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  • Why Security Culture is Critical to Reducing Cyber Risk

    Why Security Culture is Critical to Reducing Cyber Risk

    After two decades of maturing technical defenses, organizations are confronting a difficult reality: even the strongest tools cannot fully protect them if human behavior is left unaddressed. As technology has advanced, attackers have adapted, shifting focus from purely exploiting infrastructure to targeting people directly. In many breaches, the entry point is not a software flaw but a human one.

    For five years in a row, Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report has found that the majority of breaches involve a human element. In 2024, nearly 60% of global breaches were traced back to actions or decisions made by individuals. Yet employees are not the problem. Most failures stem from environments where security is unnecessarily complex, communicated in technical jargon, or treated as a barrier to productivity.

    What Defines Security Culture

    Every organization has a security culture, whether intentional or not. The question is whether it supports secure behavior.

    Security culture refers to the shared beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes about cybersecurity across a workforce. When employees believe security is important, understand their role in it, and see themselves as targets, they are more likely to act securely. When they see it as someone else’s responsibility, or as an obstacle, risk rises quickly.

    Behavior follows environment. If policies, tools, and leadership make security difficult, employees will find workarounds. If those same systems simplify security, people are more likely to make safe choices as part of their daily routines.

    Four Levers That Shape Security Culture

    • Leadership signals – Executives set the tone. If they visibly prioritize security with funding, accountability, and organizational support for the CISO, the message is clear.
    • Security team engagement – The way employees experience security day to day matters. Supportive and approachable teams build trust. Teams that are rigid or unhelpful erode it.
    • Policy design – Policies that are overly technical or inconvenient push employees toward insecure shortcuts. Simple, practical rules reinforce the idea that security is achievable.
    • Security training – Training should be engaging, role-specific, and relevant. When it feels outdated or disconnected, it signals that security is just a checkbox.

    Aligning Culture Across the Organization

    Leadership may set direction, but employees measure culture by what they experience daily. If executives talk about security as a priority but policies are impractical, teams are unapproachable, or training is irrelevant, trust breaks down.

    Aligning leadership, policies, team engagement, and training creates the conditions where security becomes part of normal operations. When employees see that security is supported, achievable, and integrated into their roles, the human risks that attackers exploit are significantly reduced.

    How Can Netizen Help?

    Founded in 2013, Netizen is an award-winning technology firm that develops and leverages cutting-edge solutions to create a more secure, integrated, and automated digital environment for government, defense, and commercial clients worldwide. Our innovative solutions transform complex cybersecurity and technology challenges into strategic advantages by delivering mission-critical capabilities that safeguard and optimize clients’ digital infrastructure. One example of this is our popular “CISO-as-a-Service” offering that enables organizations of any size to access executive level cybersecurity expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring internally. 

    Netizen also operates a state-of-the-art 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC) that delivers comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring solutions for defense, government, and commercial clients. Our service portfolio includes cybersecurity assessments and advisory, hosted SIEM and EDR/XDR solutions, software assurance, penetration testing, cybersecurity engineering, and compliance audit support. We specialize in serving organizations that operate within some of the world’s most highly sensitive and tightly regulated environments where unwavering security, strict compliance, technical excellence, and operational maturity are non-negotiable requirements. Our proven track record in these domains positions us as the premier trusted partner for organizations where technology reliability and security cannot be compromised.

    Netizen holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, and CMMI Level III SVC registrations demonstrating the maturity of our operations. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certified by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that has been named multiple times to the Inc. 5000 and Vet 100 lists of the most successful and fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Netizen has also been named a national “Best Workplace” by Inc. Magazine, a multiple awardee of the U.S. Department of Labor HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion for veteran hiring and retention, the Lehigh Valley Business of the Year and Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, and the recipient of dozens of other awards and accolades for innovation, community support, working environment, and growth.

    Looking for expert guidance to secure, automate, and streamline your IT infrastructure and operations? Start the conversation today.

  • Scattered Spider Hacker “King Bob” Gets 10 Years in Prison

    Scattered Spider Hacker “King Bob” Gets 10 Years in Prison

    A 20-year-old Florida man tied to one of the most disruptive cybercrime groups in recent memory has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison and ordered to pay $13 million in restitution to victims.

    Noah Michael Urban of Palm Coast, Florida, better known in underground circles as Sosa, King Bob, Elijah, Gustavo Fring, and Anthony Ramirez, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy.

    Federal prosecutors said Urban and his co-conspirators engaged in SIM-swapping campaigns that diverted victims’ mobile phone calls and text messages to devices under their control, allowing the theft of at least $800,000 from five individuals between August 2022 and March 2023.

    Although prosecutors initially recommended an eight-year term, the judge imposed a 120-month sentence along with three years of supervised release. The restitution order, which covers both Florida and California cases against Urban, was set at $13 million.

    Scattered Spider Operations

    Urban was indicted in Los Angeles in late 2024 as one of five key members of Scattered Spider, also tracked as Oktapus, Scatter Swine, and UNC3944. The group specialized in SMS phishing (smishing) and voice phishing (vishing) campaigns that targeted employees of U.S. companies. Victims were lured to fraudulent authentication portals mimicking Okta login pages, tricked into entering passwords and MFA codes, and then exploited for access into corporate environments.

    The operation spanned the summer of 2022 and hit more than 130 organizations, including Twilio, LastPass, DoorDash, MailChimp, and Plex. Stolen access enabled follow-on intrusions, theft of proprietary data, and millions of dollars’ worth of stolen cryptocurrency.

    Star Fraud and SIM-Swapping Tactics

    Urban wasn’t just part of Scattered Spider, he also belonged to Star Fraud, a notorious collective of SIM-swappers with a reputation for attacking major telecom providers. Investigations found that Star Fraud members repeatedly compromised mobile carrier employees, gaining temporary control over victims’ phone numbers.

    In one seven-month span in 2022, Star Fraud boasted of 100 separate intrusions into T-Mobile systems, according to logs published by KrebsOnSecurity. These SIM-swapping capabilities were critical to high-profile extortion campaigns, including the MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment breaches in 2023.

