Home > Articles > Cisco Network Technology > Security > Overview of Security Operations Center Technologies

Overview of Security Operations Center Technologies

  • Sample Chapter is provided courtesy of Cisco Press.
  • Date: Dec 15, 2015.

Chapter Description

This chapter from Security Operations Center: Building, Operating, and Maintaining your SOC focuses on the technology and services associated with most modern SOC environments, including an overview of best practices for data collection, how data is processed so that it can be used for security analysis, vulnerability management, and some operation recommendations.

Vulnerability Management

Vulnerability management refers to the process of discovering, confirming, classifying, prioritizing, assigning, remediating, and tracking vulnerabilities. Do not confuse vulnerability management with vulnerability scanning, the latter being part of the vulnerability management process, with emphasis on the discovery phase. It is also important to understand that risk management deals with all associated risks, whereas vulnerability management targets technology.

Vulnerabilities can be perceived as weaknesses in people, process, and technology. Vulnerability management in the context of SOC focuses on known technical weaknesses introduced in software and firmware. It is worth highlighting that the existence of a technical vulnerability could be the result of weaknesses in people and process such as the lack of a proper software quality assurance process.

Organizations with a mature security program integrate the closely linked vulnerability management and risk management practices. Sometimes this can be accomplished using tools that can automate this integration. Figure 2-9 shows the initial steps you would typically undertake to identify the scope and prepare your vulnerability management program. We will look deeper into preparing the SOC in Chapter 10.

Figure 2-9

Figure 2-9 Preparing a Vulnerability Management Program

The most critical element of vulnerability management is being faster at protecting the vulnerable asset before the weakness is exploited. This is accomplished by continuously applying a series of steps to identify, assess, and remediate the risk associated with the vulnerability. A good reference model that can be followed as a guideline for handling risk is the SANS Vulnerability Management Model shown in Figure 2-10. The details of each step are covered in Chapter 7.

Figure 2-10

Figure 2-10 SANS Vulnerability Management Model

One of the most common methods to identify when a system is vulnerable is by monitoring for vulnerability announcements in products found within your organization. Let’s look more into how this information is released.

Vulnerability Announcements

Vulnerabilities in open and closed source code are announced on a daily basis. Identifiers are associated with vulnerability announcements so that they can be globally referenced, ensuring interoperability. One commonly used standard to reference vulnerabilities is the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE), which is a dictionary of publicly known information security vulnerabilities and exposures. CVE’s common identifiers make it easier to share data across separate network security databases and tools. If a report from one of your security tools incorporates CVE identifiers, the administrator can quickly and accurately access and fix information in one or more separate CVE-compatible databases to remediate the problem. Each CVE identifier contains the following:

  • CVE identifier (CVE-ID) number in the form of CVE prefix + Year + Arbitrary Digits
  • Brief description of the security vulnerability or exposure
  • Other related material

The list of products that use CVE for referencing vulnerabilities is maintained by MITRE.8

The CVE identifier does not provide vulnerability context such as exploitability complexity and potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. These are provided by the Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), maintained by NIST. According to NIST, CVSS defines a vulnerability as a bug, flaw, weakness, or exposure of an application, system device, or service that could lead to a failure of confidentiality, integrity, or availability.

The CVSS enables users to understand a standardized set of characteristics about vulnerabilities. These characteristics are conveyed in the form of a vector composed of three separate metric groups: base, environmental, and temporal. The base metric group is composed of six metrics: Access Vector (AV), Access Complexity (AC), Authentication (Au), Confidentiality (C), Integrity (I), and Availability (A). The base score, ranging from 0 to 10, derives from an equation specified within the CVSS. AV, AC, and Au are often referred to as exploit metrics, and C, I, and A are referred to as impact metrics. Figure 2-11 shows the base metrics used in CVSS (source: NIST CVSS Implementation Guidance). The vector template syntax for the base score is AV:[L,A,N]/AC:[H,M,L]/Au:[M,S,N]/C:[N,P,C]/I:[N,P,C]/A:[N,P,C].

Figure 2-11

Figure 2-11 CVSS Base Metrics (Source: NIST CVSS Implementation Guidance)

CVSS is a quantitative model that ensures a repeatable accurate measurement while enabling users to see the underlying vulnerability characteristics that were used to generate the scores. Thus, CVSS is well suited as a standard measurement system for industries, organizations, and governments that need accurate and consistent vulnerability impact scores. Example 2-11 shows the information included in the vulnerability announcement labeled CVE-2014-4111 including the CVSS score of (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C).

Example 2-11 Vulnerability Announcement CVE-2014-4111

Original release date: 09/09/2014
Last revised: 09/10/2014
Source: US-CERT/NIST

Overview
  Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute
  arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted
  web site, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability."

Impact
CVSS Severity (version 2.0):
CVSS v2 Base Score: 9.3 (HIGH) (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C)
Impact Subscore: 10.0
Exploitability Subscore: 8.6

CVSS Version 2 Metrics:
Access Vector: Network exploitable; Victim must voluntarily interact with attack
  mechanism
Access Complexity: Medium
Authentication: Not required to exploit
Impact Type: Allows unauthorized disclosure of information; Allows unauthorized
  modification; Allows disruption of service
External Source: MS
Name: MS14-052
Type: Advisory; Patch Information
Hyperlink: http://technet.microsoft.com/security/bulletin/MS14-052
3. Threat Intelligence | Next Section Previous Section

Cisco Press Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Cisco Press and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Cisco Press products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@ciscopress.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Cisco Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.ciscopress.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020