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06 Oct 2021
Securing Content Management Systems
Security vulnerabilities within content management systems (CMS) installed on web servers of organisations are often exploited by adversaries. Once a CMS has been compromised, the web server can be used as infrastructure to facilitate targeted intrusion attempts.
Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication is one of the most effective controls an organisation can implement to prevent an adversary from gaining access to a device or network and accessing sensitive information. When implemented correctly, multi-factor authentication can make it significantly more difficult for an adversary to steal legitimate credentials to facilitate further malicious activities on a network. Due to its effectiveness, multi-factor authentication is one of the Essential Eight from the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents.
Bring Your Own Device for Executives
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) scenarios enable organisations to take advantage of new technologies faster. It also has the potential to reduce hardware costs and improve organisational productivity and flexibility. However, BYOD also introduces new risks to an organisation’s business and the security of its information, which need to be carefully considered before implementation.
Domain Name System Security for Domain Resolvers
This publication provides information on Domain Name System (DNS) security for recursive resolution servers, as well as mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of DNS resolver subversion or compromise. Organisations should implement the mitigation strategies in this publication to improve the security of their DNS infrastructure.
How to Combat Fake Emails
Organisations can reduce the likelihood of their domains being used to support fake emails by implementing Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) records in their Domain Name System (DNS) configuration. Using DMARC with DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) to sign emails provides further safety against fake emails. Likewise, organisations can better protect their users against fake emails by ensuring their email systems use and apply SPF, DKIM and DMARC policies on inbound email.
Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management
All organisations should consider cyber supply chain risk management. If a supplier, manufacturer, distributor or retailer (i.e. businesses that constitute a cyber supply chain) are involved in products or services used by an organisation, there will be a cyber supply chain risk originating from those businesses. Likewise, an organisation will transfer any cyber supply chain risk they hold to their customers.
Defending Against the Malicious Use of the Tor Network
Blocking traffic from the Tor network will prevent adversaries from using the Tor network to easily conduct anonymous reconnaissance and exploitation of systems and typically has minimal, if any, impact on legitimate users. This publication provides guidance on the prevention and detection of traffic from the Tor network.
Risk Management of Enterprise Mobility Including Bring Your Own Device
This publication has been developed to provide senior business representatives with a list of enterprise mobility considerations. These include business cases, regulatory obligations and legislation, available budget and personnel resources, and risk tolerance. Additionally, risk management controls are provided for cyber security practitioners.
Questions to ask Managed Service Providers
This publication provides simple yet practical questions to ask managed service providers regarding the cyber security of their systems and the services they provide.
Cloud Computing Security Considerations
Cloud computing offers potential benefits including cost savings and improved business outcomes for organisations. However, there are a variety of information security risks that need to be carefully considered. Risks will vary depending on the sensitivity of the data to be stored or processed, and how the chosen cloud vendor (also referred to as a cloud service provider) has implemented their specific cloud services.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Machinery of Government Changes
This publication provides guidance on strategies that organisations can apply during mergers, acquisitions and Machinery of Government changes.
Using Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections can be an effective means of providing remote access to a network; however, VPN connections can be abused by an adversary to gain access to a network without relying on malware and covert communication channels. This publication identifies security controls that should be considered when implementing VPN connections.
Detecting Socially Engineered Messages
Socially engineered messages present a significant threat to individuals and organisations due to their ability to assist an adversary with compromising accounts, devices, systems or sensitive information. This publication offers guidance on identifying socially engineered messages delivered by email, SMS, instant messaging or other direct messaging services offered by social media applications.
Security Configuration Guide – Apple iOS 14 Devices
The ACSC has developed this guide to assist Australian’s to understand the risks of deploying iOS 14 and the security requirements that need to be met to allow iOS 14 to handle sensitive or classified data.
Essential Eight to ISM Mapping
This publication provides a mapping between the Essential Eight Maturity Model and the security controls within the Information Security Manual (ISM). This mapping represents the minimum security controls organisations must implement to meet the intent of the Essential Eight.