    Urban’s Online Persona: “The Com” and Leaked Music

    For years, Urban was a fixture in The Com, a largely Telegram- and Discord-based community of English-speaking cybercriminals. Using the moniker King Bob, he frequently bragged about stealing unreleased rap music, or “grails,” often obtained via SIM-swapping techniques. Some of these tracks were sold; others were given away freely on forums.

    Judge Targeted in Hack

    In an extraordinary development, Urban’s case intersected with a direct attack on the judiciary itself. While Urban was in federal custody, a co-defendant in the California prosecution reportedly hacked into a magistrate judge’s email account and accessed sealed documents tied to Urban’s indictment.

    Court transcripts from February 2025 confirm the breach occurred after an attacker impersonated a judge in a call to a court contractor, successfully requesting a password reset. Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger, presiding over Urban’s case, later described it as a “big faux pas” and confirmed the compromise had been traced to Scattered Spider associates attempting to gather intelligence on Urban’s legal proceedings.

    Urban, speaking through one of his online accounts, has insisted his sentence is unjust, claiming the judge in his case failed to account for his age and bias stemming from the incident.

    Broader Implications

    The sentencing of Noah Urban marks a significant milestone in U.S. law enforcement’s pursuit of Scattered Spider and affiliated groups. Yet the threat posed by these actors remains. Scattered Spider continues to operate, reportedly forming new alliances with ShinyHunters and LAPSUS$ under the larger umbrella of The Com. Analysts say these alliances are intended to consolidate resources in response to law enforcement crackdowns, producing more versatile and dangerous operations.

    Flashpoint research has noted Scattered Spider’s wave-based attack strategy, in which entire sectors are targeted in short, concentrated bursts. By focusing on human weaknesses rather than purely technical flaws, groups like Scattered Spider demonstrate how deception remains one of the most effective paths into corporate systems.

    How Can Netizen Help?

    Founded in 2013, Netizen is an award-winning technology firm that develops and leverages cutting-edge solutions to create a more secure, integrated, and automated digital environment for government, defense, and commercial clients worldwide. Our innovative solutions transform complex cybersecurity and technology challenges into strategic advantages by delivering mission-critical capabilities that safeguard and optimize clients’ digital infrastructure. One example of this is our popular “CISO-as-a-Service” offering that enables organizations of any size to access executive level cybersecurity expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring internally. 

    Netizen also operates a state-of-the-art 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC) that delivers comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring solutions for defense, government, and commercial clients. Our service portfolio includes cybersecurity assessments and advisory, hosted SIEM and EDR/XDR solutions, software assurance, penetration testing, cybersecurity engineering, and compliance audit support. We specialize in serving organizations that operate within some of the world’s most highly sensitive and tightly regulated environments where unwavering security, strict compliance, technical excellence, and operational maturity are non-negotiable requirements. Our proven track record in these domains positions us as the premier trusted partner for organizations where technology reliability and security cannot be compromised.

    Netizen holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, and CMMI Level III SVC registrations demonstrating the maturity of our operations. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certified by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that has been named multiple times to the Inc. 5000 and Vet 100 lists of the most successful and fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Netizen has also been named a national “Best Workplace” by Inc. Magazine, a multiple awardee of the U.S. Department of Labor HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion for veteran hiring and retention, the Lehigh Valley Business of the Year and Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, and the recipient of dozens of other awards and accolades for innovation, community support, working environment, and growth.

    Looking for expert guidance to secure, automate, and streamline your IT infrastructure and operations? Start the conversation today.

  • The Value of a vCISO: Fractional Security Leadership, Full-Time Peace of Mind

    The Value of a vCISO: Fractional Security Leadership, Full-Time Peace of Mind

    Technology now underpins nearly every function of business, from financial systems to customer engagement platforms. This reliance brings with it an unavoidable reality: cybersecurity is no longer optional. A single breach can cause financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. For organizations without the resources or need for a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), the solution increasingly comes in the form of a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO).

    A vCISO provides executive-level cybersecurity guidance remotely, often on a part-time or contract basis. Despite not being embedded within the company, their expertise is directly aligned with strengthening security programs, ensuring compliance, and helping organizations manage cyber risk without the cost of a permanent hire.

    What a vCISO Brings to the Table

    A vCISO offers the same caliber of strategic direction as a traditional CISO but with flexibility that makes the role accessible to organizations of all sizes. Their responsibilities typically include:

    • Developing Security Strategies: Crafting a security roadmap that identifies and mitigates risks.
    • Managing Policies and Procedures: Creating, reviewing, and updating frameworks to align with industry standards.
    • Risk Management and Compliance: Conducting assessments, audits, and ensuring adherence to regulations like HIPAA, PCI DSS, or GDPR.
    • Incident Response: Coordinating swift actions during security incidents to contain and mitigate damage.
    • Training and Awareness: Building a security-first culture by educating employees on threats and best practices.
    • Vendor Risk Oversight: Evaluating the security posture of third-party partners and service providers.
    • Budget and Metrics Management: Ensuring investments in security tools are effective and measurable.

    Through these efforts, a vCISO acts as both strategist and safeguard, guiding leadership teams in balancing operational growth with strong defenses.

    Why the Role Has Grown in Importance

    The escalating frequency and sophistication of cyber threats have accelerated demand for vCISO services. Small and mid-sized businesses, often prime targets for attackers, find value in contracting expertise that would otherwise be out of reach. Large enterprises, too, increasingly turn to vCISOs to supplement in-house leadership or address specialized projects.

    The flexibility of the role became especially evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, when businesses shifted to remote operations. vCISOs adapted seamlessly, continuing to provide oversight without disruption—proving the resilience of fractional security leadership.

    The Cost Advantage

    Hiring a full-time CISO can represent a six-figure expense, not including benefits and overhead. By contrast, a vCISO delivers comparable expertise at a fraction of the cost. The model is inherently scalable, allowing organizations to increase or decrease engagement as needs evolve. This makes vCISO services especially practical for companies in transitional phases, whether scaling rapidly, pursuing compliance certifications, or recovering from incidents.

    For many, the biggest financial advantage lies not only in reduced staffing costs but also in preventing the far greater expense of a major breach.

    Selecting the Right vCISO

    Choosing a vCISO requires more than technical vetting. Organizations should begin by identifying specific needs—whether it’s regulatory compliance, risk management, or strengthening incident response. From there, leaders can evaluate candidates on experience within their sector, qualifications, references, and cultural fit. Clear expectations around deliverables and reporting are key to ensuring success.

