Thursday, January 23, 2025

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)

  • Gemini 

Classical Cryptography


    Pros:

        Mature and Widely Used: Well-established with decades of research and development.

        Efficient: Many classical algorithms are computationally efficient, making them suitable for various applications.

        Well-Understood: Extensive research and analysis have been conducted on classical algorithms, providing a strong foundation of understanding.


    Cons:

        Vulnerable to Quantum Computers: Many widely used classical algorithms (like RSA and ECC) can be broken by powerful quantum computers using Shor's algorithm.

        Limited Future-Proofing: The emergence of quantum computers poses a significant threat to the long-term security of classical cryptography.


Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)


    Pros:

        Quantum-Resistant: Designed to be secure against attacks from quantum computers.

        Future-Proofing: Provides a path towards long-term security in a post-quantum world.


    Cons:

        Relatively New: PQC algorithms are still under development and evaluation, and their long-term security is still being researched.

        Performance: Some PQC algorithms can be computationally more expensive than their classical counterparts.

        Interoperability: Wider adoption and standardization are still ongoing.


What Post-Quantum Cryptography Can Achieve That Classical Cryptography Cannot:


    Resistance to Quantum Attacks: The primary advantage of PQC is its resistance to attacks from quantum computers. This is crucial for ensuring the long-term security of sensitive data and systems in the face of advancements in quantum computing technology.


In Summary


Classical cryptography has served us well, but the advent of quantum computers necessitates the development of post-quantum cryptography. PQC offers a path towards long-term security by providing cryptographic solutions that are believed to be secure against attacks from even the most powerful quantum computers.


Key Considerations:


    Transition: Migrating to PQC will require careful planning and gradual implementation to minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth transition.

    Standardization: The ongoing standardization efforts for PQC algorithms are crucial for interoperability and widespread adoption.

    Research and Development: Continued research and development in PQC are essential to ensure the development of robust and efficient algorithms.


By embracing post-quantum cryptography, we can prepare for the future of secure communications and data protection in the face of emerging quantum technologies.


  • ChatGPT

Classic vs. Post-Quantum Cryptography

Cryptography plays a fundamental role in securing communications and data. As computing advances, particularly with the development of quantum computers, traditional cryptographic algorithms face challenges that post-quantum cryptography (PQC) aims to address.


1. Classic Cryptography

Classic cryptography refers to traditional cryptographic systems that rely on mathematical problems that are computationally difficult for classical computers. These systems can be broadly divided into:

Asymmetric Cryptography

  • Examples: RSA, ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography), DH (Diffie-Hellman).
  • Relies on problems like integer factorization (RSA) or discrete logarithms (ECC, DH).

Symmetric Cryptography

  • Examples: AES, 3DES.
  • Relies on shared secrets and operations that are computationally intensive but secure on classical hardware.

Pros of Classic Cryptography

  1. Proven Standards: Well-studied and widely used for decades.
  2. Efficient for Classical Hardware: Optimized for existing systems.
  3. Interoperability: Easily integrates into modern protocols (TLS, IPSec, etc.).
  4. Security: Resistant to attacks from classical computers.

Cons of Classic Cryptography

  1. Vulnerability to Quantum Attacks:
    • Algorithms like RSA, ECC, and DH are breakable with Shor's algorithm on a sufficiently powerful quantum computer.
    • Symmetric cryptography like AES remains secure but requires doubling key sizes to resist Grover's algorithm.
  2. Scalability: Limited scalability when key lengths increase to enhance security.

2. Post-Quantum Cryptography

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) involves cryptographic algorithms designed to resist attacks by both classical and quantum computers. These algorithms are based on mathematical problems that quantum computers cannot efficiently solve (e.g., lattice-based, code-based, multivariate polynomial problems).

Examples of Post-Quantum Algorithms

  • Lattice-Based: Kyber, NTRU, Dilithium (used for key exchange and signatures).
  • Code-Based: McEliece.
  • Hash-Based: SPHINCS+.
  • Isogeny-Based: SIKE (recently found vulnerable to classical attacks but conceptually important).

Pros of Post-Quantum Cryptography

  1. Quantum Resistance: Secure against both classical and quantum computers.
  2. Future-Proof: Designed to secure data in a post-quantum world.
  3. Diverse Approaches: Uses mathematical problems fundamentally different from classic cryptography, increasing the chance of long-term security.

Cons of Post-Quantum Cryptography

  1. Performance Overhead:
    • Larger key sizes and signatures can lead to increased computational and storage requirements (e.g., McEliece's public keys are enormous compared to RSA or ECC).
  2. Lack of Maturity:
    • Less widely tested and standardized compared to classic cryptography.
    • Risk of unforeseen vulnerabilities.
  3. Interoperability Challenges:
    • May require significant changes to protocols and hardware for deployment.

What Classic Cryptography Cannot Achieve But Post-Quantum Cryptography Can

1. Quantum Resistance

  • Classic algorithms like RSA and ECC rely on computational problems (factorization, discrete logarithms) that are easy for quantum computers using Shor's algorithm. Post-quantum cryptography, however, resists such attacks by relying on problems like lattice structures or error-correcting codes, which are quantum-resistant.

2. Future Security for Encrypted Data

  • Even before quantum computers exist, sensitive data encrypted today using classic cryptography could be harvested and later decrypted when quantum computers become powerful enough ("store now, decrypt later"). Post-quantum cryptography prevents this by offering security against quantum decryption in the future.

3. Long-Term Scalability

  • Post-quantum algorithms are designed with future-proofing in mind. While classic cryptography may require increasingly longer key sizes to stay secure, post-quantum methods aim to provide consistent security without exponential growth in overhead.

Comparison Table

FeatureClassic CryptographyPost-Quantum Cryptography
Key AlgorithmsRSA, ECC, AESKyber, Dilithium, McEliece, SPHINCS+
Resistance to QuantumVulnerable to quantum attacksDesigned to resist quantum attacks
PerformanceEfficient with small keys and signaturesHigher computational overhead
MaturityWell-studied and standardizedStill undergoing evaluation and standardization
Key SizesSmall (e.g., 2048-bit RSA)Often larger (e.g., Kyber uses kilobyte-scale keys)
IntegrationWidely supported in current protocolsRequires updates to existing systems
Use Case LongevityVulnerable in a quantum futureFuture-proof against quantum threats

Use Cases for Post-Quantum Cryptography

  1. Data Protection in Quantum Era:
    • Protecting critical infrastructure (e.g., government, financial institutions) against future quantum decryption.
  2. Hybrid Cryptography:
    • Combining classic and post-quantum algorithms (e.g., TLS 1.3 with both RSA and Kyber) for transitional security.
  3. IoT Security:
    • Securing lightweight devices where long-term encryption might be necessary.
  4. Digital Signatures:
    • Ensuring integrity of digital identities and documents in a quantum-secure way.

