increases. While cyberattack risks are at their peak, making cybercriminals public enemy number one, we also have mother nature and…
As an information security officer, you must know what IDS and IPS stand for. We will be defining these terms in this article and explaining why they are significant to your role. Knowing all about these tools will help you make the best choice when purchasing one for yourself. So, let’s get started! The following…
If you think it’s infuriating when an app doesn’t allow you to save passwords, email addresses, shipping addresses, or other credentials, you probably need this deep-dive into the world of Zero Trust. In the technological context, Zero Trust may sound pretty much like something straight out of a sci-fi thriller. The reality isn’t far off,…
Probably of the most talked about topics this year has been about the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, also known as the CMMC. This is essentially where all of the contractors and subcontractors from the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) must come into some sort of certification level in order to have the ability to bid on…
This year has definitely been one of the most challenging ones for Cybersecurity, especially when it comes to Ransomware. There probably been more attacks in this regard than ever before. Although certain industries have been targeted, in the end, nobody is immune from it, and any entity can become a victim. The key is in…
Which Are The Safest Browsers To Use? As the Remote Workforce takes a permanent foothold now in the United States, many employees are now using their web browsers to the maximum extent possible, whether it is on a device or their smartphone. Most people tend to think that the most popular browsers such as that…
Microsoft’s 365 suite is one of the biggest and most successful software options for professionals and personal users alike. The suite gives the user access to a wide range of software, including Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Access, Outlook, and more. The latest addition, MS 365, offers enhanced features, an affordable subscription plan, and much more. More than…
Given the transformation that the world has been through, with both the pandemic and what is happening in the Ukraine, businesses are now on their highest guard to protect their digital assets against any looming threats. Because of this, many vendors are now offering different kinds of services, especially when it comes to Vulnerability Scanning…
As we come close to wrapping up Q1 of this year, the Cyber threat landscape is probably far different than what anybody ever imagined last year. A lot of this has been fueled by the recent conflict with Russia and the Ukraine, where the escalated threat of even worse Ransomware is now a reality. The…
Directives for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) have left numerous organizations confused about classifying their information. An executive order 13556 by President Obama on 4th November 2010 established the CUI program. Laws and regulations binding CUI was issued so that policies that dictate how CUI could be used, safeguarded, designated, disseminated, marked, decontrolled, disposed of, or…
Introduction The world of Cybersecurity seems to be centering around a bunch of big buzzwords, techno-jargon, etc. One of these is the term “Cyber Hygiene”. It has become much more prevalent as the COVID19 pandemic continues, and the Remote Workforce is now guaranteed to happen in the long term. What this article hopes to achieve…
Introduction During the last couple of years, one of the biggest waves occurring in the world of Cybersecurity was that of the CMMC. Essentially, this is a mandate set down by the Department of Defense (DoD) that all contractors and sub-contractors that exist in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) must achieve some sort of certification…
Introduction to Cryptocurrencies To some degree or another, most of us have heard of the term Virtual Currency. This is essentially the cloud-based version of traditional paper money. For example, with Ransomware a Cyber attacker wants to be paid with this new type of currency, usually in the form of Bitcoin. There are other types…
When compared to recent Presidential Administrations, the present one has taken great efforts and strides to help mitigate the threats of Cyber threats, especially given the recent wave of Ransomware attacks. In this article, we take a closer look at some of the provisions of the recent Cyber Executive Order, and what it means to…
Even despite the roles that password managers and 2-factor authentication (2FA) play in preventing data hacks, these tools are simply not enough yet to prevent data hacks and breaches. What is needed is a very drastic approach, such as the Zero Trust Framework, in which absolutely no entity is trusted. This is the focal point…
BlueSteel Cybersecurity is extremely proud to announce that we were recognized as one of the leading cybersecurity companies in Maryland by Clutch, the go-to ratings and review platform for the B2B industry. Our team offers intelligent cybersecurity compliance, protection, strategy, and monitoring services for Fortune 5000 organizations. Today, we are cementing our legacy in the…
In the last decade, the world has experienced a surge in technology. Now organizations around the globe are moving toward digital transformation more than ever. According to the Statista stats, in 2013, the digitally transformed enterprises will account for 53.3 trillion US dollars which will be more than 50 percent of the global nominal GDP. Undoubtedly,…
Cyber Security Venture estimates that by the year 2025, the annual cybercrime cost will reach about 10.5 trillion US dollars. These are some alarming figures that only explain the importance of cybersecurity. One of the deadliest cyber-attacks is undoubtedly ransomware that (as the name suggests) demands ransom from the victim. According to the Statista stats, only in…
Organizations across the United States that store sensitive or even processes unclassified information on the government’s behalf must be compliant with NIST-800-171 (National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171). It includes organizations that serve government agencies, research institutes and universities receiving federal grants, and DoD (Department of Defense) contractors. What is NIST-800-171? The…
Let this sink in for a while. If cybercrime were to be measured as a country, it would be the world’s third-largest economy behind China and the United States. It’s expected to cause damages totaling US$6 trillion globally in 2021. These costs include damage and destruction of data, theft of intellectual property, personal, and financial data, disruption,…
