Summary In this episode, Andy Jaw and Adam Brewer discuss Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative (SFI), which emphasizes security by design, default, and operations. They explore the initiative's six key security pillars, the impact of recent cyber incidents, and the ongoing progress in enhancing security measures across Microsoft. The conversation highlights the importance of employee accountability, governance, and the implementation of new security protocols, including fish resistant...

Summary In this episode of the BlueScarity Podcast, hosts Andy Jaw and Adam Brewer discuss the evolution of password guidelines, focusing on the recent updates from NIST and Microsoft. They explore the implications of these changes, emphasizing the importance of understanding human behavior in password security and the need for organizations to adopt passwordless solutions. The conversation highlights practical steps for reducing reliance on passwords while enhancing security through user...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, hosts Andy Jaw and Adam Brewer delve into the critical topic of token theft in identity management. They discuss the importance of multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a primary defense against identity attacks, the nature of tokens, and how attackers exploit vulnerabilities to steal these tokens. The conversation highlights the introduction of token binding as a new protective measure, practical steps organizations can take to reduce the...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, hosts Andy Jaw and Adam Brewer celebrate four years of podcasting, reflecting on their journey and the importance of providing actionable insights to their audience. They discuss the significance of education in technology, particularly in relation to Microsoft products and the recent deprecation of WSUS. The conversation also covers the implications of Apple's latest OS release and the challenges faced by enterprise users. Finally, they...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, hosts Andy Jaw and Adam Brewer delve into the world of containers, exploring their functionality, differences from virtual machines, and the importance of securing them. They discuss key tools like Docker and Kubernetes, and introduce Microsoft's Defender for Containers as a solution for managing security in containerized environments. The conversation emphasizes the simplicity and efficiency of containers, while also addressing the...

Summary In this episode, Andy and Adam discuss the key findings from IBM's report on the costs of a data breach in 2024. They cover topics such as the increase in the cost of data breaches, the use of security AI and automation, the cyber skills shortage, the challenges of shadow data, and the importance of insider risk management. They also highlight the need for password protection, fish-resistant MFA, and data consolidation, as well as the benefits of using generative AI tools. The...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss Entra Suite, a new package from Microsoft that includes various Entra products and solutions. They provide an overview of each component, including Entra Private Access, Entra Internet Access, Entra ID Governance, Entra ID Protection, and Entra Verified ID. They highlight the benefits and use cases of each component and discuss the pricing options. They also emphasize the importance of using open standards and...

Summary In this episode, Andy and Adam discuss various resources and methods for getting training and learning about Microsoft and other technology solutions. They cover topics such as official documentation, certification tracks, Ninja training, Microsoft Mechanics, the Tech Community, customer connection programs, building a personal lab, and the importance of having a supportive network. Takeaways - learn.microsoft.com is the official documentation and training resource for Microsoft...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss several cybersecurity news stories. They cover the hack of the Trump campaign's emails by Iranian hackers, the breach of the National Public Data records, and Microsoft's new requirement for admins to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). They also touch on the importance of data privacy and the need for companies to be responsible stewards of consumer data. Takeaways -Iranian hackers targeted the Trump...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss Microsoft's Defender for Storage, a cloud-native security solution for Azure Blob Storage, Azure Files, and Azure Data Lake Storage. They highlight the three major impacts on data workloads: malicious file uploads, sensitive data exfiltration, and data corruption. The solution offers activity monitoring, malware scanning, and sensitive data threat detection. They also mention the pricing model, the integration with...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss new features and updates in Intune, including autopilot for existing devices, Intune enrollment attestation, and mobile application management (MAM). They explain how autopilot for existing devices allows organizations to enroll on-premise joined devices into autopilot using config man and a task sequence. They also highlight the importance of monitoring device enrollments and implementing security measures such as...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss Defender CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management). They explain that CSPM is the process of monitoring cloud-based systems and infrastructure for risks and misconfigurations. They highlight the key capabilities of CSPM, including automation, monitoring and managing IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS platforms, and ensuring regulatory compliance. They also introduce Defender CSPM, a paid subscription service that offers additional...