Fundamentals of Cross Domain Solutions
This guidance introduces technical and non-technical audiences to cross domain security principles for securely connecting security domains. It explains the purpose of a Cross Domain Solution (CDS) and promotes a data-centric approach to a CDS system implementation based on architectural principles and risk management. This guidance also covers a broad range of fundamental concepts relating to a CDS, which should be accessible to readers who have some familiarity with the field of cyber security. Organisations with complex information sharing requirements are encouraged to refer to this guidance in the planning, analysis, design and implementation of CDS systems.
Implementing Application Control
Application control is one of the most effective mitigation strategies in ensuring the security of systems. As such, application control forms part of the Essential Eight from the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents. This publication provides guidance on what application control is, what application control is not, and how to implement application control.
Hardening Linux Workstations and Servers
This publication has been developed to assist organisations understand how to harden Linux workstations and servers, including by applying the Essential Eight from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)’s Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents.
An Examination of the Redaction Functionality of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC 2017
This publication provides guidance on the efficacy of redaction facilities within Adobe Acrobat Pro DC 2017 and is intended for information technology and information security professionals within organisations looking to redact sensitive or personal information from PDF documents before releasing them into the public domain or to other third parties.
End of Support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
On 14 January 2020, Microsoft ended support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. As such, organisations no longer receive patches for security vulnerabilities identified in these products. Subsequently, adversaries may use these unpatched security vulnerabilities to target Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 servers.
Web Conferencing Security
Web conferencing solutions (also commonly referred to as online collaboration tools) often provide audio/video conferencing, real-time chat, desktop sharing and file transfer capabilities. As we increasingly use web conferencing to keep in touch while working from home, it is important to ensure that this is done securely without introducing unnecessary privacy, security and legal risks. This publication provides guidance on both how to select a web conferencing solution and how to use it securely.
Preparing for and Responding to Denial-of-Service Attacks
Although organisations cannot avoid being targeted by denial-of-service attacks, there are a number of measures that organisations can implement to prepare for and potentially reduce the impact if targeted. Preparing for denial-of-service attacks before they occur is by far the best strategy, it is very difficult to respond once they begin and efforts at this stage are unlikely to be effective.
Mitigating the Use of Stolen Credentials
This publication explains the risks posed by the use of stolen credentials and how they can be mitigated.
Security Configuration Guide – Samsung Galaxy S10, S20 and Note 20 Devices
The ACSC has developed this guide to assist Australian’s to understand the risks when deploying Samsung Galaxy S10 and S20 devices.
Implementing Certificates, TLS, HTTPS and Opportunistic TLS
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a widely used encryption protocol which enables parties to communicate securely over the internet. Through the use of certificates and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), parties can identify each other through a trusted intermediary and establish encrypted tunnels for the secure transfer of information.
Protecting Web Applications and Users
This publication provides advice for web developers and security professionals on how they can protect their existing web applications by implementing low cost and effective security controls which do not require changes to a web application’s code. These security controls when applied to new web applications in development, whether in the application’s code or server configuration, form part of the defence-in-depth strategy.
Protecting Against Business Email Compromise
Business email compromise is when criminals use email to abuse trust in business processes to scam organisations out of money or goods. Criminals can impersonate business representatives using similar names, domains and/or fraudulent logos as a legitimate organisation or by using compromised email accounts and pretending to be a trusted co-worker.
Securing PowerShell in the Enterprise
This publication describes a maturity framework for PowerShell in a way that balances the security and business requirements of organisations. This maturity framework will enable organisations to take incremental steps towards securing PowerShell across their environment.
Hardening Microsoft 365, Office 2021, Office 2019 and Office 2016
Workstations are often targeted by adversaries using malicious websites, emails or removable media in an attempt to extract sensitive information. Hardening applications on workstations is an important part of reducing this risk.
Cloud Assessment and Authorisation – Frequently Asked Questions
This publication provides answers relating to frequently asked questions on the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)’s new cloud security guidance, future support, government self-assessment and cloud security assessment reports.
Secure Administration
Privileged access allows administrators to perform their duties such as establishing and making changes to key servers, networking devices, user workstations and user accounts. Privileged access or credentials are often seen as the ‘keys to the kingdom’ as they allow the bearers to have access and control over many different assets within a network. This publication provides guidance on how to implement secure administration techniques.
