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Explore Algosec's customer success stories to see how organizations worldwide improve security, compliance, and efficiency with our solutions. Leading Life Insurance Company Ensures Security and Compliance Organization Life Insurance Industry Financial Services Headquarters Texas, USA Download case study Share Customer
success stories "AlgoSec worked right out of the box. We got started quickly and never looked back.” A leading insurance provider of life, disability and other benefits for individuals increases efficiency and ensures continuous compliance on their networks. Background This life insurance company provides insurance and wealth-management products and services to millions of Americans. The company employs thousands of people and maintains a network of several thousand financial representatives. They offer a wide range of insurance products and services that include life insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, investments, dental and vision. Challenges For decades, the company operated a large and growing data center in Bethlehem, PA which they recently transferred to Dallas, TX. During and since the transfer, the company has been replacing much of its multi-vendor network infrastructure, consolidating on Cisco Firepower technology, but still maintaining vestiges of other routers, firewalls and network equipment. At the new data center, the company’s IT staff maintains more than 100 firewalls that host some 10,000 rules. The company’s network security engineer described the considerable pressure on the security staff: “Change requests are frequent, 25-30 per week, demanding considerable time and effort by the security team.” Due to the presence of firewalls from multiple vendors, change requests were analyzed manually and pushed to devices with great care so as not to interrupt the operation of a rapidly growing body of applications. “The change–request process was tedious and very time consuming,” declared the engineer. “as was the pressure to maintain a strong compliance posture at all times.” The company is subject to a litany of demanding insurance-industry regulations that concern the care of personal information and processes. Managing risk is critical to the success of the business and being able to ascertain compliance with regulations is always vital. Solution The security team turned to AlgoSec to help them manage network security policy across the large data center that includes firewalls from multiple vendors. After a careful review, the security team acquired AlgoSec’s Firewall Analyzer to speed up the process of firewall change management as well as to continuously quantify the degree of compliance and level of risk. Vendor-agnostic AlgoSec Firewall Analyzer delivers visibility and analysis of complex network security policies across on–premise and cloud networks. It automates and simplifies security operations including troubleshooting, auditing and risk analysis. Firewall Analyzer optimizes the configuration of firewalls, routers, web proxies and related network infrastructure to ensure security and compliance. Results After a very short installation and learning period, the security staff became proficient at operating Firewall Analyzer’s helpful capabilities. Soon thereafter, staff members undertook AlgoSec certification courses to become experts in using the solution for firewall analysis. “AlgoSec worked right out of the box,” said the engineer. “We got started quickly and never looked back.” The AlgoSec solution has significantly improved processes, delivering significantly improved results for their security team: Reduced time to analyze and optimize firewall rules, automatically checking for shadow rules and discovering other rules eligible for consolidation or deletion. Continual optimization of firewall rules across their entire network estate. Increased efficiency of security staff, enabling them to keep up with the volume of change requests. Accelerated and more accurate change verification. Audit-readiness, generating scheduled and on-demand compliance reports. The security staff looks forward to implementing AlgoSec FireFlow (AFF), that will enable them to push changes automatically to their population of firewalls, eliminating errors and further reducing risk. With AFF, the staff will be able to respond to changing business requirements with increased speed and agility. They added: “We are also checking out AlgoSec’s new cloud-security solution since we are migrating a growing number of applications to AWS.” Schedule time with one of our experts

Introduction   Imagine your sensitive business data falling into the wrong hands. A data breach can be devastating, leading to financial... Cloud Security What Is Cloud Encryption? Your Key to Data Security Asher Benbenisty 2 min read Asher Benbenisty Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 12/16/24 Published Introduction Imagine your sensitive business data falling into the wrong hands. A data breach can be devastating, leading to financial losses, legal headaches, and irreparable damage to your reputation. Cloud encryption is your key to protecting your valuable data and ensuring peace of mind in the cloud. In this article, we'll explore cloud encryption and how AlgoSec can help you implement it effectively. We'll cover the basics of encryption, its benefits, the challenges you might face, and best practices to ensure your data stays safe. What Is Cloud Encryption? Cloud encryption is like creating a secret code for your data. It scrambles your information so that only authorized people with the key can read it. This process ensures that even if someone gains unauthorized access to your data, they won't be able to understand or use it. Cloud encryption is essential for protecting sensitive information like customer data, financial records, and intellectual property. It helps organizations meet compliance requirements, maintain data privacy, and safeguard their reputation. Encryption in Action: Protecting Data at Rest and in Transit Cloud encryption can be used to protect data in two states: Data at Rest: This refers to data that is stored in the cloud, such as in