Speak about the partnership that Check Point Software can offer to enterprises in their digital transformation journey

At Check Point Software we aim to extend architectural assistance to organizations to support their development of a proper strategy for this journey. Check Point Software understands that cloud transformation is a complex undertaking, and knows the value our customers place in our architectural workshops. Because of this, Check Point Software offers a Cloud Transformation Security Consultancy service designed specifically around cloud transformation. This service provides an efficient and thorough platform for transitioning corporate security programs to a digital future. Our advisors help customers understand the security design patterns of multiple cloud use cases (Public/Private IaaS, security of cloud, and through cloud, and many more).

Ram Narayanan, Country Manager at Check Point Software – ME

Discuss the role of cloud and its services in digital transformation

Cloud adoption has grown rapidly in recent years. While many organizations were already moving to the cloud, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this transition. With the normalization of remote work, companies needed to be able to support and provide critical services to their off-site workforce. As a result, over 98% of organizations use some form of cloud-based infrastructure, and over three-quarters (76%) have multi-cloud deployments composed of services from two or more cloud providers. These cloud environments host critical business applications and store sensitive company and customer data.

Some of the key benefits from moving to the cloud include:

• Shifting business models from Capex to Opex, so that companies pay only for what they use, be it IaaS, PaaS or SaaS.
• Scalability, where computing, network, and storage capacities can be increased
• Agility, where developers can make continuous improvements
• High availability, disaster recovery, and redundancy are improved by cloud vendors

How do you distinguish between Check Point Software and its competitors in offering cyber protection?

Check Point Software Technologies provides cyber security solutions to corporate enterprises and governments globally. The company’s solutions protect customers against Gen V, zero-day attacks with an industry leading catch rate of malware, ransomware and advanced targeted threats. Check Point Software’s Gen V protection is focused on attack prevention, to stop attacks from even entering networks, and speed of response. We address organizations’ most imminent cyber security needs based on three core principles:

• Prevention-first approach: It deploys pre-emptive user protections to eliminate threats before they reach the users
• Gold Standard Management: Single pane of glass to manage the entire security estate
• Consolidated Solution: A unified cybersecurity approach that strengthens defenses while improving agility against all forms of attack

Elaborate on the opportunities of SMEs and large enterprises while choosing to transform digital applications and devices

Digital transformation empowers organizations to expand business opportunities, increase profitability and efficiency, while reducing operational costs. However, digital transformation can also expose enterprises to a variety of vulnerabilities and challenges that if not properly addressed could result in financial loss, identity theft, and leakage of private and sensitive information.

Tell us about the anti-phishing and ransomware strategies enforced by Check Point Software in favor of its customers

Phishing is one of the most talked about cyber-attack, and for a good reason. It can come in many shapes and forms, as it is constantly evolving and introducing new ways of tricking users using their biggest weakness – their human nature. Check Point Software’s anti-phishing solutions includes different products to address different attack vectors from which phishing attacks come:

• Harmony Email & Office – It deploys between the inbox and its native security
• Harmony Endpoint – Zero-Phishing identifies and blocks the use of phishing sites in real time
• Harmony Mobile – Check Point Software’s Zero-Phishing technology for mobile devices. It allows organizations to combat zero-day phishing attacks by inspecting the web page itself and making an informed determination as to whether it is a phishing site or not

Check Point Software’s Anti-Ransomware, a ransomware protection solution, protects organizations from the most sophisticated ransomware attacks, and safely recovers encrypted data, ensuring business continuity and productivity.

Speak about Fortinet’s capacities to offer comprehensive protection for enterprises in times of rising cyber attacks

To fight today’s evolving threats, organizations should look into a security platform based on a cybersecurity mesh architecture with security solutions that are designed to work together. A cybersecurity mesh architecture integrates security controls into, and across, widely distributed networks and assets. Defenders will need to plan now by leveraging the power of AI and machine learning (ML) to speed threat prevention, detection, and response. Advanced endpoint technologies like endpoint detection and response (EDR) can help to identify malicious threats based on behavior. Also, zero-trust network access (ZTNA) will be critical for secure application access to extend protections to mobile workers and learners, while Secure SD-WAN is important to protect evolving WAN edges.

Alain Penel, Regional Vice President – ME at Fortinet

Together with the Fortinet Security Fabric, organizations can benefit from an integrated security platform that secures all assets on-premises, in the data center, and in the cloud or at the edge.

What advice do you give to enterprises to secure their network and reduce vulnerabilities?

Today’s threat environment is constantly changing, and from distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to ransomware, the frequency, volume, and sophistication of cyberattacks show no signs of slowing down. Every organization, from small businesses to the largest enterprises and service providers, in every industry, requires network security to protect critical assets and infrastructure from a rapidly expanding attack surface.

Organizations need to develop a Security-driven Networking strategy that tightly integrates an organization’s network infrastructure and security architecture, enabling the network to scale and change without compromising security operations. This next-generation approach is essential for effectively defending today’s highly dynamic environments – not only by providing consistent enforcement across today’s highly flexible perimeters but by also weaving security deep into the network itself.