Summary In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss the aftermath of the CrowdStrike failed software update. They express empathy for those impacted by the incident and discuss the importance of collaboration in the cybersecurity industry. They also explore the need for transparency from security vendors and the potential impact on cybersecurity teams and funding. The conversation touches on the level of access that security solutions have and the need for a balanced...

Summary In this episode, Andy and Adam discuss a blog post titled 'Cybersecurity is Full' that challenges the hype around cybersecurity careers. They explore the saturation of the field, the value of certifications and conferences, the optional nature of cybersecurity in organizations, and the stress and challenges of the industry. They emphasize the importance of having a strong foundation in technology before pursuing a career in cybersecurity and the need for organizations to prioritize...

In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss Defender for Servers, a cloud security solution offered by Microsoft. They explain that Defender for Servers is part of the larger Defender for Cloud umbrella and is designed to protect cloud infrastructure, specifically servers. They discuss the different plans available, including Plan 1 and Plan 2, which offer varying levels of endpoint protection and vulnerability management. They also highlight the inclusion of Cloud...

In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss recommended settings for Exchange Online Protection (EOP) and Microsoft Defender for Office (MDO). They explain that EOP is the core security for M365 subscriptions, providing anti-malware, anti-spam, and anti-phishing protection. They also highlight the importance of the secure by default feature in EOP and the use of admin submissions to report false positives and false negatives. They caution against using methods like...

In this episode, Andy and Adam discuss three cybersecurity news stories. They talk about a small town in Massachusetts that lost over $445,000 in an email scam, the Biden administration's ban on Kaspersky antivirus software, and a cyber attack on Crown Equipment, a forklift manufacturer. The main takeaways from the conversation are the importance of cybersecurity training, the need for secure remote access methods, and the impact of employee satisfaction on...

In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss three main topics: the unauthorized user access at Snowflake, the cybersecurity issue at Finley Automotive Group, and the cyber threats surrounding the upcoming Olympics in Paris. They highlight the importance of implementing strong security controls like multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation. They also emphasize the need for organizations to assess their data storage practices and only retain necessary...

In this episode, Andy and Adam discuss the updates and clarifications made by Microsoft regarding the security concerns surrounding the Recall feature on Copilot Plus PCs. They highlight the changes, such as the option to proactively enable Recall during the out-of-box experience, the requirement of Windows Hello enrollment and proof of presence for accessing Recall, and the additional layers of protection, including just-in-time decryption and encrypted search index database. They also delve...

The conversation covers three primary themes: Ticketmaster data breach, Slack's data scraping, and Windows Recall feature. The Ticketmaster breach is discussed in detail, highlighting the stolen data, phishing risks, and the importance of password management. The conversation then shifts to Slack's data scraping controversy, addressing concerns about privacy and opt-in policies. Finally, the Windows Recall feature is explored, focusing on its local processing, privacy controls, and security...

In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss the security and privacy announcements from Microsoft Build. They cover topics such as AI content safety, Copilot capabilities, security enhancements in Microsoft Edge, and new Windows security features. They also touch on the deprecation of NTLM and the introduction of Copilot Plus PCs with Qualcomm's new dev kit for Windows. Overall, the episode highlights the advancements in security and innovation in the Windows...

In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss Microsoft Entra Private Access and Endpoint Privilege Management. Entra Private Access is a modern secure edge solution that allows remote users to access on-premise applications in a micro-segmented manner. It enables granular app segmentation, MFA, and privileged access to domain controllers for on-premise users. Endpoint Privilege Management, part of the Intune Suite, allows administrators to set policies for standard...

In this episode of the Blue Security Podcast, Andy and Adam discuss two important topics: Microsoft's pledge for greater transparency in identifying and determining root causes for security vulnerabilities, and the increasing sophistication of USB malware attacks in industrial organizations. They provide insights into Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative and the importance of security in the OT and IoT networks. They also offer practical tips for strengthening USB security and data...

The 17th annual Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report reveals key findings and trends in cybersecurity. The report highlights the increase in vulnerability exploitation for initial access, the continued prevalence of human error in breaches, the rise of pure extortion attacks, and the limited impact of generative AI in the cybersecurity landscape. Recommendations include implementing robust threat and vulnerability management programs, focusing on user education and data protection, and...