Understanding the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Its Importance
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These days, cybercrime is rampant. It’s no longer a matter of “if” you’re going to suffer an attack but “when” it will happen. All companies want to be ready for any crisis – that’s where a business continuity plan comes into play.
Setting up a strategy helps understand the next steps during and following a potential cyber incident. So what is a business continuity plan, exactly? What does it encompass? And what makes it so important to organizations? Today, we’re exploring all these questions in-depth.
Contents:
- What is a business continuity plan?
- Business continuity vs disaster recovery plan: What’s the difference?
- Benefits of business continuity planning
- Business continuity plan template
- What should a business continuity plan checklist include?
- Business continuity planning steps
- Business continuity planning standards
- Level up your company’s security with NordPass Business
What is a business continuity plan?
A business continuity plan (BCP) is a document that sets guidelines for how an organization should continue its operations in the event of a disruption, such as fires, floods, other natural disasters, or cybersecurity incidents. A BCP aims to help organizations resume operations without significant downtime.
Despite their utility for business security, BPCs are not as commonplace as expected. According to ZipDo, 43% of businesses across the globe don’t have a business continuity plan in place.
Business continuity vs disaster recovery plan: What’s the difference?
Sometimes, people use the terms disaster recovery plan (DRP) and business continuity plan (BCP) interchangeably. However, these are two separate types of plans. A business continuity plan helps organizations stay prepared to deal with a potential crisis and, hence, usually encompasses a disaster recovery plan. Although the two overlap and are often set into motion to optimize procedures during crisis events, their purposes differ.
The key difference between BCPs and DRPs is their goal. Business continuity plans aim to reduce downtime during the incident to a minimum. Disaster recovery plans focus on reducing any faults or abnormalities in the system caused by the event and returning things back to normal. They also tend to be more extensive, including additional steps like containing, examining, and restoring operations and covering employee safety measures.
In terms of functionality, a disaster recovery plan focuses on operational steps to restore data access to business as usual following an incident. On the other hand, a business recovery plan is set in place while the incident is still ongoing, ensuring that the operations proceed despite the circumstances.
Benefits of business continuity planning
The number of news headlines announcing data breaches has numbed us to the fact that cybercrime is very real and frequent and poses an existential risk to companies of all sizes and industries.
According to the 2023 Data Breach Investigations report, ransomware is present in 24% of all breaches and is among the top four most common types of cyberattacks. In fact, 24% of breaches involved ransomware, with damages costing businesses an average of $4.82 million.
Most cyberattacks are financially motivated, as the global cost of cybercrime exceeded $8 trillion in 2022 and is expected to exceed $13 trillion by 2028. The picture is quite clear — cybercrime is a lucrative venture for bad actors and potentially disastrous for those on the receiving end.
The importance of business continuity plans cannot be understated, as to thrive in these unpredictable times, organizations go beyond conventional security measures. Many companies develop a BCP parallel to secure infrastructure and consider it a critical part of the security ecosystem. The purpose of a business continuity plan is to significantly reduce the downtime in an emergency and, in turn, reduce the potential reputational damage and — of course — revenue losses.
Business continuity plan template
Business Continuity Plan Example
[Company Name]
[Date]
I. Introduction
Purpose of the Plan
Scope of the Plan
Budget
Timeline
The initial stage of developing a business continuity plan starts with a statement of the plan’s purpose. It explains the main objective of the plan, such as ensuring the organization’s ability to continue its operations during and after a disruptive event.
The Scope of the Plan outlines the areas or functions that the plan will cover, including business processes, personnel, equipment, and technology.
The Budget specifies the estimated financial resources required to implement and maintain the BCP. This includes costs related to technology, personnel, equipment, training, and other necessary expenses.
The Timeline provides a detailed schedule for developing, implementing, testing, and updating the BCP.
II. Risk Assessment
Identification of Risks
Prioritization of Risks
Mitigation Strategies
The Risk Assessment section is an essential part of the business continuity plan that identifies potential risks that can disrupt an organization’s critical functions.
The Identification of Risks involves identifying potential threats to the organization, such as cybersecurity breaches, supply chain disruptions, or power outages. This step is critical to understand the risks and their potential impact on the organization.
Once the risks have been identified, the Prioritization of Risks follows, which helps determine which risks require the most attention and resources.
The final step in the Risk Assessment section is developing Mitigation Strategies to minimize the impact of identified risks. Mitigation strategies may include preventative measures, such as system redundancies, data backups, and cybersecurity measures, as well as response and recovery measures, such as emergency protocols and employee training.
III. Emergency Response
Emergency Response Team
Communication Plan
Emergency Procedures
This section of the plan focuses on immediate actions that should be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of employees and minimize the event’s impact on the organization’s operations.
The Emergency Response Team manages the response to an emergency or disaster situation. This team should be composed of individuals trained in emergency response procedures who can act quickly and decisively during an emergency. The team should also include a designated leader coordinating the emergency response efforts.