    Why Netizen Provides a Distinct Advantage

    Our vCISO service combines seasoned expertise with proven processes. As an ISO 27001:2013, ISO 9001:2015, and CMMI V2.0 Level 3 certified company, we bring credibility and rigor to every engagement. Our team delivers more than executive-level guidance, we provide actionable assessments, penetration testing, continuous monitoring, and compliance support through intuitive dashboards that transform complex data into clear insights.

    For businesses seeking high-level security leadership without the overhead of a full-time officer, Netizen offers a strategic partner who makes cybersecurity an enabler of growth rather than a barrier.

    Looking for expert guidance to secure, automate, and streamline your IT infrastructure and operations? Start the conversation today.

  • Understanding Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for Modern Security

    Understanding Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for Modern Security

    Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is rapidly becoming a foundational security model for modern organizations, especially as hybrid work, cloud adoption, and increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats redefine the perimeter of enterprise IT.

    Unlike traditional models that grant broad network access once a user is authenticated, ZTNA enforces continuous verification for every access request, regardless of whether a user is inside or outside the network. Access is granted based on context such as user identity, device posture, location, and risk profile. The goal is simple: never trust by default.

    Why ZTNA Replaces Legacy Perimeter-Based Security

    Traditional network security hinges on a binary trust model, entities inside the network are trusted, and those outside are not. This approach has become ineffective in the face of cloud computing, remote work, and a distributed workforce. Once inside the network, attackers can often move laterally with minimal resistance. ZTNA is designed to eliminate this risk.

    By shifting to an identity-centric, least-privilege access model, ZTNA makes it more difficult for attackers to exploit user credentials, pivot across systems, or exfiltrate data.

    Core Principles Behind ZTNA

    ZTNA is built around three main principles:

    • Verify explicitly: Authenticate and authorize based on all available data points, including user identity, device health, location, and behavior.
    • Enforce least-privilege access: Limit user access to only the applications or data required for their role.
    • Assume breach: Operate under the premise that your environment is already compromised, and minimize impact by restricting access at every layer.

    These principles are enforced using a combination of modern technologies like identity and access management (IAM), micro-segmentation, and endpoint posture assessments.

    How ZTNA Works: Key Mechanics

    ZTNA enforces secure access through continuous, adaptive control mechanisms:

    Identity Verification and Device Posture

    Access requests begin with verifying who the user is and assessing the state of their device. Multi-factor authentication is common, but device health checks—such as verifying OS patches or the presence of endpoint protection—are equally critical.

    Micro-Segmentation

    Rather than trusting an entire VLAN or subnet, ZTNA divides the network into isolated segments. Access to each segment is tightly controlled, limiting the blast radius of any potential compromise.

    Application-Level Access

    Users are granted access to individual applications, not the full network. This ensures attackers can’t scan for additional resources or discover sensitive internal systems.

    Continuous Risk Evaluation

    ZTNA solutions monitor behavior during the session. If unusual behavior is detected, such as a login from a foreign country or a rapid access pattern, ZTNA can trigger reauthentication or revoke access.

    Key Benefits of ZTNA

    Adopting a Zero Trust Network Access model brings significant security and operational advantages:

    • Reduced attack surface: Resources are invisible to unauthorized users, lowering the chance of discovery or brute-force attacks.
    • Minimized lateral movement: Attackers are contained within the limited environment they gain access to, significantly reducing breach impact.
    • Improved compliance: Role-based access controls and detailed audit logs make it easier to meet regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI-DSS.
    • Elimination of VPN complexity: ZTNA offers secure remote access without requiring full tunnel VPNs, simplifying user experience and reducing latency.
    • Adaptive security: Continuous verification means ZTNA reacts in real time to changes in risk posture or environmental context.

    ZTNA vs. VPNs and Legacy Models

    Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) offer encrypted tunnels to a trusted network, but once users connect, they often have excessive access. ZTNA replaces this with granular access to only approved applications. VPNs are also difficult to scale and manage, while ZTNA solutions can be deployed with more agility, especially in cloud-native environments.

    ZTNA and SASE: A Modern Partnership

    Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) integrates networking and security into a cloud-native framework. ZTNA is a critical component of SASE, providing the access control portion of the model.

    While SASE handles broader functions such as secure web gateways, firewall-as-a-service, and cloud access security brokers, ZTNA ensures that only authorized users gain application-level access. Together, they offer end-to-end protection and are particularly useful for organizations managing multi-cloud deployments and globally distributed workforces.

    Final Thoughts

    Zero Trust Network Access is no longer optional for modern enterprises. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated and traditional perimeters fade, ZTNA offers a scalable, identity-driven approach to securing access—without hindering productivity. By adopting ZTNA, organizations can move toward a future where trust is earned, risk is minimized, and secure access becomes the default.

    If your organization is considering moving toward Zero Trust or integrating ZTNA into your existing architecture, starting with a proper assessment of your current access model is a critical first step.

    How Can Netizen Help?

    Netizen ensures that security gets built-in and not bolted-on. Providing advanced solutions to protect critical IT infrastructure such as the popular “CISO-as-a-Service” wherein companies can leverage the expertise of executive-level cybersecurity professionals without having to bear the cost of employing them full time. 

    We also offer compliance support, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and more security-related services for businesses of any size and type. 

    Additionally, Netizen offers an automated and affordable assessment tool that continuously scans systems, websites, applications, and networks to uncover issues. Vulnerability data is then securely analyzed and presented through an easy-to-interpret dashboard to yield actionable risk and compliance information for audiences ranging from IT professionals to executive managers.

    Netizen is an ISO 27001:2013 (Information Security Management), ISO 9001:2015, and CMMI V 2.0 Level 3 certified company. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor for hiring and retention of military veterans. 

    Questions or concerns? Feel free to reach out to us any time –

    https://www.netizen.net/contact

  • Netizen: Monday Security Brief (8/18/2024)

    Netizen: Monday Security Brief (8/18/2024)

    Today’s Topics:

    • New “Win-DDoS” Technique Exploits Windows Domain Controllers for Massive DDoS Attacks
    • Attackers Target the Foundations of Crypto: Smart Contracts Under Threat
    • How can Netizen help?

