Organizations are confronted with different difficulties in protecting sensitive information and regulating the same so as to ensure that appropriate controls are in place.
Here, within this article, we will take an in-depth look into the aspects of Information Security Governance: security policies, personnel security, and categories and types of access control. For this purpose, we are going to describe a generic organization scenario that embeds all the discussed topics in its narration.
The Scenario: Approach by a Generic Organization
Imagine a mid-sized organization working on the provision of cloud-based services across diverse industries. TechSolutions, as it were, realizes increased growth in business but now feels the dire need to adopt an appropriate Information Security Governance framework that will protect sensitive client information and ensure that regulatory requirements are complied with.
Information Security Governance
1. Security Policy and Related Documents TechSolutions initiates writing a comprehensive security policy that details the approach of the organization towards information security. The security policy would contain:
- Acceptable Use Policy: Guidelines for employees on responsible use of company resources.
- Incident Response Plan: Methodology to address security incidents, such as event detection, containment, and recovery.
- Data Classification Policy: Specifies the requirements for classifying data based on sensitivity and the related level of protection.
Example: The security policy requires annual training in data protection and incident reporting by all employees to understand their responsibilities.
2. Personnel Security TechSolutions further extends its security by adopting a personnel security program which includes:
- Background Checks: Proper background checks of newly hired employees to ensure that the employees can be trusted.
- Training: Regular training regarding best cybersecurity practices and the importance of protection for sensitive information.
Example: TechSolutions ensures that each new recruit has undergone the program on cybersecurity training before allowing access to sensitive data about their clients; through such, they are abreast of all forms of threats and their actions that will hamper the security from being compromised.
Access Control Defensive Categories and Types
Moreover, TechSolutions implements access control in their security framework to protect sensitive information .
1. Preventive Controls These are controls that are implemented to prevent unauthorized access to the systems and information. TechSolutions institutes:
- Firewalls: To block unauthorized traffic and maintain the security of internal networks.
- Encryption: To protect both data at rest and data in transit, making it unreadable to any third party even if intercepted.
Sample: TechSolutions encrypts all data from customers stored in its cloud environment. In other words, it is well out of reach for unauthorized staff.
2. Detective Controls Detective controls detect unauthorized access attempts. TechSolutions uses
- Intrusion Detection Systems: These monitor network traffic against potentially suspicious activities.
- Log Monitoring: This involves going through access logs to find out abnormal and unauthorized attempts at accessing information.
Example: The IDS would notify the security team upon encountering unusual activity every time for immediate response to any looming threat.
3. Corrective Controls These are measures put in place to correct issues after a security incident has occurred. TechSolutions has:
- Incident Response Teams: Those that are trained to respond in case of any breach, and to reduce potential damage.
- Data Backup Solutions: Backups to restore data after corruption or loss.
Example: In the event of a minor data breach, TechSolutions would roll out its incident response team to investigate so that any future incidents could be avoided.
4. Recovery Controls Recovery controls are those that help restore systems and data once a breach happens. Tech Solutions has the following:
- Disaster Recovery Plans: These are detailed plans outlining resumption of operations after a major incident has occurred.
- Regular Backups: Ensuring data is regularly backed up so that in case anything happens, losses are minimal.
Example: When TechSolutions faced the ransomware attack, it used its disaster recovery plan to restore such affected systems from backups with minimal disruption.
5. Deterrent Controls These controls include those that discourage attackers from attempting unauthorized access. TechSolutions uses:
- Security Signage: This is a notice indicating that the premises are monitored and unauthorized access is not allowed.
- Surveillance Cameras: These would track the physical penetration into sensitive areas.
Example: There are security cameras in the server room that help prevent intruders from going near them.
6. Compensating Controls When implementation of primary controls is not feasible, compensating controls are deployed. TechSolutions would:
- Implement Stronger Password Policies: In absence of multi-factor authentication, they implement stringent password policies.
- Employee Training: For recognition and reporting of phishing and other social engineering attacks.
Example: TechSolutions enforces password changes every 90 days and has also trained employees on identifying phishing emails.
Understanding Access Controls Comparison The strengths and weaknesses of different types of access control form a basis for the road to developing a comprehensive security strategy. TechSolutions continuously evaluates different access controls with respect to applicability for an organization’s security needs and risk profile.
Conclusion
In the case of TechSolutions, some very critical components of Information Security Governance and Access Control were discussed. Robust security policies, personnel security, and a number of access control measures will significantly help any organization improve its security posture and protect sensitive information. The notions here are important for a cybersecurity professional to learn in order to help them meet the challenges of the current complexities associated with information protection in the digital world.