OPSWAT

Challenges
Government organizations have become targets of attacks, and their vulnerabilities have been exploited by threats such as Stuxnet and Flame among others. led to the publication of confidential documents on WikiLeaks. Reports indicate that the number of cyberattacks on governments has increased significantly in recent years and is expected to be the most important threat to the United States and Europe in the near future. Government organizations must be able to protect themselves from unauthorized threats entering their systems, as well as from the loss of sensitive data.

Solutions

Metadefender OPSWAT solutions help government organizations secure their networks against external threats and data loss by enabling them to control the flow of data into and out of secure networks. Metadefender protects against the risk of malware getting in by allowing the configuration of detailed filters to inspect and “sterilize” digital data. Many organizations use Metadefender as a checkpoint for external secure media devices, such as USB drives, CDs, DVDs and memory cards, which undergo scanning. Organizations can prohibit external devices inside the network and connect kiosks to secure FTP so that scanned and approved files can be sent inside. Metadefender can also integrate data loss/leak prevention engines to check for files that an employee or contractor is about to take outside.

OPSWAT’s Metascan Metascan uses multiple anti-malware engine technology to scan content and is used by many organizations with concerns about file transfers between secure networks. By integrating Metascan into their existing transfer process, government organizations can scan each file with multiple antivirus engines to ensure they are “clean” before sending them to networks with higher risk status.

Challenges
Utility units and nuclear facilities are constantly vulnerable to cyberattacks and are grappling with the threat of malware infections such as Stuxnet. For this reason, government regulations have been implemented requiring these organizations to provide protection against cyber attacks.

Solution
In order to comply with new regulations that enforce protection against malware infiltrating an organization in several ways, many utilities have turned to OPSWAT’s solutions to ensure that threats don’t get in through USB drives, memory cards, or CDs/DVDs that employees and contractors bring with them. OPSWAT Metadefender provides control over the data entering inside a secure network, allowing you to configure multiple content filters based on file type, file size, anti-malware engine scan results and more. This allows utilities to create a secure mode of data flow and compliance.

Challenges
Organizations in the financial industry are responsible for a significant amount of confidential data, which they must protect from the growing number of cyberattacks targeting the industry. Financial institutions must comply with strict regulations that require them to adequately protect confidential data.
The law requires financial institutions to safeguard customers’ information and sensitive data. One of the requirements is to implement measures to prevent, detect and respond to cyberattacks, intrusions or other system emergencies.
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) – PCI DSS requirements apply to all organizations that store, process or transmit cardholder data. One of the requirements that PCI imposes is the use and regular updates of antivirus software. The standards state that antivirus software must be used on all systems that may be attacked by malware to protect systems from current and emerging threats. In addition, the antivirus mechanisms must be up-to-date, active, and be able to generate logs for inspection. In addition, companies need to protect against advanced threats using non-standard malware that may not be detected by traditional antivirus software.
Securities and Exchange Commission – While current disclosure requirements do not specifically address cybersecurity, guidance from the Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance states that data security risk factors are an important consideration and that public companies should maintain security as part of their normal disclosure procedures. Implementing cybersecurity best practices to prevent data breaches will help limit a company’s exposure and liability in this area.
In addition to the obligation to protect customer data, organizations also face huge costs in the event of a data breach, which increases the importance of maintaining data security. To protect data and resist cyberattacks, organizations need to secure the network against threats from external sources, such as email, external media devices, users using remote access, and they need to make sure data is not leaked on lost or stolen devices.

Solution
OPSWAT’s solutions based on multi-malware-scanning engines help provide protection against known and unknown malware from a variety of sources. They reduce exposure to the occurrence of potential data breaches and help financial institutions meet security requirements.

Advanced malware protection:
Metascan provides advanced protection against malware that can target servers, workstations, Internet proxy servers, email servers and secure file transfer systems. Metascan offers multi-scanning with a maximum of 30 Anti-Malware engines. Using multiple Anti-Malware engines, the malware detection rate increases significantly and new threats can be detected faster. To protect against threats, including advanced zero-day and targeted attacks, Metascan offers data “sanitization” technology that removes possible built-in threats by converting files to a different format, such as converting to PDF format of a Word document and vice versa. Using multiple scanning engines and data “sanitization” technologies, secure networks can receive optimal protection against known and unknown threats. Metascan can help prevent cyber-attacks and ensure compliance with legal statutes, PCI DSS requirements, FSA, etc….

