Source: Help Net Security Author: Mirko Zorz URL: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/04/29/automating-cyber-hygiene/
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ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: Automation in cyber hygiene enhances visibility, streamlines patching and credential management, yet requires human oversight to manage exceptions effectively.
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MAIN POINTS:
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Automate asset discovery first to ensure comprehensive visibility of systems and accounts.
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Exposure management tools provide critical external asset discovery without internal assumptions.
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Effective exposure management identifies shadow IT, dangling DNS, risky cloud usage, and domain squatting.
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Automating patches requires fallback mechanisms, clear alerts, and alignment with business schedules.
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Prioritize patches based on vulnerability exploitability, not simply availability.
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Automate credential rotation for service accounts, privileged credentials, and API keys.
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Credential vaulting tools prevent hardcoded passwords, unauthorized sharing, and provide detailed audit logs.
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Automate onboarding and offboarding of employees to ensure timely account provisioning and revocation.
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Avoid automating exception handling; humans should approve and renew exceptions regularly.
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Automate alerts and reporting with prioritization based on severity, exploitability, and business impact.
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TAKEAWAYS:
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Always start automation efforts by establishing clear visibility across all digital assets.
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Automation should complement, not replace, human judgment—especially regarding exceptions and access logic.
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Credential automation and vaulting significantly reduce risk from compromised privileged accounts.
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Align automated processes with security frameworks like NIST and ISO to enhance audit readiness and compliance.
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Continuously measure automated processes and regularly reassess their effectiveness and risk impact.