Tag Archives: penetration testing

Virtualization – Specific Security The Elixir of VM Stall

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A few years back in history, organizations were worrying that their virtual machines will have management issues, problems in its performance, security and also its staff. That was because of VM sprawl. Now another problem is haunting them and it is the VM stall.

VM stall has the tendency of putting the converted non-production type low-risk systems to a standstill. The virtualization projects that organizations keep localized or confined in certain areas of the physical network will hit a wall; a wall that they would hit every time they decide to secure each thing they need. At start experts would conduct security tests and pen testing to know what this wall is all about and what could have been done to avoid it. They have found out that this virtual wall could have been avoided if they have deployedvirtualization securities that have the ability to enable dynamic virtualized networks without compromising the security.

VM stall is indeed a problem, but there are available solutions nowadays that can be used in surmounting that wall and erase the fears an worries of losing control on the system or degrading its performance. Continuing the phases in virtualization of an organization will lead to a faster server provisioning as well as management.

It is a stated fact that companies are hesitant when they allow non-administrators or non-pros to conduct certain testing on their systems such as pen test; much more if they allow them to maintain their VMs. There are chances that these systems will be misconfigured or not maintained properly and it could lead to open vulnerabilities to the system.

Solutions that are used implementing VM will enforce other technology that exists today. Furthermore, these solutions will allow organization to mix workloads, turn on the VMotion as well as get better ratios in VM-to-host compressions without the added risk on the VM security. Virtualization-specific security also helps overcome the wall of VM stall and at the same time it mitigates ROI’s arguments.

The practical example of virtualization-specific security’s impact on the ROI is this. If a certain customer has 3 VM hosts as well as 30 VMs; 10 VMs are used for various applications of thehost business while the 20 are for 2nd tiered VMs. If we assume that the max capacity of each of the host is only 20 VMs, the customer shall protect as well as limit the access to the critical VM by using VLANs. For instance, 5 VMs is allotted to 1st host, 5 VMs allotted to the 2nd host and 20 VMs to the 3rd host. Since the 3rd host is maxed out, the customer will need to add additional non-critical VMs, deploy additional hosts since the 1st and 2nd hosts are isolated even if they aren’t maxed out. The logic behind this is that it is possible to achieve security without mixing the workloads and physically isolating the critical VMs to any VLN.  However, this happens at the expense of the ROI – thus there is a stall.

A 2nd example is a customer who used granular security in each VM, the customer can mix the workloads; obtain departmental isolation as well as security without reducing the host’s VMs. Thus the customer can load 10 VMs in every host as well as have headroom for the additional 30 VMs that are spread throughout the existing host. That is the power of servervirtualization-specific security and ROI.

Virtualization security helps the security and the ROI concerns which related to the reticence of the deployment. It is important that the security packages have been evaluated and that they have the needed features to provide granular isolation as well as have the required automated security.

There are some few things needed to consider when searching for the solution. It must have layered defenses like firewalls, AV software, IDS and penetration testing tool kits. It must have vCenter integration to make the solution for the security aware in the changes of the network. VM Introspection that provides X-ray view to know what is installed in each VM. It also must have compliance enforcement to alert or quarantine the VMs that have failed the compliance checks. An auto-VM security that is used for brand new VMs is needed to automatically apply the security policy that is given for each VM type. Finally, VM image enforcement is needed to monitor each of the VM images for the compliance of the right configuration.

The International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) is a member-based organization that certifies individuals in cybersecurity and e-commerce. It is the owner and developer of 20 security certifications. EC-Council has trained over 90,000 security professionals and certified more than 40,000 members. These certifications are recognized worldwide and have received endorsements from various government agencies. They also offer trainings in penetration testing.

More information about EC-Council is available at www.eccouncil.org.

Computer Securities – The Threats to Computer Systems Part 1

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Without a doubt, almost everyone rely on the computer and the internet just to complete their homework as well as work. Computers are also used to create and store important information and these informations have to be kept and stored in a secure and safe database. It is also important to us to protect our computer from abuse and misuse and also prevent any data loss in our computer’s operating system.

Computers used in companies and industries must have tough securities like firewalls and anti-virus and security methods like penetration testing so that vile minds cannot access the stored crucial information. Home users and other individuals must be cautious and perform any means necessary to protect their credit card information whenever they conduct any online transactions. If not then the computers they have will be at risk from any threats that could lead to the loss of important information, damage to the software, data and processing capabilities and cause damage to the hardware.

This intentional breach on the security and the system of a computer is called as the computer crime and this crime is under the same category as cybercrime. Cybercrime is one of the most known illegal acts nowadays and these acts are based on the Web; many security industries as well as law enforcement agencies in the world are facing this problem head-on. In fact, they have uncovered the different types of attackers in the cyber highway: the hacker, cracker, cyber extortionist, cyber terrorist, unethical employee, corporate spy and the script kiddie.

Hacker

In the past hackers were people known to have good skills with computers, but now the term hacker has a different view. Hackers are people who access any computer or any computer networks and systems without the permission of the network administrator. These people often claim that the reason why they access the system is to point-out the leaks and vulnerabilities of the system. Sometimes this reason is just a front for the hacker’s mischief.

Cracker

Cracker, even from the start was never associated with any good deeds in computer security. Cracker is just the same as the hacker, but most of the time, crackers will intentionally access any computer or any computer network for vile purposes like stealing important data or information or perhaps destroying the system, database or information on the system. Both the cracker and the hacker are extremely advanced when it comes to their skills.

Cyber Extortionist

Cyber extortionist is like a black mailer. This individual will use emails in an offensive way, sending threatening emails to the company or an individual. The mails will tell the company or that individual that these extortionists will release the important or confidential information, exploit the security vulnerabilities, or perhaps launch a cyber attack that will harm a person or a company’s network. They will ask for money in order to prevent the cyber threats from ever happening.

Cyber Terrorist

Cyber terrorist is a person who exploits the computer network or Internet in order to destroy the systems or computers for political purposes. It is comparable to a typical terrorist attack; these individuals are highly skilled specialists and their plot takes years of planning as well as substantial amount of money to implement their plot.

Unethical Employee

Unethical employee is a worker in the company who will illegally access the company’s network for several reasons. One reason could be to steal important secret data or information and sell them on the black market or perhaps a bitter employee who wants to exact revenge on the company.

Corporate Spy

Corporate spy is a person who has excellent skills in computers and networking; this person is hired to break into the specific network or computer of a company and steal or perhaps erase any important data or information. Some companies will hire these people to perform any corporate espionage missions. They are hired so that these companies will have leverage against their competitors.

Script Kiddie

Script kiddie is the same as a cracker; they have the same intention of doing dark deeds that could harm the computer, system, company or individual. However, the only difference is that the script kiddie lacks the technical know-how. In fact, these people are beginners or silly teenagers that will only use pre-written cracking and hacking programs.

Companies and also every individual must exert their best effort to safeguard their computers and systems from these types of person. Although, they may not know who they are but they can deter their plots by improving their networks security by performing pen test, which can be performed by a person who has completed penetration testing training.

The International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) is a member-based organization that certifies individuals in cybersecurity and e-commerce. It is the owner and developer of 20 security certifications. EC-Council has trained over 90,000 security professionals and certified more than 40,000 members. These certifications are recognized worldwide and have received endorsements from various government agencies. They also offer trainings in penetration testing.

More information about EC-Council is available at www.eccouncil.org.