Email security:
“Spear phishing” is a popular cyberattack vector. Spear phishing emails will prompt the recipient to click on a link or open an attachment, which will install malware and provide access to the system. With Metascan Mail Agent or Policy Patrol Mail Security, all email attachments will be scanned by multiple Anti-Malware engines, and when using Policy Patrol Mail Security, any unknown embedded threats can be removed by changing the attachment file format. In addition, using file type verification technology, e-mail attachments attempting to spoof the file format can be blocked. By detecting and preventing spear phishing attempts, critical infrastructure systems can be protected from threats and unauthorized access. In addition, Policy Patrol Security for Exchange can perform content inspection and prevent the sending of emails containing, for example, credit card data, supporting PCI DSS compliance.

Security of portable media:
Portable media (such as USB drives, CDs/DVDs and mobile devices), provide another way for cyber criminals to gain access to a system. One known way was the Stuxnet worm, which spread via an infected USB drive. Widely used Metadefender ensures that all removable devices brought in by employees, contractors or suppliers are first scanned with multiple antivirus engines and are virus-free before they are allowed on a secure network. Metadefender can be installed on an endpoint or kiosk and can be used as a checkpoint to protect against portable media threats, preventing the possibility of data breaches.

Challenges
The energy sector, consisting of the oil, gas and chemical, electric and coal, and renewable energy industries, is constantly vulnerable to cyber attacks. High-profile attacks in the energy sector include “Energy Bear” (using the Havex trojan) and Icefog (using a backdoor called Javafog). The energy sector is particularly vulnerable because it holds valuable intellectual property and provides critical services that can be targeted by hacktivists or outsiders with sabotage and destabilization intentions. With existing systems built even decades ago that were not built with cyberattacks in mind, the power industry faces another challenge to invest in cyber security measures for systems. With the rise of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks, the energy industry must keep up with the changing threat landscape. Cybersecurity regulations have been stepped up. The standards force energy facilities to achieve a high level of assurance that their critical systems are protected from cyber attacks by enforcing information flow controls, access controls for mobile and portable devices, and scanning devices for malware.

Solution
OPSWAT offers a multi-tiered approach so as to help energy companies protect themselves from cyber attacks and secure the various data flows into and out of the organization. OPSWAT solutions provide enhanced detection of known and unknown threats (including advanced threats). Email security measures and mobile media scanning, provide significant protection for critical infrastructure systems.

Advanced malware protection:
Metascan provides advanced protection against malware that can target servers, workstations, Internet proxy servers, email servers and secure file transfer systems. Metascan offers multi-scanning with a maximum of 30 Anti-Malware engines. Using multiple Anti-Malware engines, the malware detection rate increases significantly and new threats can be detected faster. To protect against threats, including advanced zero-day and targeted attacks, Metascan offers data “sanitization” technology that removes possible built-in threats by converting files to a different format, such as converting to PDF format of a Word document and vice versa. Using multiple scanning engines and data “sanitization” technologies, secure networks can receive optimal protection against known and unknown threats.

Email security:
“Spear phishing” is a popular cyberattack vector, including the Havex trojan and Shamoon virus which target the energy industry. Because spear phishing attacks target only a small number of people, they are harder to detect by a regular spam filter or a single antivirus engine. Spear phishing emails will prompt the recipient to click on a link or open an attachment, which will install malware and provide access to the system. With Metascan Mail Agent or Policy Patrol Mail Security, all email attachments will be scanned by multiple Anti-Malware engines, and when using Policy Patrol Mail Security, any unknown embedded threats can be removed by changing the attachment file format. In addition, using file type verification technology, e-mail attachments attempting to spoof the file format can be blocked. By detecting and preventing spear phishing attempts, critical infrastructure systems can be protected from threats and unauthorized access.

Security of portable media:
Portable media (such as USB drives, CDs/DVDs and mobile devices), provide another way for cyber criminals to gain access to a system. One known way was the Stuxnet worm, which spread via an infected USB drive. Widely used in the nuclear industry, Metadefender ensures that all removable devices brought in by employees, contractors or suppliers are first scanned with multiple antivirus engines and are virus-free before being allowed to operate on a secure network. Metadefender can be installed on a workstation or kiosk, and is commonly used as a checkpoint to protect infrastructure, SCADA-controlled environments, industrial control systems (ICS) and process control systems from the risk of infection by removable media.

Challenges
Several incidents in recent years, including false critical alerts triggered by McAfee and Microsoft Security Essentials, have highlighted the problems that resulted from misidentification of binaries detected as threats by any Anti-Malware engine (whether falsely or correctly): countless cases of customers losing time and resources to fix the problem. While software vendors cannot fully protect against such situations, proper precautions must be taken to be able to effectively detect malware.
Software developers also have to take on the challenge of making their applications compatible with other technologies. Incompatibilities can cause an unpleasant experience for users, degrade performance and even cause system failure. Anti-Malware vendors must evaluate devices for software incompatibility before installation. Security application providers need to make sure their products are compatible with the wide range of technologies and network solutions used to work remotely, so that customers can receive remote help and support and gain information about the status of their computer.