Assessing Security Vulnerabilities and Applying Patches
Applying patches to applications and operating systems is critical to ensuring the security of systems. As such, patching forms part of the Essential Eight from the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents.
Security Configuration Guide – Viasat Mobile Dynamic Defense
The ACSC has developed this guidance to assist organisations to understand the risks of deploying and provide specific configuration requirements for the Viasat Mobile Dynamic Defense (MDD) system to handle sensitive or classified data.
Malicious Email Mitigation Strategies
Socially engineered emails containing malicious attachments and embedded links are routinely used in targeted cyber intrusions against organisations. This publication has been developed to provide mitigation strategies for the security risks posed by these malicious emails.
Implementing Network Segmentation and Segregation
This publication intends to assist staff responsible for an organisation’s network architecture and design to increase the security posture of their networks by applying network segmentation and segregation strategies.
Marketing and Filtering Email Service Providers
This publication provides high level guidance on how to use email service providers (ESPs) in particular deployment scenarios. The considerations and controls described in that publication also apply to ESPs sending email on your behalf.
What Executives Should Know About Cyber Security
This publication discusses high-level topics that executives should know about cyber security within their organisations.
Microsoft Office Macro Security
Microsoft Office applications can execute macros to automate routine tasks. However, macros can contain malicious code resulting in unauthorised access to sensitive information as part of a targeted cyber intrusion. This publication has been developed to discuss approaches that can be applied by organisations to secure systems against malicious macros while balancing both their business and security requirements.
Anatomy of a Cloud Assessment and Authorisation
The Anatomy of a Cloud Assessment and Authorisation is co-designed with industry to support the secure adoption of cloud services across government and industry.
Using Remote Desktop Clients
Remote access solutions are increasingly being used to access organisations’ systems. One common method of enabling remote access is to use a remote desktop client. This publication provides guidance on security risks associated with the use of remote desktop clients.
Security Tips for Social Media and Messaging Apps
Social media and messaging apps can pose a number of security and privacy risks to both organisations and individuals when used in an inappropriate or unsafe manner.
Essential Eight Maturity Model FAQ
The Essential Eight Maturity Model provides advice on how to implement the Essential Eight to mitigate different levels of adversary tradecraft and targeting.
Cloud Computing Security for Cloud Service Providers
This publication is designed to assist assessors validating the security posture of a cloud service in order to provide organisations with independent assurance of security claims made by Cloud Service Providers (CSPs). This publication can also assist CSPs to offer secure cloud services.
Industrial Control Systems Remote Access Protocol
External parties may need to connect remotely to critical infrastructure control networks. This is to allow manufacturers of equipment the ability to maintain the equipment when a fault is experienced that cannot be fixed in the required timeframe. Such access to external parties will only occur in extraordinary circumstances, and will only be given at critical times where access is required to maintain the quality of everyday life in Australia.
Mitigating Java-based Intrusions
Java applications are widely deployed by organisations. As such, exploiting security vulnerabilities in the Java platform is particularly attractive to adversaries seeking unauthorised access to organisations’ networks.
Identifying Cyber Supply Chain Risks
This guidance has been developed to assist organisations in identifying risks associated with their use of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers (i.e. businesses that constitute their cyber supply chain).
Travelling Overseas with Electronic Devices
This publication provides guidance on strategies that individuals can take to secure the use of electronic devices when travelling overseas.
Introduction to Cross Domain Solutions
This publication introduces technical and non-technical audiences to the concept of a Cross Domain Solution (CDS), a type of security capability that is used to connect discrete systems within separate security domains in an assured manner.
Mitigating Drive-by Downloads
Adversaries are increasingly using drive‐by download techniques to deliver malicious software that compromises computers. This publication explains how drive‐by downloads operate and how compromise from these techniques can be mitigated.
Data Spill Management Guide
A data spill is the accidental or deliberate exposure of information into an uncontrolled or unauthorised environment, or to persons without a need-to-know. A data spill is sometimes referred to as information disclosure or a data leak. Data spills are considered cyber security incidents and should be reported to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
