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An introduction to Cyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed scheme designed to improve organizational cybersecurity by implementing five key technical controls, including firewalls, secure configurations, and malware protection. Recent updates in 2023 include new requirements such as multi-factor authentication for all accounts and changes in device regulations. Organizations must conduct yearly assessments, ensure executive management support, and address any identified vulnerabilities promptly to maintain their certification.
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An introduction to Cyber Essentials
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- 2. Background to CyberEssentials •UK Government – many breaches due to lack of simple controls implemented •Review of these breaches over 4 years resulted in identification of 5 key technical controls (Office Firewalls and Internet Gateways, Secure Configuration, Security Update Management, Access Control, Malware Protection) •Backed by the NCSC – National Cyber Security Centre – and run by IASME •UK Government is mandating Cyber Essentials in many contracts 2
- 3. What is CyberEssentials? Cyber Essentials Cyber Essentials is a government –backed scheme focusing on the five important technical security controls 3
- 4. Benefits of CyberEssentials 4 • Improve the security posture of your institution (internal and external). • Align your institution with a government-backed UK Standard • Demonstrate security within your supply chain • Ability to work with UK government contracts, partnerships and third parties
- 5. Changes in CyberEssentials 5 • New question set – Montpellier April 2023 • Only light touch changes from IASME • MFA required for all administrator accounts and user accounts (staff and students) • Only make and model of devices required • Anti-malware software no longer needs to be signature based • Sandboxing removed as option
- 6. Scoping Cyber Essentials •Whole organisation • All devices that access organisational data • No exclusions • Strongest security implications • https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/files/Cyber-Essentials-Requirements-for- Infrastructure-v3-1-January-2023.pdf • Limited Scope (Sub-set) • Focused areas of the network • Can cover areas needed for funding but not others • Defined by network Boundaries (VLAN/Firewall) • Exclusion statement required 6
- 7. Scoping Continued • Education– Admin network only if there’s a network separation • Home Workers (contracted or legally required to work from home for any amount of time) • Use a VPN, software firewall, or apply controls to their home network – good practice • Cloud Services • SAAS – In scope (must ensure service is configured securely, e.g MS365) • PAAS – In scope (where you provide and manage the applications e.g Azure Web Apps • IAAS – In scope (AWS and Azure) – you can apply controls • Mobile Devices – Access business data and are in scope • Should have MDM or anti-virus installed, or otherwise meet requirements • Voice and 2FA only – not in scope • BYOD (if they access business data) – they are in scope 7
- 8. Protection against InternetThreats 8 Social Engineering (Phishing) Vulnerabilities (Hacking) Password Guessing
- 9. Where does CEsit? 9 CE focuses on prevention! Cyber Security Investment
- 10. 5 Key SecurityControls FAIL – if there is no sign off by Executive management, and also if running out of support operating systems 10 Office Firewalls and Internet Gateways Firewall rules, default password, length of password and review process Secure Configuration Formal process for admin accounts, segregation of duties, tracking privileged accounts, reviewing of accounts, MFA for admins, gold image and default passwords Security Update Management OS and firmware within support, vendor recommendations, 14 days security patch cycle, end of life support, open source supported (if they have an active community) phones and servers Access Control Software management, user accounts, local accounts passwords, admin account use, length of password, lock outs, password policy and least privilege Malware Protection Malware protection on all devices, updates/scans, restricted access to unsigned software (approved) and sandboxing
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- 12. What Next ? 12 •Download the questions and review prior to booking the assessment • https://iasme.co.uk/cyber-essentials/free-download-of-cyber-essentials-self- assessment-questions/ • Come to the Jisc Cyber Essentials drop-in clinics for support and advice • Focused on Education and Research, for CE and CE+ questions • https://www.jisc.ac.uk/training/cyber-essentials-drop-in-clinic • Book Assessment with Jisc • Discuss scope with us, then complete the self-assessment in the online portal • Answer questions – 5 controls plus some organisational info, signed off at an executive level, adding additional justification for answers • Re-Assess - Any remediations must be completed within 2 working days • Certification!
- 13. Security is notjust for Christmas? 13 • Need to do the assessment on a yearly basis • Ensure you have budget and time to do the preparation work, and any remediation for the re-assessment • Ensure you have Executive management buy-in and support for this process • Can lead into Cyber Essentials Plus
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