Piergiorgio Venuti
Why IT audit and log management are important for Cybersecurity
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Introduction
Cybersecurity has become a major concern for modern businesses. With the increase in cyber attacks, data breaches and privacy threats, organizations must take proactive measures to protect their systems and data. Two key components of any cybersecurity program are IT audit and log management. But what is the difference between these two aspects? And why are both necessary?
What is an IT audit?
An IT audit is a process of checking security controls, configurations and vulnerabilities within an organization’s IT infrastructure and systems. Audits are conducted on a periodic basis by internal or external auditors to identify risks, weaknesses and areas for improvement.
Common elements of an IT audit include:
- Check network and security configurations
- Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
- Review of access controls and policies
- Evaluation of update and patch management
- Inspection of incident management and response plans
Audits provide a periodic snapshot of the security posture and help ensure regulatory compliance. However, they do not provide continuous monitoring and visibility.
What is log management?
Log management refers to the centralized collection, storage and analysis of logs generated by IT systems, applications and network devices. Logs record user and system activity and are a vital source of security data and information.
The main capabilities of a log management solution include:
- Collection and centralization of logs from heterogeneous sources
- Secure long-term log storage
- Real-time correlation of suspicious events and activities
- Dashboards and reporting for visibility and monitoring
- Configurable alarms and warnings
- Log analysis for investigations and forensics
Log management provides continuous monitoring and visibility into threats and anomalous activities. However, it does not perform proactive checks of security controls.
Key differences
While audit and log management are both critical to an effective security program, there are some key differences:
Frequency – Audits are periodic. Log management is continuous and in real time.
Approach – Audits are proactive, timely checks. Log management is passive and reactive.
Perspective – Audits provide a cross-sectional snapshot. Logs provide a longitudinal view over time.
Coverage – Audits are limited in time and scope. Log management monitors the entire environment.
Output – Audits produce static reports. Logs enable dynamic analysis.
Costs – Audits require ongoing human resources. Log management automates with lower costs.
Benefits of a managed service
For both IT audit and log management, organizations can choose to implement an in-house solution or rely on managed service providers. Managed services offer several benefits:
- Experience – Specialized suppliers with in-depth expertise and established best practices.
- Resources – Access to advanced technologies and dedicated teams of professionals.
- Scalability – Elastic capabilities to meet changing needs.
- Efficiencies – Automation and optimization of processes for greater productivity.
- Compliance – Support meeting compliance standards and frameworks.
- Costs – Converting fixed costs into flexible operating expenses.
- Focus – Freeing up time and resources to focus on your core business.
Whether you choose audit or log management, managed services eliminate complexity and allow you to delegate these critical capabilities to trusted partners.
Considerations for choosing a managed service
When selecting a managed service provider, organizations should consider:
- Coverage – Breadth and depth of functionality and visibility provided.
- Skills – Level of experience with relevant technologies and standards.
- Size – Scale and capacity to handle growing volumes and needs.
- Security – Rigorous controls to protect data confidentiality.
- Flexibility – Customization to fit specific needs.
- Reporting – Clear dashboards and reports for relevant metrics and insights.
- Support – Availability of expert staff for assistance and advice.
- Pricing – Transparent and predictable pricing models.
- Integrations – Ability to incorporate with existing tools.
By choosing carefully, organizations can obtain comprehensive and effective audit and log management services on an ongoing basis.
Internal management vs outsourcing
Organizations must decide whether to manage these capabilities internally or outsource:
Internal management
- Greater control and customization
- Internal network of dedicated staff
- Maintenance of internal skills
Outsourcing
- Instant access to skills and experience
- No hiring or training requirements
- Transfer of complexity and responsibility
- Cost reduction through economies of scale
Outsourcing is often more beneficial for SMEs, while large enterprises can gain value from a hybrid approach.
Conclusion and Summary
IT audit and log management play complementary but distinct roles in a cybersecurity program. Audits provide proactive cross-sectional assessments of security posture, while log management enables ongoing monitoring and analysis. Fully managed services offer specialized expertise, streamlined operations, and elastic capabilities for both audits and log management. By choosing a reliable provider, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity without complexity or excessive expense.
Useful links:
Share
RSS
More Articles…
- From Secure Online Desktop to Cyberfero: rebranding of the leading cybersecurity company
- NIS: what it is and how it protects cybersecurity
- Advanced persistent threats (APTs): what they are and how to defend yourself
- Penetration Testing and MFA: A Dual Strategy to Maximize Security
- Penetration Testing: Where to Strike to Protect Your IT Network
- Ransomware: a plague that brings companies and institutions to their knees. Should you pay the ransom? Here is the answer.
- Why IT audit and log management are important for Cybersecurity
- Red Team, Blue Team and Purple Team: what are the differences?