    New “Win-DDoS” Technique Exploits Windows Domain Controllers for Massive DDoS Attacks

    SafeBreach researchers have detailed a new attack method, dubbed Win-DDoS, that allows threat actors to conscript thousands of public-facing Windows Domain Controllers (DCs) into a powerful DDoS botnet without deploying malware or compromising endpoints. The technique, presented at DEF CON 33, abuses flaws in Windows LDAP client code and RPC behavior to redirect LDAP referrals toward a victim server, overwhelming it with traffic.

    The attack leverages the Connectionless LDAP (CLDAP) and LDAP referral mechanism:

    1. An attacker sends an RPC call to a public DC, causing it to act as a CLDAP client.
    2. The DC contacts the attacker’s CLDAP server, which responds with a referral to the attacker’s LDAP server.
    3. The LDAP server sends a list of referral URLs pointing to a single victim IP and port.
    4. The DC repeatedly queries the victim server, creating sustained, high-bandwidth traffic.

    This approach is infrastructure-free for the attacker, requires no code execution or authentication, and leaves minimal forensic traces.

    SafeBreach also introduced TorpeDoS, an RPC-based denial-of-service technique that magnifies the efficiency of a single attacker’s RPC calls to the point where one host can cause an impact comparable to a distributed botnet.

    The research uncovered four denial-of-service vulnerabilities impacting core Windows services:

    • CVE-2025-26673 (CVSS 7.5) – LDAP uncontrolled resource consumption; unauthenticated DoS (patched May 2025).
    • CVE-2025-32724 (CVSS 7.5) – LSASS uncontrolled resource consumption; unauthenticated DoS (patched June 2025).
    • CVE-2025-49716 (CVSS 7.5) – Netlogon uncontrolled resource consumption; unauthenticated DoS (patched July 2025).
    • CVE-2025-49722 (CVSS 5.7) – Print Spooler uncontrolled resource consumption; authenticated adjacent-network DoS (patched July 2025).

    These zero-click, unauthenticated flaws can crash domain controllers and other Windows systems remotely if exposed, posing a threat to both public and internal infrastructure.

    The findings challenge traditional enterprise threat models by showing that:

    • Internal systems can be abused without full compromise.
    • DoS risks extend beyond public-facing services.
    • Large-scale DDoS potential exists without a typical botnet build-out.

    SafeBreach warns that unpatched systems and exposed Domain Controllers significantly increase the risk of both network disruption and targeted outages.

    Attackers Target the Foundations of Crypto: Smart Contracts Under Threat

    Cybercriminals are increasingly turning their attention to smart contracts, the self-executing programs that power decentralized finance (DeFi) and other blockchain-based applications, not only exploiting vulnerabilities in poorly written code but also crafting malicious contracts designed to deceive and drain cryptocurrency wallets.

    A recent scam analyzed by SentinelOne involved a fraudulent Solidity-based smart contract promoted through YouTube tutorials and similar channels. Victims were told they could profit from automated trading arbitrage bots that exploit minor cryptocurrency price differences for maximal extractable value (MEV). In reality, the contract contained obfuscated transfer functions that siphoned funds to an attacker-controlled externally owned account (EOA).

    In one high-profile incident, a single malicious contract drained roughly 244.9 ETH, about $935,000, from victims. Smaller but still significant thefts included a $28,000 Ethereum wallet and another worth $15,000.

    Data from SolidityScan, a CredShields project, shows that since 2020 over $14 billion has been stolen via blockchain manipulation and cryptocurrency fraud. More than 55% of these losses were due to vulnerabilities or bugs in smart contracts, with the remainder attributed to private-key leaks and rug pulls—instances where developers intentionally withdraw all funds from a project.

    Shashank, CEO of CredShields and co-lead of the OWASP Smart Contract Top 10 project, warns that while immutability and transparency are strengths of blockchain systems, these same traits can magnify the damage caused by coding flaws. Even a single logical error can cause irreversible financial loss and severe reputational damage.

    While the DeFi sector is the most visible victim, the risk extends to any industry integrating blockchain and smart contracts, finance, supply chain, logistics, and real estate among them. Common threats include:

    • Unauthorized access to contract functions or data.
    • Oracle manipulation, altering the data inputs that smart contracts rely upon.
    • Logic exploitation, taking advantage of flawed programming to redirect funds or alter outcomes.

    To mitigate these risks, experts recommend:

    • Maintaining an inventory of all deployed smart contracts.
    • Conducting independent audits before and after deployment.
    • Enabling real-time monitoring of contract behavior and transaction patterns.
    • Rejecting obfuscated code in business contracts.

    How Can Netizen Help?

    Founded in 2013, Netizen is an award-winning technology firm that develops and leverages cutting-edge solutions to create a more secure, integrated, and automated digital environment for government, defense, and commercial clients worldwide. Our innovative solutions transform complex cybersecurity and technology challenges into strategic advantages by delivering mission-critical capabilities that safeguard and optimize clients’ digital infrastructure. One example of this is our popular “CISO-as-a-Service” offering that enables organizations of any size to access executive level cybersecurity expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring internally. 

    Netizen also operates a state-of-the-art 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC) that delivers comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring solutions for defense, government, and commercial clients. Our service portfolio includes cybersecurity assessments and advisory, hosted SIEM and EDR/XDR solutions, software assurance, penetration testing, cybersecurity engineering, and compliance audit support. We specialize in serving organizations that operate within some of the world’s most highly sensitive and tightly regulated environments where unwavering security, strict compliance, technical excellence, and operational maturity are non-negotiable requirements. Our proven track record in these domains positions us as the premier trusted partner for organizations where technology reliability and security cannot be compromised.

    Netizen holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, and CMMI Level III SVC registrations demonstrating the maturity of our operations. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certified by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that has been named multiple times to the Inc. 5000 and Vet 100 lists of the most successful and fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Netizen has also been named a national “Best Workplace” by Inc. Magazine, a multiple awardee of the U.S. Department of Labor HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion for veteran hiring and retention, the Lehigh Valley Business of the Year and Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, and the recipient of dozens of other awards and accolades for innovation, community support, working environment, and growth.

    Looking for expert guidance to secure, automate, and streamline your IT infrastructure and operations? Start the conversation today.

  • What Are Human Digital Twins in Cybersecurity?

