Mean Time to Remediate

 MTTR (Mean Time to Remediate)

Mean time to remediate (MTTR) is a key performance indicator (KPI) that measures how long it takes to fix a failed component or security vulnerability:

Definition

MTTR is the average time it takes to resolve a security vulnerability after it's been discovered. It's calculated by dividing the total time from detection to remediation by the number of incidents.

Importance

MTTR is crucial because it helps reduce the time systems are exposed to risk, which can lead to follow-on attacks and additional incidents. It also helps minimize potential damage and enhance customer trust.

Calculation

MTTR can be calculated on a case-by-case basis or on a macro level. It only includes closed vulnerabilities and doesn't include false positives or open vulnerabilities.

Security tools

Security tools like JFrog x-ray, Aquasec, PrismaCloud, Blackduck, Coverity, Synk, Veracode, Fortify, and Checkmarx can help identify vulnerabilities and classify their risk exposure.

Mean Time to Detect

 MTTD (Mean Time to Detect)

Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) measures how long it takes to identify and report a problem after it occurs. It's a key performance indicator that can help organizations improve security operations, reduce costs, and avoid attacks.

Here's some more information about MTTD:

How it's calculated

MTTD is calculated by dividing the total time spent detecting incidents by the number of incidents.

Why it's important

A low MTTD means an organization can detect and resolve issues faster, leading to better performance, fewer costs, and less downtime.

How it's used

MTTD can be used to evaluate security operations, test new tools and processes, and identify areas for improvement.

Benefits

MTTD can help organizations:

Prevent threats from escalating

Maintain system reliability

Reduce the scope of damage from security incidents

Adhere to compliance

Enhance overall system performance and efficiency

Mean Time to Respond

 MTTR (Mean Time to Respond)

Mean time to respond (MTTR) is the average time it takes to respond to a system failure or security incident after being alerted:

Definition

MTTR is the average time to respond to a system failure or security incident after being alerted. It's a critical metric for assessing an organization's incident response and recovery procedures.

Formula

To calculate MTTR, divide the response time (from alert to resolution) by the number of incidents.

Importance

A good understanding of IT security and a low MTTR is crucial for quickly identifying cyber threats and avoiding catastrophic consequences.

Related metrics

MTTR is similar to mean time to acknowledge (MTTA), but MTTR measures the time it takes to take specific responsive actions, while MTTA only measures the time it takes to recognize an alert.

Tips to reduce MTTR

Some tips to reduce MTTR include:

Integrating threat intelligence sources into security operations

Establishing clear communication channels

Fostering a culture of collaboration

Having strong cybersecurity measures in place

 Responsive Control

This is covered in the CompTIA CySA+ course.

"Responsive controls" in a Security Operations Center (SOC) refer to security measures implemented after a security incident has been identified and confirmed. They outline specific actions an analyst must take to mitigate the issue, often following a documented procedure within an incident response playbook.

Key points about responsive controls:

Action-oriented:

Unlike preventive controls that aim to stop an attack before it happens, responsive controls focus on taking immediate corrective actions once a breach is detected.

Playbook-driven:

To ensure consistency and efficiency, responsive actions are usually documented in a detailed incident response playbook, guiding analysts through necessary steps depending on the type of incident.

Examples of responsive actions:

Isolating a compromised system from the network

Quarantining a malicious file

Patching a vulnerable system

Resetting user passwords

Blocking suspicious IP addresses

Investigating the root cause of an incident

Restoring data from backups

 Clean Desk Policy

A clean desk policy is a set of guidelines requiring employees to keep their workspaces organized and free of clutter, especially when they are absent. The policy aims to protect sensitive information and reduce the risk of security breaches and data theft.

Some guidelines for a clean desk policy include:

Remove sensitive information

When an employee leaves their desk or when it is unattended, they should remove any sensitive or confidential materials and lock them away. This includes eliminating paper with sensitive information, such as account numbers and post-it notes.

Secure computers

Employees should shut down their computers at the end of the day to protect the data on the device and allow it to receive security updates.

Use electronic documents

Encourage employees to use electronic documents whenever possible.

Use shredders

Employees should use the official shredder bins or lockable confidential disposal bins to dispose of restricted or sensitive documents.

Erase whiteboards

Employees should erase a whiteboard when the meeting is over if a whiteboard contains sensitive information.

A clean desk policy can also help employees improve their time management, increasing productivity and a better work-life balance.

To implement a clean desk policy, organizations can:

Provide employees with access to tools like paper shredders and lockable file cabinets

Regularly remind employees about the policy

Ensure senior management is on board and adheres to the policy

Assign someone to enforce the policy

 False Positive

A "false positive" in vulnerability scanning refers to when a security tool incorrectly identifies a system as having a vulnerability, even though there is no actual security issue present, essentially raising a false alarm and wasting time investigating a non-existent threat; effectively, it means the scan reported a vulnerability that doesn't actually exist, requiring careful management to avoid unnecessary remediation efforts and maintain the accuracy of scan results.

Key points about false positives in vulnerability scanning:

Impact:

False positives can lead to wasted time and resources spent investigating non-existent vulnerabilities, potentially diverting attention away from real security issues.

Causes:

Overly broad scanning rules: When a scanner uses overly general detection criteria, it might flag benign configurations as vulnerabilities.

Incomplete information: If the scanner doesn't have access to all necessary information about a system, it might misinterpret certain aspects as vulnerabilities.

Outdated scanner logic: Older scanning tools may not be updated to recognize specific configurations that are no longer considered vulnerabilities.

Mitigating strategies:

Customizing scan profiles: Tailoring scan settings to the specific application or system being tested, including excluding known safe configurations.

Whitelisting: Defining known safe components or patterns to prevent false positives

Regular review and tuning: Regularly reviewing scan results and adjusting scanner settings to reduce false positives

Using advanced scanning tools: Utilizing tools with intelligent detection mechanisms that can better differentiate genuine vulnerabilities from false positives.

 CVSS Metrics

This is covered in the CompTIA CySA+ course.

Here are some examples of metrics used in the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS):

Attack Vector (AV)

How an attack can be executed, with higher scores for remote attacks:

Network (N): Remotely exploitable

Adjacent (A): Requires network adjacency for exploitation

Local (L): Not exploitable over a network

Physical (P): Requires physical interaction with the target system

Attack Complexity (AC)

How difficult it is to execute the attack:

Low: Easier to exploit

High: More challenging to exploit

Privileges Required (PR)

The level of access needed to exploit the vulnerability:

None: Unauthenticated

User Interaction (UI)

Whether the attacker needs to involve a user in the exploit:

Passive: The user needs to do something, like accidentally visiting a malicious website

Active: The user needs to do something, like executing a malicious office macro

Scope (S) indicates whether the exploit affects only the local security context

(U) Unchanged or not (C) Changed

Confidentiality (C)

High (H), Low (L), or None (N)

Integrity (I)

High (H), Low (L), or None (N)

Availability (A)

High (H), Low (L), or None (N)

Score Categories

Score                Description

0	None
0.1+	Low
4.0+	Medium
7.0+	High
9.0+	Critical

Here is a link to a CVSS calculator: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln-metrics/cvss/v3-calculator

This is covered in CompTIA CySA+.