Security

A self-encrypting drive (SED) is an SSD or HDD that automatically encrypts and decrypts data using a unique encryption key stored within the drive itself. This hardware-based encryption ensures that all data written to the drive is converted into unreadable ciphertext, protecting it from unauthorized access even before the operating system loads. The encryption keys never leave the drive, making it highly resistant to software-level attacks and ensuring data remains secure if the drive is lost or stolen.

Hardware encryption in SSDs is integrated directly into the drive's controller, enabling encryption and decryption to occur transparently and at hardware speed without impacting performance. In contrast, software encryption requires additional processing by the host system, which can slow down read and write speeds. Hardware encryption also stores encryption keys securely within the drive, reducing the risk of key exposure and providing stronger protection against unauthorized access.

The article highlights a specific security tool used for years to safeguard valuable accounts, emphasizing robust online protection rather than physical tracking devices like AirTags. This likely refers to tools such as hardware security keys or two-factor authentication devices that enhance account security beyond location tracking.

Robust online security protection is necessary because digital threats are increasingly sophisticated, and valuable accounts are frequent targets for unauthorized access. Using dedicated security tools helps prevent breaches and protects personal and sensitive information effectively.

Business logic vulnerabilities arise from flawed assumptions about how users interact with an application, leading to exploitable gaps in workflows or processes that are not typically detected by standard security tools. These vulnerabilities are non-obvious because the application behaves as intended technically, but attackers exploit unexpected or edge-case behaviors to manipulate business processes, causing financial loss or data breaches without triggering traditional alerts.

Traditional security measures such as WAFs are ineffective against business logic vulnerabilities because these exploits occur within the normal rules and expected use of the application, making them difficult to detect. WAFs typically focus on known attack patterns and signatures, but business logic attacks are highly contextual and exploit legitimate workflows, requiring continuous testing and automation integrated into development pipelines to identify and mitigate them effectively.

Agentic guardrails are custom rules and controls implemented to monitor, flag, and block risky operations during software releases. They ensure security, compliance, and accountability by preventing unauthorized or dangerous actions such as deploying secrets, skipping critical reviews, or making unapproved hotfixes. These guardrails help maintain trust and quality by providing real-time alerts, enforcing policy exceptions, and enabling audit readiness across teams and repositories.

Agentic guardrails enhance trust and security by providing transparency, accountability, and control over autonomous or semi-autonomous systems. They trace decision paths, log internal states, and enforce policies that prevent harmful outputs, runaway costs, or infinite loops. By integrating security across AI and traditional components, and enabling real-time monitoring and evaluation, these guardrails ensure safe, reliable, and compliant operations in complex workflows.

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are essential for managing and automating critical infrastructure such as power grids, water treatment plants, and manufacturing facilities. Despite their importance, these systems often lack robust cybersecurity by design, making them vulnerable to attacks that can disrupt essential services.

It is a common misconception that cybersecurity for critical infrastructure falls only on IT professionals. In reality, the security of systems like ICS and SCADA often depends on engineers with limited cybersecurity training. Effective protection requires a collaborative approach involving specialized cybersecurity experts, operational staff, and comprehensive layered defenses.

No, data security is a shared responsibility. While cloud and storage providers implement security measures to protect their infrastructure, the organization storing the data must actively manage access controls, encryption, and monitor for misconfigurations to ensure data integrity and privacy.

No, SSDs are not immune to data recovery. Although they use different technology than traditional hard drives, data remnants can still exist after deletion or formatting. Specialized forensic techniques may recover data, so secure data disposal practices are essential.

The UK’s Software Security Code of Practice is a voluntary framework consisting of 14 key principles designed to improve the security and resilience of software used by businesses and organizations. It aims to establish a consistent baseline for secure software development, build environment security, deployment, maintenance, and communication with customers. The Code is important because it helps reduce the risk and impact of software supply chain attacks and other resilience incidents by encouraging proactive, secure-by-design practices throughout the software lifecycle.

The Code of Practice is voluntary to encourage innovation and flexibility among software vendors while raising the overall security baseline. However, this voluntary nature means that some organizations might delay adoption, potentially leaving vulnerabilities unaddressed across the software ecosystem. Proactive adoption is seen as a leadership opportunity to build trust and demonstrate a mature security posture, going beyond mere compliance to achieve genuine cyber resilience.

The BLISS framework stands for Bulkheads, Levels, Impact, Simplicity, and Pit of Success. It is designed to replace cumbersome security practices with ones that maintain or enhance productivity. For example, 'Bulkheads' isolate compromised parts of a system to contain damage, while 'Levels' apply graduated protection based on risk sensitivity. 'Simplicity' emphasizes reducing complexity to minimize errors and user friction, making security easier to follow and more effective. Overall, BLISS aims to optimize security practices to foster innovation and improve developer experience without sacrificing compliance or productivity.

'Bulkheads' in the BLISS framework refer to isolating parts of a system so that if one section is compromised, the problem is contained and does not spread. This concept is inspired by submarine design, where compartments can be sealed off to prevent flooding. In software, this can be implemented through architectural choices such as microservices with independent deployments or containerization, which create natural boundaries to limit the blast radius of security incidents.