databases or storage buckets. Encryption ensures that even if someone gains access to the storage, they can't read the data without the encryption key. Data in Transit: This refers to data that is moving between locations, such as between your computer and a cloud server. Encryption protects the data while it travels over the internet, preventing eavesdropping and unauthorized access. How does it work? Cloud encryption uses algorithms to transform your data into an unreadable format. Think of it like this: Symmetric encryption: You and the recipient have the same key to lock (encrypt) and unlock (decrypt) the data. It's like using the same key for your front and back door. Asymmetric encryption: There are two keys: a public key to lock the data and a private key to unlock it. It's like having a mailbox with a slot for anyone to drop mail in (public key), but only you have the key to open the mailbox (private key). Why Encrypt Your Cloud Data? Cloud encryption offers a wide range of benefits: Compliance: Avoid costly fines and legal battles by meeting compliance requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Data Protection: Safeguard your sensitive data, whether it's financial transactions, customer information, or intellectual property. Control and Ownership: Maintain control over your data and who can access it. Insider Threat Protection: Reduce the risk of data breaches caused by malicious or negligent employees. Multi-Tenancy Security: Enhance data security and isolation in shared cloud environments. Cloud Encryption Challenges (and How AlgoSec Helps) While cloud encryption is essential, it can be complex to manage. Here are some common challenges: Key Management: Securely managing encryption keys is crucial. Losing or mismanaging keys can lead to data loss. AlgoSec Solution: AlgoSec provides a centralized key management system to simplify and secure your encryption keys. Compliance: Meeting various regional and industry-specific regulations can be challenging. AlgoSec Solution: AlgoSec helps you navigate compliance requirements and implement appropriate encryption controls. Shared Responsibility: Understanding the shared responsibility model and your role in managing encryption can be complex. AlgoSec Solution: AlgoSec provides clear guidance and tools to help you fulfill your security responsibilities. Cloud Encryption Best Practices Encrypt Everything: Encrypt data both at rest and in transit. Choose Strong Algorithms: Use strong encryption algorithms like AES-256. Manage Keys Securely: Use a key management system (KMS) like the one provided by AlgoSec to automate and secure key management. Control Access: Implement strong access controls and identity management systems. Stay Compliant: Adhere to industry standards and regulations. Monitor and Audit: Regularly monitor your encryption implementation and conduct audits to ensure ongoing effectiveness. Conclusion Protecting your data in the cloud is non-negotiable. Cloud encryption is a fundamental security measure that every organization should implement. By understanding the benefits, challenges, and best practices of cloud encryption, you can make informed decisions to safeguard your sensitive information. Ready to protect your cloud data with encryption? AlgoSec helps businesses ensure data confidentiality and drastically lower the risk of cloud security incidents. Dive deeper into cloud security: Read our previous blog posts, Unveiling Cloud's Hidden Risks, A Secure VPC as the Main Pillar of Cloud Security, Azure Best Practices and Kubernetes Security Best Practices to uncover the top challenges and learn how to gain control of your cloud environment. These articles will equip you with the knowledge and tools to strengthen your cloud defenses. Subscribe to our blog to stay informed and join us on the journey to a safer and more resilient cloud future. Have a specific cloud security challenge? Contact us today for a free consultation. Want to learn more about how AlgoSec can help you secure your Kubernetes environment? Request a free demo today! Schedule a demo Related Articles 2025 in review: What innovations and milestones defined AlgoSec’s transformative year in 2025? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 5 Multi-Cloud Environments Cloud Security Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

Unlock comprehensive cloud security with AlgoSec s Prevasio Network Security Safeguard your network with ease Discover more now Cloud network topology aware Schedule a demo Watch a video Watch a video Cloud network configuration and security policy across the multi-cloud estate AI Powered applications discovery Gain visibility into your cloud applications and their dependencies. Never miss a critical app or connection again. Learn more Reduce cloud-network security risks exposure Lock down your cloud with flexible security & powerful risk detection. Get 150+ checks for total network protection. Focus on the threats that matter most to your business. Watch video Central management of security policies Manage all your security groups, firewalls, and network policies across clouds, accounts, and regions from one place. Reduce errors and save time with consistent security policies that protect your entire infrastructure. Watch video Reduce cloud attack surface Clean up your network security policies for improved performance and stronger protection. Our solution helps you identify unnecessary rules, tighten access controls, and ensure your network is running at its best. Watch video Get the latest insights from the experts Unveiling best practices for a resilient cloud security strategy Read More Shaping tomorrow: Leading the way in cloud security Read blog CSPM importance for CISOs. What security issues can be prevented\defended with CSPM? Read blog Schedule time and secure your cloud Schedule time and secure your cloud Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

