Security
      • 25 Jul 2023
      • 3 Minutes to read
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      Security

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      Article Summary

      Security and privacy at xBit

      Security is at the heart of what we do—helping our customers improve their security and compliance posture starts with our own.

      xBit’s Security and Privacy team establishes policies and controls, monitors compliance with those controls, and proves our security and compliance to third-party auditors.

      Our policies are based on the following foundational principles:

      1. Access should be limited to only those with a legitimate business need and granted based on the principle of least privilege.
      2. Security controls should be implemented and layered according to the principle of defense-in-depth.
      3. Security controls should be applied consistently across all areas of the enterprise.
      4. The implementation of controls should be iterative, continuously maturing across the dimensions of improved effectiveness, increased auditability, and decreased friction.

      Data Protection

      Data at rest

      All datastores with customer data, in addition to S3 buckets, are encrypted at rest. Sensitive collections and tables also use row-level encryption.

      This means the data is encrypted even before it hits the database so that neither physical access, nor logical access to the database, is enough to read the most sensitive information.

      Data in transit

      xBit uses TLS 1.2 or higher everywhere data is transmitted over potentially insecure networks. We also use features such as HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) to maximize the security of our data in transit. Server TLS keys and certificates are managed by AWS and deployed via Application Load Balancers.

      Secret management

      Encryption keys are managed via AWS Key Management System (KMS). KMS stores key material in Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), which prevents direct access by any individuals, including employees of Amazon and xBit. The keys stored in HSMs are used for encryption and decryption via Amazon’s KMS APIs.

      Application secrets are encrypted and stored securely via AWS Secrets Manager and Parameter Store, and access to these values is strictly limited.

      Penetration testing

      xBit engages with one of the best penetration testing consulting firms in the industry at least annually.

      All areas of the xBit product and cloud infrastructure are in-scope for these assessments, and source code is fully available to the testers in order to maximize the effectiveness and coverage.

      We make summary penetration test reports available via our Trust Report.

      Vulnerability scanning

      xBit requires vulnerability scanning at key stages of our Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC):

      • Static analysis (SAST) testing of code during pull requests and on an ongoing basis
      • Software composition analysis (SCA) to identify known vulnerabilities in our software supply chain
      • Malicious dependency scanning to prevent the introduction of malware into our software supply chain
      • Dynamic analysis (DAST) of running applications
      • Network vulnerability scanning on a period basis
      • External attack surface management (EASM) continuously running to discover new external-facing assets

      Enterprise security

      Endpoint protection

      All corporate devices are centrally managed and are equipped with mobile device management software and anti-malware protection. Endpoint security alerts are monitored with 24/7/365 coverage. We use MDM software to enforce secure configuration of endpoints, such as disk encryption, screen lock configuration, and software updates.

      Secure remote access

      xBit secures remote access to internal resources using AWS VPN, that is an industry standard solution used by thousands of companies over the world.

      Security education

      xBit provides comprehensive security training to all employees upon onboarding and annually through educational modules within xBit’s own platform. In addition, all new employees attend a mandatory live onboarding session centered around key security principles. All new engineers also attend a mandatory live onboarding session focused on secure coding principles and practices.

      xBit’s security team shares regular threat briefings with employees to inform them of important security and safety-related updates that require special attention or action.

      Identity and access management

      xBit uses Google Workspaces to secure our identity and access management.

      xBit employees are granted access to applications based on their role, and automatically deprovisioned upon termination of their employment. Further access must be approved according to the policies set for each application.

      Vendor security

      xBit uses a risk-based approach to vendor security. Factors which influence the inherent risk rating of a vendor include:

      • Access to customer and corporate data
      • Integration with production environments
      • Potential damage to the xBit brand

      Once the inherent risk rating has been determined, the security of the vendor is evaluated in order to determine a residual risk rating and an approval decision for the vendor.

      Data privacy

      At xBit, data privacy is a first-class priority—we strive to be trustworthy stewards of all sensitive data.

      Regulatory compliance

      xBit evaluates updates to regulatory and emerging frameworks continuously to evolve our program.

      Privacy Policy

      View xBit’s Privacy Policy

      Looking to report a security concern?

      Please visit our Whistleblower Channel.