Year: 2016

‘Big data’ refers to the massive amounts of digital information companies and governments collect about human beings and our environment. Experts anticipate that the amount of data generated will double every two years, from 2500 exabytes in 2012 to 40,000 exabytes in 2020.  Security and privacy issues are magnified by the volume, variety, and velocity of big data.  As big data expands through streaming cloud technology, traditional security mechanisms tailored to secure small-scale, static data on firewalled and semi-isolated networks offer inadequate protection.

Recently our Big Data Working Group led by Sreeranga Rajan and Daisuke Mashim released the “Big Data Security and Privacy Handbook: 100 Best Practices in Big Data Security and Privacy,” outlining the 100 best practices that should be followed by any big data service provider to fortify their infrastructure. The handbook presents 10 compelling solutions for each of the top 10 challenges in big data security and privacy, which the working group previously identified in the 2012 CSA documenttitled “Top Ten Big Data Security and Privacy Challenges.”

New Security Challenges
It is not merely the existence of large amounts of data that creates new security challenges. In reality, big data has been collected and utilized for several decades. The current uses of big data are novel because organizations of all sizes now have access to the information and the means to collect it. In the past, big data was limited to very large users such as governments and big enterprises that could afford to create and own the infrastructure necessary for hosting and mining large amounts of data. These infrastructures were typically proprietary and isolated from general networks. Today, big data is cheaply and easily accessible to organizations of all sizes through public cloud infrastructure.

Software infrastructure developers can easily leverage thousands of computing nodes to perform data-parallel computing. Combined with the ability to buy computing power on-demand from public cloud providers, the adoption of big data mining methodologies is greatly accelerated. Large-scale cloud infrastructures, diversity of data sources and formats, the streaming nature of data acquisition and high-volume, inter-cloud migration all play a role in the creation of unique security vulnerabilities.

Big Data Best Practices
Now that we have enormous amounts of data and know the security and privacy risks it presents, what can enterprises do to secure their information? This CSA handbook provides a roster of 100 best practices, ranging from typical cybersecurity measures, such as authentication and access control, to state-of-the-art cryptographic technologies. In each section, CSA presents 10 solutions for each of the top 10 major challenges in big data security and privacy. Each section addresses what is the best practice, why these security measures are needed and should be followed and how they can be implemented.

Read the entire “Big Data Security and Privacy Handbook: 100 Best Practices in Big Data Security and Privacy” handbook. Learn more about CSA.

Ryan Bergsma, Research Intern, CSA

[Cloud Security Alliance Blog]

The SSH protocol that is embedded on Unix, Linux, Mainframe, and Windows 16 Servers – in additional to Switches, Routers, IOT devices, etc. can be compromised by bad actors with access to keys. This is also true for anyone deploying applications in the cloud.

The SSH protocol creates an encrypted tunnel providing users with root level access. In the wrong hands, misuse of the SSH protocol have led to disastrous consequences. Here is why:

Encrypted SSH traffic cannot be monitored by existing tools. DLP, SIEM’s, Firewall’s etc. do not work
SSH Key’s don’t expire – a key created 20 years ago still works today.
SSH Keys are often copied and shared, creating a challenges to tie back who did what and when
SSH Tunneling (just what the name implies) facilitates a security loophole
Bad actors operating within this security blind spot can bypass security controls, install software, transfer data, and delete their activity.

Recommended Course of Action

Review and apply the NIST 79666 white paper recommended guidelines to prevent security breaches.

FURTHER READING

• What CISO’s Need to Know about the Newest NIST Guidelines for Secure Shell
• Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014
• National Institute of Standards and Technology – NIST
• NIST Internal/Interagency Reports (NISTIR)
• NISTIR 7966
• NIST Special Publication (NISTSP) 800-53 Revision 4
• Cybersecurity Framework

Stay on top of vulnerabilities with (ISC)²’s members-only resource for researching and tracking vulnerabilities and mitigating risks – Vulnerability Central.

Create your customized dashboard today.

By Thomas MacIsaac, Vice President, Eastern US and Canada, SSH Communications Security

[(ISC)² Blog]