Enhancing Secure Boot with Unified Kernel Images (UKIs)

Enhancing Secure Boot with Unified Kernel Images (UKIs) ===================================================== Introduction Secure boot processes are crucial in modern computing to prevent unauthorized firmware, operating systems, or UEFI drivers from running on a computer. One of the recent developments in this area is the use of Unified Kernel Images (UKIs) to enhance boot security. In this article, we will explore the concept of UKIs and provide a step-by-step guide on how to implement them to improve secure boot processes. ...

December 31, 2024 · 5 min · Scott

Upgrading to SHA-256: A Comprehensive Guide to Cryptographic Hash Functions

Table of Contents Introduction Prerequisites Understanding SHA-1 and its Limitations Introduction to SHA-256 Implementing SHA-256 in Practice Migrating from SHA-1 to SHA-256 Conclusion Introduction Cryptographic hash functions play a vital role in ensuring data integrity and security in various applications. In this guide, we’ll explore the evolution of cryptographic hash functions, discuss the limitations of SHA-1, and provide a comprehensive guide to implementing and using SHA-256. Prerequisites To follow this guide, you should have a basic understanding of cryptography and hash functions. Familiarity with programming languages such as Python, C++, or Java is also recommended. ...

December 31, 2024 · 3 min · Scott

Demystifying AWS Security: A Beginner’s Guide to Key Concepts and Services

Managing firewalls, VLANs, and access control lists might be second nature in a traditional IT setting. But when it comes to AWS, the terminology and tools can seem foreign. This beginner’s guide aims to bridge that gap, translating AWS security concepts into the world of on-premise security you already know. Why AWS Security Matters AWS is a leading cloud provider, and its popularity, unfortunately, makes it an attractive target for cyberattacks. It’s essential to grasp the principles of AWS security to protect your valuable data and applications. Remember, AWS operates on a Shared Responsibility Model – they secure the cloud itself, while you’re responsible for securing your workloads within it. ...

March 6, 2024 · 6 min · Scott

Hardening Your CI/CD: Terraform, Docker, and Kubernetes Security

As I continue this series on CI/CD pipeline security, it is time to now work on securely building and deploying our application. This post picks up where my Build Secure Python Pipelines: Adding Tests and Hooks in Action post left off. In this post, we’ll continue our pipeline development by adding a container build and deployment to Kubernetes. In addition to this, we’ll add some security components to the build and deployment process. ...

March 1, 2024 · 11 min · Scott

Build Secure Python Pipelines: Adding Tests and Hooks in Action

As we continue this series started in my Getting Started with Secure CI/CD: Essential Practices for Beginners post, I’ll be securing my Python code with automated testing and hooks. While some of this information builds on some previous posts I’ve created in the past, Adding pre-commit Hooks to Python Repo Writing Tests For Your Python Project I still wanted to incorporate these together in a meaningful way. My goal is to help anyone that is trying to figure out how to piece together their own pipeline. ...

February 18, 2024 · 20 min · Scott