RMM tools can effectively guarantee the customers’ cybersecurity, but they may also introduce their vulnerabilities. MSPs, who are generally excellent at ensuring security, should pay more attention to this truth.
That’s entirely reasonable. Compared to essential issues like OS hardening vs. data protection and maintaining the accuracy of backups, RMM security may seem like a minor, inconsequential component of your security architecture as an MSP.
RMM tools pose a significant risk to MSPs even though they manage the contacts that make them a desirable target for hackers. If you continuously communicate with your customers via the best RMM software, compromising this can provide intruders high-level access to their systems.
Strategies for Protecting RMMs from Potential Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
Some are shared by other platforms but also pertain to RMM tools. These include implementing strict password policies for your RMM and maintaining close control regarding who has rights to it. You must also ensure your employees are taught how to recognize and disclose an attack.
There are also some sophisticated methods. It is challenging to separate RMM tools from the parts of your system since these tools become more helpful with more networks they control.
- Examine your financial statements
When was the most recent time you logged into your RMM and glanced at the individual accounts? How certain are you of their being all 2FAed? Is it even necessary to have all of them?
- Create a recurring action to verify the people in your tools physically.
- Do your employees have access to a login policy? Do you impose it? For systems such as RMM, we require a completely random complicated character password of ridiculous length, which is kept in a password organizer.
- Do you use two-factor authentication via SMS or phone call? Phone IDs can be forged.
- Verify that 2FA is activated on all of those accounts.
- Examine each account’s degree of access and implement the minimum privilege principle. Individuals should have only the rights necessary to carry out their responsibilities. Don’t just presume it; double-check!
- Confirm when all consumers last logged in, if the device supports it, and delete records that are no longer in use.
- Examine your integration and API keys. Are these kept in a safe place if you’re storing them? If you need more clarification, process them and develop new keys.
- Systems and People
- Conduct tabletop activities with your team to assess their preparedness. Make the assumption the worst has occurred and evaluate your response.
- Security training should be provided to your employees. Discuss the significance of excellent protection with them. When a compromise occurs, such as the Kaseya leak, notify your employees.
- Create an incident response strategy for when your provider experiences security issues and when an assault is occurring or has already happened. Your employees should have quick and easy access to this to respond quickly. Two clients being encrypted versus all getting encrypted in 5 minutes might make the variation.
- Now that you’ve devised a strategy put it into action!
- Have a shutoff button—something you can use in a disaster that disables your RMM/stack system.
- Learn how your RMM sends instructions to its destinations so that you can rapidly revert any queued ones.
- Conduct regular risk evaluations on your assets. Monitor and document your risks and the control mechanisms and operations you have in place.
- Maintain the accuracy of your solutions.
- Set up a regular weekly job to physically check for changes to your solution structure.
- Make sure you have specified who is accountable for this.
- Ensure your suppliers send release notes and notifications to the proper individuals whenever they issue fixes.
- Patch any critical security patches identified, even during the day. In some instances, individuals are reverse-building these patches to determine which security vulnerabilities were patched, effectively exposing the exposure to the people.
- Always keep a rollback point, such as a snapshot/full copy.
- Pay attention to looking for other updates in other areas of your stack.
- Technological and network security
This is a partial list because technical controls are practically unlimited. This segment places a particular focus on on-premise RMM partners.
- Can you restrict entry to your RMM’s administrative area via IP address? Only allow access from trustworthy, secure places.
- Are all of your employees located in the same country? Set regional limits on your firewall to prevent access to other nations.
- Even better, you can ban everything else if all your assets are on trustworthy channels with fixed IP addresses.
- Is your RMM system reachable via your primary internal network? Please place it in a separate network and severely limit its access to the remainder of your network. As a result, your private network cannot be used to gain access to it.
- Use your firewall’s IPS features to analyze network data routed to your RMM server.
- If you’re on-premises, double-check all port forwards to guarantee they’re still needed. In the case of ConnectWise, numerous channels could be enabled based on guidance from a few years ago but do not need to be.
- Only allow suitable personnel access to their RMM system. Keep in mind the concept of most minor advantages.
- Check that NIST/CIS rules are being applied to your internal assets. Your personal MSP protection ought to be superior to any customers you serve.