Conclusion

Classic cryptography remains essential for current systems, but its vulnerability to quantum attacks highlights the need for transition to post-quantum cryptography. PQC offers future-proof security but comes with challenges like performance trade-offs and integration complexity. The best approach in the near term is hybrid cryptography, combining the strengths of both to maintain security during the transition to the post-quantum era.


  • Copilot

Classical Cryptography

Common Algorithms: RSA, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), etc. Pros:

  • Proven Track Record: Classical cryptography has been extensively studied and tested, with many successful implementations.

  • Performance: Efficient for a wide range of applications, offering strong security with manageable key sizes


Tuesday, March 28, 2023

FIDO (Fast Identity Online) protocols

  • list federation protocols used along with FIDO2 authentication.

    Federation protocols are used to establish trust between different entities across different systems. FIDO2 is a set of authentication protocols that enable users to securely authenticate with online services. FIDO2 can be used with various federation protocols to provide secure authentication. Some of the federation protocols used with FIDO2 authentication are:

    1. OAuth 2.0: OAuth 2.0 is an open standard authorization protocol that enables applications to access user data on behalf of the user. It is often used in conjunction with FIDO2 to enable users to authenticate to online services.

    2. OpenID Connect: OpenID Connect is an identity layer built on top of OAuth 2.0. It provides authentication and authorization for web applications. FIDO2 can be used with OpenID Connect to enable users to authenticate to online services.

    3. SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language): SAML is an XML-based standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties. FIDO2 can be used with SAML to enable users to authenticate to online services.

    4. WS-Federation (Web Services Federation): WS-Federation is a protocol for federated identity and access management. FIDO2 can be used with WS-Federation to enable users to authenticate to online services.

    5. Shibboleth: Shibboleth is an open-source software package for web single sign-on (SSO). FIDO2 can be used with Shibboleth to enable users to authenticate to online services.

    These are just a few of the federation protocols that can be used with FIDO2 authentication. The choice of protocol will depend on the specific requirements of the system and the preferences of the developers.



  • explain passwordless FIDO2 authentication with ctap2 and webauthn API.

    Passwordless FIDO2 authentication with CTAP2 and WebAuthn API involves several steps:

    1. The user initiates the authentication process by visiting a website or application that supports WebAuthn.

    2. The website or application sends a request to the user's device, asking it to provide authentication credentials using the CTAP2 protocol.

    3. The user's device generates a new public-private key pair and sends the public key to the website or application using the CTAP2 protocol.

    4. The website or application creates a challenge and sends it to the user's device using the WebAuthn API.

    5. The user's device signs the challenge with the private key and sends the signed response back to the website or application using the CTAP2 protocol.

    6. The website or application verifies the signed response using the public key that was previously received from the user's device using the CTAP2 protocol.

    7. If the verification is successful, the website or application authenticates the user using the WebAuthn API.

    CTAP2 (Client to Authenticator Protocol version 2) is a protocol that defines how a client, such as a website or application, communicates with a FIDO2 authenticator, such as a security key or a biometric sensor. CTAP2 provides a secure and standardized way for clients to communicate with authenticators, allowing for seamless integration with WebAuthn.

    WebAuthn API is a web authentication standard that provides a platform- and browser-agnostic API for communicating with FIDO2 authenticators, such as security keys or biometric sensors. WebAuthn enables passwordless authentication using public key cryptography and eliminates the need for traditional password-based authentication methods.

    Overall, the combination of CTAP2 and WebAuthn API provides a secure and standardized way for clients to communicate with FIDO2 authenticators, enabling passwordless authentication using public key cryptography. By adopting this approach, websites and applications can provide their users with a convenient and secure authentication experience, while also improving their overall security posture by eliminating the use of weak and easily guessable passwords.


  • explain internal authenticator with windows hello

    Windows Hello is a biometric authentication feature in Windows 10 that enables users to sign in to their devices using facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, or a PIN. Windows Hello supports both external and internal authenticators, with internal authenticators being built-in sensors, such as cameras and fingerprint readers, that are integrated into the user's device.

    An internal authenticator with Windows Hello works by capturing and securely storing the user's biometric data on their device. When the user attempts to log in, Windows Hello uses the built-in sensor to capture their biometric data, such as a facial scan or fingerprint, and compares it to the previously stored data to verify their identity.

    Internal authenticators offer several benefits over external ones, including:

    1. Convenience: Internal authenticators are always with the user and do not require any additional hardware or accessories.

    2. Security: Internal authenticators use hardware-based security features, such as secure enclaves, to protect the user's biometric data from unauthorized access or tampering.

    3. Privacy: Internal authenticators keep the user's biometric data on their device, reducing the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access to their personal information.

    Windows Hello supports a variety of internal authenticators, including cameras, fingerprint readers, and infrared sensors. These sensors are typically built into the user's device, such as their laptop or tablet, and are integrated with Windows Hello to provide a seamless and secure authentication experience.

    Overall, Windows Hello's support for internal authenticators provides a convenient, secure, and privacy-enhancing authentication experience for users, while also helping organizations to improve their overall security posture by reducing the risk of password-related attacks and data breaches

  • lequestionis@gmail.com
    explain passwordless FIDO2 authentication with webauthn.

    WebAuthn is a web authentication standard that enables passwordless authentication using public key cryptography. It is a part of the FIDO2 authentication specification and is supported by most modern web browsers. WebAuthn provides a secure and easy-to-use alternative to traditional password-based authentication methods.

    Passwordless FIDO2 authentication with WebAuthn involves the following steps:

    1. The user initiates the authentication process by visiting a website or application that supports WebAuthn.

    2. The website or application sends a request to the user's device, asking it to provide authentication credentials.

    3. The user's device generates a new public-private key pair.

    4. The user's device sends the public key to the website or application.

    5. The website or application creates a challenge and sends it to the user's device.

    6. The user's device signs the challenge with the private key and sends the signed response back to the website or application.

    7. The website or application verifies the signed response using the public key that was previously received from the user's device.

    8. If the verification is successful, the website or application authenticates the user.

    This process allows for secure and convenient authentication without the need for passwords. Instead, the user relies on their device's built-in security features, such as a biometric sensor or a hardware security key, to securely store their private key and handle the authentication process.

    WebAuthn is an open and interoperable standard that is supported by a growing number of web browsers and web applications. By adopting WebAuthn, websites and applications can provide their users with a secure and seamless authentication experience, while also improving their overall security posture by eliminating the use of weak and easily guessable passwords.


