Framework: The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Top 18 Controls

The remaining safeguards under Control 10 reinforce malware defense through layered, automated protection and proactive monitoring. These include automatic signature updates, disabling autorun and autoplay on removable media, scanning all external storage upon connection, enabling anti-exploitation features, and centralizing anti-malware management. Each measure addresses a different stage of the attack chain—prevention, detection, and containment. For example, disabling autorun stops malware from launching automatically when USB drives or external disks are inserted, while centralized management ensures that updates and configurations remain consistent across the enterprise. Enabling anti-exploitation tools, such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Windows Defender Exploit Guard (WDEG), strengthens system memory protections, reducing the risk of code injection attacks. Together, these safeguards form a cohesive strategy that integrates policy, technology, and automation to block common infection paths and limit damage if malware succeeds in breaching the perimeter.

To operationalize these safeguards, organizations must standardize endpoint configurations and align them with secure baselines that restrict unnecessary functions. Centralized anti-malware consoles should track agent health, update frequency, and incident metrics, generating alerts for noncompliance. Regular testing—through controlled phishing simulations or simulated malware injections—validates whether defenses operate as intended. Network isolation policies ensure that infected devices are quarantined immediately, preventing lateral movement. Integration with patch and vulnerability management further reduces exploitable weaknesses. Over time, these processes evolve into a continuous improvement loop that refines detection accuracy and response agility. By combining automated updates, behavior analysis, and centralized oversight, the remaining safeguards of Control 10 transform malware defense into a living system—constantly adjusting to the changing threat landscape and reducing the organization’s overall attack surface.
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