CUNA News
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Jobs
  • Contact

News

Home » SPONSORED BY SEI
Sponsored Content
Sponsored Content

Cybersecurity: lose the noise, keep the budget

A seawall improves security through prioritization.

July 26, 2021
Steve Bomberger
No Comments
Steve_BOMBERGER_1200x630_119681

A seawall is a perimeter defense for the coastline that blocks damage from the regular, expected movement of ocean water. An information security seawall is a perimeter defense that blocks damage from the regular, expected threats that have already been solved but will persist.

To do their job effectively, cybersecurity analysts prioritize threats. Of all the alerts going off, which attack indicators are important and relevant in our environment, right now, that we don't yet fully understand? Call it efficiency, utilization, or simply the best strategy to defend the fort. But what happens to attacks that can be de-escalated because the defensive control coverage against them has consistently worked and become understood? They go on a seawall. 

Content Sponsored By:

SEI

A seawall is not a standalone defensive strategy. It is a component of defense in depth that helps the cybersecurity team utilize its resources best for prioritization of threat intelligence and analysts' actions. For example, domains, hashes, and Internet Protocols (IPs) that go on the seawall are put there to suppress de-escalated alerts. Those controls placed on the seawall are proven to work, and the team knows that. They will catch all the flies that are going to land on the sticky paper. This allows the analysts to spend their efforts focusing on getting closer to the threat actors themselves — toward the top of the Pyramid of Pain. The seawall isn't totally ignored; should something anomalous occur at the seawall, the system can indicate to the team that the threat intelligence may need to be revisited.

A side benefit of the seawall is that it can illustrate to management the deluge of threat activity upon the organization's infrastructure. As fiduciaries over the business, leadership can utilize seawall data to avoid the perception that fewer resources are needed for security as a result of the cybersecurity team's success in suppressing compromises.

In the pursuit of strong security and efficient utilization of information technology (IT) resources, a seawall can carry a heavy load for a well-constructed cybersecurity program. It lets the analysts float on the surface, above the expected attacks, and focus on attacks heading toward their infrastructure from the deep.

STEVE BOMBERGER is head of IT services at SEI.

KEYWORDS cybersecurity

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Credit Union Magazine: Spring 2023

Spring 2023

Credit Union Magazine’s Spring 2023 issue features the 2023 Credit Union Heroes and examines CUNA-League advocacy priorities, board leadership, the impact of financial well-being efforts, fee-related compliance issues, predictions for the year ahead, and more.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • CUNA Mascot Madness: Voting opens for East Region

  • CUNA launches page with bank collapse response resources

  • League leaders highlight credit union difference, safety, soundness

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

CUNA Mascot Madness: Which Midwest Region mascot is your favorite?

View Results
More

Champion for the Credit Union Movement

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

Resources for

  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Providers

Our Affiliates

  • American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
  • Credit Union Awareness
  • Credit Union House
  • CUNA Strategic Services
  • National Credit Union Foundation
GET CUNA UPDATES
© 2023 Credit Union National Association | ADA Compliance Notice & Legal
Email Us