    What Are Human Digital Twins in Cybersecurity?

    Human Digital Twins (HDTs) are an emerging cybersecurity technology used to detect anomalies, insider threats, and credential abuse through behavioral modeling. In enterprise environments where identity threats and advanced persistent threats are growing, HDTs add a new layer of defense by monitoring how users interact with systems, not just who they are. Instead of relying solely on static identity or role-based access controls, HDTs use telemetry and behavioral baselines to continuously verify the authenticity of user actions.

    This article explains how Human Digital Twins work, their technical structure, and how they fit into modern cybersecurity frameworks such as Zero Trust and behavioral threat detection.

    Behavioral Modeling and User Context in Security

    Unlike identity and access management (IAM) tools, which define entitlements, HDTs construct a behavioral profile of each user over time. This model includes metrics such as:

    • Login frequency and session duration
    • Application usage patterns
    • File access sequences
    • Typing cadence and cursor movement
    • Common destinations within internal tools

    These user behavior profiles are continuously updated, allowing organizations to detect account compromise, suspicious lateral movement, or early signs of insider threats, even if access credentials remain valid.

    Detecting Credential Misuse and Insider Threats

    One of the most valuable uses for Human Digital Twins in cybersecurity is detecting compromised accounts. Attackers often bypass firewalls and endpoint protection by stealing valid credentials. Traditional authentication tools may not recognize that an attacker is inside the network if login data appears normal.

    HDTs fill this gap by analyzing what a user does after logging in. For example, if a legitimate employee typically accesses HR tools and suddenly starts querying engineering repositories, the system can compare the behavior to the twin’s baseline and assign a behavioral risk score. This helps detect threat actors using compromised credentials in real time.

    In insider threat scenarios, HDTs can detect subtle behavioral shifts that do not trigger predefined rules but still represent elevated risk. A user working irregular hours or copying atypical data volumes may be flagged for review even if policies were not explicitly violated.

    Technical Architecture of Human Digital Twins

    The underlying architecture of an HDT solution involves telemetry collection, feature extraction, and model training. High-volume data from endpoints, cloud environments, and network sensors is ingested into behavioral analytics engines. These engines use time-series analysis and unsupervised learning to build individual behavioral baselines.

    Integrating HDTs with SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) and SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) platforms allows behavioral alerts to trigger automated responses—such as MFA reauthentication, session termination, or privilege escalation blocks.

    Role of HDTs in Zero Trust Security

    Human Digital Twins are highly effective in Zero Trust architectures, which emphasize continuous verification and risk-based access decisions. While Zero Trust often focuses on identity verification and device posture, HDTs add behavioral fidelity to those assessments.

    For instance, a Zero Trust access gateway may permit a login attempt based on a strong password and healthy device. However, if the user then begins accessing systems they have never used, or transfers files atypically, the HDT system can intervene. This enables adaptive access control, where user privileges are dynamically adjusted based on behavioral context.

    Addressing Behavioral Drift and Privacy Concerns

    Like all AI-driven cybersecurity tools, HDTs are not without operational challenges. Behavioral drift, normal shifts in a user’s work habits due to job role changes or business processes, must be accounted for to reduce false positives. Regular retraining and baseline recalibration are necessary to maintain high detection fidelity.

    Privacy is another consideration. Because HDTs collect detailed interaction data, organizations must implement strong governance policies, including data minimization, pseudonymization, and strict access controls over behavioral models. Compliance with data protection laws such as GDPR and FISMA is essential when deploying HDTs in regulated environments.

    How Can Netizen Help?

    Founded in 2013, Netizen is an award-winning technology firm that develops and leverages cutting-edge solutions to create a more secure, integrated, and automated digital environment for government, defense, and commercial clients worldwide. Our innovative solutions transform complex cybersecurity and technology challenges into strategic advantages by delivering mission-critical capabilities that safeguard and optimize clients’ digital infrastructure. One example of this is our popular “CISO-as-a-Service” offering that enables organizations of any size to access executive level cybersecurity expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring internally. 

    Netizen also operates a state-of-the-art 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC) that delivers comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring solutions for defense, government, and commercial clients. Our service portfolio includes cybersecurity assessments and advisory, hosted SIEM and EDR/XDR solutions, software assurance, penetration testing, cybersecurity engineering, and compliance audit support. We specialize in serving organizations that operate within some of the world’s most highly sensitive and tightly regulated environments where unwavering security, strict compliance, technical excellence, and operational maturity are non-negotiable requirements. Our proven track record in these domains positions us as the premier trusted partner for organizations where technology reliability and security cannot be compromised.

    Netizen holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, and CMMI Level III SVC registrations demonstrating the maturity of our operations. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certified by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that has been named multiple times to the Inc. 5000 and Vet 100 lists of the most successful and fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Netizen has also been named a national “Best Workplace” by Inc. Magazine, a multiple awardee of the U.S. Department of Labor HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion for veteran hiring and retention, the Lehigh Valley Business of the Year and Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, and the recipient of dozens of other awards and accolades for innovation, community support, working environment, and growth.

    Looking for expert guidance to secure, automate, and streamline your IT infrastructure and operations? Start the conversation today.

  • Why Every SMB Needs a Data Retention and Deletion Policy

    Why Every SMB Needs a Data Retention and Deletion Policy

    Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are accumulating data at a faster pace than ever, yet many lack a formal data retention policy or defined data deletion policy. Without clear governance, this unchecked data sprawl increases exposure to cyberattacks, legal challenges, and regulatory violations. For organizations operating with limited resources, this can be especially dangerous.

    Developing and enforcing a data lifecycle framework is no longer a best practice, it is a necessity. From compliance mandates to cost savings and risk mitigation, a well-designed policy supports both operational and security goals. This guide outlines why a data retention and deletion policy is critical for SMBs and how to implement one effectively.

    The Hidden Risk of Storing Too Much Data

    In many SMB environments, legacy files, inactive accounts, and old backups remain untouched for years. While this may seem harmless, excessive data retention introduces significant cybersecurity and compliance risks. The more sensitive data stored unnecessarily, the larger your attack surface and the greater your liability.

