From Functionality to Fortification: Securing Third-Party Integrations with Vorlon

Introduction

During my early years as an engineer, I was responsible for writing APIs that facilitated seamless integration with third-party services as well as a mobile app. Like many engineers, I had minimal security awareness at the time. My primary goal was to ensure functionality and efficiency, neglecting the potential security risks that came with providing access to data via API. 

Most APIs are designed to serve a wide range of users with varying needs and security concerns. Like myself, a vendor’s engineering team tries to address all needs without knowing which data might pose unnecessary risks to the organization using the API. Integrations and automation between third-party applications further increase this risk, as organizations are often unaware of the data exchanged between vendors. A breach at one vendor can quickly expose data you might not have realized was accessible.

The Problem: The Expanding Third-Party Attack Surface

As organizations heavily depend on third-party vendors, their attack surface expands exponentially. Each external service introduces a potential vulnerability that cybercriminals can exploit, exposing sensitive data to theft or compromise. 

Even the most well-protected organization can inadvertently become an entry point for attackers through a vulnerable third-party integration. And, as mentioned above, when adding automation and integrations between different third-party applications, the organization loses control of the data shared via these APIs.  

Lack of visibility into the third-party attack surface poses a significant security risk. Organizations must gain insight into the security posture of their partners and vendors, identify potential vulnerabilities, and take proactive measures to mitigate risks effectively.

Introducing Vorlon: Protecting Enterprise Data in Motion

To tackle the challenges of third-party attack surfaces, we developed Vorlon. Vorlon gives organizations deep visibility into their external integrations, allowing them to assess security risks and protect data in motion. 

With Vorlon, security teams can proactively manage their third-party ecosystem, ensuring sensitive data is shared only when necessary and maintaining best practices for secret hygiene.

Key Features and Benefits

Vorlon unboxes the black box of your third-party ecosystem with the following features:

• Comprehensive Third-Party Risk Assessment: Vorlon researches vendor APIs to help organizations to understand best practices for each vendor, avoid misconfigurations, and detect compliance gaps. This allows organizations to identify potential weak links in their third-party ecosystem and take appropriate action.

• Visibility into Data in Motion: Vorlon provides near-real-time insight into data flows, enabling quicker response times and effective decision-making. This proactive monitoring allows organizations to exactly pinpoint data affected by security incidents, improving investigation and remediation time.

• Near-Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts: Vorlon continuously monitors third-party API traffic, providing near-real-time alerts on any suspicious or anomalous activities. This enables organizations to respond swiftly to potential threats even before the vendor announces a breach.

• Seamless Integration: Vorlon seamlessly integrates with existing workflows, offering compatibility with SIEM, SOAR, ITSM. This allows organizations to incorporate Vorlon into their internal processes without disrupting existing operations. 

Conclusion

Securing the third-party attack surface is essential for organizations to safeguard their sensitive data in motion. Drawing from my own engineering background, I recognize the inherent challenges and risks that come with the use of third-party integrations. Vorlon provides a powerful solution to address this pressing concern, empowering security teams to actively manage, assess, and protect the data shared with third party applications.