Partner Article

What are security reports and how to learn

A security report is a detailed analysis of the current state of computer security, usually compiled by a leading security vendor. These reports cover the latest major known security breaches, new malicious codes and malware and strategies for protecting your network in the current threat landscape. Security reports break down the hype from the important threats, allowing business owners to take the right steps in securing their networks.

Using a security report to your advantage

Don’t ignore security reports when they land in your inbox; use them to your advantage. Reading these reports will help you:

• Identify potential close-to-home threats.• Recognize the need for enhanced security in a specified area.

• Uncover points to address with your IT department or security vendor.

• Take action to protect against an identified threat.

Security reports often include case studies or coverage of major identified threats or major security breaches. Often these involve unauthorized access to a major corporation’s network and the breach of thousands of constituents’ security, whether customers or personnel.

These reports will also include insight into the latest updates and technology enterprises can implement to boost security. For instance, links to a patch for a known attack can be helpful in reducing an enterprise’s vulnerability.

Even if a security patch is issued, known attackers will typically still continue to gain access, capitalizing on the knowledge that many enterprises are slow to respond and won’t have the adequate protections in place for some time after the attack is discovered. Don’t let your enterprise be the one breached by an already-known attack.

On the flipside, you may have been hesitant to adopt open-source software solutions for fear that they’re not secure and would make your data vulnerable. Security reports can help dispel these myths, backed by solid research and evidence. When you’re aware of the pros and cons of the different options available to you, you’re better able to make decisions that could improve your workflow while maintaining your security.

Security analytics reports

Broad industry security reports aren’t the only type of security report, however. Some enterprise security platforms compile customized security reports for clients, such as Veracode Analytics, which provides a comprehensive view of an enterprise’s current state of security compared against a set of pre-defined goals. These reports also include the ability to see where the enterprise stands in comparison to its peers or the World as a whole. These reports can also ease the process of software supply chain security analysis through a quick comparison and evaluation against the enterprise’s specifications and benchmarks.

Security vendor analytics reports vary from provider to provider, but most provide some level of insight into the company’s current security status. For instance, analytics reports can provide data on the number of entry attempts or how many malicious codes were blocked. If there’s a persistent entry attempt, plans can be developed to boost security at other access points in the event that an advanced persistent threat could gain access via other means.

Security analytics reports are also useful in a number of industries, such as healthcare, in which regulatory bodies conduct audits and have stringent compliance requirements. Being prepared with recent data demonstrating that your enterprise meets regulatory compliance can avoid problematic penalties which can hinder your goals.

Whether you’re looking at an industry-wide security report encompassing broad coverage of the latest security news and information or an enterprise-specific, detailed analysis of your company’s stance and an overall view of security including that of third-party and cloud-based software applications, these reports will help you maintain compliance and be fully prepared to protect your company’s data.

Fergal Glynn is the Director of Product Marketing at Veracode, an award-winning application security company specializing in the prevention of sql injection attacks and other security breaches with effective risk assessment tools .

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jack .