Asymmetrical threats in Cybersecurity
Asymmetrical threats in Cybersecurity
Security and defense theory are inextricably entwined. Consider medieval castles. They were designed as a defensive mechanism that provided security to those within, most of whom were simply civilians hiding behind the walls for protection from invaders. Within cybersecurity, multiple concepts from defense and war theory can be applied to better address the cyber risks facing organizations. In…
The new normal is actually very normal: Punctuated equilibrium, security cycle theory, and the “New Normal”
In 2020, the world was hit with an unexpected pandemic that changed much of life as many had come to know it. Virtually overnight, masks were required, employees were working remotely, children were home from school, and businesses were locked down to stop the spread of Covid19. In reading the news and social media the term “The New…
Quantifying CyberRisk- Solving the riddle
In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s there was a concept that was bandied about that was coined “Return on Security Investment” or ROSI. Borrowing from the common business term Return on Investment (ROI) where a return on a particular investment (capital investment, personnel, training etc.) could be quantified, the cybersecurity industry attempted to quantify…
Exploits, vulnerabilities and threat adaptation
Security, whether focused on physical, cyber, operational, or other domains, is an interesting topic that lends itself to considerable debate among practitioners. There are, however, basic concepts and underpinnings that pervade general security theory. One of the most important, yet often misunderstood concepts are those inextricably entwined concepts of vulnerabilities and exploits. These basic underpinnings are critical in…
Understanding cyber attacker motivations to best apply controls
Implementing a risk based security program and appropriate controls against adaptive cyber threat actors can be a complex task for many organizations. With an understanding of the basic motivations that drive cyber-attacks organizations can better identify where their own assets may be at risk and thereby more efficiently and effectively address identified risks. This article will discuss the Rational…