  • explain passwordless FIDO2 authentication with ctap.

FIDO2 is a modern authentication standard that aims to replace traditional password-based authentication methods with a more secure and convenient approach. FIDO2 authentication is based on public-key cryptography, which makes it more resistant to various types of attacks, such as phishing and brute-force attacks.

CTAP (Client to Authenticator Protocol) is a protocol that enables communication between a user's device, such as a smartphone or laptop, and an external authenticator, such as a USB security key. CTAP allows the user's device to request and receive authentication credentials from the authenticator, without the need for the user to manually enter a password.

Passwordless FIDO2 authentication with CTAP involves the following steps:

  1. The user initiates the authentication process by visiting a website or application that supports FIDO2 authentication.

  2. The website or application sends a request to the user's device, asking it to provide authentication credentials.

  3. The device communicates with the external authenticator, using the CTAP protocol, to request a public key credential.

  4. The authenticator generates a new key pair (public and private keys) and sends the public key to the user's device.

  5. The user's device creates a challenge and sends it to the authenticator.

  6. The authenticator signs the challenge with the private key and sends the signed response back to the user's device.

  7. The user's device verifies the signed response using the public key that was previously received from the authenticator.

  8. If the verification is successful, the user's device sends the public key credential to the website or application, which uses it to authenticate the user.

This process allows for secure and convenient authentication without the need for passwords. Instead, the user relies on an external authenticator, such as a USB security key, to securely store their private key and handle the authentication process. 


  • Passwordless FIDO2 authentication is a method of authentication that uses FIDO2 (Fast Identity Online) protocols and standards to authenticate users without the need for a password. Instead, the user is authenticated using a hardware security key or biometric authentication, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition.

    Here is how passwordless FIDO2 authentication works:

    1. User initiates authentication: The user navigates to a website or application that supports FIDO2 authentication and initiates the authentication process.

    2. FIDO2 request: The website or application sends a request to the user's FIDO2 security key, asking it to authenticate the user.

    3. User verification: The user is prompted to verify their identity using their hardware security key or biometric authentication.

    4. FIDO2 response: The FIDO2 security key generates a response that is sent back to the website or application, which verifies the user's identity without the need for a password.

    5. Access granted: If the user is successfully authenticated, they are granted access to the website or application.

    Passwordless FIDO2 authentication provides a more secure and convenient authentication method than traditional passwords. Hardware security keys are resistant to phishing attacks and other forms of identity theft, and biometric authentication provides a fast and easy way for users to verify their identity.

    Passwordless FIDO2 authentication is supported by a growing number of websites and applications, including Microsoft Windows 10 and Google Chrome. It is expected to become more widely adopted in the coming years as the need for strong authentication methods continues to grow.


  • FIDO 
FIDO Authentication enables password-only logins to be replaced with secure and fast login experiences across websites and apps
https://fidoalliance.org/what-is-fido/#fido-authentication-is-the-answer

How to enable FIDO2 authentication

FIDO2 is an authentication standard hosted by FIDO Alliance. This standard includes the Web Authentication ("WebAuthn") API, which is a specification written by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and FIDO, with participation from additional third parties. The WebAuthn API is backward compatible with Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) keys. 

https://docs.centrify.com/Content/CoreServices/Authenticate/U2FAuth.htm

  • Enable FIDO2 authentication

FIDO2 is an authentication standard hosted by FIDO Alliance. This standard includes the Web Authentication ("WebAuthn") API, which is a specification written by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and FIDO, with participation from additional third parties. The WebAuthn API is backward compatible with Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) keys

CyberArk leverages the WebAuthn API to enable passwordless authentication to the CyberArk Identity using either external or on-device authenticators. 

Single-factor FIDO2 authenticators are something you have. Examples are external authenticators like security keys that you plug into the device's USB port; for example, a YubiKey.

Supported multi-factor FIDO2 authenticators are something you are. Popular examples are biometric authenticators integrated into device hardware, such as Mac Touch ID, Windows Hello, and fingerprint scanners.

https://docs.cyberark.com/Product-Doc/OnlineHelp/Idaptive/Latest/en/Content/CoreServices/Authenticate/U2FAuth.htm

  • FIDO2 is a FIDO framework of specifications designed to replace passwords with credentials that cannot be phished, replayed, or breached when servers are compromised – and to do that without sacrificing user convenience across difference types of devices and clients. 

To activate a FIDO2 credential (e.g., on a security key) users can employ gestures such as the use of PINs, biometrics, or button-pushing. Once the user is authenticated, the specifications enable the authenticator device (which could also be a host computer in its own right) to communicate information about the authentication event to other devices or systems using challenge/response protocols based on Asymmetric Key Cryptography. 

https://ldapwiki.com/wiki/FIDO2

  •  detailed information on how FIDO can be integrated with leading federation protocols, namely SAML, OIDC, and OAuth,  including how:

    A SAML Service Provider (SP) requests from the SAML Identity Provider (IDP) that user authentication be FIDO-based.
    A SAML IDP returns a SAML Assertion to the SP indicating that user authentication was performed using FIDO.
    A OIDC RP requests from the OIDC Provider that authentication be FIDO-based.
    An OIDC Provider returns a token to the RP indicating that user authentication was performed using FIDO, and how.
    FIDO could be leveraged in OAuth2 environments for user authentication prior to user consent and authorization to access a protected resource.
https://fidoalliance.org/fido-and-federation-protocols-tech-note/

  • The FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) authentication standard defines a fast and secure authentication mechanism for users to access websites and applications.

The FIDO Alliance, with representatives from a range of organizations, develops open and scalable technical specifications that allow people to access websites and apps through a common protocol. This means any company can use FIDO standards to implement technologies, like passkeys, for secure authentication.

A passkey is a FIDO login credential, tied to an origin (website or application) and a physical device. Passkeys allow users to authenticate without having to enter a username, password, or provide any additional authentication factor. This technology aims to replace passwords as the primary authentication mechanism.

How does FIDO create stronger security?

FIDO-based authentication removes many of the problems that stem from password-based authentication, and from authentication that uses traditional second-steps. In particular:

    FIDO authentication uses public key cryptography.
    FIDO helps to ensure that the credentials aren't shared with malicious parties or other parties that do not own the credential

Public key cryptography reduces the threat from potential database breaches. The user registers with a single origin (a site or application), which generates a public-private key pair on the user's authenticator (a physical device). The user's public key is stored by the origin's server, but this alone is useless to an attacker. An attacker cannot derive the user's private key from the data stored on the server, which is required to complete authentication

With FIDO, the user is not responsible for confirming that a website or application is actually who they say they are. Further, the user isn't responsible for ensuring credentials aren't used in the wrong places. FIDO binds each credential to a particular origin, which means the device (not the human) is responsible for correctly identifying the website or application.