SMEs face large-scale cyber threats than large enterprises. How can they defend their physical and cloud networks? What are the solutions Fortinet offers to them in order to protect their digital ecosystem?

SMEs struggle to implement strong, holistic security across their business for a variety of reasons and too often rely on piecemeal security cobbled together with multiple vendors’ point products that do not operate cohesively. Ultimately, this results in inflated costs and stagnating growth, as investing in technology that would help the business be more productive is delayed by security. Cybersecurity for SMEs must therefore be simple, cost-effective, and easy to deploy.

Fortinet’s small and mid-size business security solutions deliver a path to complete protection. Clear ROI is delivered without sacrificing security with tight integration, automation, and visibility across the entire cybersecurity footprint to improve effectiveness, reduce cycles, and scale as the company grows. Cloud-based, centralized management simplifies ongoing operations with business-driven rules and policies so businesses can quickly consume new technology while keeping the business safe from attack.

Give insights into the partner collaboration Fortinet has made globally in the last two years

Fortinet is committed to helping partners be able to meet new and changing customer demands created by the work-from-anywhere models through Fortinet’s Engage Partner Program and enablement tools for partners.

As an example, last year Fortinet introduced new Specializations focused on high growth areas with additions, including “zero trust” access, operational technology, and security operations. Specializations help partners further distinguish their expertise among current and potential customers as trusted partners who have the knowledge, services, and technologies to fulfill customer business needs.

Elaborate on Fortinet’s business strategies in the Middle East?

In the region, we see strong interest in secure SD-WAN, cloud, and OT areas. By transforming their WAN architectures with SD-WAN, organizations can leverage such functions as dynamic path selection, optimized application delivery, and accelerated cloud on-ramp to deliver business-critical applications to the WAN edge – even for the most bandwidth-hungry applications – all while delivering instant ROI benefits. A secure SD-WAN solution goes further as it also includes a full stack of integrated, enterprise-class security features, and centralized management so it can be seamlessly incorporated into the larger corporate security framework. In 2021, we saw many attacks on critical infrastructure. Attacks against OT systems and critical infrastructure can have dire consequences for the lives and safety of both workers and consumers. OT organizations need to deploy cohesive solutions across their converging IT and OT networks. A platform approach is essential for OT organizations since their security considerations must extend beyond the on-premises system. Now they also must cover the operating system, the network infrastructure, and take the increased dependence on enabled Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices into account as well. Cybercriminals certainly aren’t going to let up in 2022. As digital innovation accelerates, organizations are increasingly reliant on secure cloud solutions and infrastructures. Fortinet Adaptive Cloud Security Solutions provide the necessary visibility and control across cloud infrastructures, enabling secure applications and connectivity from the data center to the cloud.

How do you react to the increasing competition in the security solutions market?

Competing in today’s highly dynamic digital marketplace requires tools built around security-driven Networking principles that are designed to adapt to constantly changing requirements. We tightly integrate security with networking and connectivity solutions to ensure that even the most dynamic environments and edges are always protected. By weaving security and networking together, security no longer functions as an overlay.

Enterprises need more than siloed solutions in today’s complex environment. This is why the Fortinet Security Fabric is the answer to their security challenges: it ensures that solutions deployed anywhere, regardless of their form factor or the network they run on, can see each other, share threat intelligence, and coordinate a unified response to threats. It supports our unique security-driven networking approach that blends security, networking, and connectivity into a unified solution. Our advances in AI-based security technology are woven into the Security Fabric, helping ensure that organizations can receive essential, actionable threat intelligence, identify, and investigate unusual behavior, and coordinate a unified response across the entire distributed network to neutralize threats in seconds.

The cover story helps readers understand the trend of cyberattacks, the impact of breaches, required strategies, and the need to inculcate best practices to create active resistance against cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity is one of the most often used terminologies in almost all industries in the context of rising cyber threats, including the exploitation of software vulnerabilities, ransomware attacks, and malicious intrusions in enterprise networks. While digital transformation and cloud business are taken to a new level, the “zero trust” approach becomes a widely appreciated strategy from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large corporates.

The time is crucial for cybersecurity professionals and services providers as intruders simultaneously exploit vulnerabilities in software or network systems and make use of the latest technologies to hijack. Reports suggest that office suits, IoT devices, and other communication agents in the enterprise networks are repeatedly found vulnerable when it comes to resisting breaches. Apart from that, the use of AI-powered cyberattacks also became common practice.

Most of the cyberattacks, such as ransomware and malware attacks, are motivated by financial interests. Such attacks are designated to steal personally identifiable information (PII), Social Security information, and credit card details from servers. The stolen information is generally gets sold in underground digital marketplaces. But then, attacks happened on government enterprises and utility service networks are contemplated the political and diplomatic interests.

