{"id":23835,"date":"2024-04-26T13:58:57","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T12:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edit.exa.net.uk\/?p=23835"},"modified":"2024-05-15T16:03:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T15:03:21","slug":"ensuring-robust-security-through-regular-firewall-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edit.exa.net.uk\/knowledge-hub\/technical\/ensuring-robust-security-through-regular-firewall-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"Ensuring Robust Security Through Regular Firewall Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Our commitment was put to the test back in February, following a critical advisory from Fortinet (detailed on their PSIRT<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span> page). This alert highlighted vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited by malicious entities. The urgency of this advisory was underscored by a reported breach that month, where hackers offered admin access to compromised systems. \u00a0A scenario vividly reported on Cybersecurity News<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t We responded swiftly to the Fortinet advisory. Recognising the severity of the situation, our team deployed several strategic measures to ensure our networks and those of our clients remained secure and impervious to the exploit:<\/p> Immediate Patch Implementation<\/strong>: Upon receiving the advisory, our team worked diligently to implement the necessary patches to the affected systems. By prioritising this update we were able to secure our networks quickly, before any malicious activities could impact our systems. All of our managed Fortigate systems were fully patched within 24 hours of the advisory being received from Fortinet.<\/p><\/li> Comprehensive System Audits<\/strong>: Concurrent with the patch implementation, our Networking team conducted thorough audits of our network infrastructure to identify any anomalies or signs of a breach. This proactive measure helped us confirm the integrity of our data and systems post-update.<\/p><\/li> Enhanced Monitoring Protocols<\/strong>: Understanding that new vulnerabilities can emerge at any time, we enhanced our monitoring protocols. This included increasing the frequency and depth of our surveillance to detect and respond to threats more effectively.<\/p><\/li> Customer Communication<\/strong>: We believe in transparency and the importance of keeping our customers informed. Preceding the update, we communicated this via our status page<\/a>, explaining the situation, our response, and advising them on steps we are taking to ensure our security measures are effective.<\/p><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The February incident was a stark reminder of the persistent threat landscape we navigate. It reinforced the importance of maintaining a vigilant, responsive, and proactive cybersecurity posture. Here are some key takeaways and steps we continue to uphold:<\/p> Regular Updates and Patching<\/strong>: We maintain a strict schedule for regular updates and patching of our systems, especially critical security infrastructures like the Fortigate Firewall.<\/p><\/li> Continuous Learning and Adaptation<\/strong>: Each security threat offers valuable lessons that we incorporate into our strategic planning. We continually adapt our security measures based on new information and emerging threats.<\/p><\/li> Partnerships and Collaboration<\/strong>: Working closely with technology partners like Fortinet allows us to stay ahead of potential security issues through real-time intelligence sharing and collaborative problem-solving.<\/p><\/li>Our Response<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Lessons Learned and Looking Forward<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t