Page 59 - Cyber Defense eMagazine August 2024

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Let’s take a look at these steps and what is needed for each:

1. Identification: Identification is the true beginning of security policy automation. Organizations
must meticulously catalog their existing security policies, unraveling the intricate web of rules and
controls to understand what is connected to what - and most importantly, why. A comprehensive
audit serves as the foundation upon which subsequent optimization efforts are built.

That said, visibility simply isn’t enough to be impactful by itself. There has to be an automated
insight platform that can help identify, in a timely manner, the various policy aspects that need to
be optimized. For example, automation could identify unused or unneeded rules that hinder
optimization and could be eliminated, but wouldn’t have been noticed by teams because of their
lack of use.

2. Continuous Policy Assessment: Following the identification phase, assessment becomes im-
perative. Enterprises must scrutinize each policy, evaluating its relevance, effectiveness, and
compliance with regulatory standards. What exactly is needed, what isn’t, and what is missing.
This critical appraisal unveils both vulnerabilities and inefficiencies, paving the way for targeted
mitigation strategies and helping to establish a practice of continuous compliance. It’s not all doom
and gloom, however. The process also can help teams understand what is working well - and
should be continued or repeated.

3. Proper Policy Definition: The guardrails you set up to track access and potential policy violations
need to be accurate, to ensure that all deviations are captured and can be addressed. Without
accuracy in definitions and rules, it becomes impossible to capture everything that’s potentially
dangerous, thereby further limiting optimization efforts.

4. Mitigation: Mitigation is when organizations work to rectify identified shortcomings and fortify their
security posture. Actions include streamlining policies, eliminating redundancies, maintaining pol-
icies that work, and bolstering defenses against emerging threats. It is important for organizations
to remain vigilant and understand that their actions here will establish the foundation for future
policies.

5. Tracking and Reporting: Equally vital is the tracking and reporting of progress. Enterprises must
deploy robust monitoring mechanisms to gauge the success of their automation endeavors - and
to give them the documentation needed to explain decisions and revert changes if necessary.
Transparent reporting also helps to ensure accountability and facilitate informed decision-making
now and in the future.

By adhering to these best practices, an organization can put themselves in the best possible position for
automation efforts to truly make a difference when it comes to security policies.

Looking Ahead

Once an organization has corrected their past security policy mistakes and established a true, stream-
lined, and efficient set of rules and processes, the next battle becomes keeping it that way. As any secu-
rity team member knows, this is often easier said than done.

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