The Communication Plan outlines how information will be disseminated during an emergency situation. It includes contact information for employees, stakeholders, and emergency response personnel, as well as protocols for communicating with these individuals.
The Emergency Procedures detail the steps during an emergency or disaster situation. They should be developed based on the potential risks identified in the Risk Assessment section. The procedures should be tested regularly to ensure their effectiveness.
IV. Business Impact Analysis
The Business Impact Analysis (BIA) section of a business continuity plan is a critical step in identifying the potential impact of a disruption to an organization’s critical operations.
The BIA is typically conducted by a team of individuals who understand the organization’s critical functions and can assess the potential impact of a disruption. The team may include representatives from various departments, including finance, operations, IT, and human resources.
V. Recovery and Restoration
Procedures for Recovery and Restoration of Critical Processes
Prioritization of Recovery Efforts
Establishment of Recovery Time Objectives
The Recovery and Restoration section of a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) outlines the procedures for recovering and restoring critical processes and functions following a disruption.
The Procedures for Recovery and Restoration of Critical Processes describe the steps required to restore critical processes and functions following a disruption. This may include steps such as relocating to alternate facilities, restoring data and systems, and re-establishing key business relationships.
The Prioritization of Recovery Efforts section identifies the order in which critical processes will be restored based on their importance to the organization’s operations and the overall mission.
Recovery time objectives (RTOs) define the maximum amount of time that critical processes and functions can be unavailable following a disruption. Establishing RTOs ensures that recovery efforts are focused on restoring critical functions within a specific timeframe.
VI. Plan Activation
Plan Activation Procedures
The Plan Activation section is critical in ensuring that an organization can quickly and effectively activate the plan and respond to a potential emergency.
The Plan Activation Procedures describe the steps required to activate the BCP in response to a disruption. The procedures should be clear and concise, with specific instructions for each step to ensure a prompt and effective response.
VII. Testing and Maintenance
Testing Procedures
Maintenance Procedures
Review and Update Procedures
This section of the plan is critical to ensure that an organization can effectively respond to disruptions and quickly resume its essential functions.
Testing Procedures may include scenarios such as natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and other potential risks. Clear objectives, testing scenarios, roles and responsibilities, and evaluation criteria to assess the plan’s effectiveness are also part of the procedural structure.
The Maintenance Procedures detail the steps necessary to keep the BCP up-to-date and relevant.
The Review and Update Procedures describe how the BCP will be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure its continued effectiveness. This may involve reviewing the plan regularly or after significant changes to the organization’s operations or threats.
What should a business continuity plan checklist include?
Organizations looking to develop a BCP have a lot to consider. Variables such as the organization’s size, its IT infrastructure, personnel, and resources all play a significant role in developing a continuity plan. Remember, each crisis is different, and each organization will have its own view on handling it according to all the variables in play. However, all business continuity plans include a few fundamental elements.
Clearly defined areas of responsibility
A BCP should define specific roles and responsibilities for emergencies. You must detail who’s responsible for what tasks and clarify what course of action a person in a specific position should take. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities in an emergency event allow you to act quickly and decisively and minimize potential damage.
Crisis communication plan
In an emergency, communication is vital. It is the determining factor in crisis handling. Establishing clear and effective communication pipelines is critical. Alternative communication channels should not be overlooked either. Make sure to outline them in your business continuity plan.
Recovery teams
A recovery team is a collective of professionals who ensure that business operations are restored as soon as possible after the organization confronts a crisis.
Alternative site of operations
Today, when we think of an incident in a business environment, we usually think of a cybersecurity-related event. However, as discussed earlier, a BCP covers many possible incidents. In a natural disaster, determine potential alternate sites where the company could continue to operate.
Backup power and data backups
Whether a cyber event or a real-life physical incident, ensuring that you have access to a power source is crucial to continue operations. A BCP often contains lists of alternative power sources like generators, locations of such tools, and who should oversee them. The same applies to data – regularly scheduled backups can significantly reduce potential losses incurred by a crisis event.
Recovery guidelines
If a crisis is significant, a comprehensive business continuity plan usually includes detailed guidelines on how the recovery process will be carried out.
Business continuity planning steps
Here are some general guidelines that an organization looking to develop a BCP should consider:
Analysis
A business continuity plan should include an in-depth analysis of everything that could negatively affect organizational infrastructure and operations. The analysis phase should also include assessing different levels of risk.
Design and development
Once you have a clear overview of potential risks your company could face, start developing a plan. Create a draft and reassess it to see if it accounts for even the smallest of details.
Implementation
It’s critical to get everyone on the same page regarding crisis management. Implement the BCP within the organization by providing training sessions for the staff to familiarize themselves with the plan.
Testing
Make sure to test the plan rigorously. Run through a variety of scenarios in training sessions to assess its overall effectiveness. By doing so, everyone on the team will be closely familiar with the business continuity plan’s guidelines.
