Identity and access management
Identity is often considered the perimeter in infosec, especially as traditional enterprise perimeters dissolve. Identity and access management is critical to maintain data security. From passwords to multifactor authentication, SSO to biometrics, get the latest advice on IAM here.
Top Stories
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News
19 Dec 2024
BeyondTrust SaaS instances breached in cyberattack
BeyondTrust, a privileged access management vendor, patched two vulnerabilities this week after attackers compromised SaaS instances for a 'limited number' of customers. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Dec 2024
10 cybersecurity predictions for 2025
AI will still be a hot topic in 2025, but don't miss out on other trends, including initial access broker growth, the rise of vCISOs, tech rationalization and more. Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2024
Sophos: Remote ransomware attacks on SMBs increasing
According to new research from Sophos, small businesses are seeing a rise in threats such as remotely executed ransomware attacks, malvertising, driver abuse and more. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Mar 2024
identity provider
An identity provider (IdP) is a system component that provides an end user or internet-connected device with a single set of login credentials that ensures the entity is who or what it says it is across multiple platforms, applications and networks. Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2024
Midnight Blizzard accessed Microsoft systems, source code
Microsoft said Midnight Blizzard used data stolen from a breach of its corporate email system to access other parts of the company's network, including source code repositories. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Mar 2024
How to create a local admin account with Microsoft Intune
Local admin accounts can cause problems for Windows administrators due to their lack of oversight and privileged account status. Learn how IT can manage these accounts with Intune. Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2024
Former Google engineer charged with stealing AI trade secrets
Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, allegedly evaded Google's data loss prevention systems and stole confidential information to start his own China-based AI company. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Feb 2024
phishing
Phishing is a fraudulent practice in which an attacker masquerades as a reputable entity or person in an email or other form of communication. Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2024
CISA: APT29 targeting cloud accounts for initial access
U.K. and U.S. government agencies have observed the Russian nation-state group increasingly target dormant and inactive cloud service accounts to gain initial access. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2024
Proofpoint: 'Hundreds' of Azure accounts compromised
Proofpoint researchers found that the attackers manipulated the MFA of compromised accounts, registering their own methods to maintain persistent access. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Feb 2024
password spraying
Password spraying is a cyberattack tactic that involves a hacker using a single password to try and break into multiple target accounts. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Feb 2024
Understand the pros and cons of enterprise password managers
Almost half of breaches occur because of compromised credentials. Using a password manager to control how users create their IDs may be a good step to protect enterprise assets. Continue Reading
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News
06 Feb 2024
Linux group announces Post-Quantum Cryptography Alliance
The Post-Quantum Cryptography Alliance aims to 'drive the advancement and adoption of post-quantum cryptography' and respond to security threats introduced by the emerging tech. Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2024
AnyDesk hacked, details unclear
Of the hack, AnyDesk said it found 'no evidence that any end-user devices have been affected.' But researchers said they saw AnyDesk customer credentials for sale on the dark web. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Feb 2024
6 multi-cloud identity management tips and best practices
The more cloud services organizations adopt, the more identity challenges they face. Follow these five tips to improve multi-cloud identity management. Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2024
Cloudflare discloses breach related to stolen Okta data
Cloudflare initially believed it contained an attempted cyberattack last October by a threat actor using an access token stolen in a breach of Okta's customer support system. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2024
Top 8 cloud IAM best practices to implement
Cloud adds a level of complexity to identity and access management. Be sure to follow these cloud IAM best practices to prevent identity-related security issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2024
7 cloud IAM challenges and how to address them
Cloud use affects how organizations manage access and identity governance. Learn about seven cloud IAM challenges and how to handle them. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jan 2024
Cybersecurity skills gap: Why it exists and how to address it
The cybersecurity skills shortage is putting enterprises at risk. Worse, it shows no sign of abating. Here is why it's happening and what employers can do to mitigate the problem. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
25 Jan 2024
Using Microsoft AD Explorer for common admin tasks
The utility makes it easier to navigate the Active Directory database and features snapshot capabilities with a comparison function to detect where a change caused a problem. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2024
How to use a Microsoft Entra ID emergency access account
A break-glass account in Microsoft's identity and access management platform helps avoid disruptions in a crisis. Follow these best practices to keep these credentials safe. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jan 2024
Top incident response tools: How to choose and use them
The OODA loop helps organizations throughout the incident response process, giving insight into the incident response tools needed to detect and respond to security events. Continue Reading
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News
03 Jan 2024
SonicWall acquires Banyan to boost zero-trust, SSE offerings
With its second acquisition in two months, SonicWall aims to help enterprises with growing remote workforces through zero-trust network and security service edge offerings. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Jan 2024
identity theft
Identity theft, also known as identity fraud, is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of personally identifiable information (PII), such as Social Security or driver's license numbers, to impersonate someone else. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Dec 2023
one-time password
A one-time password (OTP) is an automatically generated numeric or alphanumeric string of characters that authenticates a user for a single transaction or login one-time password session. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Dec 2023
How to manage a migration to Microsoft Entra ID
Thinking of leaving Active Directory behind? A successful move to Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management platform hinges on how well you've prepared in advance. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Dec 2023
What are the Microsoft Entra ID benefits for on-prem admins?