One-hundred percent of large corporations will have a CISO position available by 2022. Except there’s one BIG problem. There aren’t enough qualified candidates to fill these roles. Demand for the position at Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies increased by 70 percent in one year. As the second-highest paying tech job in 2019, becoming a CISO is a very lucrative position.…
With 91% of all businesses engaged in some form of digital initiative, each one of those businesses is automatically vulnerable to cyberattacks. Vulnerabilities in a system appear innocent, like a cleverly worded email containing a malicious link, or the loss of an employee’s smartphone, or a transaction with a compromised third-party vendor. Hackers are getting…
As the current pandemic reaches its one-year milestone, there’s an excess of research and trials on remote work policies. Remote work allows a fairer work-life balance for employees and can also boost their satisfaction with the job. However, remote working also has its own share of cons, such as threats of data breaches and contract-based complications. Based…
CUI data can be difficult to label, especially when you are not sure what to look for. This ultimate guide will help you understand what CUI data is and how your organization can identify it! Understanding CUI Data Before you can learn how to properly identify CUI data, you must first have a thorough understanding…
Advances in technology and the advent of web applications have led to where almost everything that people do is done through the Internet. This can be anything from shopping to banking, and even watching movies. The popularity of these web applications also opened the door for hackers and other malicious third parties to exploit security…
Many of the organizational leadership we partner with puts forth tremendous effort when devising well-rounded cybersecurity policies and procedures. Unfortunately, many wrenches can get thrown into even the best-laid plans. Much of the time, the ability to avoid hiccups comes down to the end-users/employees. More specifically, your success hinges upon their ability to adhere to…
Like everything else in business, achieving optimal cybersecurity hygiene requires a level of balance. Of course, robust measures to prevent viruses and online scam artists from stealing vital information are a must. However, budget and scale play a pivotal factor. Arming a small business with a cybersecurity framework and system fit for a multinational corporation…
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification is a new standard for implementing security across the Department of Defense’s (DoD) supply chain. All the Defence Industrial Base (DIB) companies will now require a CMMC certification to work with the DoD on Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) projects. Previously, companies were responsible for their information systems’ security and any…
The CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) are standards-based on ascending maturity levels. It starts with “Basic Cybersecurity Hygiene” and goes up to “Advanced/Progressive.” Depending on the DoD contract being dealt with, the maturity levels have various demands to achieve certification. Here’s a breakdown of how it works: For a list of controls per level, check…
On January 31st last year, the CMMC V1.0 was published. From that point, there’s been more information released, informing the relevant parties about the CMMC Accreditation Body (AB). As time passes, the direction of the CMMC becomes more transparent and concise. And the AB will continue to add details and provide stability to the ecosystem. Currently,…
With the constant evolution in technology, the threat of cyber-attacks has become commonplace. Organizations have to take steps against them and create a culture that is secure and protected. Growing alongside their cybersecurity counterparts, cyber threats are becoming more and more sophisticated, to the point where companies without a cybersecurity culture are unable to defend…
Ransomware is malicious software or malware that is a serious threat to businesses and individuals as well. Attacks of ransomware are increasing day by day, so there is a need to educate users and clients about these kinds of attacks. If we can teach others how to detect an attack, it can show how to…
For the sake of our Cybersecurity Insights framework, let’s define sensitive data: Any information you must protect against unauthorized access is sensitive. The reason for this classified nature usually has to do with ethical or legal requirements, personal privacy, regulatory reasons, trade secrets, and other valuable business information. Essentially, this information is an integral component…
These Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Tools Are Essential for Your Organization Data loss prevention tends to overlap with intrusion prevention systems, system information, event management, endpoint protection, etc. For the sake of our blog, we’ll discuss data prevention as something of a catchall term for what these tools do. Realistically, DLP tools perform the other…
The Department of Defense (DOD) created the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) as an extension of the guidance in NIST SP 800-171 in an effort to better the cyber protection of the Defense Industrial Base, also known as the DIB, and relative information. The CMMC is essentially a compliance stipulation for both new and existing…
Back in the days when computers were only seen in episodes of the original Star Trek, cybercrimes were something humans could never possibly imagine. Companies were more honed into physical crimes—worried about the next Bonnie and Clyde that came to rob their safe. There were also internal threats—employees stealing supplies, money, and written information if…
Key Takeaways An Overview of the CMMC The Department of Defense (DoD) has put together the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) in response to the increase of malicious cyber attacks. It was estimated that malicious cyber activity cost the U.S. economy between $57 billion and $109 billion in 2016. These numbers are expected to increase…
COLUMBIA, MD, October 27, 2020 – BlueSteel Cybersecurity is proud to announce the launch of its full line of intelligent cybersecurity and CMMC services. The company was created to bridge the widening gap between cybersecurity requirements and business operations. BlueSteel Cybersecurity’s unique approach is based on the knowledge that current security policies are often too rigid…
