Chris Hopkins

June 23, 2024

CYSE368

Reflection Paper 5

This week, my primary assignment involved using Trellix Skyhigh, a powerful tool designed to evaluate and categorize URLs based on their risk level and the status of their associated IP addresses. Trellix Skyhigh is integral to our security strategy, helping us to swiftly identify and mitigate potential threats to our network.

Mr. James Furguson provided me with a spreadsheet containing batches of URLs that needed assessment. My task was to upload these URLs into Trellix Skyhigh, which would then analyze them to determine their risk levels. The tool categorizes each URL based on a set of predefined criteria, effectively streamlining the threat identification process. Once uploaded, Trellix Skyhigh’s automated system began its review, identifying URLs that posed significant risks and automatically blocking them. This automation is crucial, as it allows us to rapidly respond to threats without requiring manual intervention for each URL, thus ensuring that immediate dangers are mitigated swiftly.

However, Trellix Skyhigh’s automated system does not catch every potential threat. Therefore, a key part of my role was to manually review URLs that the automated system did not flag. This involved a detailed examination of each URL to identify any additional risks that might not have been initially detected. After thoroughly reviewing these URLs, I manually blocked any that posed a threat, ensuring our network security was as comprehensive as possible. 

This assignment has been instrumental in advancing my skills in using sophisticated security tools like Trellix Skyhigh. It has also provided me with valuable experience in threat assessment and manual risk management, underscoring the importance of a dual approach that leverages both automation and human oversight. This experience has reinforced the need for ongoing vigilance and proactive security measures, better equipping me to handle complex cybersecurity challenges in the future.

Photos of URLs and Finished URL feedback:

Referenced Works

“TrustedSource.” McAfee, https://trustedsource.org/

 Accessed June 2, 2024.