Automation can not only help build a holistic, joined-up approach to cybersecurity within a rapidly expanding threat surface, it can also help you to meet the ever-growing range of compliance obligations.
In September this year, 19 major railway stations across the UK were attacked by hackers, who gained access to station Wi-Fi control points and presented users logging into the network with threats regarding terrorist attacks throughout Europe.
The attack not only disrupted daily commutes for millions of people, but also raised concerns about the safety and security of critical public infrastructure. It also highlights the increasing vulnerability of edge devices and applications to cyberattack, as well as the ever-expanding threat surface that organisations must deal with.
While the European Union’s NIS 2 Directive seeks to secure national and international communications infrastructure by demanding a holistic approach to security, and lays down strict reporting rules so that information about existing and emerging threats can be shared throughout the region between organisations and governments, the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks and malicious third parties (sometimes state-backed) means that incidents like this may never be fully eradicated. However, they can be significantly minimised.
A constantly expanding cybersecurity threat surface
At the same time, organisations are facing a significantly expanded threat surface, including the growing adoption of digital devices and remote working, the rapid proliferation of IoT devices – such as smart meters, home security systems, and even remote clean energy technologies.
Meanwhile, the adoption of 5G Standalone (SA) means that providers must constantly monitor dynamically changing network slices, including their users, with employees and organisations dropping in and out of slices. Cloud computing is further expanding the attack surface.
But there are even more, less obvious, threats. For example, if an employee is connected to a specific network slice using a smartphone or laptop, or just using a home router or Internet-connected home printer for work purposes, how can providers and organisations check what applications might be gaining access to the network infrastructure, network slices, and data?
All of this adds up to a demanding challenge for organisations, operators, and service providers. On top of that, the NIS 2 Directive was enacted into law on 17th October 2024 and demands stringent cybersecurity and reporting requirements.
It demands that the traditional siloed approach to specific security threats be replaced by a holistic, culture-wide (including people and training) approach to cyber security.
NIS 2 Directive: Securing national and international communications networks
Otherwise, significant fines and penalties can be applied, not to mention the damage done to brand reputation if organisations are breached. It spells out 55 different threat surface categories that should be included in your overall approach[1] and has the broader aim of protecting national and regional security, so non-compliance is not an option.
In short, today’s attack surface includes every device and application that is connected to the network, from smartphones to connected fridges. Creating a holistic approach to cybersecurity is not possible using manual processes, or a siloed approach, in such an ever-changing, complex environment. Agile defences are required – which means automation is really the only option to ensure they can act in concert.
Not only must capabilities, such as vulnerability assessments and the detection of emerging threats, be implemented, but an interconnected approach to cybersecurity is demanded by legislation, such as NIS 2, on an on-going basis.
In such an interconnected environment, only having insight into just a single domain in isolation from others is not sufficient. Malicious actors only need to find an entry point into the network, and they can then move laterally through other parts of the network.
How the We Are CORTEX automation platform can ease the cybersecurity and compliance burden
The We Are CORTEX automation platform provides a flexible, comprehensive, cross-domain approach to cybersecurity covering all assets and systems within the network and at its boundaries. It can also be leveraged to ensure compliance with all local, vertical, national, and international legislation and regulations to boot.
By tracking all events and actions that could lead to vulnerabilities or are signs of emerging attacks, it can enable you to collect and correlate a chain of actions from disparate systems and across all relevant domains that could be a sign of an emerging threat. It can also allow you to perform vulnerability assessments continually, install mass upgrades to edge devices, and implement security patches quickly and easily, without the risk of human error — and so much more.
The CORTEX automation platform can be implemented incrementally, with the ability to reuse elements across different domains and applications. It offers a critical and continuous solution to security thinking and activities, while ensuring compliance.
To find out how much more automation can do for your organisation, contact us today.
[1] Annex 2.3 in EU cybersecurity risk evaluation and scenarios for the telecommunications and electricity sectors
