香蕉视频

When听personal听computers听were听introduced听roughly听30听years ago, everything was so much simpler.听There was no Internet听or听email, and听only a handful of threats听to worry about.听Protecting听ourselves听听was听easy:听We听only needed to install听an听antivirus听software听and听update it yearly.听Phishing and ransomware were not among our concerns.听听

We听have听seen a听tremendous shift听in the prevalence听of computing devices (phones,听tablets,听鈥�)听in听our lives.听30 years ago,听who could have听imagined that听we听would be able to use听our听phones听to听see who just听rang听the doorbell听while we听are away on vacation?听

Why we need threat intelligence听(TI)听

As听many aspects of daily life听have听moved听online, criminals have听adapted and followed us there.听Cyber听threats听targeting our professional and personal lives听are听exponentially听increasing.听How can we defend ourselves听effectively in this evolving threat landscape?听Considering听that听knowledge is power, threat intelligence听(TI)听is听an important way听to improve our defenses.听

What is threat intelligence?听听

Threat intelligence听(TI)听is information听that听organizations can use听to protect themselves听against cyber threats听in a timely manner.听The data听TI听provides听enables听us to analyze and mitigate threats.听

These听threats are identified as听鈥渋ndicators鈥�,听or evidence related to malicious activity. An example of an indicator may be an IP address听located听in a听foreign country.听听

How does threat intelligence听(TI)听work?听

Using TI enables us to听use听data听from听potential cyber threats听to听defend against听attacks on our network.听

McGill鈥檚 Information Security (InfoSec)听team in听IT听Services听monitors听cyber threats to the University鈥檚 data and systems,听and听continually receives听TI data听in听various听formats听from听multiple听sources.听This data is听called a听threat intelligence feed (TF);听an ongoing stream of data related to potential or current threats to an organization鈥檚 security. It may听contain听information on suspicious domains, IP addresses associated with malicious activity, or known malware.听

The听challenge听for McGill,听and other institutions, is听how听to听use this information effectively.听To address听this,听the听Threat Feed (TF) service听was created听and is听now offered within the joint听听initiative听for听higher education institutions throughout听Canada.听It听allows听CanSSOC听members to access and share current TI data, including information about threats specifically targeting higher education institutions.听

Through听agreements听with听the听Canadian听government, commercial threat intelligence providers, the open-source听community (a听global network听of individuals who work together to produce听publicly accessible听software)听and听the听international听higher听education听community,听it听accesses听the most up-to-date TI information.听

The service detects听and听tags imminent threats. The data is then analyzed and filtered to听prevent听malicious activity.听听听This is done听either automatically听via听algorithms or manually听by听analysts. The听approved TI听data听is then听used to听create feeds听that are听used by听protection devices such as firewalls.听

Over听30听Canadian听higher听education institutions now听participate听in听the TF service听and many of them, like McGill,听now actively share听TI听data听from听cybersecurity听incidents听within their own environments.听Through the malicious activity reports received听at McGill and听other Canadian universities, we now have听unprecedented听visibility听on听threats听that听specifically听target higher education听and research.听听

The benefits of creating a TI community through the TF service will only increase听in the future听with the wider development of the service.听Presently, the TF service includes听around听40听Canadian听participants听working together听and exchanging TI听data.听In addition, we听are听establishing听relationships with听higher听education and research communities in听other countries听including听the听US,听UK听and Australia听whose research and academic sectors face听a similar threat landscape.听听

How听McGill benefits听from the听Threat听Feed听(TF) service听听

At McGill, the TF service听has听now been integrated with听our听Internet-facing firewalls.听By being on the McGill听network听on campus or via McGill鈥檚 Virtual Private Network (VPN),听you automatically听benefit听from that protection!听听

We听plan听to further improve the protection provided by the TF service听at McGill听through increased integration with our existing cybersecurity听controls.听These include our听Internet filtering,听protection of devices听(aka听endpoint protection), and听the security of our cloud environment.听We are also working on an automated feedback听mechanism for听sightings of TF indicators听within听the TF participants鈥櫶齟nvironments, allowing us to听provide even more听reliable听indicators听with听the service.听

厂耻尘尘补谤测听

When you use听McGill鈥檚 network, security tools and IT-approved听solutions听that are offered at no extra cost for McGill equipment and activities,听you听benefit听from听the work performed behind the scenes听to keep you and your data safe:听听听听

• Continuous monitoring and identification of global threats, especially those targeting higher education听

• Collaboration with other听institutions听to share knowledge and protect against these听threats.听

• Rapid prevention of听cyber attacks听due to the automated听processing of threat intelligence data听

What you can do听听

While听McGill鈥檚 threat intelligence service听significantly protects McGill鈥檚 network,听you can help听by听following听cybersecurity best practices听in all online activities:听

• 听on your McGill account.听2FA听will be听required听for all McGill accounts by the end of 2021.听

• Learn to recognize and protect yourself against online fraud, such as .

• Familiarize yourself with听IT Policies: Use听McGill-approved cloud solutions听and follow the听Policy on the Responsible Use of McGill Information Technology Resources (RUP)听

• Explore the tools and resources at听尘肠驳颈濒濒.肠补/肠测产别谤蝉补蹿别听to help you stay safe online.听

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About the author

Martin Vezina is an IT Security Architect at 香蕉视频听with听17听years鈥� experience听in information security.听He听leads听the听design听and development听of the听CanSSOC听Threat Feed service听with听McGill鈥檚 Information Security (InfoSec) team.听