Categories …
- Backup as a Service (18)
- Acronis Cloud Backup (11)
- Veeam Cloud Connect (4)
- Cloud Conference (3)
- Cloud CRM (1)
- Cloud Server/VPS (22)
- Conferenza Cloud (4)
- Cyberfero (15)
- ICT Monitoring (5)
- Log Management (2)
- News (25)
- ownCloud (4)
- Privacy (7)
- Security (203)
- Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) (8)
- Deception (4)
- Ethical Phishing (11)
- Netwrix Auditor (2)
- Penetration Test (11)
- Posture Guard (3)
- SOCaaS (65)
- Vulnerabilities (84)
- Web Hosting (15)
Tags
darkreading
- Feds Warn on Russian Actors Targeting Critical Infrastructure September 6, 2024In the past, Putin's Unit 29155 has utilized malware like WhisperGate to target organizations, particularly those in Ukraine.
- CISA Flags ICS Bugs in Baxter, Mitsubishi Products September 6, 2024The vulnerabilities affect industrial control tech used across the healthcare and critical manufacturing sectors.
- Commercial Spyware Use Roars Back Despite Sanctions September 6, 2024Vendors of mercenary spyware tools used by nation-states to track citizens and enemies have gotten savvy about evading efforts to limit their use.
- Cybersecurity Talent Shortage Prompts White House Action September 6, 2024The Biden administration launches an initiative to encourage careers in cybersecurity, as businesses try new tactics to get unfilled IT security roles staffed.
- FreeBSD Gets €686,400 to Boost Security Features September 6, 2024The funds from Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund will be used to integrate security features such as zero trust capabilities and tools for software bill of materials.
- Using Transparency & Sharing to Defend Critical Infrastructure September 6, 2024No organization can single-handedly defend against sophisticated attacks. Governments and private sector entities need to collaborate, share information, and develop defenses against cyber threats
- What Is the Shared Fate Model? September 5, 2024New threats, an overburdened workforce, and regulatory pressures mean cloud service providers need a more resilient model than the shared responsibility framework. That's where "shared fate" comes in.
- HackerOne Appoints Kara Sprague As CEO September 5, 2024
- Kiteworks Bolsters Its Secure Data Collection Capabilities With 123FormBuilder Acquisition September 5, 2024
- Palo Alto Networks® Closes Acquisition of IBM's QRadar SaaS Assets September 5, 2024
Full Disclosure
- [SYSS-2024-030]: C-MOR Video Surveillance - OS Command Injection (CWE-78) September 6, 2024Posted by Matthias Deeg via Fulldisclosure on Sep 05Advisory ID: SYSS-2024-030 Product: C-MOR Video Surveillance Manufacturer: za-internet GmbH Affected Version(s): 5.2401, 6.00PL01 Tested Version(s): 5.2401, 6.00PL01 Vulnerability Type: OS Command Injection (CWE-78) Risk Level: High Solution Status: Open Manufacturer Notification: 2024-04-05 Solution Date: - Public Disclosure: 2024-09-04...
- [SYSS-2024-029]: C-MOR Video Surveillance - Dependency on Vulnerable Third-Party Component (CWE-1395) September 6, 2024Posted by Matthias Deeg via Fulldisclosure on Sep 05Advisory ID: SYSS-2024-029 Product: C-MOR Video Surveillance Manufacturer: za-internet GmbH Affected Version(s): 5.2401 Tested Version(s): 5.2401 Vulnerability Type: Dependency on Vulnerable Third-Party Component (CWE-1395) Use of Unmaintained Third Party Components (CWE-1104) Risk Level: High Solution Status: Fixed...
- [SYSS-2024-028]: C-MOR Video Surveillance - Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information (CWE-312) September 6, 2024Posted by Matthias Deeg via Fulldisclosure on Sep 05Advisory ID: SYSS-2024-028 Product: C-MOR Video Surveillance Manufacturer: za-internet GmbH Affected Version(s): 5.2401, 6.00PL01 Tested Version(s): 5.2401, 6.00PL01 Vulnerability Type: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information (CWE-312) Risk Level: Medium Solution Status: Open Manufacturer Notification: 2024-04-05 Solution Date: - Public...
- [SYSS-2024-027]: C-MOR Video Surveillance - Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269) September 6, 2024Posted by Matthias Deeg via Fulldisclosure on Sep 05Advisory ID: SYSS-2024-027 Product: C-MOR Video Surveillance Manufacturer: za-internet GmbH Affected Version(s): 5.2401, 6.00PL01 Tested Version(s): 5.2401, 6.00PL01 Vulnerability Type: Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269) Risk Level: High Solution Status: Open Manufacturer Notification: 2024-04-05 Solution Date: - Public Disclosure:...