    Old data increases the likelihood of:

    • Regulatory non-compliance, especially for data privacy laws like GDPR or CCPA.
    • Greater impact from a data breach, particularly if PII (personally identifiable information) is exposed.
    • Slower incident response and complex eDiscovery processes.
    • Higher costs for cloud storage, log aggregation, or backup management.

    Consider an SMB in financial services that retains customer records indefinitely. If those records are exfiltrated during a ransomware attack, regulators may penalize the organization for violating data minimization principles—even if the breach was properly disclosed.

    Data Retention and Regulatory Compliance

    Numerous laws dictate how long businesses must keep and when they must delete certain types of records. For SMBs handling sensitive data, understanding these timelines is essential for avoiding fines and legal consequences.

    Examples include:

    • HIPAA: Requires healthcare organizations to keep records for at least 6 years.
    • FINRA/SEC: Financial communications must be retained for up to 7 years.
    • GDPR/CCPA: Require personal data to be deleted when no longer necessary.
    • IRS regulations: Recommend retention of tax records for 7 years.

    Failing to implement a data retention policy aligned with these standards puts small businesses at direct risk of sanctions and audit failures.

    Building a Data Retention and Deletion Policy That Works

    An effective data retention and deletion policy should be practical, enforceable, and regularly reviewed. It must clearly define how long specific data types are retained and how they are securely destroyed. Integration with existing cybersecurity tools is key.

    Key components of a sound policy:

    • Classification of data types (e.g., HR, financial, customer, operational)
    • Clear retention periods based on legal and business requirements
    • Mapping of storage locations including cloud platforms and on-prem systems
    • Secure deletion methods to support data disposal compliance
    • Defined roles and automation rules for enforcement and auditing

    Where possible, SMBs should leverage their existing infrastructure, such as Microsoft 365 retention labels, Google Vault, or endpoint protection platforms, to automate lifecycle enforcement.

    Cybersecurity Benefits of Data Deletion

    Beyond compliance, enforcing a data deletion policy significantly strengthens SMB cybersecurity. Sensitive information retained longer than necessary becomes an easy target for threat actors. Breached backups, archive drives, or inactive cloud folders can still contain valuable credentials, financial records, or customer PII.

    Removing unneeded data:

    • Reduces the amount of information attackers can access
    • Lowers the scope of breach disclosures
    • Simplifies security monitoring and incident response
    • Improves endpoint performance and storage hygiene

    This is especially relevant as ransomware groups increasingly extort stolen data rather than just encrypting it. Effective secure data disposal limits what attackers can steal.

    Practical Tools for Enforcement

    Many data lifecycle management tasks can be handled through affordable or built-in tools. Examples include:

    • Microsoft Purview and Compliance Center: Manages retention rules for Exchange, Teams, SharePoint.
    • Google Workspace Vault: Handles retention and legal holds for Gmail and Drive.
    • Endpoint DLP tools: Flag or restrict data exfiltration from unmanaged systems.
    • Backup platforms: Automatically prune expired recovery points based on defined rules.

    These solutions help enforce your data retention policy at scale and produce audit logs showing proof of compliance.

    Why SMBs Must Act Now

    Unregulated data retention is no longer just a storage issue, it is a cybersecurity liability. A defined data retention and deletion policy enables small businesses to stay compliant, improve security posture, and prepare for potential audits or legal holds. Whether you store financial documents, employee records, or customer data, minimizing unnecessary retention is critical.

    How Can Netizen Help?

    Netizen ensures that security gets built-in and not bolted-on. Providing advanced solutions to protect critical IT infrastructure such as the popular “CISO-as-a-Service” wherein companies can leverage the expertise of executive-level cybersecurity professionals without having to bear the cost of employing them full time. 

    We also offer compliance support, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and more security-related services for businesses of any size and type. 

    Additionally, Netizen offers an automated and affordable assessment tool that continuously scans systems, websites, applications, and networks to uncover issues. Vulnerability data is then securely analyzed and presented through an easy-to-interpret dashboard to yield actionable risk and compliance information for audiences ranging from IT professionals to executive managers.

    Netizen is an ISO 27001:2013 (Information Security Management), ISO 9001:2015, and CMMI V 2.0 Level 3 certified company. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor for hiring and retention of military veterans. 

    Questions or concerns? Feel free to reach out to us any time –

    https://www.netizen.net/contact

  • Why Federal Cybersecurity Needs a Zero Trust Model

    Why Federal Cybersecurity Needs a Zero Trust Model

    As federal agencies adopt cloud-first mandates and hybrid work becomes the norm, the traditional idea of a secure network perimeter no longer applies. Critical systems, identity infrastructure, and data now span multiple environments, including FedRAMP-authorized cloud platforms and mobile endpoints. In this environment, static perimeter-based security models aren’t just ineffective, they introduce risk. Addressing this requires a cybersecurity model grounded in continuous verification, least privilege enforcement, and adaptive access controls. That model is Zero Trust.

    Why Traditional Federal Cybersecurity Models Fall Short in 2025

    Legacy architectures focused on securing physical data centers and trusted internal networks. Firewalls and VPNs once acted as the gatekeepers, but modern infrastructures are increasingly decentralized. Agencies now manage a mix of cloud services, mobile workforces, and inter-agency collaboration, making it impossible to rely on a fixed Trusted Internet Connection (TIC) model alone.

    Despite this evolution, federal agencies still need to uphold the tenets of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA). The challenge is applying these principles in dynamic environments. This shift has prompted frameworks like OMB M-22-09, which mandates federal Zero Trust implementation through measurable maturity outcomes.

    What Zero Trust Security Means for Government Agencies

    Zero Trust security assumes no actor, system, or connection is trustworthy by default. Each access request must be continuously evaluated based on identity, device health, location, and risk context.

    For federal agencies, Zero Trust became a mandate with Executive Order 14028. That order required all agencies to adopt Zero Trust architecture by the end of fiscal year 2024. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) outlined a national strategy aligned with CISA’s Zero Trust Maturity Model (ZTMM). The model emphasizes granular enforcement across five pillars:

    • Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)
    • Endpoint and Device Trust
    • Secure Network Infrastructure
    • Application Security and Workload Protection
    • Data Classification and Encryption

    Each pillar is subject to continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM) and dynamic policy enforcement based on context,: user behavior, device posture, access time, and location.

