In an increasingly digital world where external threats are ever-present, internal systems are regularly scanned and protected, while external infrastructure often takes a back seat.
But why is this the case? This article sheds light on the reasons and emphasizes the critical importance of regular security audits for external systems.
Check Insights of an external target
What are the reasons why scans of the external IT infrastructure are rarely performed?
1. Lack of Control
IT service providers often have more direct control over their end customers' internal infrastructure than over their external infrastructure. The internal infrastructure resides within the enterprise and is usually fully managed. As a result, service providers can focus more on the internal infrastructure because they have more direct access to and influence over it.
2. Resource Constraints
IT service providers often have limited resources in terms of time, budget or expertise. Given these constraints, they may prioritize the review of internal infrastructure because they consider it more critical to business operations.
3. Lack of Awareness of External Threats
Many may not be fully aware of potential external threats and may underestimate the importance of external security audits. They may incorrectly assume that external attacks are less likely or that their external infrastructure is less vulnerable.
4. Complexity and Diversity
External infrastructure can often be complex and diverse, with a variety of services, applications and platforms provided by different vendors. Auditing this diversity requires specific expertise and can be time consuming, which can deter many from getting involved.
Overall, these factors often result in external security auditing receiving less attention in practice than internal security auditing. However, it is important to recognize that the external infrastructure is just as vulnerable to security threats, such as insecure server or firewall configurations, outdated software and lack of security updates, or vulnerabilities in web applications and websites. To minimize the risk of security incidents over the long term, existing security measures must be reviewed on a regular basis.
What is an external security audit?
An external infrastructure security audit is the process of identifying and assessing vulnerabilities in an organization's external systems, services, or applications. This can include anything outside of internal networks and systems, including cloud services, websites, third-party applications, and public networks.
The purpose of this scan is to identify and assess potential security risks that could compromise the external infrastructure.
Why is an external audit relevant to all businesses?
The external infrastructure audit is critical not only for the enterprise sector, but also for the SMB sector for several reasons:
1. Increasing Digitalization
SMBs are increasingly relying on digital solutions, cloud services, and web applications to streamline business processes and interact with customers. This digital infrastructure is just as vulnerable to security threats as that of a large enterprise.
2. Same Threats
SMBs face the same cyber threats as large enterprises. These include DDoS attacks, phishing, data breaches, and ransomware. Attackers often target SMBs because they may have fewer resources for security measures and are therefore seen as easier targets.
3. Third-Party Service Vulnerabilities
Many SMBs use third-party services for various aspects of their business, such as accounting, marketing, customer support, or web hosting. These external services may have security vulnerabilities that can put the business at risk if not detected and remediated. Supply chain attacks targeting zero-day vulnerabilities are forcing IT service providers to identify which of their customers are affected as quickly as possible. A well-known example from the past is the log4j vulnerability. In such cases, seconds can decide whether major damage can be prevented.
4. Compliance Requirements and Management Liability
Depending on their industry and location, SMEs may be subject to certain compliance requirements relating to data protection and information security. For example, NIS2 requires companies to conduct regular vulnerability scans of their IT infrastructure. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in legal consequences, including fines and reputational damage. The liability of directors in particular is often unknowingly neglected. For example, with the implementation of the NIS2 Directive, German lawmakers plan to significantly expand the personal liability of management.
5. Reputational Damage
A security incident can affect customer confidence in an organization and have a long-term impact on its reputation. Customers may turn away and go to competitors if they feel their data is not safe with a company.
Overall, auditing the external infrastructure is just as important for SMBs as it is for large enterprises to minimize security risks, meet compliance requirements, and ensure business continuity. An effective security strategy should include the external infrastructure, regardless of the size of the organization.
Why is it important to continuously scan the entire attack surface for vulnerabilities?
Scanning not just parts, but the entire attack surface of the external infrastructure is important for a number of reasons:
1. Hidden Vulnerabilities
Found vulnerabilities displayed with the House Analogy
Even if part of the infrastructure is considered secure, there may be hidden vulnerabilities elsewhere. Such hidden vulnerabilities are analogous to open basement windows: even if the front door is securely locked, a burglar can enter through an unsecured weak point. Attackers often look for the weakest link to break into a system. If only certain parts of the infrastructure are scanned, potential vulnerabilities remain undetected and can be exploited by attackers.
2. Chain Reactions
A vulnerability in one part of the infrastructure can cause a chain reaction that affects other parts. For example, a successful attack on an external website can lead to a data leak that compromises the security of other connected systems. Scanning the entire attack surface can prevent such chain reactions.
3. A Holistic Understanding of Security
To develop a holistic understanding of security, it is important to look at the entire attack surface. This enables a better understanding of potential risks and the development of appropriate security measures that cover all aspects of the infrastructure.
4. Compliance Requirements
Some compliance requirements mandate a continuous and complete audit of the entire infrastructure to ensure that all relevant security standards are met. A selective audit can lead to non-compliance, which can have legal consequences.
5. Proactive Security
By regularly scanning the entire attack surface, potential vulnerabilities can be identified and remediated before they are exploited by attackers. This allows organizations to proactively respond to security threats and minimize the risk of security incidents.
Overall, reviewing the entire attack surface of the external infrastructure is important to ensure security, minimize potential risks, protect business continuity, and, in the event of a cyberattack, demonstrate that you have taken all necessary and appropriate security measures.
Why is lywand an ideal tool to perform continuous security audits of the external infrastructure?
1. Automation and Efficiency
Lywand automates the process of identifying security gaps and vulnerabilities in the external infrastructure. This allows large volumes of systems and services to be scanned quickly and potential problems to be identified efficiently. For example, when the Log4J vulnerability was announced, we immediately updated our knowledge base and scanning clusters on the platform to help our partners quickly identify which of their customers were affected.
2. Comprehensive Coverage
Unlike quick scans that can be done in a few minutes, lywand provides a thorough and in-depth analysis. We cover a wide range of attack vectors and vulnerabilities, including outdated software versions, missing security patches, insecure configurations and other potential weaknesses. This ensures that no important aspects of the external infrastructure are overlooked.
3. Regular Updates
Lywand's databases are regularly updated to detect new security gaps and vulnerabilities that may occur in the infrastructure. This keeps the scans up-to-date and allows them to address newly discovered threats.
4. Vulnerability Prioritization
Lywand is able to prioritize identified vulnerabilities by severity and probability of occurrence, allowing it to focus on fixing the most critical security issues and deploy resources more effectively.
5. Reporting and Documentation
Lywand generates easy-to-understand reports. These serve as valuable documentation and can be used to communicate the results of the security audit and support the implementation of measures.