Learn why network security policy management is crucial for insurance companies to safeguard sensitive data, ensure compliance, and mitigate cyber risks effectively. Why Insurance Companies Need Network Security Policy Management Opening Insurance institutions face two major network security related challenges while working to serve their customers: the constant demand to improve in order to successfully compete in the market, and regulatory compliance. Yet, when it comes to security, the InfoSec team often uses slow, manual (and error prone) processes to make the necessary network security changes – thereby delaying the release of a new competitive application or feature to market. To overcome these challenges, insurance institutions must implement a network security policy management solution Schedule a Demo Introduction In order to maintain a competitive advantage, information security teams at insurance companies must be able to support business transformation initiatives and deploy new applications or updated functionality to market quickly and securely. Most IT departments use automation tools to assist them with many aspects of their work – including managing software changes or provisioning storage. Automation allows them to support the fast pace required, ensure quality and maintain compliance with industry regulations. However, when it comes to security, oftentimes the InfoSec team still makes the necessary network security changes using manual processes. This is mostly due to the perceived complexity of the segmented network infrastructure; the large number of firewalls and network security devices (from multiple vendors) that are typically deployed across an insurance company’s network, as well as the extensive compliance requirements to which insurance companies are subjected. As a result, the InfoSec team is often perceived as a bottleneck to progress – holding back the release of a new competitive application or feature to market. This white paper discusses the challenges facing InfoSec teams today. It then explains how a network security management solution delivers critical automation that help transform the InfoSec team from a business inhibitor to a business enabler. Schedule a Demo Network security challenges for insurance companies Insurance companies face two key network security related challenges in their mission to serve their customers: regulatory compliance and a continual demand for changes in order to compete in the market. The number of regulations that insurance companies are required to uphold has significantly increased over the years. They include GLBA, GDPR, BASEL II, SOX, Dodd-Frank, PCI-DSS and many others. While these regulations aim to provide best practices that help both the insurance company and their customers, they require considerable effort to maintain, particularly with regards to network security. The second challenge that impacts network security, is the constant demand for changes. In recent years, the demand for innovation coupled with competition from agile and disruptive insurtech companies is putting considerable pressure on insurance companies. As a result, insurance companies are constantly seeking ways to improve the way they interact with their customers while becoming more efficient. This means that there is now an ever-present need for change in a typically conservative industry which has previously been slow and reluctant to embrace change! Managing network security changes efficiently and effectively across today’s complex network environments requires automation. Yet, while IT teams have embraced automation to handle many of their tasks, the InfoSec team has not. In the following section, we discuss ways to utilize automation to manage security changes and manage the ever-increasing demands of industry regulations. Schedule a Demo Automated network security policy management To tackle these challenges the InfoSec team need automation to effectively manage the demands of regulatory compliance as well as keep up with the volume of network security policy changes. Managing compliance with industry regulations As part of compliance requirements most regulations require full visibility into the security posture, regular audits, and documentation of any changes. Visibility of the security posture: The first step to achieving visibility is to identify all the applications that support customer transactions and manage customer information. The next step is to classify them based on the relevant regulations, such as PCI for applications that manage cardholder information. There are tools that can handle this process automatically, including the discovery process, which saves considerable time. Moreover, automation tools can help with documenting the entire environment, including the network security device configurations and security policies – which is a key part of regulatory compliance. In addition to supporting compliance requirements, this visibility and transparency exposes any gaps and risks in your network security, and thus helps to make your network secure. Streamlined audits: Whether internal or external, audits eat up considerable resources. The InfoSec team currently needs to spend significant time and effort generating reports that document their security posture and prove compliance with every regulation – time that could be better spent focusing on securing the network or responding to business requests. Automation can handle all these processes, and generate self-documenting, audit-ready reports out of the box. Documenting compliance: Most network security management solutions review all changes during design and deployment to ensure that they comply with the industry regulations. As part of this process they document and provide a full audit trail of the change, thereby automating the requirement for change documentation. Get a Demo Managing the constant barrage of change requests An automation solution is paramount for tackling the frequent change requests that are typically required in the insurance industry. An automation solution enables the InfoSec team to focus on the impact and risk of the change as well as ensure that all changes are necessary (typically around 30% of change requests are unnecessary). An automation solution must: Ensure that the network security policy change request will not breach the compliance posture Automatically map the network route for any planned changes and identify the firewall, routers and switches along that