- Ascertain that suitable endpoint monitoring is enabled. At the very least, this should incorporate EDR features. Ideally, it would be best to start using a basic antivirus on this site.
- Consider bringing in a last layer of surveillance and defense (Huntress). Do your customers have good antivirus software as well? More than simple antivirus software is required. Effective malware defense may save them.
- Buyer Influence
- 2FA (with the option to log in through your own regulated SSO service) (with the ability to log in through your own controlled SSO provider)
- IP safe listing restrictions
- Client correspondence signed
- The power to destroy all currently running agent installers
- The ability to accept agent installations, and until they are allowed by the Admin side, they could only conduct restricted or no tasks.
- Untrustworthiness of an employee
- Generous initiatives that reward individuals who disclose security flaws
- Detailed logs that can be sent to contemporary SIEMs and constantly examined for suspicious activities
- Being cloud-based is preferable when your RMM supplier is vigilant about security. For improved product maintenance, they have SOC/Security teams. Unfortunately, many MSPs need to secure on-premise systems adequately.
A Look at RMM Products’ Vulnerabilities..
The issue with RMM tools is that many traits that render them useful – such as real-time tracking of remote networks and the capacity to control third-party computers directly – also make them a worthwhile target for attackers. This is certainly not a surprise to anyone who uses an RMM application to handle user identities, and you have undoubtedly given RMM security a lot of consideration.
When considering total network security, many MSPs, unfortunately, use RMM audits that are not a component of their everyday routine and are, therefore, easily overlooked. For instance, many fiber internet companies initially set up customers’ machines with an RMM tool, but never again. In this situation, nobody will be in charge of upgrading the utility, so it will continue to run in the background and pose a security risk.
However, this is only one of the risks RMM instruments represent. Others are as follows:
- Former workers are gaining entry to customer networks using their credentials.
- Malware is either encoded in the RMM utility or in an element it uses to perform some of its functions.
- RMM instruments are vulnerable to brute-force and keylogger assaults. These are especially hazardous when used against remote workers.
- Lastly, social engineering assaults trick your workers into revealing RMM tool login credentials.
In all instances, a hacker will try to infiltrate your RMM utility to launch a (much) more significant assault against your or your customers’ networks. They can view all available tools and information as soon as they are inside.
What Characteristics Must RMM Systems Have?
Businesses can take advantage of a plethora of features. Certain things, though, matter more than others. In this case, each company must create a strategy outlining what they need to accomplish and where they are struggling. This will enable you to design your method. However, the following are the critical characteristics of the RMM solutions:
- Optimal Cybersecurity – Cyber Security safeguards your company’s data and valuables.
- Network monitoring entails looking for faulty components or program problems.
- Item identification – Catalog and watch your IT assets and info further.
- Vulnerability discovery entails scanning computers and networks for novel vulnerabilities.
- Work on numerous computers at the same time – If your employees use multiple devices at the same time, remote working is simple.
- Automation entails monitoring capacities and automating processes to ensure the system runs smoothly.
- PSA tools increase the output and efficacy of managed service providers (MSPs).
- Real-time problem-solving Problems are resolved immediately, with no need for personnel or downtime.
Potential Prospects of RMM Security
Naturally, by using tools that are designed with security in mind, many flaws in RMM tools can be prevented (or at least reduced). Regardless of which RMM instruments you use, it is essential that they are secured as soon as feasible.
The reasons for this are that the weaknesses built into these systems will only become more significant over the coming years. As cloud storage costs decline, more businesses will look to MSPs. That’s wonderful for the company, but only if we can protect our customers from cyberattacks. And safe RMM tools are unquestionably a component of that.
To Conclude
Remote monitoring and management are essential for company development. We are more conscious of possible security flaws today. Because of the increased number of digital assaults, any aspect of your company can be targeted. This could range from a more significant number of devices to cellular networks. If these are breached, the consequences can be expensive and harmful.
With a growth mindset, you can utilize RMM and manage numerous devices while focusing on client support and growth. Giving to your clients gives you a better chance of expanding your customer base. You can improve all of your services by combining specific tools and duties. Pay heed to the scalability provided, and you can adopt device control, constant monitoring, and reporting.