Maintenance and updating
The threat landscape constantly changes and evolves, which means you should regularly reassess your BCP and take steps to update it. By tuning your continuity plan to recent developments, you can stay one step ahead of a crisis.
Business continuity planning standards
Business continuity plans don’t just appear out of thin air. They must strictly adhere to industry standards, including ISO and regional standards, to ensure that business is sufficiently prepared for a crisis scenario.
Following a standard is advantageous to businesses as the relevant information and the requirements are continuously being updated. This ensures that the implemented strategies don’t fall behind the security requirements. The ISO 223XX standard series, in particular, aims to provide a clear and internationally recognized framework for continuity planning.
ISO 22301
ISO 22301, or the Security and Resilience Standard, provides organizations with a framework to plan, operate, improve, and otherwise maintain response and recovery strategies. The business continuity plan acts as the documented management system (known as a business continuity management system, or BCMS) that aims to prevent disruptive incidents and, if they occur, ensure a full recovery. It goes hand in hand with ISO 22313.
ISO 22313
This business continuity plan standard provides guidance on implementing the ISO 22301 requirements. It details the precise steps on how the business continuity management system should be implemented in an organization.
ISO 27001
ISO 27001 provides a framework for managing information security. This standard ensures that an organization implements the right risk assessment and controls to upkeep the development, improvement, and protection of information management systems (ISMS). The NordPass ISMS is certified according to ISO 27001.
ISO/IEC 27031
These guidelines cover the principles of how ready an organization’s information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure should be for business continuity. It covers all potential events and incidents that may impact the infrastructure, leading to the implementation of a BCP.
ISO 31000
ISO 31000, or the Risk Management Standard, exists to help all organizations handle potential risks. Its main purpose is to allow organizations to compare their internal risk management practices to the global standards. However, ISO 31000 can’t be used for certification purposes.
Level up your company’s security with NordPass Business
A comprehensive business continuity plan is vital for the entire organization’s security posture. However, in a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to use it. That’s is where NordPass Business can help.
Weak, reused, or compromised passwords are often cited among the top contributing factors in data breaches – unsurprising, considering that an average user has around 170 passwords. Password fatigue is real and significantly affects how people treat their credentials. NordPass Business counters these issues.
With NordPass Business, your team will have a single secure place to store all work-related passwords, credit cards, and other sensitive information. Accessing all the data stored in NordPass is quick and easy, which allows your employees not to be distracted by the task of finding the correct passwords for the correct account.
NordPass Enterprise helps keep your corporate credentials secure at all times. Everything stored in the NordPass vault is secured with advanced xChaCha20 encryption, which would take hundreds of years to brute force.
If you’are interested in learning more about NordPass Business and how it can help fortify corporate security, do not hesitate to book a demo with our representative.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About Nord Security
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
NordLayer features in review: Active Session Timeout
Logging into your organization’s network is one of the first things employees go through daily. Each successful authentication also opens up a direct route into your company’s resources, creating a session between the two systems.
However, trust shouldn’t be without limits—indefinitely keeping the session open can be detrimental to your security. This is something that a hacker could exploit when looking for ways to hijack your employees’ connections. Therefore, NordLayer unveils a new security feature designed to prevent this risk—Active Session Timeout.
Active Session Timeout using NordLayer
The new NordLayer feature allows you to choose a user’s session duration. When the time expires, the user is logged out from the Control Panel or NordLayer application and required to re-authenticate. This makes the action window during which the hacker could decrypt the connection shorter, making it much harder to hijack. This can be very beneficial if your users are handling sensitive data.
How does NordLayer’s Active Session Timeout feature work?
This feature automatically logs users out of the NordLayer application or Control Panel after the set period. It affects all users regardless of whether they were connected to the gateway during that time.
The setting is enforced automatically, and the session length can be adjusted by the admin in the Control Panel for the entire organization. The minimum duration length in the Control Panel and application can be set up to 1 day. Meanwhile, NordLayer’s default—and maximum—session duration time is 30 days. It adds a safeguard that is sure to be appreciated by a company’s IT personnel.
How is NordLayer’s Active Session Timeout different?
Unlike typical session management, NordLayer’s feature offers more flexibility and control. It not only addresses the typical use cases but also adds an extra layer of security, which is especially useful in remote working scenarios:
The feature will have a setting allowing you to select a preferred session duration period.
Session control has a predefined optimal default time of 30 days if there’s no preference for session duration time.
The functionality is applicable for both Control Panel and NordLayer application, so gives more control to manage admins’ and users’ reauthentication.
Benefits of Active Session Timeout
Stricter session management is recommended by various organizations like The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). It can significantly contribute to your organization’s cybersecurity hygiene.
The benefits of Active Session Timeout controls include better security adherence in the organization, more efficient users and internal policy management, and increased overall network and data protection.