route that need to be changed Assess all the risks of a security change. These include regulatory compliance risks as well as internal risks Understand the details of each firewall rule change request and determine whether a change is really needed, whether a change to an existing rule will be sufficient or if there is a need to create a new rule as part of the change request. This process reduces the overall number of rules and helps optimize the security ruleset Be able to automatically deploy changes directly in firewalls Schedule a Demo Summary Insurance companies are constantly seeking to better serve their customers and maintain a competitive edge through new technology innovations. Yet they often fall behind on delivering these new innovations into production. Their network and security operations team are hampered by manual and error-prone security change management processes coupled with the ever-increasing demands of industry regulations, which impact time-to-market. Automated network security management solutions help streamline the auditing process and ensure continuous compliance as well as significantly simplify and speed up the process of managing network security changes. Additional resources Network Security Policy Management Lifecycle PCI DSS: Automate Audits and Ensure Continuous Compliance Schedule a Demo About AlgoSec The leading provider of business-driven security management solutions, AlgoSec helps the world’s largest organizations align security with their business processes. With AlgoSec, users can discover, map and migrate business application connectivity, proactively analyze risk from the business perspective, tie cyber-attacks to business processes and intelligently automate network security changes with zero touch – across their cloud, SDN and on-premise networks. Over 1,500 enterprises, including 20 Fortune 50 companies, utilize AlgoSec’s solutions to make their organizations more agile, more secure and more compliant – all the time. Since its inception, AlgoSec has provided the industry’s only money-back guarantee. Request a demo Let's start your journey to our business-centric network security. Schedule a Demo Select a size Opening Introduction Network security challenges for insurance companies Automated network security policy management Summary About AlgoSec Get the latest insights from the experts Choose a better way to manage your network

In this webinar, Omer Ganot, AlgoSec’s Cloud Security Product Manager, and Stuti Deshpande s, Amazon Web Service’s Partner Solutions Architect, will share security challenges in the hybrid cloud and provide tips to protect your AWS and hybrid environment Webinars Overcoming hybrid environment management challenges | AWS & AlgoSec Webinar Public clouds such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) are a critical part of your hybrid network. It is important to keep out the bad guys (including untrusted insiders) and proactively secure your entire hybrid network. Securing your network is both the responsibility of the cloud providers, as well as your organization’s IT and CISOs – the shared responsibility model. As a result, your organization needs visibility into what needs to be protected, as well as an understanding of the tools that are available to keep them secure. In this webinar, Omer Ganot, AlgoSec’s Cloud Security Product Manager, and Stuti Deshpande’s, Amazon Web Service’s Partner Solutions Architect, will share security challenges in the hybrid cloud and provide tips to protect your AWS and hybrid environment, including how to: Securely migrate workloads from on-prem to public cloud Gain unified visibility into your network topology and traffic flows, including both public cloud and on-premises assets, from a single console. Manage/orchestrate multiple layers of security controls and proactively detect misconfigurations Protect your data, accounts, and workloads from misconfiguration risks Protect web applications in AWS by filtering traffic and blocking common attack patterns, such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting Gain a unified view of your compliance status and achieve continuous compliance September 30, 2020 Stuti Deshpande Partner Solution Architect, AWS Omer Ganot Product Manager Relevant resources Migrating Business Applications to AWS? Tips on Where to Start Keep Reading Tips for auditing your AWS security policies, the right way Keep Reading Choose a better way to manage your network Choose a better way to manage your network Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Webinars Panel: 5 ways to Better Manage your Network Security in 2020 Is your network ready for 2020? What practical steps are you taking to prepare for even more demanding security management in the new year? In this live panel discussion, Yitzy Tannenbaum, Product Marketing Manager and Avishai Wool, AlgoSec’s co-founder and CTO, will cover 5 practicalsteps to help you better manage your network security in the new year. Address these pressing network security challenges: Preventing breaches due to network misconfigurations Managing complex compliance requirements Determine the intention of your security controls and embracing intent-based network security Implementing datacenter micro-segmentation Understanding the shared responsibility model and effectively managing cloud security Kick off the new year better prepared to face the network security management challenges – don’t miss this important discussion. January 9, 2020 Prof. Avishai Wool CTO & Co Founder AlgoSec Yitzy Tannenbaum Product Marketing Manager Relevant resources Network security management: Components & features Keep Reading 5 Network Security Management Predictions for 2020 Watch Video 2020 vision predictions for the year ahead in network security Keep Reading Choose a better way to manage your network Choose a better way to manage your network Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