What are passkeys?

A passkey is a digital credential that adheres to the FIDO and W3C Web Authentication (WebAuthn) standards. Similar to a password, websites and applications can request that a user create a passkey to access their account.

Passkeys rely on unlocking a device to verify a user's identity. This may be performed with a biometric sensor (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition), PIN, or pattern. A user must first register with the origin, to generate their passkey (a public-private key pair).

When they return to the website or app to log in, the user may take the following steps:

    Go to the application.
    Click Sign in.
    Select their passkey.
    Unlock the device to complete the login.

The authenticator generates a signature using the private key. This signature is used to verify the login credential between the origin and the authenticator, using the public key and without revealing the private key.

A user can sign into services on any device with the help of a passkey, regardless of where the passkey is stored. For example, a passkey stored on a mobile phone can be used to sign in to a website on a separate laptop.

How do passkeys work?
Passkeys are created and synchronized through the operating system. Some operating systems may allow automatic synchronization of passkeys between the user's devices, such as an Android phone and ChromeOS device which are signed into the same Google account.

While passkeys are tied to operating systems, a user can use passkeys from their phone when logging into a laptop. As passkeys are built with FIDO and W3C standards, all browsers can adopt them

For example, a user visits site.example on their Chromebook. This user has previously logged into site.example on their iOS device. The user will be prompted to confirm their identity on the iOS device. Typically, site.example will create a new passkey for the user's Chromebook so that for future logins, the phone is no longer required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted, which means that even though Google is responsible for synchronizing them to different Android devices, Google cannot read the passkey or otherwise know that data.

What happens if a user loses their device?
Passkeys created on Android are backed up and synced with Android devices that are signed in to the same Google Account, in the same way as passwords are backed up to the password manager.
That means a users' passkeys go with them when they replace their devices. To sign into apps on a new phone, all users need to do is unlock their phone

Can a user use a passkey on their phone to sign in on a friend's device?
Yes. Users can set up a "one time link" between their phone and someone else's device for the purposes of signing in.

https://developers.google.com/identity/fido


  • FIDO consists of three protocols for strong authentication1 to web applications: Universal 2nd Factor (U2F), Universal Authentication Framework (UAF), and FIDO2 or WebAuthn

    The Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) protocol was primarily intended to be a simple protocol and used as a second factor authentication scheme in addition to the first factor (the user's password); while
    The Universal Authentication Framework (UAF) was defined as a password-less protocol for mobile devices only

FIDO2 and W3C Web Authentication (WebAuthn)

Members of the FIDO Alliance, recognizing that the market would logically be better served with a protocol that carried features of U2F and UAF, decided to create a new protocol. This third protocol—referred to as FIDO 2.0 or FIDO2—has JavaScript elements that were submitted to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for standardization, so it can be uniformly implemented in all W3C-compliant browser agents.

While WebAuthn is different from U2F and UAF, it embodies capabilities from each of its predecessors to deliver similar benefits, and even has a compatibility mode with U2F, where U2F authenticators will work with FIDO2 servers when using the WebAuthn specification.

In addition to all the capabilities of the U2F and UAF protocols, WebAuthn's capabilities include:

    Use of Rivest-Shamir-Adelman (RSA) encryption public and private key pairs for the digital signature scheme
    Use of platform authenticators (cryptographic modules built into the computing devices, such as the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on a desktop/laptop computer, or a Secure Element built into a mobile phone) to generate and protect private keys
    Use of external (or roaming) authenticators such as smart cards, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, or USB-based cryptographic hardware with HID and BLE transport support


https://blog.strongkey.com/blog/guide-to-fido-protocols-u2f-uaf-webauthn-fido2



  • FIDO2 is a joint project by the FIDO Alliance (Fast IDentity Online) and the W3C to provide strong authentication for web applications. Thus, it aims to improve security by reducing or eliminating identity theft through providing passwordless authentication. 

At the core of FIDO2 are cryptographic authenticators which can be hardware security keys connected via USB, NFC, or by being built into (e.g., smartphones). The authenticators are combined with the WebAuthn protocol that defines how web applications, the computer (client), and authenticators interact. It is important to note that the authentication itself is performed by the cryptographic authenticator (the hardware). The computer (client) utilizes the Client to Authenticator Protocol (CTAP).

https://www.ibm.com/cloud/blog/use-your-fido2-key-for-2fa-on-ibm-cloud-apps

Thursday, March 16, 2023

web filter

  •  Unfortunately, some of those sites had malware that could infect the browsing

computer. Or, sometimes a website contained content that others objected to. What

constitutes objectionable content can be controversial, but these two reasons—Security and

Objectionable content—formed the impetus for the development of web filtering technology. 


What is a web filter? It’s an application that examines incoming webpages to determine if

some or all of the content should be blocked. The web filter makes these decisions based on

rules set in place by the organization, or individual, who installed the application


browsing was made safer by

developing filters that could block adware, spam, viruses, and spyware. Today, web filtering

forms the First line of defense against web-based attacks


In addition to client workstations,

web servers, and ISPs, web filters were added to other network devices, such as firewalls, proxy

servers, sandbox technology, and wireless access points


How does a web filter work? A web filter can consult a URL database that lists websites and

domains that are known to host malware, phishing, and other harmful tools.

The URLs found on this naughty list

are also known as a Deny list. There can also be an Allow list, which is a sanctioned list of URLs


Another method that can be used is a filter that looks for a keyword or predefined content.

the problem with this method is the number of false positives; that is, it can

inadvertently block legitimate content, such as art.Machine learning may, in time, overcome

this deficiency


https://training.fortinet.com/pluginfile.php/1625695/mod_scorm/content/1/story_content/external_files/NSE%202%20Web%20Filter%20Script_EN.pdf

Secure Email Gateway

  •  Spam—the act of sending Irrelevant and unsolicited messages on the

internet to a large number of recipients.


Phishing to describe the fraudulent practice of

Sending emails purporting to be from a reputable source, in order to induce individuals to

reveal personal information


Spam filters rely on Identifying specific words or patterns in the headers or bodies of messages


ISPs began to implement the Sender Policy Framework SPF, which slowly took shape

during that decade but wasn’t proposed as a standard until 2014.

SPF is an Email authentication method that Detects bogus sender addresses and emails. 


Secure email gateways arose to provide more rigorous defense. In

addition to the spam filter, they added Antivirus scanners, Threat emulation, and Sandboxing to

detect malicious attachments and links in real time


Today, greater Automation and Machine learning are built in to secure email gateways, which

alleviates the demands placed on security operations centers. Data loss prevention DLP is also

available to detect and stop the egress of sensitive data. 


