Skip to content

File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) for Security, Audit, and Compliance

Ensure the integrity of your sensitive files and enhance your security, audit, and compliance posture with a fully managed and monitored solution. For many organizations, steady-state monitoring to protect sensitive files isn't just a security best practice; it's a regulatory mandate. Simplify and fortify your security strategy by integrating File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) with the Pylon Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Service.

Key Features of Pylon's File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) Service

  • File Activity Alerts: Receive notifications when files are created, accessed, deleted, or modified, as well as when group ownership of files changes.

  • Granular Controls: Utilize fine-grained controls and filters to precisely target specific files. Conduct scans at scheduled intervals or opt for real-time monitoring for continuous protection.

  • Behavior Correlation: Analyze file-level behavior alongside other security and audit activities to identify potentially harmful network activity.

What is File Integrity Monitoring (FIM)?

In today's IT landscape, critical data and applications are often stored in files. This includes operating systems, application binaries, configuration data, sensitive organizational data, logs, and security-related information. Any compromise of these files can lead to significant financial and reputational damage to organizations. Thus, ensuring the integrity and security of critical files is more crucial than ever, and that's where File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) services come into play.

FIM is the process of regularly checking vital files, such as operating system files, utility programs, databases, and application files, to determine if they have been tampered with or corrupted. FIM accomplishes this by validating files against trusted versions, identifying unexpected and unauthorized changes, and ensuring file integrity. In summary, FIM serves several essential purposes:

  • Detecting Unauthorized Changes: Identifies unauthorized changes and illicit activities within critical files.

  • Change Management: Facilitates change management by diagnosing unwanted alterations to files.

  • Logging and Interpretation: Logs and interprets changes, determining if they pose a security risk.

  • Alerting and Forensics: Provides alerts in case of improper changes and aids in forensic investigations.

FIM and Regulatory Compliance

File Integrity Monitoring plays a pivotal role in addressing compliance requirements imposed by various standards and regulations, including:

  1. PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): FIM helps organizations in the financial sector maintain the integrity of cardholder data, ensuring compliance with PCI DSS.

  2. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): Healthcare entities rely on FIM to protect patient data and meet HIPAA's stringent data security requirements.

  3. GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): FIM assists organizations in safeguarding personal data and adhering to GDPR's data protection provisions.

  4. SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act): FIM ensures the integrity of financial data and supports compliance with SOX regulations, promoting accurate financial reporting.

By incorporating File Integrity Monitoring into your cybersecurity strategy, you not only enhance security but also align with the specific requirements of regulatory frameworks governing your industry.