Remote access is a way of providing access to networks from outside the premises of the network. Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one solution used to provide remote access. Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) is another solution that is capable of providing access to resources from a remote location. These two technologies use different security models yet provide comparable remote access functionalities. This thesis project investigates the basic components, architecture, and security services of SDP and IPSec VPN. Additionally, a performance evaluation is conducted on SDPand VPN on their connection setup time and network throughput. Our result shows that both SDP and VPN provide secure access, however, SDP has additional features that make it a more secure solution. This thesis project is written in the hopes that it can help enterprises with or without a VPN solution already in place to consider SDP as an alternative solution and learn SDP in comparison with VPN.

<p>  </p> <p>Supply chain security continues to be an overlooked field with consequences that can disrupt industrial complexes, cause irreparable harm to critical infrastructure services, and bring unparalleled devastation to human lives. These risks, once constrained to physical tactics, have advanced to undetectable cyber strategies as in the case of the infamous third-party attacks on Target and SolarWinds (Wright, 2021). Moreover, no one sector appears to be immune, as a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that federal agencies also lag in complying with their own standards as published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (Eyadema, 2021).  Throughout this research study, malicious infiltrations propagated by nefarious actors were explored to identify countermeasures and best practices that can be deployed to protect organizations. Often, the lack of defense strategies is not from an absence of information, but from overly complex procedures and a lack of concise requirements. In a recent survey of Department of Defense (DoD) suppliers, 46% of respondents claimed that the supply chain requirements were too difficult to understand, thus reaffirming the importance of creating tools and techniques that are pragmatic and easily implementable (Boyd, 2020).</p> <p><br></p> <p>The research study presented offered notable safeguards through a literature review of prior studies, standards, and a document analysis of three prominent Information Technology (IT) companies who have made considerable advances in the field of IT supply chain. The results of the research led to the creation of the <em>Roberts Categorization Pyramid </em>which follows a zero-trust framework of “never trust, always verify” (Pavana & Prasad, 2022, p. 2). The pyramid is then further broken down into a formidable six-layer support structure consisting of governance, physical security, sourcing security, manufacturing, hardware security, and software security best practices. Finally, the importance of persistent vigilance throughout the life cycle of IT is highlighted through a continuous monitoring defense strategy layer that engulfs the entirety of the pyramid.  Through this compilation of pragmatic countermeasures, supply chain practitioners can become more informed, leading to more mindful decisions and protective requirements in future solicitations and supplier flow-downs. </p>

No description available.

Denna studie undersöker det växande fenomenet quishing (QR-kod phishing) i ljuset av den ökande användningen av QR-koder under COVID-19-pandemin. QR-koder, som är en lösning för beröringsfri interaktion, har blivit allt vanligare och utnyttjas alltmer frekvent i skadliga phishing-attacker mot företag och deras anställda. Under 2023 observerades en dramatisk ökning på över 2 400 procent i en omfattande quishing-kampanj. Undersökningen granskar tidigare studier och forskning om quishing och framhäver behovet av att öka medvetenheten bland anställda och hur man kan implementera effektiva skyddsåtgärder. En central del av studien inkluderar en enkätundersökning och en Attack Simulation Training (AST) som genomförs i samarbete med en Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP). Målet med undersökningen är att belysa anställdas medvetenhet om quishing, deras reaktioner och vad som ligger till grund för de anställdas agerande. Vidare inkluderar studien ett experiment rörande hur effektivt MDO (Microsoft Defender for Office) och andra säkerhetslösningar upptäcker inbäddade QR-koder i olika bildformat och rörliga animationer i epost. Resultaten från enkätundersökningen och ASTn ger insikter som stärker förståelsen för företagens och de anställdas handlande i förhållande till en av många varianter av phishing.Utifrån detta kan rekommendationer för förbättringar, verktyg och policys för att motverka hotet utvecklas och anpassas till hur det verkliga förhållandet är i dagsläget. Studien strävar efter att bidra till en mer omfattande förståelse av quishing och främja framtidens säkerhetskultur inom företagsmiljöer. / This study explores the rising trend of quishing (QR code phishing) in the context of the increased use of QR codes during the COVID-19 pandemic. QR codes, which facilitate contactless interactions, have become more prevalent and are increasingly exploited in malicious phishing attacks targeting companies and their employees. In 2023, a significant surge of over 2,400 percent was observed in a major quishing campaign. The research reviews previous studies on quishing and underscores the necessity of raising employee awareness and implementing effective protective measures. A key component of the study involves a survey and an Attack Simulation Training (AST) conducted in partnership with a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP). The objective is to assess employees' awareness of quishing, their responses, and the factors influencing their behavior. Additionally, the study includes an experiment to evaluate how effectively Microsoft Defender for Office (MDO) and other security solutions detect embedded QR codes in various image formats and animations in emails. The findings from the survey and AST provide valuable insights into how companies and employees respond to different types of phishing attacks. Based on these insights, recommendations for improvements, tools, and policies can be developed and tailored to the current threat landscape. The study aims to enhance the overall understanding of quishing and promote a stronger security culture within corporate environments.

The following qualitative research explores the adoption of Zero Trust in organisations from an organisational and user acceptance perspective. From an organisational perspective, the research highlights essential aspects such as testing the Zero Trust architecture in a pre-adoption phase, involving top management in the planning phase, communicating in a non-technical language, and making end-users feel a personal connection to IS security. The research highlights the importance of balancing the ease of use with security, evaluating the end-user's technical maturity, and carrying out evaluations from a user acceptance perspective. To gather valuable empirical data, the researcher has conducted semi-structured interviews with highly competent respondents within the field of Zero Trust. Most of the literature available today within Zero Trust focuses on technical aspects, and this research is a unique and vital contribution to the limited available research.