In some cases, a secure email gateway isintegrated with other network security devices, such

as edge and segmentation firewalls


https://training.fortinet.com/pluginfile.php/1625638/mod_scorm/content/1/story_content/external_files/NSE%202%20Secure%20Email%20Gateway%20Script_EN.pdf




Monday, July 18, 2022

Secure by Design, Secure by Default, Secure in Deployment and Communication (SD3+C)

  •  Secure by default


Secure By Default (SbD) is the concept of installing a minimal set of software in a secure configuration.


filesets are part of the SbD installation and contain all commands and files except for any applications that allow for the transmission of passwords over the network in clear text format such as telnet and ftp. In addition, applications that might be used, such as rsh, rcp, and sendmail, are excluded from the SbD filesets.


It is possible to have a securely configured system without using the SbD install option. For example, the AIX Security Expert High, Medium, or Low level security options can be configured on a regular installation.


The differences between an SbD-installed system and a regular installation with an AIX Security Expert High Level Security configuration is best illustrated by examining the telnet command. In both cases, the telnet command is disabled. In an SbD installation, the telnet binary or application is never even installed on the system. 


https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/aix/7.1?topic=expert-secure-by-default

  • Security by default, in software, means that the default configuration settings are the most secure settings possible, which are not necessarily the most user-friendly settings. In many cases, security and user-friendliness are evaluated based on both risk analysis and usability tests. This leads to the discussion of what the most secure settings are. As a result, the precise meaning of "secure by default" remains undefined.


In a network operating system, this typically means first and foremost that there are no listening INET(6) domain sockets after installation; that is, no open network ports. This can be checked on the local machine with a tool like netstat and remotely with a port scanner such as nmap. As a general rule, a secure network is only as secure as the least secure node in the entire network.


If a program uses secure configuration settings by default, the user will be better protected.[citation needed] However, not all users consider security[citation needed] and may be obstructed by secure settings. A common example is whether or not blank passwords are allowed for login. Not everyone can, or is willing to, type or memorize a password.[citation needed]


Another way to secure a program or system is through abstraction, where the user has presented an interface in which the user cannot (or is discouraged to) cause (accidental) data loss. This, however, can lead to less functionality or reduced flexibility.[citation needed] Having user control preferences does not typically cause this but at the cost of having a larger part of the user interface for configuration controls.


Some servers or devices that have an authentication system, have default usernames and passwords. If not properly changed, anyone who knows the default configuration can successfully authenticate. For non-unique defaults, this practice would violate the principle of 'security by default'. 


OpenBSD claims to be the only operating system that is fully secure by default. This, however, does not mean it is inherently the most secure operating system. This is because that depends on the definition of an operating system. OpenBSD is a network operating system. 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_by_default

  • Secure by design, in software engineering, means that software products and capabilities have been designed to be foundationally secure. 

Secure by Design is increasingly becoming the mainstream development approach to ensure security and privacy of software systems. In this approach, security is considered and built into the system at every layer and starts with a robust architecture design. Security architectural design decisions are based on well-known security strategies, tactics, and patterns defined as reusable techniques for achieving specific quality concerns. Security tactics/patterns provide solutions for enforcing the necessary authentication, authorization, confidentiality, data integrity, privacy, accountability, availability, safety and non-repudiation requirements, even when the system is under attack

Expect attacks

Malicious attacks on software should be assumed to occur, and care is taken to minimize impact. Security vulnerabilities are anticipated, along with invalid user input

Avoid security through obscurity

Often, secrecy reduces the number of attackers by demotivating a subset of the threat population. The logic is that if there is an increase in complexity for the attacker, the increased attacker effort to compromise the target will discourage them
While not mandatory, proper security usually means that everyone is allowed to know and understand the design because it is secure. This has the advantage that many people are looking at the computer code, which improves the odds that any flaws will be found sooner (see Linus's law). The disadvantage is that attackers can also obtain the code, which makes it easier for them to find vulnerabilities to exploit. It is generally believed, though, that the advantage of the open computer code outweighs the disadvantage. 

Fewest privileges
Also, it is important that everything works with the fewest privileges possible (see the principle of least privilege). For example, a web server that runs as the administrative user ("root" or "admin") can have the privilege to remove files and users. A flaw in such a program could therefore put the entire system at risk, whereas a web server that runs inside an isolated environment, and only has the privileges for required network and filesystem functions, cannot compromise the system it runs on unless the security around it in itself is also flawed. 

Methodologies
Secure Design should be a consideration at all points in the development lifecycle (whichever development methodology is chosen).
Some pre-built Secure By Design development methodologies exist (e.g. Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle). 

Standards and Legislation
Some examples of standards which cover or touch on Secure By Design principles:

    ETSI TS 103 645 [5] which is included in part in the UK Government "Proposals for regulating consumer smart product cyber security" [6]
    ISO/IEC 27000-series covers many aspects of secure design.

Server/client architectures
Another key feature to client-server security design is good coding practices. For example, following a known software design structure, such as client and broker, can help in designing a well-built structure with a solid foundation. Furthermore, if the software is to be modified in the future, it is even more important that it follows a logical foundation of separation between the client and server. This is because if a programmer comes in and cannot clearly understand the dynamics of the program, they may end up adding or changing something that can add a security flaw. Even with the best design, this is always a possibility, but the better the standardization of the design, the less chance there is of this occurring. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_by_design

  • Secure by Design


Secure by Design ensures that a product has been designed from the foundation with security

in mind. Manufacturers following a Secure by Design process are generally well aware of the

current threat landscape and are committed to developing products that are resistant, at the

point of manufacture, to such threats. Through life Secure by Design also requires an ongoing

vulnerability management programme that ensures vulnerabilities identified are mitigated in a

timely manner. This often includes a vulnerability disclosure process and the development and

distribution of software patches to correct the vulnerability


Secure by Default


Security by Default ensures that the default configuration settings of a product are the most

secure settings possible. It is important to appreciate that these will not necessarily be the most

user-friendly settings, and the balance between security and user friendliness often needs

consideration.


In putting together this guidance, consideration has been given to creating a set of minimum

requirements that will provide a baseline level of Secure by Default, whilst still balancing the

needs for a user-friendly experience for the installer and system integrator.

Secure by Default has an added benefit of removing the burden of knowledge away from the

installer or system integrator on how to lock a system down, providing them with an already

secure product.


https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1014636/Secure_by_Default_Requirements_and_Guidance_FINAL.pdf


  • What is Security by Design?