    Avoiding Fragmentation in Federal Zero Trust Implementation

    A common pitfall in agency Zero Trust efforts is deploying tools in isolation, what CISA refers to as “siloed maturity.” For example, implementing endpoint detection without integrating identity-aware proxy enforcement can allow compromised users to retain privileges. Without cross-pillar telemetry, gaps emerge.

    Disjointed deployments lead to:

    • Delayed mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR)
    • Increased total cost of ownership (TCO) across tools
    • Inconsistent audit trails and compliance gaps during FISMA reviews

    Agencies need unified security telemetry across identity, endpoint, and data layers to meet both OMB timelines and TIC 3.0 policy enforcement capabilities.

    Key Questions for Designing Federal Zero Trust Architecture

    Before evaluating vendors or solutions, CISOs should conduct a system-level assessment framed around the following:

    • Who are the authorized identities accessing systems? (agency staff, contractors, interagency users)
    • What types of sensitive workloads are being accessed? (e.g., FOIA documents, law enforcement databases, CUI)
    • Where is this data hosted? (FedRAMP High cloud environments, internal enclave systems)
    • How should access be monitored and enforced? (via SSO, MFA, real-time session control, device health attestation)

    This aligns with CISA’s call to implement Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), continuous risk scoring, and adaptive access policies.

    Integrated Security for Federal Environments

    Rather than layering point solutions on top of legacy infrastructure, agencies should adopt platforms that natively integrate controls across ZTMM pillars, particularly ICAM, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and Data Loss Prevention (DLP).

    Platforms should support:

    • Attribute-based access control (ABAC) mapped to NIST 800-53 controls
    • FedRAMP-Moderate or High baseline authorization
    • Integration with Security Operations Centers (SOCs) and SIEM tools like Wazuh or Elastic Security

    A unified Zero Trust platform simplifies policy management and centralizes logging, improving both situational awareness and audit readiness.

    How Can Netizen Help?

    Founded in 2013, Netizen is an award-winning technology firm that develops and leverages cutting-edge solutions to create a more secure, integrated, and automated digital environment for government, defense, and commercial clients worldwide. Our innovative solutions transform complex cybersecurity and technology challenges into strategic advantages by delivering mission-critical capabilities that safeguard and optimize clients’ digital infrastructure. One example of this is our popular “CISO-as-a-Service” offering that enables organizations of any size to access executive level cybersecurity expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring internally. 

    Netizen also operates a state-of-the-art 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC) that delivers comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring solutions for defense, government, and commercial clients. Our service portfolio includes cybersecurity assessments and advisory, hosted SIEM and EDR/XDR solutions, software assurance, penetration testing, cybersecurity engineering, and compliance audit support. We specialize in serving organizations that operate within some of the world’s most highly sensitive and tightly regulated environments where unwavering security, strict compliance, technical excellence, and operational maturity are non-negotiable requirements. Our proven track record in these domains positions us as the premier trusted partner for organizations where technology reliability and security cannot be compromised.

    Netizen holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, and CMMI Level III SVC registrations demonstrating the maturity of our operations. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certified by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that has been named multiple times to the Inc. 5000 and Vet 100 lists of the most successful and fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Netizen has also been named a national “Best Workplace” by Inc. Magazine, a multiple awardee of the U.S. Department of Labor HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion for veteran hiring and retention, the Lehigh Valley Business of the Year and Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, and the recipient of dozens of other awards and accolades for innovation, community support, working environment, and growth.

    Looking for expert guidance to secure, automate, and streamline your IT infrastructure and operations? Start the conversation today.

  • Microsoft August 2025 Patch Tuesday Fixes 107 Flaws, Publicly Disclosed Kerberos Zero-Day

    Microsoft August 2025 Patch Tuesday Fixes 107 Flaws, Publicly Disclosed Kerberos Zero-Day

    Microsoft’s August 2025 Patch Tuesday delivers fixes for 107 vulnerabilities, including one publicly disclosed zero-day in Windows Kerberos. Thirteen vulnerabilities are classified as critical, with nine involving remote code execution, three tied to information disclosure, and one elevation of privilege flaw.

    Breakdown of Vulnerabilities

    • 44 Elevation of Privilege vulnerabilities
    • 35 Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities
    • 18 Information Disclosure vulnerabilities
    • 9 Spoofing vulnerabilities
    • 4 Denial of Service vulnerabilities

    These totals exclude security fixes for Mariner, Azure, and Microsoft Edge addressed earlier in the month. Non-security updates released include Windows 11 KB5063878 and KB5063875, and Windows 10 KB5063709.

    Zero-Day Vulnerability

    CVE-2025-53779 | Windows Kerberos Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

    This publicly disclosed flaw allows an authenticated attacker to escalate privileges to domain administrator over a network. The issue arises from relative path traversal in Kerberos, which can be abused if an attacker has elevated access to specific dMSA attributes:

    • msds-groupMSAMembership: Enables the user to utilize the dMSA.
    • msds-ManagedAccountPrecededByLink: Allows specifying a user the dMSA can act on behalf of.

    The vulnerability was disclosed in a technical report by Yuval Gordon of Akamai in May 2025.

    Other Critical Vulnerabilities

    This month’s critical patches also address multiple remote code execution flaws in core Windows components and Microsoft Office, as well as high-impact information disclosure issues that could lead to data exposure in enterprise environments.

    Adobe and Other Vendor Updates

    Several major vendors released important updates alongside Microsoft’s August patches:

    • 7-Zip: Patched a path traversal flaw leading to potential remote code execution.
    • Adobe: Issued emergency updates for AEM Forms zero-days after public proof-of-concept code appeared.
    • Cisco: Released patches for WebEx and Identity Services Engine vulnerabilities.
    • Fortinet: Updated FortiOS, FortiManager, FortiSandbox, and FortiProxy to address multiple security issues.
    • Google: Fixed two actively exploited Qualcomm vulnerabilities in Android.
    • Microsoft: Issued a separate warning for CVE-2025-53786, a Microsoft Exchange flaw that could be used to hijack cloud environments.
    • Proton: Patched its iOS Authenticator app to prevent plaintext logging of sensitive TOTP secrets.
    • SAP: Released updates for multiple products, with some vulnerabilities rated at 9.9 severity.
    • Trend Micro: Published a temporary fix tool for an actively exploited Apex One RCE flaw, with a full update to follow.
    • WinRAR: Issued an update for an actively exploited path traversal vulnerability that could lead to RCE.

