Under the requirements of Article 21 in the NIS2 Directive, organizations are urged to adopt robust security strategies, which includes the implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication or MFA. This is a critical step in safeguarding systems against the rising threat of cyber-attacks. To meet these needs, Silverfort emerges as a prominent solution, offering an extensive MFA protection system. It seamlessly integrates with existing Active Directory infrastructures, ensuring that every point of access is secured. This comprehensive coverage extends to all users, specifically those with elevated privileges, and it encompasses an array of access points such as those used by command line tools and outdated legacy applications that might otherwise be vulnerable to security breaches.
Detailed Key Takeaways
- Article 21 of the NIS2 Directive sets forth a clear mandate for organizations: implement Multi-Factor Authentication along with other security safeguards where they are deemed necessary. This particular phrasing, ‘where appropriate’, suggests a targeted approach, wherein entities are expected to identify and fortify areas of their digital environment that are most at risk of cyber attacks.
- It is incumbent upon these entities to thoroughly evaluate their digital identity landscape, pinpointing where they might be exposed to identity theft or other forms of unauthorized access. In response to these identified risks, Multi-Factor Authentication should be deployed to greatly diminish the chance of malicious breach attempts.
- Importantly, the directive underscores the significance of applying MFA measures first and foremost to privileged accounts, essential applications, and the servers that form the backbone of organizations’ IT infrastructures. This also includes stringent control over command and control interfaces, often utilized by IT professionals and sysadmins, such as PsExec and PowerShell, which are common targets for attackers due to their powerful access capabilities.
- Silverfort is positioned to deliver a potent solution through its Unified Identity Protection platform, designed to extend MFA protection consistently across the full spectrum of Active Directory authentication scenarios. This ensures that users’ identities are safeguarded regardless of how they are accessing the system.
- The capabilities of Silverfort’s security solution are substantial, extending its MFA protection to include not just standard user groups but also administrative personnel and the often overlooked ‘Shadow Admins’—individuals with admin-like permissions without the official title. What’s more, this solution adeptly secures command line interfaces and aging legacy applications, providing a modern layer of protection without the need for any modifications to the original source code or the necessity for specific protocol support, making it an adaptable option for enhancing cybersecurity defenses in line with NIS2 Directive stipulations.
Source: SILVERFORT BLOG