UseCase Cisco ACI Policy Migration Download PDF Schedule time with one of our experts Schedule time with one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Webinars Migrate & modernize: Supercharging your Cisco Nexus refresh with ACI If you still have Cisco Nexus 7000 devices in your environment, surely you have been inundated with end-of-life warnings and next-gen messaging touting the benefits of upgrading to Nexus 9000 with Cisco ACI. We know, modernizing your infrastructure can be a real pain, but with change also comes opportunity! Find out in this session how to leverage your Nexus refresh to increase your efficiency and productivity, and reduce security concerns at the same time. AlgoSec’s Jeremiah Cornelius, along with Cisco’s Cynthia Broderick, will guide you on how to: Migrate your current Nexus flows to ACI using your preferred mode – network or application centric Remove vulnerabilities caused by human error via automation of network change processes. Instantly identify and remediate risk and compliance violations. June 9, 2021 Cynthia Broderick DC Networking, Business Development at Cisco Jeremiah Cornelius Technical Leader for Alliances and Partners at AlgoSec Relevant resources Modernize your network and harness the power of Nexus & Cisco ACI with AlgoSec Watch Video AlgoSec’s integration with Cisco ACI Watch Video Cisco & AlgoSec achieving application-driven security across your hybrid network Keep Reading Choose a better way to manage your network Choose a better way to manage your network Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Learn best practices for mastering network object management Webinars From chaos to control - overcoming 5 challenges of network object management Learn how to master network object management Join our free webinar on conquering 5 common network object management obstacles! Learn practical tips and strategies to simplify your network management process and boost efficiency. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to improve your network performance and minimize headaches. May 24, 2023 Kfir Tabak Product Manager Relevant resources Synchronized Object Management in a Multi-Vendor Environment Watch Video How to Structure Network Objects to Plan for Future Policy Growth Watch Video How to Manage Dynamic Objects in Cloud Environments Watch Video Choose a better way to manage your network Choose a better way to manage your network Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Learn how Microsoft Azure and AlgoSec solutions help companies improve visibility and identify risk in large complex hybrid networking environments Webinars Joint webinar with Microsoft Azure - Understanding Hybrid Network Security Learn how Microsoft Azure and AlgoSec solutions help companies improve visibility and identify risk in large complex hybrid networking environments In this joint webinar with Microsoft, we discuss the challenges in these hybrid networks and how Microsoft Azure and AlgoSec are helping companies leverage cloud technologies to add more capacity and business applications without increasing their exposure to security risk. During the webinar you will hear Yuval Pery, the Product Manager for Azure Network Security at Microsoft, review and discuss the security features and options available with Microsoft Azure. We also have Yoav Yam-Karnibad, the Product Manager for Cloud Network Security at AlgoSec, show the integrations that exist today between AlgoSec and Microsoft Azure that help improve visibility and identify and prioritize risk in today’s hybrid environments. September 14, 2023 Yoav Yam-Karnibad Product Manager, Cloud Network Security at AlgoSec Yuval Pery Product Manager, Azure Network Security at Microsoft Relevant resources Firewall Rule Recertification with Application Connectivity Keep Reading AlgoSec Cloud for Microsoft Azure Keep Reading Firewall management services
Proactive network security Keep Reading Choose a better way to manage your network Choose a better way to manage your network Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Learn about the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls and how they enhance your cybersecurity posture. Discover how AlgoSec helps achieve and maintain CIS compliance. What is CIS Compliance? (and How to Apply CIS Benchmarks) What are CIS benchmarks? CIS provides best practices to help companies like yours improve their cloud security posture. You’ll protect your systems against various threats by complying with its benchmark standards. This post will walk you through CIS benchmarks, their development, and the kinds of systems they apply to. We will also discuss the significance of CIS compliance and how Prevasio may help you achieve it. CIS stands for Center for Internet Security . It’s a nonprofit organization that aims to improve companies’ cybersecurity readiness and response. Founded in 2000, the CIS comprises cybersecurity experts from diverse backgrounds. They have the common goal of enhancing cybersecurity resilience and reducing security threats. CIS compliance means adhering to the Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks. CIS benchmarks are best practices and guidelines to help you build a robust cloud security strategy. These CIS benchmarks give a detailed road map for protecting a business’s IT infrastructure. They also encompass various platforms, such as web servers or cloud bases. The CIS benchmarks are frequently called industry standards. They are normally in line with other regulatory organizations, such as ISO, NIST, and HIPAA. Many firms adhere to CIS benchmarks to ensure they follow industry standards. They also do this to show their dedication to cybersecurity to clients and stakeholders. The CIS benchmarks and CIS controls are always tested through on-premises analysis by leading security firms. This ensures that CIS releases standards that are effective at mitigating cyber risks. Schedule a Demo How are the CIS benchmarks developed? A community of cybersecurity professionals around the world cooperatively develops CIS benchmarks. They exchange their knowledge, viewpoints, and experiences on a platform provided by CIS. The end result is consensus-based best practices that will protect various IT systems. The CIS benchmark development process typically involves the following steps: 1. Identify the technology: The first step is to identify the system or technology that has to be protected. This encompasses a range of applications. It can be an operating system, database, web server, or cloud environment. 