Enhanced security: shorter session durations minimize the window of opportunity for unauthorized access.
Compliance alignment: the feature allows organizations to align with security protocols, thus reducing vulnerabilities.
Risk mitigation: in scenarios like device theft, the exposure period is significantly reduced, leaving a smaller time window for bad actors to exploit.
Integrates with Single sign-on authentication schemes. This feature enables network administrators to control access to work resources more precisely and align them with their internal policies.
This functionality has benefits to all organization units, from the end user to the manager:
Overall the feature automates and optimizes processes for all organization units, adding an additional functionality to network and data security.
Entering NordLayer’s Active Session Timeout
To adjust your currently used session duration:
Head to the Control Panel and click Settings
Select Security configurations and find the Active Session Timeout section
This allows you to change session duration times for your users in applications and the Control Panel. You can choose the desired time from 1 day to 30 from the dropdown menu.
The user will be shown a dialog box just before the session ends, asking to reauthenticate to start a new session running.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About Nord Security
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
Expanding MSPs and MSSPs with cybersecurity solutions
The landscape for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) is on the brink of significant transformation. As businesses increasingly depend on digital technologies, the role of MSPs and MSSPs is expanding beyond traditional IT services to more complex and integrated solutions, particularly in cybersecurity.
Key takeaways
Market growth and investment in security: Gartner’s projection that security service spending will reach $90 billion in 2024 highlights a growing demand for comprehensive cybersecurity services.
Cybersecurity as a central focus: with 42% of security and risk management spending geared towards security services, MSPs and MSSPs must prioritize enhancing their cybersecurity capabilities to grow and expand customer relationships.
The critical role of SSE in cybersecurity: the integration of Secure Service Edge (SSE) frameworks, including technologies like ZTNA, FWaaS, CASB, and SWG, is essential for MSPs and MSSPs to protect client data and ensure robust network security efficiently.
Expanding service offerings: with cloud security, data protection, and identity and access management, an MSP business can differentiate itself, attract more clients, and enter new markets.
Enhancing client retention and trust: effective data protection and robust IAM practices not only retain clients but also build trust, positioning MSPs and MSSPs as reliable partners in cybersecurity.
Scalability and compliance: offering scalable solutions and staying ahead of compliance help MSPs and MSSPs meet the evolving needs of their clients and adhere to regulatory requirements.
MSPs predictions and trends
According to Gartner, spending on security services, which includes consulting, IT outsourcing, implementation, and hardware support, is anticipated to reach $90 billion in 2024. This impressive figure highlights how businesses increasingly prioritize fortifying their digital defenses.
Moreover, the global market for managed security services is expected to grow at an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.66% over the next five years, with a projected market size of $36,129 million by 2024. This rapid growth underscores an expanding opportunity for MSPs and MSSPs to offer comprehensive cybersecurity services.
The emphasis on cybersecurity is more pronounced than ever, with 42% of security and risk management spending expected to be directed towards security services. This trend indicates a shift from traditional IT support to more specialized security-focused offerings.
For MSPs and MSSPs, this move means that enhancing their cybersecurity capabilities is not just an option but a necessity. As cyber threats evolve and multiply, providing robust security solutions will be a critical factor in maintaining and expanding new customer relationships.
Cybersecurity solutions for MSPs’ and MSSPs’ growth
MSPs and MSSPs are pivotal in safeguarding client data and ensuring robust network security for companies that need external security and technological support. But what solutions best aid MSPs and MSSPs in this task?
The Security Service Edge (SSE) framework is an agile and flexible solution that is easy to customize based on business needs. SSE through Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) combines access controls, FWaaS helps with network segmentation by managing the traffic flow, Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) enhances cloud security, while Secure Web Gateway (SWG) prevents unsecured traffic from entering the network.
By strategically adopting SSE frameworks, MSP and MSSP providers can leverage advanced cybersecurity solutions like cloud security, data protection, and Identity and Access Management (IAM) to drive business growth and enhance client safety.
Cloud security
At the heart of SSE, cloud security is fundamental for MSPs and MSSPs aiming to protect clients’ cloud-based systems and data. This solution includes encrypting data both at rest and in transit, deploying security configurations that automatically update to counter new threats, and implementing strict access controls.
By offering comprehensive cloud services, MSPs and MSSPs can assure clients of their ability to protect sensitive information against emerging threats, thus strengthening client trust and satisfaction. It’s crucial for establishing new customers and expanding on MSP growth.
Data protection
Data is the lifeline of modern businesses, making its protection critical to expanding for sustained growth and compliance. Under SSE, data protection strategies encompass various technologies like backup solutions, encryption, and intrusion detection systems.
These tools help MSPs and MSSPs prevent data breaches and ensure quick recovery from incidents, minimizing downtime and financial loss. Effective data protection not only helps retain existing clients but also positions MSPs and MSSPs as reliable guardians of data security that are attractive to prospective clients.
