Self-Service Tools & Funding
Introduction
Cybersecurity self-service tools are software applications that allow non-technical users to perform basic cybersecurity tasks without the need for specialized knowledge or expertise. They can be used to manage security policies, monitor network traffic, detect and respond to threats, and more.
Cybersecurity self-service tools are becoming increasingly popular as organizations look for ways to improve their cybersecurity posture without increasing their IT costs. These tools can help organizations to:
- Reduce the burden on their IT teams
- Improve security awareness among employees
- Automate security tasks
- Respond to threats more quickly
Types of cybersecurity self-service tools
There are a wide variety of self-service tools available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some general popular types of tools include:
Security policy management tools: These tools allow users to create, edit, and enforce security policies without the need for specialized knowledge. For example, a security policy management tool might allow users to create a policy that requires all employees to use strong passwords, and then enforce that policy by automatically blocking users who try to log in with weak passwords. Example tools:
- Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange
- Cisco Secure Access Service Edge
- Check Point CloudGuard
Network monitoring tools: These tools allow users to monitor network traffic for suspicious activity. For example, a network monitoring tool might alert users to any unusual traffic patterns, such as a sudden increase in traffic to a particular website or server. Example tools:
- PRTG Network Monitor
- SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor
- NetCrunch
Threat detection and response tools: These tools can automatically detect and respond to security threats. For example, a threat detection and response tool might identify and block malicious emails before they reach employees' inboxes. Example tools:
- CrowdStrike Falcon Prevent
- SentinelOne Singularity
- Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
Incident response tools: These tools can help organizations to manage and respond to security incidents. For example, an incident response tool might provide users with a step-by-step guide on how to respond to a ransomware attack. Example tools:
- Security Onion
- Cortex XSOAR
- Rapid7 InsightIDR
Some other popular examples of self-assessment tools include:
NIST Cybersecurity Framework Self-Assessment Tool: This tool is based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), which is a framework for managing cybersecurity risk. The tool helps organizations to assess their cybersecurity posture against the CSF's five functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
OWASP Security Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SSAM): This questionnaire is designed to help organizations assess their security posture against the OWASP Top 10 list of web application security risks.
SANS Institute Security Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SSAM): This questionnaire is designed to help organizations assess their security posture against a wide range of cybersecurity risks, including application security, network security, and infrastructure security.
CIS Controls Self-Assessment Tool: This tool is based on the CIS Controls, which are a set of 20 best practices for managing cybersecurity risk.
SecurityScorecard: This tool provides organizations with a scorecard of their security posture based on a variety of factors, including their vulnerability management practices and their security awareness training programs.
RiskRecon: This tool helps organizations to identify and assess their third-party cybersecurity risks.
Snyk: A vulnerability management tool that helps organizations to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in their software.
CrowdStrike Falcon Prevent: An endpoint security platform that provides users with visibility into their endpoint environment and the ability to block threats before they can cause damage.
Azure Sentinel: A cloud-based security information and event management (SIEM) platform that helps organizations to detect and respond to security threats.
Funding for cybersecurity self-service tools
There are a number of different sources of funding available, including:
Government grants: A number of government agencies offer grants to organizations that are developing or using cybersecurity self-service tools. For example: - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers a number of grant programs that can be used to fund the development and implementation of cybersecurity self-service tools. - The CISA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program provides grants to small businesses to develop innovative cybersecurity solutions. - The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers a number of grants for research on cybersecurity self-service tools.
Non-profit organization grants: A number of non-profit organizations offer funding for cybersecurity self-service tools. For example: - The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) Pilot Program provides grants to organizations to implement the CSF and develop self-service tools to help them comply with the CSF. - The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) offers a number of grants to organizations that are developing or using OWASP-approved security tools.
Private investment: A number of private investors are also interested in funding cybersecurity self-service startups. For example, the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital has invested in a number of cybersecurity self-service startups, including CrowdStrike and SentinelOne.
Foundation grants: A number of foundations also offer grants for self-service tools. For example, the Open Technology Fund offers grants for the development of open-source cybersecurity tools.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity self-service tools can be a valuable asset for organizations of all sizes. Self-service tools can help organizations to improve their cybersecurity posture without increasing their IT costs. These tools can also help organizations to reduce the burden on their IT teams and improve security awareness among employees.