    Recommendations for Users and Administrators

    Given the public disclosure of CVE-2025-53779, organizations should prioritize patching Windows Kerberos services, especially in domain controller environments. Limiting access to sensitive dMSA attributes, monitoring for abnormal Kerberos activity, and applying the August updates across Windows systems is recommended.

    Attention should also be given to third-party patches from vendors such as Adobe, Cisco, and Fortinet, particularly where vulnerabilities are actively exploited.

    How Can Netizen Help?

    Founded in 2013, Netizen is an award-winning technology firm that develops and leverages cutting-edge solutions to create a more secure, integrated, and automated digital environment for government, defense, and commercial clients worldwide. Our innovative solutions transform complex cybersecurity and technology challenges into strategic advantages by delivering mission-critical capabilities that safeguard and optimize clients’ digital infrastructure. One example of this is our popular “CISO-as-a-Service” offering that enables organizations of any size to access executive level cybersecurity expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring internally. 

    Netizen also operates a state-of-the-art 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC) that delivers comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring solutions for defense, government, and commercial clients. Our service portfolio includes cybersecurity assessments and advisory, hosted SIEM and EDR/XDR solutions, software assurance, penetration testing, cybersecurity engineering, and compliance audit support. We specialize in serving organizations that operate within some of the world’s most highly sensitive and tightly regulated environments where unwavering security, strict compliance, technical excellence, and operational maturity are non-negotiable requirements. Our proven track record in these domains positions us as the premier trusted partner for organizations where technology reliability and security cannot be compromised.

    Netizen holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, and CMMI Level III SVC registrations demonstrating the maturity of our operations. We are a proud Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certified by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that has been named multiple times to the Inc. 5000 and Vet 100 lists of the most successful and fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Netizen has also been named a national “Best Workplace” by Inc. Magazine, a multiple awardee of the U.S. Department of Labor HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion for veteran hiring and retention, the Lehigh Valley Business of the Year and Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, and the recipient of dozens of other awards and accolades for innovation, community support, working environment, and growth.

    Looking for expert guidance to secure, automate, and streamline your IT infrastructure and operations? Start the conversation today.

  • NETIZEN EARNS A SPOT ON THE INC. 5000 LIST OF THE NATION’S MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES FOR A THIRD TIME

    NETIZEN EARNS A SPOT ON THE INC. 5000 LIST OF THE NATION’S MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES FOR A THIRD TIME

    Allentown, PA: Netizen Corporation, an ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, and CMMI Level III certified Veteran Owned provider of cybersecurity and related solutions, was named for a third time to the annual Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s most successful businesses. Established in 2013 and currently led by partners Michael Hawkins as CEO and Akhil Handa as COO, Netizen is an award-winning technology firm that develops and leverages cutting-edge solutions to create a more secure, integrated, and automated digital environment for government, defense, and commercial clients worldwide. Their innovative solutions transform complex cybersecurity, compliance, and technology challenges into strategic advantages by delivering mission-critical capabilities that safeguard and optimize clients’ digital infrastructure and operations.

    The Inc. 5000 list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment— its independent small and midsized businesses. Companies such as Microsoft, Dell, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees of the Inc. 5000.

    In 2019, Netizen ranked 47th overall, and, as such, was the nation’s fastest growing company in the cybersecurity and IT industry, the 2nd fastest growing business in all of Pennsylvania, the nation’s 2nd fastest growing Veteran-owned business, and achieved the highest ranking that a company based in the Lehigh Valley region had ever earned on the Inc. 5000 list with over 3,600% revenue growth, per the official program website.

    In 2020, Netizen ranked 184th, which placed them as the fastest growing company in the Lehigh Valley region, the nation’s 2nd fastest growing business in the cybersecurity and IT industry, the 2nd fastest growing business in all of Pennsylvania, and the 16th fastest growing Veteran-Owned business in America with over 2,222% revenue growth.

    In 2025, Netizen ranks 4,988th on Inc. Magazine’s list of America’s 5,000 fastest growing and most successful privately held businesses based on 2021 to 2024 growth.

    “Earning our third placement on the Inc. 5000 list—particularly after navigating the immense challenges of the pandemic era—reflects the exceptional capabilities and skill of our reorganized and reinvigorated team of highly trained professionals. They are truly the elite specialists of our industry,” said Michael Hawkins, CEO of Netizen Corporation. “This achievement is a direct result of our company’s commitment to technical excellence, curation of long-term customer relationships, and dedication to continuous personal and professional growth. Our renewed focus on these core tenets has driven both individual success and company-wide expansion these past several years while simultaneously increasing market diversification through expanded offerings.”

    About Netizen Corporation:

    Founded in September 2013, Netizen is a highly specialized provider of cybersecurity and related technology solutions. The company, a Small Business Administration (SBA) certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOSB), is headquartered in Allentown, PA with additional offices and staff locations in Virginia (DC Metro), South Carolina (Charleston), and Florida. Netizen holds ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, and CMMI Level III SVC registrations demonstrating the maturity of its operations.

    In addition to being one of the fastest-growing private businesses in the U.S. three times, Netizen has also been named a national “Best Workplace” by Inc. Magazine, a multiple awardee of the U.S. Department of Labor HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion for Veteran hiring and retention, the Lehigh Valley Business of the Year and Veteran-Owned Business of the Year, and the recipient of dozens of other awards and accolades for innovation, community support, working environment, and growth.

    Netizen operates a state-of-the-art 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC) in Allentown, PA that delivers comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring solutions for both government and commercial clients. Their service portfolio also includes cybersecurity assessments and advisory, software assurance, penetration testing, cybersecurity engineering, and compliance audit support. They specialize in serving organizations that operate within some of the world’s most highly sensitive and tightly regulated environments where unwavering security, strict compliance, technical excellence, and operational maturity are non-negotiable requirements. Their proven track record in these domains positions them as the premier trusted partner for organizations where technology reliability and security cannot be compromised.

    Learn more at Netizen.net.

    POINT OF CONTACT:

    • Tristan Boheim
    • Account Executive
    • Phone: 1-800-450-1773
    • Email:   press@Netizen.net