As per ISO 27001 Annex A.5.7 control, Information relating to information security threats shall be collected and analysed to produce threat intelligence.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated and frequent, organisations must adopt proactive security measures that go beyond traditional defence mechanisms.
For faster debugging you need a one stop station of human readable formatted logs, in short a centralised robust logging system that is easy to operate, stable, scalable, secure and cost effective.
The shift towards automated threat data collection, analysis, and integration with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems has become crucial for maintaining a robust security posture.
Furthermore, dynamically updating firewall rules based on real-time threat intelligence can help organisations quickly respond to evolving threats, minimising vulnerabilities and potential breaches.
This article will explore how organisations can implement configurations to support automated threat intelligence and integrate these capabilities with SIEM systems and firewall management.
The Rising Importance of Threat Intelligence:
As per the ISO 27001 requires, organisations need to implement configurations that support the automated collection and analysis of threat data, integrating with security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and updating firewall rules based on threat intelligence.
Threat intelligence refers to the information about emerging threats, including details on attack vectors, known vulnerabilities, and malicious actors. This data is essential for preventing and mitigating cyberattacks in real-time.
However, manually collecting, analysing, and acting on this data is time-consuming and prone to human error. As attackers increasingly leverage automation and machine learning, it has become necessary for organisations to match this level of sophistication in their defence strategies.
Automated threat intelligence enables organisations to stay ahead of potential attackers by continuously gathering data from various sources, such as open-source feeds, commercial threat intelligence services, and internal logs.
This data provides actionable insights that can help security teams identify patterns of attack, new vulnerabilities, or targeted attacks specific to the organisation’s infrastructure.
SIEM Systems as the Central Hub for Security:
A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system plays a critical role in aggregating logs, monitoring security events, and providing a centralised platform for analysing threat data.
SIEMs combine Security Event Management (SIEM), which monitors and correlates events in real-time, and Security Information Management (SIM), which stores and analyses historical data.
By automating the collection and analysis of threat data, SIEM systems empower security teams to detect and respond to threats in near real-time.
SIEM platforms ingest data from diverse sources such as network devices, firewalls, servers, and applications. When combined with external threat intelligence feeds, this data can reveal indicators of compromise (IoCs) such as IP addresses, domains, or file hashes associated with malicious activity.
Advanced SIEM solutions utilise machine learning algorithms and behavioural analytics to detect anomalous activity that might signify an attack.
Configurations for Automated Threat Data Collection and Analysis:
Implementing configurations that support the automated collection and analysis of threat data requires careful planning and integration of multiple tools and technologies. Some key considerations for organisations include:
Threat Intelligence Feeds: Integrating threat intelligence feeds with SIEM systems provides valuable, real-time data about known threats. These feeds can be either open-source or commercial, offering information on emerging attack vectors, vulnerabilities, or malware signatures. Once configured, these feeds provide ongoing, up-to-date threat intelligence, which is then correlated with internal security data by the SIEM.
Log Collection Agents: Configuring log collection agents on various network devices, such as firewalls, routers, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and endpoint security tools, is essential for gathering real-time data on security events. These agents should be automated to continuously feed logs into the SIEM, allowing for immediate correlation with threat intelligence feeds.
Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR): SOAR platforms enable organisations to automate the response to certain types of threats, reducing the burden on security teams and accelerating incident response times. By integrating SOAR with SIEM systems, organisations can automate the collection, analysis, and remediation of security events. For example, if a threat intelligence feed identifies a malicious IP address, SOAR can automatically update firewall rules to block traffic from that address.
Automating Firewall Updates Based on Threat Intelligence:
A critical aspect of improving an organisation’s security posture is ensuring that firewalls and other perimeter defences are automatically updated based on threat intelligence data. Traditionally, firewall rules were manually updated by administrators, often based on retrospective analysis of security events. However, this approach can lead to delays, leaving the organisation exposed to threats.
By automating the process, organisations can ensure that firewalls are continuously updated with the latest threat intelligence. This can be achieved by:
Dynamic Rule Updates: Integrating threat intelligence with firewall management tools enables dynamic updates to firewall rules based on real-time data. For instance, if the threat intelligence platform detects a malicious IP address or domain associated with a botnet, the firewall can automatically block traffic from that source without requiring manual intervention.
Geolocation Blocking: Some threat intelligence platforms provide insights into attacks originating from specific geographical regions. Organisations can automate firewall configurations to block or limit traffic from regions where malicious activity is detected, further reducing the risk of compromise.
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) Integration: IPS devices can work alongside firewalls to provide deeper packet inspection and threat prevention. When integrated with SIEM systems and threat intelligence feeds, IPS devices can automatically detect and block threats in real-time. Firewall rules can be dynamically updated based on this intelligence, creating an adaptive defence mechanism.
Benefits of Automating Threat Intelligence and Firewall Updates:
Automating threat intelligence collection, analysis, and firewall updates provides several key benefits for organisations, including:
Faster Incident Response: Automation reduces the time between the detection of a threat and the application of security controls, minimising the attack surface and preventing breaches.
Reduced Human Error: Manual processes are prone to mistakes, which can create vulnerabilities. Automating security tasks ensures consistency and accuracy.
Scalability: As organisations grow and their networks become more complex, manually managing security configurations becomes untenable. Automation allows security teams to scale their efforts and maintain robust defences, even in large or distributed environments.
Proactive Defence: Automation allows organisations to shift from a reactive to a proactive defence model, identifying threats and deploying countermeasures before attackers have a chance to exploit vulnerabilities.
Threat Intelligence For ISO 27001:
Organisations must leverage automated configurations for threat data collection and analysis to stay ahead of cybercriminals.
Integrating these capabilities with SIEM systems and automating firewall updates based on real-time threat intelligence enables faster, more effective incident response.
As the sophistication of cyberattacks continues to grow, adopting automation and advanced analytics will be key to maintaining a secure and resilient IT infrastructure.
Logs are for observability and traceability, not just for checking errors. Most security requirements are actually just extended levels of daily events. So don’t just log, log for security.
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