2. Define the scope: The following stage is to specify the benchmark’s parameters. It involves defining what must be implemented for the technology to be successfully protected. They may include precise setups, guidelines, and safeguards. 3. Develop recommendations: Next, a community of cybersecurity experts will identify ideas for safeguarding the technology. These ideas are usually based on current best practices, norms, and guidelines. They may include the minimum security requirements and measures to be taken. 4. Expert consensus review: Thereafter, a broader group of experts and stakeholders assess the ideas. They will offer comments and suggestions for improvement. This level aims to achieve consensus on the appropriate technical safeguards. 5. Pilot testing: The benchmark is then tested in a real-world setting. At this point, CIS aims to determine its efficacy and spot any problems that need fixing. 6.Publication and maintenance: The CIS will publish the benchmark once it has been improved and verified. The benchmark will constantly be evaluated and updated to keep it current and useful for safeguarding IT systems. Schedule a Demo What are the CIS benchmark levels? CIS benchmarks are divided into three levels based on the complexity of an IT system. It’s up to you to choose the level you need based on the complexity of your IT environment. Each level of the benchmarks offers better security recommendations than the previous level. The following are the distinct categories that benchmarks are divided into: Level 1 This is the most basic level of CIS standards. It requires organizations to set basic security measures to reduce cyber threats. Some CIS guidelines at this level include password rules, system hardening, and risk management . The level 1 CIS benchmarks are ideal for small businesses with basic IT systems. Level 2 This is the intermediate level of the CIS benchmarks. It is suitable for small to medium businesses that have complex IT systems. The Level 2 CIS standards offer greater security recommendations to your cloud platform. It has guidelines for network segmentation, authentication, user permissions, logging, and monitoring. At this level, you’ll know where to focus your remediation efforts if you spot a vulnerability in your system. Level 2 also covers data protection topics like disaster recovery plans and encryption. Level 3 Level 3 is the most advanced level of the CIS benchmarks. It offers the highest security recommendations compared to the other two. Level 3 also offers the Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) profiles for companies. STIG are configuration guidelines developed by the Defense Information Systems Agency. These security standards help you meet US government requirements. This level is ideal for large organizations with the most sensitive and vital data. These are companies that must protect their IT systems from complex security threats. It offers guidelines for real-time security analytics, safe cloud environment setups, and enhanced threat detection. Schedule a Demo What types of systems do CIS benchmarks apply to? The CIS benchmarks are applicable to many IT systems used in a cloud environment. The following are examples of systems that CIS benchmarks can apply to: Operating systems: CIS benchmarks offer standard secure configurations for common operating systems, including Amazon Linux, Windows Servers, macOS, and Unix. They address network security, system hardening, and managing users and accounts. Cloud infrastructure: CIS benchmarks can help protect various cloud infrastructures, including public, private, and multi-cloud. They recommend guidelines that safeguard cloud systems by various cloud service providers. For example, network security, access restrictions, and data protection. The benchmarks cover cloud systems such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, IBM, Oracle, and Google Cloud Platform. Server software: CIS benchmarks provide secure configuration baselines for various servers, including databases (SQL), DNS, Web, and authentication servers. The baselines cover system hardening, patch management, and access restrictions. Desktop software: Desktop apps such as music players, productivity programs, and web browsers can be weak points in your IT system. CIS benchmarks offer guidelines to help you protect your desktop software from vulnerabilities. They may include patch management, user and account management, and program setup. Mobile devices: The CIS benchmarks recommend safeguarding endpoints such as tablets and mobile devices. The standards include measures for data protection, account administration, and device configuration. Network devices: CIS benchmarks also involve network hardware, including switches, routers, and firewalls. Some standards for network devices include access restrictions, network segmentation, logging, and monitoring. Print devices: CIS benchmarks also cover print devices like printers and scanners. The CIS benchmark baselines include access restrictions, data protection, and firmware upgrades. Schedule a Demo Why is CIS compliance important? CIS compliance helps you maintain secure IT systems. It does this by helping you adhere to globally recognized cybersecurity standards. CIS benchmarks cover various IT systems and product categories, such as cloud infrastructures. So by ensuring CIS benchmark compliance, you reduce the risk of cyber threats to your IT systems. Achieving CIS compliance has several benefits: Your business will meet internationally accepted cybersecurity standards The CIS standards are developed through a consensus review process. This means they are founded on the most recent threat intelligence and best practices. So you can rely on the standards to build a solid foundation for securing your IT infrastructure. It can help you meet regulatory compliance requirements for other important cybersecurity frameworks CIS standards can help you prove that you comply with other industry regulations. This is especially true for companies that handle sensitive data or work in regulated sectors. CIS compliance is closely related to other