Identity and access management (IAM)
IAM is crucial for controlling who can access what within a network. This includes multi-factor authentication, single sign-on services, and user access reviews., All of these are aligned with SSE principles to ensure that only authorized users gain entry to sensitive systems and data.
By implementing robust IAM practices, MSPs and MSSPs can offer tailored access solutions that bolster security while improving the user experience. This supports client operations in a secure, efficient manner.
SSE solutions benefits for MSPs and MSSPs
Expanding service offerings: By adding cutting-edge SSE solutions in cybersecurity offerings, MSPs and MSSPs can differentiate themselves from competitors, appeal to a broader client base, and enter new markets.
Enhancing client retention: by providing dependable, state-of-the-art cybersecurity measures, MSPs and MSSPs can improve client satisfaction and loyalty while increasing their revenue. Clients who feel their data is secure are more likely to renew their contracts.
Building trust through compliance: demonstrating compliance with data protection regulations makes MSPs and MSSPs providers partners of choice in industries where data security is paramount.
Offering scalable solutions: SSE enables the provision of scalable cybersecurity solutions that grow with clients’ businesses. This flexibility is attractive to clients at all growth stages, ensuring that MSPs and MSSPs can meet evolving security needs.
By focusing on primary challenges to counter modern cyber threats and offering tailored advanced security solutions, MSPs and MSSPs can position themselves as strategic partners in their clients’ digital transformation journeys. These solutions are not complex, resource-intense, and complex
Cloud services allow managed service providers to expand their scope and revenue with little costs for clients, making it a win-win situation for all parties.
Expand MSPs and MSSPs with NordLayer
To capitalize on growth opportunities, MSPs and MSSPs must focus on expanding their service offerings. Opting to collaborate with a strong partner ensures a firm background for future client relationships.
While MSPs and MSSPs operate as consulting services that help businesses understand and implement the right security strategies for their specific needs, NordLayer stands strong as a network access security tool provider that offers solutions in different setups:
Secure Remote Access
Scenario: With a dispersed workforce, companies need to ensure secure access to corporate resources from anywhere in the world.
NordLayer solution: Provides secure and scalable remote access solutions that MSPs can manage for their clients, ensuring employees can access what they need securely and efficiently.
Enhanced network security
Scenario: Businesses face increasing threats from cyber attacks but often lack the internal expertise to effectively counter these risks.
NordLayer solution: Offers advanced network security features, including threat protection and data encryption, enabling MSPs to bolster their clients’ defenses against cyber threats.
Simplified compliance
Scenario: Companies operating in regulated industries require robust compliance measures to protect sensitive data and avoid penalties.
NordLayer solution: Helps MSPs ensure their clients meet compliance standards by providing tools for data protection, secure access, and audit trails.
Streamlined IT infrastructure
Scenario: Businesses seek to minimize IT complexity while ensuring their teams have the necessary tools and access.
NordLayer solution: Enables MSPs to offer streamlined, cloud-based security solutions, reducing the need for multiple vendors and simplifying the IT landscape for their clients.
Cybersecurity without internal experts
Scenario: Many SMBs cannot afford or find the cybersecurity talent needed to protect their operations.
NordLayer solution: MSPs can step in to fill this gap, using NordLayer’s intuitive platform to provide top-notch cybersecurity services without the need for in-house experts.
Scalable security solutions
Scenario: Growing businesses need security solutions that can expand with them without requiring constant reinvestment or reconfiguration.
NordLayer solution: Offers scalable security services that MSPs can easily adjust to fit the changing needs of their clients, supporting growth without compromising security.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About Nord Security
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.
Locked Shields 2024: ESET bolsters Slovak cyber defense during live-fire NATO exercise
BRATISLAVA — May 3, 2024 — Experts from ESET joined with the combined team of the Slovak Republic and Hungary militaries to participate in Locked Shields 2024 – the biggest and most complex cyber defense exercise in the world. The live-fire exercise, involving 40 countries, saw ESET contribute security solutions and more than 50 experts to a number of tactical teams, ensuring a top-flight position for the central European country which participates in the annual exercise run by NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence (NATO CCD COE).
With collaboration being the focus of the 14th annual exercise (the slogan being “Cooperation Is Our Protection”), ESET supplied the Slovak-Hungarian team with defensive capabilities which particularly contributed to the team’s top three placings in cyber threat intelligence, client-side protection, forensics and strategic communications, taking home an overall 4th place position among the 18 participating teams made up of similar cross-country units.
The Slovak-Hungarian team successfully followed its strategic objectives and was built not only on expertise and state-of-the-art security technologies, but most importantly on communication and intensive cooperation between the participants, who worked together to defend the vital infrastructure of fictitious country Berylia in the face of massive cyber attacks designed to cripple the country and create public unrest.
