Donna R.

Security Audits: Are They Worth the Investment? When hackers target an organization today, it’s rarely about mischief or curiosity. Their goal is simple: valuable data. This can include confidential business plans, donor databases, employee personal information, banking credentials, and access to internal systems. In the digital world, this information is as valuable as money. ▶️What Are Hackers Really After? Most cyberattacks are financially motivated. Once inside a network, attackers can: • Lock your files and demand a ransom (ransomware) • Trick employees into transferring money to fraudulent accounts • Sell sensitive data on the dark web • Use your servers to launch attacks on others—damaging your reputation and credibility In some cases, your organization may even appear to be the source of an attack, putting you at legal and reputational risk. ▶️Why This Matters to You Whether you run a small business, startup, or non-profit, you likely rely on cloud storage, email systems, and remote work tools. Each of these is a potential entry point for attackers. One weak password, outdated software, or unsecured device can be enough to compromise your entire system—leading to financial loss, legal consequences, and loss of trust. ▶️Technology Isn’t the Only Risk—People Are While technical vulnerabilities matter, human error is the leading cause of security breaches. Clicking on a malicious email link or sharing credentials unknowingly can open the door to attackers. This is why cybersecurity is not just about tools—it’s about awareness, habits, and training. ▶️The Role of a Digital Security Audit A Digital Security Audit works like a health check-up for your organization. It helps you: • Identify existing vulnerabilities • Understand where you are most at risk • Get clear, practical steps to strengthen your security • Train your team to become the first line of defense Finding weaknesses before attackers do can save your organization from serious damage. ▶️Secure Your Future with DSS Digital Security School (DSS) offers practical and easy-to-understand Digital Security Audits. We don’t just assess your systems—we empower your team with the knowledge and practices needed to stay secure in today’s digital landscape. 📧 Contact DSS: dss@dreamspace.academy

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Maddie Hall, CIPP/US and our SSPA team are on top of the anticipated Microsoft SSPA program changes coming March 30. More insights to come as soon as we know!

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The gap between "secure on paper" and "secure in practice" is where breaches happen. Organizations often view identity through an auditor's lens: "Who has access to what?" and "Is that access justified?" While this supports governance, it misses how attackers think. Attackers don't see individual permissions, they see pathways. They understand how access can be chained, escalated, and abused to move laterally through your environment. This is the critical difference between access graphs and attack graphs. Between what appears locked down in your entitlement reviews and what an adversary could actually exploit. The solution? Start thinking like an attacker. View identity risk through their eyes to understand how access and relationships combine to form paths of escalation. Download our State of Attack Path Management report to learn how leading security teams are bridging this dangerous gap between defensive assumptions and adversarial reality: https://ghst.ly/sapm-25 You can also join our webinar TOMORROW and get a full break down of the report from authors Jared Atkinson, Andrew Chiles, and Elad Shamir. Register at https://ghst.ly/aug-web-li

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CMMC Level 2 Assessment Objective: Access Restrictions for Change PRACTICE: Organizations must define, document, approve, and enforce physical and logical access restrictions associated with changes to organizational systems. ASSESSMENT: Determine if: [a] physical access restrictions associated with changes to the system are defined; [b] physical access restrictions associated with changes to the system are documented; [c] physical access restrictions associated with changes to the system are approved; [d] physical access restrictions associated with changes to the system are enforced; [e] logical access restrictions associated with changes to the system are defined; [f] logical access restrictions associated with changes to the system are documented; [g] logical access restrictions associated with changes to the system are approved; and [h] logical access restrictions associated with changes to the system are enforced. Be prepared! 🔍 Examine Configuration management policy; procedures addressing access restrictions for changes to the system; system security plan; configuration management plan; system design documentation; system architecture and configuration documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; logical access approvals; physical access approvals; access credentials; change control records; system audit logs and records; other relevant documents or records. 🗣 Interview personnel with logical access control responsibilities; personnel with physical access control responsibilities; personnel with information security responsibilities; system or network administrators. 📝 Test organizational processes for managing access restrictions associated with changes to the system; mechanisms supporting, implementing, and enforcing access restrictions associated with changes to the system (CMMC Assessment Guide: Level 2 Version 2.13, page 100) MNS Group #CMMC #DoW #DoD #cybersecurity #NIST #InformationSecurity #CyberSecurity

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Most firms invest in penetration testing to satisfy compliance requirements or check a box for cybersecurity insurance. But the real value shows up in client and investor conversations. When a prospective client or investor asks about your security posture, "we follow best practices" doesn't carry the same weight as "we run annual penetration tests and remediate findings within 30 days." Penetration testing surfaces vulnerabilities before they become breaches. In industries where data is the product, demonstrating that your defenses are tested by third parties builds confidence that goes beyond compliance. Test your defenses before clients need to trust them. 👉 https://lnkd.in/egAXk3d2

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Knowing when to request a SOC report from a third-party vendor isn't always straightforward. Partner Journet Greene, CISA, Risk Advisory Director Nana Iyegha and Risk Advisory Senior Manager Enessa M., put together a 3-step framework to help you determine whether a SOC report belongs in your evaluation process. Read our full blog for a deeper dive into SOC reports and third-party vendor oversight: bit.ly/4lHhBes

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