Active Directory's presence looms large for organizations that rely on Microsoft's venerable directory service for a multitude of tasks tied to identity and access. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Dec 2023
9 cybersecurity trends to watch in 2024
Analysts are sharing their cybersecurity trends and predictions for 2024. From zero-day attacks to generative AI security and increased regulations, is your organization ready? Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2023
IBM engineers hatch Linux Foundation HashiCorp Vault fork
IBM engineers working on Open Horizon within the Linux Foundation begin a Vault fork as challenges continue for HashiCorp, which also addressed Terraform Cloud pricing angst. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Dec 2023
adaptive multifactor authentication (adaptive MFA)
Adaptive multifactor authentication (MFA) is a security mechanism intended to authenticate and authorize users through a variety of contextual authentication factors. Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Dec 2023
Amazon IAM announcements at re:Invent 2023
At AWS re:Invent 2023, Amazon announced several new features around machine and human identities designed to improve identity and access management. Continue Reading
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News
05 Dec 2023
Exposed Hugging Face API tokens jeopardized GenAI models
Lasso Security discovered more than 1,600 exposed Hugging Face API tokens provided access to generative AI and large-language models contained in hundreds of repositories. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Dec 2023
How to solve 2 MFA challenges: SIM swapping and MFA fatigue
While MFA improves account security, attacks still exploit it. Learn about two MFA challenges -- SIM swapping and MFA fatigue -- and how to mitigate them. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Dec 2023
5 MFA implementation tips for organizations
Organizations need to protect user accounts from malicious attackers. IAM expert Marco Fanti offers tips organizations can use when implementing MFA. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Nov 2023
privileged identity management (PIM)
Privileged identity management (PIM) is the monitoring and protection of superuser accounts that hold expanded access to an organization's IT environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Nov 2023
How passwordless authentication aids identity security
Enterprise Strategy Group's Jack Poller discusses survey results on user authentication practices and explains the security benefits of passwordless methods. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Nov 2023
possession factor
The possession factor, in a security context, is a category of user authentication credentials based on items that the user has with them, typically a hardware device such as a security token or a mobile phone used in conjunction with a software token. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Nov 2023
What should admins know about Microsoft Entra features?
Microsoft Entra combines new and existing cloud-based products and packages them under a new name. Learn how this change affects identity access management in your organization. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Nov 2023
mandatory access control (MAC)
Mandatory access control (MAC) is a security strategy that restricts the ability individual resource owners have to grant or deny access to resource objects in a file system. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2023
FBI: Ransomware actors hacking casinos via third parties
A new Private Industry Notification focuses on ransomware trends involving attacks against casinos as well as a callback phishing campaign perpetrated by the Luna Moth gang. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2023
Okta breach led to hijacked sessions for 5 customers
Okta provided a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the breach against its customer support case management systems and said five customers had sessions hijacked. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Nov 2023
authentication
Authentication is the process of determining whether someone or something is who or what they say they are. Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Oct 2023
Collaborate with third parties to ensure enterprise security
Third-party risk is a major threat today, as evidenced in numerous recent breaches. Organizations must work with partners to ensure their data is protected properly. Continue Reading
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Podcast
26 Oct 2023
Risk & Repeat: Okta under fire after support system breach
This podcast episode covers a security breach suffered by identity vendor Okta involving its customer support systems, which has sparked criticism from customers. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2023
How to create a company password policy, with template
Use these guidelines and our free template to ensure your company's password policy sets the ground rules for strong and effective password creation and use. Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2023
1Password stops attack linked to Okta breach
1Password said a threat actor used a HAR file stolen in the recent Okta breach to access the password manager's Okta tenant, but the activity was detected and blocked. Continue Reading
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News
23 Oct 2023
Okta customer support system breached via stolen credentials
During the latest breach against the identity and access management vendor, attackers took advantage of the system intended to provide support for Okta customers. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Oct 2023
soft token
A soft token is a software-based security token that generates a single-use login personal identification number (PIN). Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Oct 2023
SailPoint extends identity security platform with data security
With DAS, privilege access management, AI and other features, SailPoint moves Atlas from an identity governance platform to an identity security platform. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2023
Mandiant: Citrix zero-day actively exploited since August
Exploitation against CVE-2023-4966 is ongoing, and Mandiant CTO Charles Carmakal warned patching alone is insufficient against potential attacks that leverage MFA bypass techniques. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Oct 2023
Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator is a mobile security application that provides a second type of confirmation for websites and online services that use two-factor authentication (2FA) to verify a user's identity before granting him or her access to secure resources. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Oct 2023
Secure Sockets Layer certificate (SSL certificate)