“Locked Shields promotes the concept that collaboration is one of NATO’s greatest strengths – increasing the level of protection for all member states, their people, businesses and critical infrastructure,” said Juraj Malcho, CTO of ESET. “ESET is proud to support the Slovak Ministry of Defense in this live fire exercise, by providing experts in cyber security, forensics, threat intelligence, legal and strategic communications, as well as our XDR cybersecurity platform ESET PROTECT. Together, we are stronger against any powerful adversary wishing to cause disruption.”
The Slovak team was led by the Cyber Defense Center of Slovak Military Intelligence. During the exercise, the Slovak government sector was represented by experts from the ministries of defense, finance, interior, transport, and foreign affairs. ESET’s experts and technologies contributed to the rapid detection and response to cyberattacks. Experts from the Slovak branch of Palo Alto Networks and Orange Slovensko a.s. also helped with both securing and management of the infrastructure. The team dealing with cyberspace legal challenges was led by an expert from SIGNUM legal s.r.o. talented students and their professors from the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Comenius University in Bratislava, the Armed Forces Academy of general Milan Rastislav Štefánik, and young Slovak talents studying at foreign universities also came to support the national team.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.
ESET Threat Intelligence increases cybersecurity visibility through Elastic integration
- ESET announces strategic integration with Elastic Security, enhancing cybersecurity analytics and visibility through advanced threat intelligence feeds.
- The integration offers deduplicated, highly curated feeds based on proprietary ESET research and telemetry.
- Elastic users will benefit from enhanced geographical visibility, reduced false positives, prevention of IoCs, and contextual investigations.
BRATISLAVA – May 3, 2024 — ESET, a global digital security company, has announced another strategic partnership and integration, thanks to its unified API gateway. This development facilitates seamless connections with various cybersecurity vendors, such as the recent integration with Elastic, a leading search AI company. This move is part of ESET’s broader strategy to support multi-vendor integrations aimed at strengthening overall cybersecurity defenses. By working with Elastic, ESET aims to provide organizations with enhanced analytics tools and greater visibility to enable more effective preventive measures against cyber threats.
Through this strategic partnership, Elastic’s users gain access to ESET’s advanced threat intelligence feeds, offering real-time data on indicators of compromise (IoCs), such as botnets, malicious domains, files, URLs, and IPs. These feeds also provide deep insights into the operations of notorious APT groups, sourced from ESET’s extensive malware and threat research. This integration enriches Elastic’s SIEM product, enabling security operators to leverage globally sourced threat data for unprecedented geographical visibility, dramatically reduced false positives – allowing for more accurate threat detection and analysis – and contextualized threat investigation.
The collaboration brings to the table ESET’s deduplicated and highly curated feeds, ensuring maximum effectiveness. Unique insights are drawn from proprietary ESET research and telemetry, not reliant on third-party sources. For optimal integration and interoperability, these feeds are delivered in the widely recognized TAXII/STIX 2.1 format.
ESET’s technological framework continuously scans for threats across various layers, from pre-boot to the resting state, providing global telemetry on emerging threats. This automation, supported by ESET’s leading cybersecurity team and 13 R&D centers worldwide, accelerates threat investigation and response. While machine learning aids in automating decisions, it’s ESET’s human expertise that underpins the evaluation and interpretation of threats, ensuring unparalleled accuracy and reliability.
“Our collaboration with Elastic not only marks a milestone in threat intelligence integration, but also represents a shared commitment to securing the digital landscape,” remarked Trent Matchett, ESET Director of Global Strategic Accounts. “By combining our unique insights and unparalleled expertise with Elastic’s analytical prowess, we’re setting a new standard in cybersecurity, empowering organizations to improve their security posture and make crucial decisions faster.”
For more information on how the ESET and Elastic integration is redefining cybersecurity threat intelligence, and to learn more about the benefits it brings to organizations, please read here.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.
April 2024: What’s New?
Written by Callum Sinclair – Product Engineering Manager
What’s New? is a series of blog posts covering recent changes to Comet in more detail. This article covers the latest changes in Comet over April 2024.
There were three Comet releases during April – two in the Voyager release series, plus one update for our Mimas release series.
We’ve landed a few large and exciting features this April:
Hyper-V CBT (Changed Block Tracking)
Hyper-V CBT is now available in our Voyager series. Hyper-V CBT performs efficient backups of Hyper-V Virtual Machines by only reading blocks of a virtual disk that have changed since the last backup job. This means Comet only needs to upload the data that has changed inside the VM without having to read and upload every byte.
You will find two new Hyper-V Backup Mode types when setting up a Hyper-V Protected Item. These are Latest VM State (Changed Block Tracking) and Latest VM State (Standard). You can read more about what these new modes do in our documentation here
Under the hood our two new Hyper-V Backup Mode types use WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) and RCT (Windows Resilient Change Tracking) to perform the backup. This is a completely new way for Comet to backup Hyper-V VMs as our old implementation used Windows VSS (Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service).