Legacy software, which was never developed to be secure, is the foundation on which modern, highly connected and business-critical software is operating. The difficulty of patching these older systems and integrating newer applications has served to make the problem worse. Building security in at the design phase reduces potential disruptions and avoids the much more difficult and expensive effort of attempting to add security to products after they have been developed and deployed.


Security by Design is a security assurance approach that enables customers to formalise security design, automate security controls and streamline auditing.

It is a systematic approach to ensure security; instead of relying on auditing security in a retrospective.  Security by Design provides developers with the ability to build security control in throughout the development process.  It begins with taking a more proactive approach to infrastructure security — one that does not rely on the typical protective or reactive third party security tools but builds security into your infrastructure from the ground up.


From requirements through design and implementation to testing and deployment, security must be integrated throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) in order to provide the user community with the best, most secure software-based solutions.


Secure by Default applies the same principle to securing data at the source. It is referring to securing information. Secure by Default data makes the case that all data should have embedded security, and the systems that consume, process and store this data must adhere to the security policies embedded therein. 


using the Security by Design and the Secure by Default model is critical. Think of it as a sort of domino effect. If an online retail company chooses a managed services provider to host their infrastructure and provide managed services, the design and security used to build and deliver the services are a critical consideration. If there are flaws of insecurity, the online retail company will get exposed to those security flaws, and so too will their customers, in turn—which will cause the business reputation to suffe


https://www.aeteurope.com/news/security-design-secure-default/











  • "Secure by Design, Secure by Default, Secure in Deployment and Communication" (also known as SD3+C)


The goals of the Security Development Lifecycle (SDL), now embraced by Microsoft, are twofold: to reduce the number of security-related design and coding defects, and to reduce the severity of any defects that are left. This follows our oft-cited motto, "Secure by Design, Secure by Default, Secure in Deployment and Communication" (also known as SD3+C). SDL focuses mainly on the first two elements of this motto. Secure by Design means getting the design and code secure from the outset, and Secure by Default is a recognition that you never will. To be realistic, you never will get the code 100 percent correct, but more on this later when I discuss attack surface reduction.


https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/msdn-magazine/2005/november/a-look-inside-the-security-development-lifecycle-at-microsoft


  • SD3: Secure by Design, by Default, and in Deployment


Secure by Design


If a system is secure by design, it means you have taken appropriate steps to make sure the overall design of the product is sound from the outset. 


The steps we recommend development groups take to achieve this include the following


Assign a go-to person for your security issues.This is the person who signs off on the product being secure.She is not a scapegoat, but someone who can sit in a meeting and say whether the product is secure enough to ship and, if it's not, what needs to be done to rectify the situation.


Require training for all personnel.


Make sure threat models are in place by the time the design phase is complete


Adhere to design and coding guidelines. 


Fix all bugs that deviate from the guidelines as soon as possible. 


Make sure the guidelines evolve. Security threats are not static; you should update the guidelines documents as you learn new vulnerabilities and learn new best practices for mitigating them.


Develop regression tests for all previously fixed vulnerabilities. This is an example of learning from past mistakes. When a security flaw is discovered, distill the attack code to its simplest form and go look for the other related bugs in other parts of your code.


Simplify the code, and simplify your security model.you should have plans in place to simplify old code by shedding unused and insecure features over time. Code tends to be more chaotic and harder to maintain over time, so the time spent removing old code and making things simpler rather than adding features and fixing bugs is time well spent from a security perspective. Code degeneration is often called code rot.


Perform penetration analysis before you ship. Have people try to break the application.Install test servers, and invite the team and external entities to break it. In fact, it may have a negative effect if not done properly by giving the development team a false sense of security. The same holds true for hack-fests where you invite external people to attack your systems. Typically, they are a waste of time unless you are testing for denial of service issues (because most people attempting to compromise the systems are not too bright and resort to flooding attacks).



Secure by Default


The goal of secure by default is to ship a product that is secure enough out of the box. Some ways to achieve this include these:


Do not install all features and capabilities by default. Apply only those features used by most of your users, and provide an easy mechanism to enable other features.


Allow least privilege in your application; don't require your code be used by members of the local or domain administrators group when it does not require such elevated capabilities(Running with Least Privilege ).


Apply appropriate protection for resources. Sensitive data and critical resources should be protected from attack.Determining Appropriate Access Control. 



Secure in Deployment


Secure in deployment means the system is maintainable once your users install the product. You might create a very well-designed and written application, but if it's hard to deploy and administer, it might be hard to keep the application secure as new threats arise. To achieve the secure in deployment goal, you should follow a few simple guidelines:


Make sure the application offers a way to administer its security functionality. This includes the ability to know what level of patching the system is at.


Create good quality security patches as soon as feasible.

https://flylib.com/books/en/1.287.1.28/1/


  • Bard: explain the difference between paradigms such as "Secure by design", "Secure by default", "Privacy by design"


Secure by design, secure by default, and privacy by design are all security paradigms that focus on building security into systems and products from the ground up. They differ in their focus and approach, but they all share the goal of making systems and products more secure.

Secure by design is a comprehensive approach to security that considers security throughout the entire product development lifecycle. It involves building security into the system architecture, design, implementation, and testing. Secure by design also includes a focus on risk management and continuous improvement.

Secure by default is a specific implementation of secure by design that focuses on ensuring that systems and products are secure by default. This means that they should be secure without any additional configuration or user intervention. Secure by default can be achieved through a variety of methods, such as using strong defaults, providing clear and concise security documentation, and making it easy for users to configure security settings.

Privacy by design is a security paradigm that focuses on protecting the privacy of individuals. It is based on the principle that privacy should be considered at every stage of the system development lifecycle. Privacy by design includes a focus on transparency, user control, and accountability.

The three paradigms are complementary and can be used together to create more secure and privacy-protective systems and products.

Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between the three paradigms:

ParadigmFocusApproach
Secure by designSecurityComprehensive, holistic approach
Secure by defaultSecurityEnsuring that systems are secure without any additional configuration or user intervention
Privacy by designPrivacyProtecting the privacy of individuals

It is important to note that these are just three of many security paradigms that exist. There is no single "best" security paradigm, and the best approach for a given system or product will vary depending on the specific risks and requirements. However, all three of these paradigms can be valuable tools for building more secure and privacy-protective systems and products

  • Chat GPT:explain the difference between paradigms such as "Secure by design", "Secure by default", "Privacy by design"

The following are brief explanations of the differences between the paradigms of "Secure by design," "Secure by default," and "Privacy by design":

  1. Secure by Design: "Secure by design" is a paradigm that emphasizes incorporating security measures and considerations throughout the entire design and development process of a system or software. It involves implementing security controls, features, and best practices from the very beginning of the design phase. By building security into the core architecture, the system is designed to be resilient against potential threats and vulnerabilities. The goal is to proactively address security requirements, risk assessments, and potential attack vectors, resulting in a more robust and secure product.