A Secure Sockets Layer certificate (SSL certificate) is a small data file installed on a web server that allows for a secure, encrypted connection between the server and a web browser. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Oct 2023
central bank digital currency (CBDC)
A central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a digital version of a country's central bank money or fiat currency. Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2023
Google Authenticator synchronization raises MFA concerns
Infosec experts say a synchronization feature added to Google's Authenticator app could lead to unintended consequences for organizations' multifactor authentication codes. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Oct 2023
Best practices to conduct a user access review
User entitlement reviews ensure only authorized users have access to essential systems and data. Uncover the steps of a user access review and helpful best practices. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Oct 2023
Microsoft Windows Credential Guard
Microsoft Credential Guard is a security feature in Microsoft Windows operating system (OS) that isolates user credentials, such as login information, from the rest of the operating system. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2023
Top 6 password hygiene tips and best practices
Passwords enable users to access important accounts and data, making them attractive targets to attackers, too. Follow these password hygiene tips to keep your organization safe. Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Oct 2023
Takeaways from Oktane23: Okta AI, universal logout and more
New game-changing security features from Okta speed threat detection and response times, enabling IT pros to log all users out of applications during a cyber attack. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Oct 2023
How to remove digital signatures from a PDF
Digital signatures let organizations execute and secure agreements, but users can remove them if they need to reformat documents or protect signers' privacy. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Oct 2023
password entropy
Password entropy is a measurement of a password's strength based on how difficult it would be to crack the password through guessing or a brute-force attack. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Oct 2023
risk-based authentication (RBA)
Risk-based authentication (RBA) is an authentication method in which varying levels of stringency are applied to a system’s authentication process based on the likelihood that access to that system could result in its compromise. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2023
Okta debuts passkey support to combat account compromises
The identity and access management vendor introduced products and features that addressed new social engineering techniques that require additional security measures beyond MFA. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Oct 2023
multifactor authentication
Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an account login process that requires multiple methods of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify a user's identity for a login or other transaction. Continue Reading
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Definition
26 Sep 2023
Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP)
Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) is a security protocol commonly used to protect wireless networks. Continue Reading
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Definition
26 Sep 2023
principle of least privilege (POLP)
The principle of least privilege (POLP) is a concept in computer security that limits users' access rights to only what is strictly required to do their jobs. Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2023
Dallas doles out $8.5M to remediate May ransomware attack
The city of Dallas provided a detailed attack timeline that showed Royal threat actors compromised a service account a month before ransomware was deployed. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Sep 2023
How to add digital signatures to a PDF
Organizations use digital signatures to secure agreements. Common document applications, such as Adobe Acrobat and macOS Preview, let users quickly add digital signatures to PDFs. Continue Reading
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Opinion
21 Sep 2023
Strong identity security could've saved MGM, Caesars, Retool
Three cyber attacks that featured vishing led to compromised identities, data loss and the interruption of operations. Passwordless authentication could have prevented all three. Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2023
Developer platform Retool breached in vishing attack
A successful vishing attack against a Retool employee led to account takeovers of 27 cloud customers, but the company is pointing the finger at Google. Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Sep 2023
Time for an identity security revolution
Identity needs to be the foundational component of the cybersecurity stack, because attackers are primarily after an organization's data. Continue Reading
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News
11 Sep 2023
Cisco VPN flaw faces attempted Akira ransomware attacks
Cisco said it became aware of 'attempted exploitation' last month and referenced an Aug. 24 security advisory saying its VPNs were under attack by the Akira ransomware gang. Continue Reading
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News
06 Sep 2023
Okta: 4 customers compromised in social engineering attacks
Okta said a threat actor convinced IT personnel at several customers to reset MFA factors for highly privileged users, though it's unclear how they accomplished that task. Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Sep 2023
Identity needs a seat at the cybersecurity table
The shift to the cloud and remote work, combined with the rise of phishing and other identity-related attacks, puts identity security at the forefront of cybersecurity concerns. Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2023
CrowdStrike CTO: 'Rookie mistakes' are hurting cloud security
CrowdStrike's Elia Zaitsev discusses the rise in credential-based attacks, as well as the common errors organizations make in the cloud that often lead to breaches. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Aug 2023
biometric authentication
Biometric authentication is a security process that relies on the unique biological characteristics of individuals to verify they are who they say they are. Continue Reading
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News
29 Aug 2023
Cisco VPNs under attack via Akira, LockBit ransomware
Cisco and Rapid7 say ransomware actors LockBit and Akira have apparently been targeting Cisco VPNs not configured for multifactor authentication. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Aug 2023
How do digital signatures work?