Protection of Critical Systems from Cyberattack

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting IT and network systems from potential cyberattacks; it guards data and sensitive information also from digital attacks. Today, an enterprise requires to install multiple agents in its IT system and educate its workforce to combat breaches that originate outside the organization.

Cyberattacks at an enterprise not only cause loss of trust in partners but also bring a bad reputation in the industry especially if the breach is specific to personally identifiable information (PII) of customers. Therefore, enterprises have no choice but to stay upfront in protecting their critical systems.

The average cost of a data breach was USD 3.86 million globally in 2020. The cost includes:

• Expenses of discovering and responding to the breach
• Downtime
• Revenue
• Reputational damage

Most Known Cyber Threats

Even though enterprises and cybersecurity professions establish strong measures against outside breaches, attackers find ways to exploit in-house weaknesses focusing on remote access tools, work-from-anywhere environments, etc.

The following are some of the known cyberattacks:

Malware

They are malicious software variants, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware and they can be mostly detected using antivirus tools. However, malware presence in the computer can give unauthorized access to systems.

Ransomware

This is a type of malware that locks down files or data and threatens to erase or destroy the data unless a ransom is paid to the cybercriminals who designated the attack. Recently, ransomware attacks have targeted state and local governments across the world.

Phishing/Social Engineering

Phishing scams often take place through emails or text messages that appear to be sent by a legitimate company asking for sensitive information, such as credit card data or login information. Studies find a surge in pandemic-related phishing, tied to remote work.

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks

DDoS attacks try to crash a server, network, or website by overloading it with traffic – most often from multiple coordinated systems. DDoS attacks overwhelm enterprise networks through the simple network management protocol (SNMP), used for modems, printers, switches, routers, servers, etc.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

An intruder or group of intruders infiltrate a system and remain undetected for an extended period. The intruder leaves networks and systems intact so that the intruder can spy on business activity and steal sensitive data while avoiding the activation of defensive countermeasures.

Enforcement of Security

The network and IT systems can be safeguarded by several layers of security. For that enterprises need a well-thought-out strategy, including robust applications, foolproof network systems, and end-user education. Such efforts can keep intruders away from accessing, stealing, or destroying data.

Alain Penel, Regional Vice President – Middle East, Fortinet, rightly pointed out, “To fight today’s evolving threats, organizations should look into a security platform based on a cybersecurity mesh architecture with security solutions that are designed to work together. A cybersecurity mesh architecture integrates security controls into, and across, widely distributed networks and assets.”

He added, “organizations need to develop a security-driven networking strategy that tightly integrates an organization’s network infrastructure and security architecture, enabling the network to scale and change without compromising security operations.”

The following are some of the areas that need a high level of attention subjected to cybersecurity.

Security for Critical Infrastructures: Critical infrastructures handle data related to national security, public health, and the safety of citizens. Not only credible systems but also concrete measures need to be enforced to protect such information.

Network Security: Both wired and wireless (Wi-Fi) connections have to be protected and ensure no intrusions in them.

Application Security: Enterprises should enforce relevant activities to protect applications whether they function on-premise or in the cloud. Security should be built into these at the design stage, with considerations for how data is handled, user authentication, etc.

Cloud and Storage Security: Cloud service providers offer encryption of data on rest (in storage), in motion, and use. In case, an enterprise protects data within its premise need to be on constant alert.

Information Security: Data protection measures, i.e., GDPR, secure your most sensitive data from unauthorized access.

Disaster Recovery: Several cloud service providers offer disaster recovery services to enterprise customers. In case of unplanned events, natural disasters, power outages, or cybersecurity incidents, they can help businesses to recover data in its original form.

End-User Education: Building security awareness across the organization to strengthen endpoint security. For example, users can be trained to delete suspicious email attachments, avoid using unknown devices, click suspicious links, etc.

“Digital immunity and data protection will become the key pillar of growth, trust, and customer retention for businesses, and they will need to efficiently and seamlessly manage an ever-increasing threat profile and attack canvas,” opined Saket Modi, Co-founder & CEO of Safe Security.

Best Practices

“Zero trust” security strategy: Zero trust strategy assumes compromise and sets up controls to validate every user, device, and connection into the business for authenticity and purpose. Organizations can combine security information to enforce validation controls.

Behavior detection: Advanced detection methods such as user behavior analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) need to be imposed in enterprise environments to confront potential intrusions.

Conclusion
Cybersecurity can be enabled with a proper strategy that needs the support of the right kind of solutions and awareness among the staff members of an organization. Let’s conclude the story attributing to the words of Emad Haffar, Head of Technical Experts, Kaspersky, “Deploy advanced cybersecurity controls to enable the discovery of sophisticated and unknown threats, facilitate investigations and allow timely remediation and response; such tools are anti-APT and EDR solutions among others. In addition, provide staff with basic cybersecurity hygiene training, as many targeted attacks start with phishing or other social engineering techniques.”