  2. Secure by Default: "Secure by default" refers to the principle of configuring systems, software, or devices with secure settings as the default configuration. It means that when a user deploys or installs a product, it is already preconfigured with the highest security settings, minimizing the need for manual adjustments. By implementing secure defaults, users are protected from common security risks, such as using weak passwords or leaving unnecessary ports open. The aim is to ensure that users are immediately protected without requiring additional steps or modifications.

  3. Privacy by Design: "Privacy by design" is a principle that focuses on embedding privacy considerations into the design and development of systems, products, or services. It involves proactively considering privacy implications and incorporating privacy-enhancing features from the outset. Privacy by design aims to protect individuals' personal information and provide transparency and control over how their data is collected, stored, and processed. It involves practices such as minimizing data collection, implementing strong security measures, obtaining informed consent, and enabling user-centric privacy settings.

While there may be overlapping elements among these paradigms, they each address different aspects of security and privacy. "Secure by design" emphasizes building security into the core of the system, "Secure by default" focuses on preconfiguring systems with secure settings, and "Privacy by design" centers around embedding privacy considerations into the design and development process. Adopting these paradigms collectively can lead to more secure and privacy-conscious systems and software.


Bing:explain the difference between paradigms such as "Secure by design", "Secure by default", "Privacy by design"


“Secure by design” is a security paradigm that emphasizes the importance of designing systems with security in mind from the beginning. This means that security is integrated into every aspect of the system’s design, rather than being added as an afterthought. “Secure by default” is another security paradigm that emphasizes the importance of having secure settings as the default configuration for systems and applications. This means that users don’t have to take any additional steps to secure their systems or applications beyond what is already provided by default. “Privacy by design” is a related paradigm that emphasizes the importance of designing systems with privacy in mind from the beginning. This means that privacy is integrated into every aspect of the system’s design, rather than being added as an afterthought1

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Cloud security posture management (CSPM)

  •  Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) 


Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) is a market segment for IT security tools that are designed to identify misconfiguration issues and compliance risks in the cloud

An important purpose of CSPM programming is to continuously monitor cloud infrastructure for gaps in security policy enforcement

CSPM as a new category of security products that can help automate security and provide compliance assurance in the cloud

CSPM tools work by examining and comparing a cloud environment against a defined set of best practices and known security risks

CSPM is typically used by organizations that have adopted a cloud-first strategy and want to extend their security best practices to hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments.

CSPM is often associated with Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud services, the technology can also be used to minimize configuration mistakes and reduce compliance risks in Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) cloud environments


Key capabilities of CSPM

detect and perhaps automatically remediate cloud misconfigurations;

maintain an inventory of best practices for different cloud configurations and services;

map current configuration statuses to a security control framework or regulatory standard;

work with IaaS, SaaS and PaaS platforms in containerized, hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments; 

monitor storage buckets, encryption and account permissions for misconfigurations and compliance risks.

Other CSPM tools can be used in tandem with Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) tools. CASB is a software tool or service that can safeguard the flow of data between on-premises IT infrastructure and a cloud provider's infrastructure.

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/Cloud-Security-Posture-Management-CSPM


  • What is CSPM?


Cloud security posture management (CSPM) is a category of automated data security solution that manages monitoring, identification, alerting, and remediation of compliance risks and misconfigurations in cloud environments.


Why do we need CSPM?

Data breaches resulting from misconfigurations of cloud infrastructure, which can expose enormous amounts of sensitive data, leading to legal liability and financial losses.

Continuous compliance for cloud apps and workloads, which is impossible to achieve using traditional on-premises tools and processes

Challenges implementing cloud governance (visibility, permissions, policy enforcement across business units, lack of knowledge about cloud security controls), which grow alongside cloud adoption within the organization.


How does CSPM work?

Provides visibility into your cloud assets and configurations.

Manages and remediates misconfigurations. 



Discovers new potential threats.


What are the key capabilities of CSPM?

Identify your cloud environment footprint and monitor for the creation of new instances or storage resources, such as S3 buckets.

Provide policy visibility and ensure consistent enforcement across all providers in multicloud environments.

Scan your compute instances for misconfigurations and improper settings that could leave them vulnerable to exploitation.

Scan your storage buckets for misconfigurations that could make data accessible to the public.

Audit for adherence to regulatory compliance mandates such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR.

Perform risk assessments against frameworks and external standards such as those put forth by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Verify that operational activities (e.g., key rotations) are being performed as expected.

Automate remediation or remediate at the click of a button.


https://www.zscaler.com/resources/security-terms-glossary/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management-cspm



  • What is Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)?


Cloud security posture management (CSPM) automates the identification and remediation of risks across cloud infrastructures, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (Saas), and Platform as a Service (PaaS). CSPM is used for risk visualization and assessment, incident response, compliance monitoring, and DevOps integration, and can uniformly apply best practices for cloud security to hybrid, multi-cloud, and container environments.


Traditional security doesn’t work in the cloud because:


    there is no perimeter to protect

    manual processes cannot occur with the necessary scale or speed

    the lack of centralization makes visibility extremely difficult to achieve


the idea of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), in which infrastructure is managed and provisioned by machine-readable definition files. This API-driven approach is integral to cloud-first environments because it makes it easy to change the infrastructure on the fly, but also makes it easy to program in misconfigurations that leave the environment open to vulnerabilities.


Underlying all of these issues is the greatest vulnerability of all: lack of visibility. In environments as complex and fluid as the typical enterprise cloud, there are hundreds of thousands of instances and accounts, and knowing what or who is running where and doing what is only possible through sophisticated automation

Without that help, vulnerabilities arising from misconfigurations can remain undetected for days, or weeks, or until there is a breach.


Benefits of Cloud Security Posture Management

There are two types of risk: intentional and unintentional.

the intentional: outside attacks and malicious insiders.

unintentional mistakes, such as leaving sensitive data exposed to the public in S3 buckets


CSPMs also reduce alert fatigue because the alerts come through one system rather than the usual six or more, and false positives are reduced through the use of artificial intelligence. This, in turn, improves security operations center (SOC) productivity.


CSPMs continuously monitor and assess the environment for adherence to compliance policies. When drift is detected, corrective actions can occur automatically.


CSPM uncovers hidden threats through its continuous scans of the entire infrastructure, and faster detection means shorter times to remediation.


How Does Cloud Security Posture Management Work?


Discovery and Visibility

Users can access a single source of truth across multi-cloud environments and accounts. 

Cloud resources and details are discovered automatically upon deployment, including misconfigurations, metadata, networking, security and change activity. 