New Hyper-V Backup Option One: Changed Block Tracking using WMI and RCT
New Hyper-V Backup Option One: Hyper-V Backup using WMI
Hyper-V Changed Block Tracking Using
This enhancement improves our Hyper-V backup offering, ensuring faster backups of your Virtual Machines while also needing to upload less data.
Impossible Cloud Storage Templates
We’re pleased to announce that Impossible Cloud is now available as a built-in Storage Template in our Voyager series. If you enter top-level credentials into the Storage Template, Comet can use them to provision private buckets with separate credentials for each user, allowing seamless direct-to-cloud backup.
Impossible Cloud IAM Storage Template
Impossible Cloud IAM Storage Template with Object Lock
Impossible Cloud Partner API Storage Template
As a quick reminder – when using the Storage Templates, it’s likely you’ll want to configure cleanup for cloud buckets that are no longer being used by any user account. Comet’s solution for this problem is called Constellation Role, and it’s available from the settings page of your Comet Server. In Constellation, you can enter the same credentials for it to search through. When a Constellation report runs, it finds all your buckets; checks all the user accounts; cross-references the users’ Storage Vaults with the available buckets; and deletes any discovered buckets that are not in use by any user account.
Constellation Role is designed to scale up to clusters of multiple Comet Servers, with any mix of server replication, Storage Role, or direct-to-cloud buckets created by the Storage Template feature. You should have exactly one Constellation Role server amongst your entire cluster of Comet Servers.
Comet-Hosted Single Sign On
Users can now sign into Comet-Hosted servers using their account.cometbackup.com accounts. This feature simplifies access to Comet-Hosted servers, allowing users to utilize their existing Comet Backup account credentials for authentication. To enhance security, users are encouraged to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on account.cometbackup.com.
This feature has already been enabled, and will be used the next time you click the login button from the My Services page on account.cometbackup.com.
In addition, once you have clicked the login button on the My Services page you will notice the new “Login with Comet Account Portal” button appear on the login screen of your Comet-Hosted server. This button will only appear on browsers where you have clicked the My Services login button before. We have done this to ensure we don’t break any rebranding you have configured by showing a big “Login with Comet Account Portal” button.
Comet-Hosted London Region Now Available
We are pleased to announce that Comet-Hosted is now available to be hosted in the London region. Comet users now have the choice of four geographically diverse locations to choose from when selecting where their Comet-Hosted server should be located.
Continued Comet Improvements
Throughout April, we rolled out over twenty fixes and enhancements aimed at improving the overall quality and performance of Comet. These updates underline our commitment to providing a reliable and efficient backup solution for our users.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About Comet
We are a team of dedicated professionals committed to developing reliable and secure backup solutions for MSP’s, Businesses and IT professionals. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, we understand the importance of having a reliable backup solution in place to protect your valuable data. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive suite of backup solutions that are easy to use, scalable and highly secure.
[IMPORTANT] Registration Server will be regularly maintenance on 2024-05-08 (2:30 pm) to 2024-05-08 (6:30 am)
IMPORTANT !
ESET planned to maintain which will take place on
Tuesday, May 8th, 2024, from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM, Hong Kong Time lasting 4 hours.
It means in certain time within the maintenance window, customers might not renewal purchase, activate license or generate license, etc.
Sorry for any inconveniences caused.
Support Hotline: (65) – 6296 4268
Or email to support@version-2.com.sg
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
Leveling the playing field for all with MDR
One thing that every company, from the smallest business to the largest enterprise, has in common is that all of them face a world of evolving threats that periodically come knocking on their doorsteps.
To counter these threats early on, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are looking to spice up their security postures, while enterprises find that they need to cover operations beyond what their security operations centers (SOCs) are able to address themselves. All of this can be alleviated via detection and response, which can work wonders to heighten the security status of any organization willing to utilize it comprehensively.
However, certain skills are required to realize the benefits while also keeping challenges in check. Putting budget aside for the moment, the skilled professionals needed to operate detection and response platforms successfully are hard to come by these days.
So why not employ professionals who know how to manage detection and response without having to allocate extensive resources for further hiring?
What we are talking about is Managed Detection and Response (MDR), which can address threats proactively, deliberately, and indeed, very quickly. Furthermore, management of these capabilities helps immediately address the most demanding aspects of both, deploying and deriving benefits from what can be a complex set of tools and processes.
Detection
One of the most important parts of proactive threat hunting is to have the ability to manage the attack surface just like a general would manage a battlefield — to know all the hazards, strategic points, numbers, and logistics.
While the scope and power of standard Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) can serve the needs of businesses of a certain size and maturity, EDR’s complexity may hamper a timely response. In some cases, even with both the AI-powered automation and human skill attributed to in-house SOCs, businesses might still lack the necessary in-depth understanding of a product or the threat landscape.
