Top 9 file integrity monitoring (FIM) best practices

File integrity monitoring (FIM) is crucial for detecting unauthorized modifications to critical file systems, particularly in cloud environments, to prevent attacks such as malware infiltration or container escapes. The article outlines best practices for implementing FIM, including maintaining an asset inventory, defining appropriate permissions, calculating and storing checksums as baselines, and using image scanning and runtime policies to detect unauthorized changes. It emphasizes the importance of compliance with standards such as PCI/DSS, NIST SP 800-53, ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA, and suggests automating alert and response mechanisms to swiftly address detected threats. By adhering to these practices, organizations can enhance their security posture and reduce the risk of infrastructure compromise, while tools like Sysdig Secure can assist in managing security risks and conducting forensic investigations after incidents.