Solution
Metascan is ideal for software developers to scan binary files before release. By scanning with all the major antivirus engines, manufacturers can identify threats or false positives that must be removed before new software is released. Many manufacturers can also integrate Metascan into their solutions to add multi-scan functionality to their offerings.
AppRemover allows the Anti-Malware vendor to identify existing Anti-Malware software on the end-user’s computer before installation and provides the ability to uninstall it so as not to cause complications by running multiple Anti-Malware applications. This provides users with a seamless installation and reduces the number of problems reported to the manufacturer.
OPSWAT certification verifies the compatibility of workstation security applications with leading technologies and network solutions so that users experience fewer problems when they try to connect.

Challenges
With new malware emerging every day, identifying and analyzing threats is becoming an increasingly difficult task. Malware researchers working to enhance threat protection have a vast supply of samples of advanced malware to analyze, and investigative teams working to identify cyber criminals have a vast supply of unidentified files to wade through. These groups need a faster, more automated process for classifying known threats so they can focus their efforts on unknown files requiring analysis.

Solution
Metascan provides automated scanning solutions that can be integrated with “Malware researchers” processes to improve speed, efficiency and accuracy. By identifying known threats, Metascan reduces the volume of files that need to be sent for more intensive analysis, so customers can use their resources more efficiently. OPSWAT is also integrating its solutions with several technologies of the so-called “OPSWAT. “virtual test sandbox” (sandbox technology) to provide a complete, integrated solution for “malware researchers.”

Challenges
Companies in the healthcare industry and healthcare facilities must take extra precautions to ensure the privacy of confidential patient data is maintained, as required by the GIODO and HIPAA. The requirements are that organizations adequately protect the privacy of the protected electronic health information they collect, create, maintain or transmit. When these confidential data are breached (with increasing frequency), healthcare organizations are exposed to significant costs associated with the consequences of the breach.

Solution
OPSWAT’s technologies provide ideal solutions to each of these challenges faced by today’s educational institutions. AppRemover forces old security applications to be uninstalled so that new ones can be installed on all student and faculty computers. Metascan provides protection for email and file upload servers by scanning incoming files through a mechanism of multiple anti-virus engines, increasing confidence that malware will not enter the network. Many universities also use Metascan for their IT departments to facilitate malware research.
Universities that choose network solutions from vendors such as Juniper, Cisco or others to allow students and academics to access protected resources can specify a list of approved Anti-Malware applications by selecting applications certified by OPSWAT. These applications will be compatible with the university’s network solutions, and the OPSWAT video will also help explain to students why they should use the Anti-Malware applications on this list, so that fewer questions will be directed to the Help Desk.

Challenges
Companies in the healthcare industry and healthcare facilities must take extra precautions to ensure the privacy of confidential patient data is maintained, as required by the GIODO and HIPAA. The requirements are that organizations adequately protect the privacy of the protected electronic health information they collect, create, maintain or transmit. When these confidential data are breached (with increasing frequency), healthcare organizations are exposed to significant costs associated with the consequences of the breach.

Solution
Many breaches of confidential data could be prevented by ensuring that the right applications and security settings are in place on workstations. Correctly configured encryption software, for example, can protect sensitive data on a device, while monitoring the thousands of devices used by healthcare organizations is a daunting task for IT and network administrators. OPSWAT Gears allows organizations to remain GIODO and HIPAA compliant by enabling control over devices on the network. Gears allows administrators to monitor and alert on the status of end devices, including, for example, whether hard drive encryption software is installed and enabled.
OPSWAT solutions also help protect against malware that can compromise data security. Metadefender gives organizations control over the flow of data into and out of their secure network by enabling detailed data filters to be applied to different users and groups. Metascan provides multiple scanning engines integrated with existing security architecture to scan files in e-mail or file transfer servers. Metascan Client quickly scans for threats such as keyloggers on remote computers before they can access the network.

Challenges
While SSL VPN and NAC solution providers want to give their customers the ability to set access policies based on end-device ratings, the problem is the thousands of third-party applications that may be installed on these devices. Making sure all applications are compatible so that end users are able to pass a compatibility check is a challenge. Without building a team, they are not able to consistently provide support for new products, Vendors without a built team to provide support for their new products often rely on the potential of Microsoft Windows, which brings new problems, such as how to prevent forgery, how to perform needed remediation, what to do with Mac users and how to regulate solutions beyond Anti-Malware and firewall.

Solution
The OESIS Framework allows vendors to develop functions to reliably detect, classify and manage third-party applications across multiple categories on platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux installed on end devices. OESIS provides support for important corrective actions, as well as for types of applications not available through the WMI service. The OPSWAT team builds support for new features and applications so that your product/solution can keep up with the ever-growing list of applications, without having to engage an engineering team to do it.