regulatory compliances such as NIST, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. By implementing the CIS standards, you’ll conform to the applicable industry regulations. Achieving CIS continuous compliance can help you lower your exposure to cybersecurity risks In the process, safeguard your vital data and systems. This aids in preventing data breaches, malware infections, and other cyberattacks. Such incidents could seriously harm your company’s operations, image, and financial situation. A great example is the Scottish Oil giant, SSE. It had to pay €10M in penalties for failing to comply with a CIS standard in 2013. Abiding by the security measures set by CIS guidelines can help you achieve your goals faster as a business The guidelines cover the most important and frequently attacked areas of IT infrastructure. CIS compliance enhances your general security posture It also decreases the time and resources needed to maintain security. It does this by providing uniform security procedures across various platforms. Schedule a Demo How to achieve CIS compliance? Your organization can achieve CIS compliance by conforming to the guidelines of the CIS benchmarks and CIS controls. Each CIS benchmark usually includes a description of a recommended configuration. It also usually contains a justification for the implementation of the configuration. Finally, it offers step-by-step instructions on how to carry out the recommendation manually. While the standards may seem easy to implement manually, they may consume your time and increase the chances of human errors. That is why most security teams prefer using tools to automate achieving and maintaining CIS compliance. CIS-hardened images are great examples of CIS compliance automation tools. They are pre-configured images that contain all the necessary recommendations from CIS benchmarks. You can be assured of maintaining compliance by using these CIS-hardened images in your cloud environment. You can also use CSPM tools to automate achieving and maintaining CIS compliance. Cloud Security Posture Management tools automatically scan for vulnerabilities in your cloud. They then offer detailed instructions on how to fix those issues effectively. This way, your administrators don’t have to go through the pain of doing manual compliance checks. You save time and effort by working with a CSPM tool. Schedule a Demo Use Prevasio to monitor CIS compliance. Prevasio is a cloud-native application platform (CNAPP) that can help you achieve and maintain CIS compliance in various setups, including Azure, AWS, and GCP. A CNAPP is basically a CSPM tool on steroids. It combines the features of CSPM, CIEM, IAM, and CWPP tools into one solution. This means you’ll get clearer visibility of your cloud environment from one platform. Prevasio constantly assesses your system against the latest version of CIS benchmarks. It then generates reports showing areas that need adjustments to keep your cloud security cyber threat-proof. This saves you time as you won’t have to do the compliance checks manually. Prevasio also has a robust set of features to help you comply with standards from other regulatory bodies. So using this CSPM tool, you’ll automatically comply with HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. Prevasio offers strong vulnerability evaluation and management capabilities besides CIS compliance monitoring. It uses cutting-edge scanning algorithms to find known flaws, incorrect setups, and other security problems in IT settings. This can help you identify and fix vulnerabilities before fraudsters can exploit them. Schedule a Demo The bottom line on CIS compliance Achieving and maintaining CIS compliance is essential in today’s continually changing threat landscape . However, doing the compliance checks manually takes time. You may not also spot weaknesses in your cloud security in time. This means that you need to automate your CIS compliance. And what better solution than a cloud security posture management tool like Prevasio? Prevasio is the ideal option for observing compliance and preventing malware that attack surfaces in cloud assets. Prevasio offers a robust security platform to help you achieve CIS compliance and maintain a secure IT environment. This platform is agentless, meaning it doesn’t run on the cloud like most of its competitors. So you save a lot in costs every time Prevasio runs a scan. Prevaiso also conducts layer analysis. It helps you spot the exact line of code where the problem is rather than give a general area. In the process, saving you time spent identifying and solving critical threats. Schedule a Demo Select a size What are CIS benchmarks? How are the CIS benchmarks developed? What are the CIS benchmark levels? What types of systems do CIS benchmarks apply to? Why is CIS compliance important? How to achieve CIS compliance? Use Prevasio to monitor CIS compliance. The bottom line on CIS compliance Get the latest insights from the experts Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) Read more Hybrid cloud management: All you need to know Learn more Prevasio CNAPP data-sheet Solution brochure Choose a better way to manage your network

What are firewall logs and why they are important Select a size Which network Can AlgoSec be used for continuous compliance monitoring? Yes, AlgoSec supports continuous compliance monitoring. As organizations adapt their security policies to meet emerging threats and address new vulnerabilities, they must constantly verify these changes against the compliance frameworks they subscribe to. AlgoSec can generate risk assessment reports and conduct internal audits on-demand, allowing compliance officers to monitor compliance performance in real-time. Security professionals can also use AlgoSec to preview and simulate proposed changes to the organization’s security policies. This gives compliance officers a valuable degree of lead-time before planned changes impact regulatory guidelines and allows for continuous real-time monitoring. What are firewall logs and why are they important? Network setups of the past consisted solely of servers in a server closet. Today, modern IT infrastructure consists of three main components: on-premises data centers, public clouds, and their connecting infrastructure. This new reality has created complex systems with multiple challenges. Regulations have become stricter, and organizations are under pressure to detect security threats fast. When faced with an issue, network security professionals must pinpoint the root cause, and to do that, they need evidence—which means investigating firewall logs. What is a firewall log? A firewall log is a record of the network connections (allowed and blocked) that a firewall inspects, capturing each event between your systems and the internet. Depending on the configuration, a firewall log may include all inspected traffic or only what the firewall allows to pass into the environment (what “gets past” the firewall). Each entry of a firewall log will specify the following data: Field Description Timestamp Exact date and time traffic was processed Action Decision made by the firewall (Allow, Deny, Drop) Rule ID Specific firewall rule that triggered the action Source IP & Port IP address and port from where traffic originated Destination IP & Port IP address and port that the traffic was trying to reach Protocol Network protocol used (TCP, UDP, ICMP) Bytes/Session Amount of data transferred during a session Zones Source and destination security zones (Trust, Untrust, DMZ) Beyond the question of “What is a firewall log?” there is also the question of where to store them. Organizations have a few options here. Firewall logs can: Stay on the firewall device Go to a basic syslog server for storage Undergo analysis via a security information and event management (SIEM) tool What is a firewall review? The process of reviewing a firewall is akin to a scheduled maintenance procedure that updates the rulebook of your firewall system. Things to be on the lookout for include: Duplicate rules Outdated server rules Overly broad rules that can lead to security vulnerabilities What is a firewall log review? Ready to play detective? Because a firewall log review requires just that. Analyzing firewall data is a continuous process of extracting relevant information from the firewall logs, i.e., the firewall’s own journal of events.. The key is to identify specific patterns that indicate security incidents, performance issues, or non-compliance events. This, in turn, requires centralizing logs with synchronized device clocks so that timelines line up (i.e., NTP across firewalls, servers, and your SIEM) and putting controls in place to preserve log integrity. How to interpret firewall logs in 6 steps So now that it is clear what a firewall log is—as well as how to store these logs and review them—the next step is knowing how to interpret them. Successfully extracting the necessary data from your firewall logs is a six-step process: Collect logs in one place: The central system needs to receive logs from all firewalls that extend from the data center to the cloud. Each entry missing from your logs allows malicious actors to remain unseen, i.e., pose an unknown threat.. Figure out what's normal: To detect abnormal behavior, you must first create a baseline for normal activity, i.e., typical traffic patterns. Hunt for suspicious patterns: The official investigation begins! What to flag? Network scanning activity from a single IP address that attempts to access multiple ports and internal devices and makes scheduled connections to unverified external servers (beaconing). Add context: Context turns raw events into decisions. Enrich IPs and ports from your logs with: Asset inventory: What system and business app is this? User directories: Who owns/uses it? Threat intelligence: Is the source/destination risky? This enrichment helps determine impact and priority—not just “who/what,” but whether the activity is expected, whether the system is critical, and how urgently you need to respond. Investigate and act: Trigger an incident response plan: Validate findings Contain the incident (isolate the host, block indicators at the firewall). Collect forensics (packet captures, memory snapshot, log preservation) Eradicate the threat Recover systems, operations, and data (patches, credential resets, rule updates) Notify stakeholders Document the case for post‑incident review. Measure and improve: Learn from your results. Identify rules that are creating too much noise and clean them up. Most importantly, track how long it takes you to respond to incidents you find in your logs. How does AlgoSec help with firewall logs? Firewall log management across hybrid environments requires more than manual monitoring. It demands contextual understanding, automated processes, and permanent security measures. AlgoSec offers multiple features to combine all these components. It empowers your team to not only fully grasp what firewall logs are and their importance, but also helps you transition from event analysis to evidence-based remediation: AlgoSec Horizon : Security policy management via an approach based on business application, not a specific device. Offers complete monitoring of app connections between data centers and clouds, automated policy updates, and continuous compliance monitoring, connecting log traffic to actual application operations. Firewall Analyzer : Complete visibility into all firewalls to detect dangerous or unneeded rules. Optimizes rule bases by focusing on essential risk-related elements, resulting in less log data, improved signal quality, and faster review processes. FireFlow : Issue detection and response based on log data. Leverages automated workflows to execute risk and compliance assessments pre-deployment, complete with documentation; integrates with current ITSM systems (e.g., ServiceNow, BMC Remedy) so teams can perform change management tasks within a familiar environment. AlgoSec Cloud Enterprise (ACE) : A single policy framework for cloud and hybrid systems. Enables automated security group and cloud firewall rule management; performs 150+ cloud policy risk checks to deliver application-specific insights from cloud logs. Now is the time to convert your firewall logs into valuable business decisions. Request a demo to see AlgoSec in action today. 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