Approaching the many challenges around detection and response, even with the support of AI for capacity-intense processes like assessing entities and correlation to incident assessment, SOC teams have additional burdens. These include:
- Achieving compliance with industry regulations
- Meeting security needs with minimum impact on business processes while still minimizing incident response times
Due to the numerosity and complexity of some of these burdens, opening a conversation about offloading portions of these responsibilities via MDR can bring into sharper focus which of these operations are mission-critical for your business.
And response
Shrinking the attack surface, covering all endpoints, cloud-first AI-powered operation — while these phrases might sound like a bunch of technobabble from a futuristic movie, they all represent actual possibilities within cybersecurity that can be handled, in most cases, through detection and response solutions such as Extended Detection and Response (XDR).
While detection can work based on automatically created incidents and the many rules in ESET Inspect, leveraging its power for a more intense and rewarding security experience can only be done by working with people who have a close connection with the creators and developers of such detection and response solutions — connecting the telemetry and product into a single experience for the business that is wary of the threats it might face. With the identified set of detection responsibilities offloaded to managing detection processes, the SOC can focus its capacity on response.
Alternatively, response processes can benefit equally from external management, especially when the provider is intimately familiar with the product. The benefits are clear for SMBs that cannot or do not want to manage their own containment and remediation. Larger businesses may want their IT staff to maintain its focus on daily functioning in the knowledge that there is a safety net capable of protecting their business 24/7/365. This is the promise of MDR, and it can supply this in spades.
Managing likely threats at every step and every level
The difficulty of covering all attack surfaces via D&R depends on a number of factors, including the security expertise a company possesses; its security environment; its budgetary constraints; and external factors such as a lack of potential security recruits, deliberate threat targeting, or even threats vectoring via a company’s supply chain.
These days, it is not only organizations that see a rising need for better protection but also government regulators and cyber insurance companies, who devise requirements to make businesses less complacent and more likely to invest in better security — since oftentimes, an attack on one business or its tool can have a cumulative effect, impacting its partners and customers. This is especially true with supply-chain attacks like SolarWinds or MOVEit. A single weak point or an underestimation of security, and poof; you have not only a single incident but a whole slew of them impacting several different companies that use the same piece of software.
Protection needs to work on every level, for any business, be it small, midsize, or enterprise. But to do so, pre-emptive proactive threat hunting has to be employed first, which MDR can offer, serving as the first step of a multilayered security posture focused on taking care of threats before they transform into incidents.
Which MDR?
To ward off any threat, security vendors have to be able to protect against threats at every level, for any business or its verticals.
ESET PROTECT MDR
ESET PROTECT MDR provides a service that can help businesses of all sizes and maturity levels achieve a better security posture 24/7/365, powered by AI and human experts, ensuring enterprise-level protection, gaining security maturity that matches the size, scale, and scope of a business. With custom support aimed at providing comprehensive protection and a rapid response time of 20 minutes, closing cybersecurity gaps, including those created by external forces such as a lack of skilled hires, has never been easier.
As a bonus, ESET PROTECT MDR includes everything in ESET PROTECT Elite, the ESET MDR service, and ESET Premium Support Essential, creating a package that offers an elite security solution coupled with human support and expertise to complete one’s security posture.
A great addition here is also the inclusion of scheduled reports, including advanced behavioral reports provided by ESET LiveGuard Advanced (ELGA), our proactive cloud-based threat defense against targeted attacks and new, never-before-seen threat types, especially ransomware. With these reports, security admins will have a better visibility into what’s happening within their systems, providing a complete overview of how ELGA analyzed a malicious sample.
ESET PROTECT MDR Ultimate
And for the enterprises that don’t want to leave any room for error, an MDR service can augment their existing security by giving additional breathing room to their SOCs, as policing a global operation takes tremendous resources that could be spent elsewhere.
And that’s why adding MDR to the mix makes sense, as it both adds more expertise and enables an enterprise to enjoy superior cyber risk protection, with access to world-leading threat hunters whose job is to do exactly that — to know how to find and act against threats with a service tailor fit for the enterprise’s whole operation.
All of this is present within ESET PROTECT MDR Ultimate, a service that provides top-notch proactive prevention with superior cybersecurity protection, enabling granular visibility into a company’s whole environment through a tailored security service, to stay one step ahead of all emerging threats. The Ultimate tier also includes remote digital forensic incident response assistance, which helps businesses by overseeing the collection and analysis of incident logs for a better understanding of how an incident happened and how future occurrences can be prevented.
Cybersecurity – a top priority
In today’s world, data breaches and security interruptions are not just possibilities, they are inevitable. Customers want partners that can assure them of sound security, and that is where our MDR services come in. We guarantee unparalleled security that can make all the difference between being a successful and an unsuccessful business.
To conclude, cybersecurity should never be taken for granted, it must be given the utmost importance to protect your business and customers from harm. So, focus on cybersecurity, and do it proactively so that threats never breach your doorstep.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.
About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.
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