- [SYSS-2024-026]: C-MOR Video Surveillance - Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) September 6, 2024Posted by Matthias Deeg via Fulldisclosure on Sep 05Advisory ID: SYSS-2024-026 Product: C-MOR Video Surveillance Manufacturer: za-internet GmbH Affected Version(s): 5.2401 Tested Version(s): 5.2401 Vulnerability Type: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) Risk Level: High Solution Status: Fixed Manufacturer Notification: 2024-04-05 Solution Date: 2024-07-31 Public Disclosure:...
- [SYSS-2024-025]: C-MOR Video Surveillance - Relative Path Traversal (CWE-23) September 6, 2024Posted by Matthias Deeg via Fulldisclosure on Sep 05Advisory ID: SYSS-2024-025 Product: C-MOR Video Surveillance Manufacturer: za-internet GmbH Affected Version(s): 5.2401 Tested Version(s): 5.2401 Vulnerability Type: Relative Path Traversal (CWE-23) Risk Level: High Solution Status: Fixed Manufacturer Notification: 2024-04-05 Solution Date: 2024-07-31 Public Disclosure: 2024-09-04 CVE...
- Backdoor.Win32.Symmi.qua / Remote Stack Buffer Overflow (SEH) September 6, 2024Posted by malvuln on Sep 05Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/6e81618678ddfee69342486f6b5ee780.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: x.com/malvuln Threat: Backdoor.Win32.Symmi.qua Vulnerability: Remote Stack Buffer Overflow (SEH) Description: The malware listens on two random high TCP ports, when connecting (ncat) one port will return a single character like "♣" […]
- HackTool.Win32.Freezer.br (WinSpy) / Insecure Credential Storage September 6, 2024Posted by malvuln on Sep 05Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/2992129c565e025ebcb0bb6f80c77812.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: x.com/malvuln Threat: HackTool.Win32.Freezer.br (WinSpy) Vulnerability: Insecure Credential Storage Description: The malware listens on TCP ports 443, 80 and provides a web interface for remote access to victim information like screenshots etc.The […]
- Backdoor.Win32.Optix.02.b / Weak Hardcoded Credentials September 6, 2024Posted by malvuln on Sep 05Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/706ddc06ebbdde43e4e97de4d5af3b19.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: x.com/malvuln Threat: Backdoor.Win32.Optix.02.b Vulnerability: Weak Hardcoded Credentials Description: Optix listens on TCP port 5151 and is packed with ASPack (2.11d). Unpacking is trivial set breakpoints on POPAD, RET, run and dump […]
- Backdoor.Win32.JustJoke.21 (BackDoor Pro) / Unauthenticated Remote Command Execution September 6, 2024Posted by malvuln on Sep 05Discovery / credits: Malvuln (John Page aka hyp3rlinx) (c) 2024 Original source: https://malvuln.com/advisory/4dc39c05bcc93e600dd8de16f2f7c599.txt Contact: malvuln13 () gmail com Media: x.com/malvuln Threat: Backdoor.Win32.JustJoke.21 (BackDoor Pro - v2.0b4) Vulnerability: Unauthenticated Remote Command Execution Family: JustJoke Type: PE32 MD5: 4dc39c05bcc93e600dd8de16f2f7c599 SHA256:...
Customers
Twitter FEED
Recent activity
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes L'impatto crescente delle minacce informatiche, su sistemi operativi privati op… https://t.co/FimxTS4o9G
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes The growing impact of cyber threats, on private or corporate operating systems… https://t.co/y6G6RYA9n1
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Tempo di lettura stimato: 6 minuti Today we are talking about the CTI update of our services. Data security is… https://t.co/YAZkn7iFqa
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Il tema della sicurezza delle informazioni è di grande attualità in questo peri… https://t.co/tfve5Kzr09
-
SecureOnlineDesktop
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes The issue of information security is very topical in this historical period ch… https://t.co/TP8gvdRcrF
Newsletter
{subscription_form_1}Products and Solutions
Partners
Cloud Models
News
- From Secure Online Desktop to Cyberfero: rebranding of the leading cybersecurity company May 6, 2024
- NIS: what it is and how it protects cybersecurity April 22, 2024
- Advanced persistent threats (APTs): what they are and how to defend yourself April 17, 2024
- Penetration Testing and MFA: A Dual Strategy to Maximize Security April 15, 2024
- Penetration Testing: Where to Strike to Protect Your IT Network March 25, 2024
Google Reviews
Ottima azienda, servizi molto utili, staff qualificato e competente. Raccomandata!read more
Ottimo supportoread more
E' un piacere poter collaborare con realtà di questo tiporead more
Un ottimo fornitore.
Io personalmente ho parlato con l' Ing. Venuti, valore aggiunto indubbiamente.read more
About
© 2024 Cyberfero s.r.l. All Rights Reserved. Sede Legale: via Statuto 3 - 42121 Reggio Emilia (RE) – PEC [email protected] Cod. fiscale e P.IVA 03058120357 – R.E.A. 356650 Informativa Privacy - Certificazioni ISO