What do early detection systems like a file integrity monitoring tool and my mailman have in common? Bear with me and you’ll find out!
Lately, I have become fascinated (or as my wife might say…obsessed) with IoT (Internet of Things). For example, I purchased my first smart light bulb, mostly so I could help my daughter learn colors (at least that’s what I told my wife). However, I also made an investment into a connected smoke/fire/CO2 detector system throughout our 100-year-old house. The reason was simple. I wanted a modern early detection system and no longer felt comfortable with the ad hoc detection units.
Now I have an easy monthly test since all units are unified. A quick visual inspection will tell me if there’s an issue anywhere in the house (like the basement), and even if I’m in my bedroom, I can quickly get everyone outside. My early detection systems are now in place, and I feel my entire family is protected. Gone are the mindless moments at 3:23 in the morning where I’m rummaging through the house to find the one unit that needs a new battery. Also, why the heck is it always at 3:23 a.m.?!?
I digress. My whole point of early detection systems stemmed from the latest article I was reading on a growing concern of crippling cyberattacks by many experts. To sum it up, “A well-executed cyberattack could knock out the electrical grid and shut off power to a huge swath of the country, or compromise vital government or financial data and leave us unsure what is real.” Sounds scary, right? So, what can be done, and what can you do to protect your company?
Great question! While the article does talk about information sharing, why not give a little more than scary quotes one might ask. That said, early warnings systems have been around for quite some time, from the canary in the coal mine to the well-placed tripwire in movies. Just like G.I. Joe said, “Knowing is half the battle.” Having such a system in place for your critical business systems is no longer optional.
So, how do you protect your business from today’s cyberattacks and sleep better at night? Well, one way is with File Integrity Monitor (FIM) from Wind River, which is included in the Advanced Security Package. We’ve talked a little before about how file integrity monitoring is the key to keeping your business secure. FIM is a file integrity monitoring tool that allows you to detect unexpected or malicious changes to file, directories and registry settings.
Powered by Trustwave, FIM couples easy-to-use monitoring of critical changes with reporting to give you visibility into what is happening with your devices. In addition, it satisfies PCI Requirement 11.5 for File Integrity Monitoring. Lastly, Trustwave’s FIM scores a 5 out of 5 on FireCompass. The good news is that FIM is just one of the many security tools in the Advanced Security Package to improve your security and get you that well-deserved rest.
Finally, I am a big fan of tools and automation for security and productivity and having a file integrity monitoring tool like FIM in place is right up my alley. You’ll continue to see that trend. I have my smart thermostat, smart outlets and now a smart doorbell. Why a smart doorbell? It all goes back to the beginning of this blog. I’m keeping an eye on the mailman now that my son was born with red hair. I’m kidding of course, but seriously…
Who is watching your files?
