Sunday 21 August 2016

How Is Network Security Compromised Without File Integrity Monitoring?

As the internet is evolving, so is the need of increasing the security of the network. Any loophole in the network security may lead to catastrophic results which in turn will largely impact the workflow of an organization. Despite rigorous efforts, the static files are bound to change in a network owing to the continuous usage of server, desktop and laptops. However, there should be no alteration in the application files and the core operating systems. This is where file integrity monitoring or FIM comes into scenario. It is defined as an internal process which validates the integrity of an operating system and the application files. The validation is done by comparing the current state of the file with a good baseline.

How Effective Are Anti-Virus?

When a malware infestation occurs in a system; be it Windows, Linux or Solaris OS, a file system (dll, driver or an executable file) needs to be present for the execution of the malware. The Trojans on the other hand replaces an operating system or file and is automatically triggered when the program is run or the operating system performs its operation. This implies to the fact that the network security will be under a constant threat wherein the associated files will be changed, the legitimate system files will be replaced with the virus-infected files.




FIM-Monitoring Where Anti-Virus Fails

File Integrity Monitoring, on the contrary will detect even the slightest modification done to your file, by comparing the current status with the initial status of the file. This is done by calculating a cryptographic checksum of the baseline of the file with the checksum of the present file status. At times, other attributes can also monitor the integrity of the file. The file integrity monitoring detects all the unusual activities, if any, going in the network.

Since FIM is not prone to zero day vulnerabilities and signature lag, it is the perfect solution for safeguarding the network from vulnerabilities. It is very effective against all the malwares and Trojans and will quarantine them, before they impact the network security.

Conclusion

File Integrity Monitoring, no doubt is the most efficacious methodology that a business can adopt for safeguarding its network from potential threats.

Promisec is a leading endpoint solution and compliance software service providers. The solutions they provide ensure that your endpoint is secure and the relevant regulations are being met. Their solutions are fit for small as well as large scale organizations.


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