Introduction
Cybersecurity isn’t just a requirement—it’s a critical enabler of trust, innovation, and growth. At Blott Studio, we integrate security into everything we design and build, using a combination of cutting-edge tools to protect our own operations and ensure our clients’ projects remain secure. This article highlights some of the tools and practices we implement to achieve this.
Whether working on internal systems or client projects, we prioritise three core principles:
- Proactive Defence: Identifying and mitigating risks before they become problems.
- Scalability: Implementing tools that grow with the needs of our clients and projects.
- Ease of Use: Ensuring security measures don’t compromise productivity or usability.
With these principles in mind, we’ve curated a suite of tools and practices to address various aspects of cybersecurity.
1. Secure Development Tools
Developing software with security at its core is critical. For both internal projects and client work, we rely on tools that ensure our code is robust and protected.
Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools
- Example: SonarQube
- What It Does: Analyses source code to detect vulnerabilities early in the development cycle.
- Why We Use It: Prevents common coding errors like injection vulnerabilities or insecure configurations.
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Tools
- Example: OWASP ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
- What It Does: Scans applications during runtime to identify real-world attack vectors.
- Why We Use It: Ensures that our web applications and APIs are tested against potential exploits.
Dependency Scanning Tools
- Example: Snyk or Dependabot
- What It Does: Monitors third-party libraries and alerts us to vulnerabilities.
- Why We Use It: Keeps our projects secure by patching outdated dependencies promptly.
2. Endpoint Security for Distributed Teams
With remote work becoming the norm, securing endpoints—laptops, mobile devices, and desktops—is a top priority.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
- Example: SentinelOne or CrowdStrike
- What It Does: Monitors devices in real-time to detect and respond to threats.
- Why We Use It: Provides us with a powerful layer of protection against malware, ransomware, and advanced persistent threats.
Device Management
- Example: Mosyle (for macOS) or Microsoft Intune
- What It Does: Manages device configurations, applies security policies, and ensures encryption.
- Why We Use It: Ensures all devices used by our team are compliant with our security standards.
3. Collaboration and Communication Security
The tools we use for client collaboration and internal communication are safeguarded with best-in-class security features.
Secure File Sharing
- Example: Tresorit or Box Shield
- What It Does: Encrypts files end-to-end and provides secure access controls.
- Why We Use It: Protects sensitive client documents and project files from unauthorised access.
Team Communication
- Example: Slack (with Enterprise Key Management) or Microsoft Teams
- What It Does: Secures communication channels with enterprise-grade encryption.
- Why We Use It: Enables secure and efficient communication across distributed teams.
4. Network and Application Security
Securing the environments where our systems and those of our clients run is crucial to our operations.
Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)
- Example: Cloudflare and AWS WAF
- What It Does: Protects web applications from common threats like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
- Why We Use It: Provides an additional layer of protection for client websites and applications.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
- Example: Open VPN
- What It Does: Encrypts data in transit and ensures secure remote access to internal systems.
- Why We Use It: Protects client data during remote work or collaboration sessions.
5. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Controlling who has access to what is a cornerstone of good security practices.
Single Sign-On (SSO) and MFA
- Example: Okta or Auth0
- What It Does: Simplifies login processes while enforcing strong security with multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Why We Use It: Reduces the risk of credential theft and ensures consistent access policies across all tools.
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
- Example: CyberArk or BeyondTrust
- What It Does: Controls and monitors access to critical systems.
- Why We Use It: Limits access to sensitive environments and prevents misuse of admin privileges.
6. Continuous Monitoring and Incident Response
We use real-time monitoring tools to detect threats and ensure a quick response when something goes wrong.
SIEM Solutions
- Example: Splunk or Elastic Security
- What It Does: Aggregates and analyses security logs to detect potential threats.
- Why We Use It: Provides actionable insights into security incidents across our network.
Incident Response Tools
- Example: Cortex XSOAR (formerly Demisto)
- What It Does: Automates incident response workflows.
- Why We Use It: Reduces response times and ensures thorough investigation and resolution of security incidents.
7. Education and Awareness Tools
Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s also about people. We use tools to educate and empower our team and clients.
Phishing Simulations
- Example: KnowBe4
- What It Does: Simulates phishing attacks to test user awareness.
- Why We Use It: Helps identify and address weaknesses in recognising phishing attempts.
Security Awareness Training
- Example: Infosec IQ or Proofpoint Security Awareness Training
- What It Does: Provides regular training modules to keep users informed about the latest threats.
- Why We Use It: Ensures both our team and our clients stay vigilant against evolving cyber threats.
Conclusion
At Blott Studio, cybersecurity is an integral part of everything we do. By combining industry-leading tools with a culture of proactive security, we deliver digital solutions that are not only innovative but also secure.Whether you’re looking to strengthen your organisation’s security posture or seeking a partner to design and develop secure digital products, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch with us to learn more about how our security-first approach can protect your business and its users.
