What is File Integrity Monitoring?

File Integrity Monitoring is a tool that helps verify and validate file integrity. In this article, you'll learn why File Integrity Monitoring is so important and how to implement it.

In the era of hybrid work, more and more companies are going fully digital, digitizing all their internal files as well as those of their clients. The security challenge of managing digital files is becoming increasingly important.
Indeed, they are accumulating, as is confidential data, filling cloud storage and hard drives. This accumulation of files represents a great opportunity for cybercriminals, who are more than ever on the lookout for security breaches. But the security challenge also affects the need to keep the information stored in the files intact. To best preserve the integrity of your files, using File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) software is an effective solution.

File Integrity Monitoring: What is it?

File integrity monitoring is a process that validates the integrity of operating system and application software files. The process takes the last known version of the file and compares it to its current state to determine if its integrity has been compromised. FIM can analyze files from servers, databases, network devices, directory servers, applications, cloud environments, virtual images, and more.

The software monitors for unexpected changes to files or configuration elements such as:

• Credentials
• Access privileges and security settings
• The content
• Main attributes and size
• Hash values
• Configuration values

If the FIM detects an anomaly, it can send an alert to IT administrators so they can take action. Nexxo technicians are responsible for monitoring this for some of our clients.

Why File Integrity Monitoring is Essential  

Configuration and file changes can be overwhelming when these files are used every day in a business setting. But sometimes, among this mass of changes, suspicious and unwanted changes can get lost that could impact the integrity of files and data.
These changes can also weaken security posture and, in some cases, be early indicators of a breach in progress.

Using File Integrity Monitoring software allows you to:

• Check update status and monitor system health
• Detect illicit activities: in the event of a breach in your IT environment, the FIM will be able to detect any suspicious changes and will inform you quickly
• Spotting unexpected changes: Someone accidentally changes a file, which might not affect your business, but it could also become a hidden gateway for security breaches or create malfunctions

Also, it's essential to know that often, government security requirements (such as PCI-DSS, NERC CIP, FISMA, SOX, NIST and HIPAA ) have compliance criteria that require file integrity monitoring. So, you're getting a head start by equipping yourself with a FIM.

How to do File Integrity Monitoring properly

First of all, it is important to know that Windows devices come with native file monitoring tools but no real dedicated software. To ensure better security, it is recommended to choose dedicated software to fill the gaps of the native software (decentralized storage of security logs from multiple domain controllers, lack of information about old settings, inability to retrieve the object/configuration from the audit log, etc.).

This is especially important if your company's IT environment is complex. Installing enterprise FIM software will provide you with greater security and peace of mind. Nexxo can also assist you in configuring and managing your File Integrity Monitoring software. Call us at 514-548-3466 to discuss your project!

In summary

As you can see, File Integrity Monitoring software exists to monitor changes in your files, whether intended or not, to ensure file integrity and configuration. But many businesses are unaware of this software or the risks they face if they manage many files, especially if they are confidential and sensitive. Having enterprise FIM software will allow for more clarity on unwanted changes and faster action in the face of these changes.

About Nexxo

Nexxo Computer Solutions specializes in providing IT and technology services to Quebec businesses. Its mission is to offer Quebec companies IT services tailored to their needs. Acting as an external IT department, it handles all of a company's IT tasks, allowing it to focus on its business activities. It achieves this by collaborating closely with its clients and putting their interests at the center of its concerns.