Digital signatures add a level of security to online agreements, which can prevent bad actors from impersonating other individuals or tampering with sensitive contracts. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Aug 2023
BYOI (bring your own identity)
BYOI (bring your own identity) is an approach to digital authentication in which an end user's username and password are managed by a third party. BYOI is increasingly being used for website authentication. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Aug 2023
Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM)
Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) is a Safe Mode boot option for Windows Server domain controllers. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Aug 2023
message authentication code (MAC)
A message authentication code (MAC) is a cryptographic checksum applied to a message in network communication to guarantee its integrity and authenticity. Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2023
Wiz warns of exposed multi-tenant apps in Azure AD
During a Black Hat USA 2023 session, a Wiz researcher explained how a common misconfiguration in Azure Active Directory led to the exposure of nearly 1,300 applications. Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2023
CrowdStrike observes massive spike in identity-based attacks
Identity-based attacks like Kerberoasting saw massive increases over the last 12 months as adversary breakout time fell, according to CrowdStrike's 2023 Threat Hunting Report. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Aug 2023
orphan account
An orphan account, also referred to as an orphaned account, is a user account that can provide access to corporate systems, services and applications but does not have a valid owner. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Jul 2023
Common Access Card (CAC)
A Common Access Card (CAC) is a smart card issued by the Unites States Department of Defense for accessing DOD systems and facilities. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Jul 2023
national identity card
A national identity card is a portable document, typically a plasticized card with digitally embedded information, that is used to verify aspects of a person's identity. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jul 2023
Improve IAM with identity threat detection and response
Attackers increasingly target user accounts to gain access. Identity threat detection and response offers organizations a way to improve security for identity-based systems. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2023
DocuSign launches AI-backed live video ID verification tool
The e-signature vendor's new AI-supported identity confirmation tool uses biometrics and live video to verify signers' identity and physical presence at the time of signing. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jul 2023
How to fit customer experience security into your strategy
Most organizations overlook security in their CX strategies. However, with collaboration, personalization, CIAM controls and more, organizations can offer a secure and positive CX. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Jul 2023
8 best practices for a zero-trust storage strategy
Explore how to apply the zero-trust security model to storage systems. Given today's threat landscape, additional data protection is key for enterprises. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2023
Threat actors forged Windows driver signatures via loophole
Threat actors bypassed Microsoft's driver signing policy using a technical loophole and signature timestamp forging tools commonly used in the video game cheat community. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Jul 2023
mobile authentication
Mobile authentication is the verification of a user's identity via a mobile device using one or more authentication methods for secure access. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2023
JumpCloud invalidates API keys in response to ongoing incident
The cloud provider did not give any details about the incident that prompted a mandatory API key rotation, which might have caused service disruptions for customers. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Jul 2023
single-factor authentication (SFA)
Single-factor authentication (SFA) is a process for securing access to a given system, such as a network or website, that identifies the party requesting access through only one category of credentials. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Jul 2023
knowledge-based authentication
Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) is an authentication method in which users are asked to answer at least one secret question. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Jun 2023
security token
A security token is a physical or wireless device that provides two-factor authentication (2FA) for users to prove their identity in a login process. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2023
ChatGPT users at risk for credential theft
As ChatGPT's user base continues to grow, Group-IB says threat actors have exploited stolen accounts to collect users' sensitive data and professional credentials. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2023
HashiCorp Vault trims SaaS; Boundary hooks up Enterprise
HashiCorp Vault's appeal to a broader field of users gets a boost from a new entry-level cloud service, while a new Boundary Enterprise targets the high end of the market. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jun 2023
AWS launches EC2 Instance Connect Endpoint, Verified Permissions
At re:Inforce 2023, AWS launched a new service that allows customers to connect to their EC2 instances through SSH and RDP connections, removing the need for a public IP address. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Jun 2023
logon (or login)
In computing, a logon is a procedure that enables an entity to access a secure system such as an operating system, application, service, website or other resource. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jun 2023
How to secure blockchain: 10 best practices
Blockchain has huge potential in the enterprise, but remember all emerging technologies come with their own risks. Consider these 10 best practices for securing blockchain. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2023
6 blockchain use cases for cybersecurity
Is blockchain secure by design, or should blockchains be designed for security? Learn more through these six security and privacy use cases for blockchain. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 May 2023
decentralized identity
Decentralized identity is an approach to identify and authenticate users and entities without a centralized authority. Continue Reading