Security group policies across accounts, regions, projects, and virtual networks are managed through a single console.


Misconfiguration Management and Remediation

CSPM eliminates security risks and accelerates the delivery process by comparing cloud application configurations to industry and organizational benchmarks so violations can be identified and remediated in real-time. 

Storage is monitored so the proper permissions are always in place and data is never accidentally made accessible to the public. 

database instances are monitored to ensure high availability, backups, and encryption are enabled.


Continuous Threat Detection

The number of alerts is reduced because the CSPM focuses on the areas adversaries are most likely to exploit, vulnerabilities are prioritized based on the environment, and vulnerable code is prevented from reaching production. The CSPM will also continuously monitor the environment for malicious activity, unauthorized activity, and unauthorized access to cloud resources using real-time threat detection.


DevSecOps Integration

Security operations and DevOps teams get a single source of truth, and security teams can stop compromised assets from progressing through the application lifecycle

The CSPM should be integrated with the SIEM to streamline visibility and capture insights and context about misconfigurations and policy violations.

The CSPM should also integrate with DevOps tool sets that are already in use, which will enable faster remediation and response within the DevOps tool set.



Differences between CSPM and other cloud security solutions


Cloud Infrastructure Security Posture Assessment (CISPA)

CISPA is the name of the first generation of CSPMs.


Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPPs)

CSPMs are purpose-built for cloud environments and assess the entire environment, not just the workloads.

CSPMs also incorporate more sophisticated automation and artificial intelligence, as well as guided remediation


Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs)

Cloud access security brokers are security enforcement points placed between cloud service providers and cloud service customers. 

CASBs typically offer firewalls, authentication, malware detection, and data loss prevention, while CSPMs deliver continuous compliance monitoring, configuration drift prevention, and security operations center investigations.

https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/cloud-security/cloud-security-posture-management-cspm/




  • Cloud Security Posture Management

Eliminate cloud blind spots, achieve compliance, and proactively address risks.

    Complete visibility and protection across any cloud

    Improved efficiency and collaboration with automation

    Integrated data security and entitlement controls


Visibility, Compliance and Governance

Cloud asset inventory

Configuration assessment

Compliance management

Automated remediation


Threat Detection

Network anomaly detection

User entity behavior analytics (UEBA)

Integrated threat detection dashboards


Data Security

Data visibility and classification

Data governance

Malware detection

Alerting


https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/cloud/cloud-security-posture-management 





Digital Rights Management

  •  What is Digital Rights Management?


In a way, digital rights management allows publishers or authors to control what paying users can do with their works. For companies, implementing digital rights management solutions or processes can help to prevent users from accessing or using certain assets, allowing the organization to avoid legal issues that arise from unauthorized use



How Digital Rights Management Works


Most of the time, digital rights management includes codes that prohibit copying, or codes that limit the time or number of devices on which a certain product can be accessed.


Publishers, authors, and other content creators use an application that encrypts media, data, e-book, content, software, or any other copyrighted material. Only those with the decryption keys can access the material. They can also use tools to limit or restrict what users are able to do with their materials.


There are many ways to protect your content, software, or product. DRM allows you to:


    Restrict or prevent users from editing or saving your content.

    Restrict or prevent users from sharing or forwarding your product or content.

    Restrict or prevent users from printing your content. For some, the document or artwork may only be printed up to a limited number of times.

    Disallow users from creating screenshots or screen grabs of your content.

    Set an expiry date on your document or media, after which the user will no longer be able to access it. This could also be done by limiting the number of uses that a user has. For instance, a document may be revoked after the user has listened ten times or opened and printed the PDF 20 times.

    Lock access only to certain IP addresses, locations, or devices. This means that if your media is only available to US residents, then it will not be accessible to people in other countries.

    Watermark artworks and documents in order to establish ownership and identity.

Digital Rights Management Use Cases

1. Digital rights management allows authors, musicians, movie professionals, and other creators to prevent unauthorized use of their content

2. Digital rights management can help companies control access to confidential information. They can use these technologies to restrict access to sensitive data, while at the same time allowing it to be shared securely. Furthermore, having DRM technologies makes it easier for auditors to investigate and identify leaks. When used in a business setting, digital rights management may be called by a different name, such as information rights management or enterprise rights management

3. Digital rights management ensures that digital work remains unaltered. 


Benefits of Digital Rights Management

1. Digital rights management educates users about copyright and intellectual property. 

2. DRM helps make way for better licensing agreements and technologies.

3. Digital rights management helps authors retain ownership of their works.

4. Digital rights management helps protect income streams

5. Digital rights management can help secure files and keep them private


https://digitalguardian.com/blog/what-digital-rights-management


  • Digital Rights Management (DRM) Solutions Explained


DRM solutions are software programs created to help companies protect and control their valuable digital content, whether it's documents, videos, images or audio files.


Benefits of Digital Rights Management (DRM) Software

Prevent piracy of your valuable intellectual property

Control the access to your content so only authorized individuals will see it

Allow your authorized users to access your protected content without the need for plug-ins or 3rd party apps

Apply various content controls to your content such as print and copy restrictions, watermarks, data limits, device limits, and more

Activate or revoke user access at any time

Track the activity of your users with simplified dashboards and detailed analytics reports


Industries that can Benefit from DRM Software


Associations & Professional Training Organizations

Whether you work for an association or a professional training organization, you need to know how to send documents securely and share your valuable training videos with your members and trainees.


Market Research & Data Intelligence

Countless hours go into market research in the commodities, oil and gas, medical, pharmaceutical, technology, and other industry sectors. It would be a shame for those hours to become worthless when reports, videos, price sheets, forecasts, and more get leaked online or shared with others who haven’t paid for the report or haven’t subscribed to your service


Financial Service

Financial institutions such as asset management companies, hedge funds, insurance companies, private equity firms and other investment management organizations need to protect the interests of their clients, their shareholders, and themselves

Solutions like Dropbox or data rooms only secure the 'house' or 'portal' where clients can access the files, but they don't protect the individual files or documents once they're downloaded.

A quality DRM solution will protect the files when they're downloaded, no matter where they're stored or saved


Standards Organizations

That’s why companies and trades professionals pay associations and trade organizations membership fees and subscription dues to access the standards documents or training materials they need to be successful.


Media & Publishing

For professionals in the media & publishing industry, content is everything. Protecting that content is key to protecting their bottom line. While they need to share it with their subscribers, leaks, piracy, and unauthorized access renders their subscription fees worthless. Why pay for what you can get for free? The same is true for authors who self-publish their books


https://www.vitrium.com/what-is-digital-rights-management-drm-and-how-does-it-work-for-you