Introduction
The first thing that we must consider about Information Security is that there is not a final destination at which we can arrive. IT Security is an ongoing set of processes and activities that requires attention and expertise on a daily basis. It is important to understand that systems are not secured by themselves and it is our responsibility to maintain and improve them periodically as required. It is of vital importance to establish the appropriate mechanisms and requirements in order to support the company’s CIA triad. The following report will provide you guidance about auditing and hardening techniques applied though the 7 Domains by utilizing IT Security Best Practices.
Elements of Compliance
PCI DSS
As established by PCI DSS, our company needs to include different aspects to securely handle and store credit cards information. From the perspective of the Information Security Analyst we must to consider the following points:
Build and maintain a secure Network which means apply security countermeasures to prevent a disruptive event or security incident. Never use vendors supplied defaults, such as default passwords and configurations. It is necessary to set up all requirements in order to protect Stored Card data. All data flow has to be encrypted by integrating the system to a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure). First World Bank needs to use Antivirus Softwares to protect the FWB network users and prevent Virus replication. It is crucial to develop and maintain secure systems and applications (PCI-DSS). FWB needs to restrict access to cardholder information. As part of the security policies a unique ID will be assigned to each user through the FWB Domain. All areas where card holder information is stored must reg...
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...departments makes it easier to keep a more secure network. Third ACL Layer is focus on allowing and denying access between hosts on networks. ACLs are written on both routers and firewalls. The key on creating strong ACLs is to concentrate on both ingress and egress ACLs.
Works Cited
Bind9. Bind9. 2012. http://www.bind9.net/.
GLBA. GLBA. March 2013. http://business.ftc.gov/privacy-and-security/gramm-leach-bliley-act.
National Institute of Standars and Technology. http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-128/sp800-128.pdf. n.d.
PCI Compliance Guide. Guide to PCI Data Security Standards. 2013. http://www.pcicomplianceguide.org/aboutpcicompliance.php.
SANS Institute. SANS Institute. 2003. http://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/threats/define-responsible-disclosure-932 (accessed 2013).
SQUID. 2013. www.squid-cache.org.
Zabbix. 2014. http://www.zabbix.com/.
Therefore, a reassessment of the controls we have in place would be necessary. Ed’s previously mentioned tasks, when completed, will lay the foundations for our revamped security system. To supplement this, we will need to rework our security policies and create an incident response plan. This will include creation of a RACI matrix so that everyone is aware what role they play in the successful implementation of this plan. As we are storing credit card data, we should also consider being PCI DSS compliant. This would require us to conduct an audit of our current systems and run it by a checklist to make sure we are up to the required standards of PCI. Furthermore, we will need to appoint a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer whose task will be to develop the company’s long term information security program which will align with the company’s
The way forward lays in a security risk management (SRM) approach that protects your company from the most severe threats to critical IT systems and operational processes. SRM helps your organization understand its assets and analyze the vulnerabilities it must address. Security risk management also facilitates internal and external compliance initiatives. It enables your organization to enforce policies that relate to the integrity of customer data, the configuration of corporate applications and databases, and the accuracy of financial reports. Companies that take a systematic approach to SRM reap additional benefits: operational efficiencies that lead to better management of resources and reduced costs. It's up to all the parties involved in the IT operations and security mission to demonstrate that they can take on the demands of this new challenge.
One of the tools that healthcare industry is trying to implement in order to achieve a reduction in the healthcare cost is the “Smart Card”. Introducing smart cards in the healthcare industry might be a solution to reduce the healthcare cost in a future. Smart card provides a unique opportunity to provide healthcare solution for security information access and management with data mobility and patient privacy.
Security helps the organization meet its business objectives or mission by protecting its physical and financial resources, reputation, legal position, employees, and other tangible and intangible assets through the selection and application of appropriate safeguards. Businesses should establish roles and responsibilities of all personnel and staff members. However, a Chief Information Officer should be appointed to direct an organization’s day to day management of information assets. Supporting roles are performed by the service providers and include systems operations, whose personnel design and operate the computer systems. Each team member must be held accountable in ensuring all of the rules and policies are being followed, as well as, understanding their roles, responsibilities and functions. Organizations information processing systems are vulnerable to many threats that can inflict various types of damage that can result in significant losses (Harris, 2014). Losses can come from actions from trusted employees that defraud the system, outside hackers, or from careless data entry. The major threat to information protection is error and omissions that data entry personnel, users, system operators and programmers make. To better protect business information resources, organizations should conduct a risk analysis to see what
This document will outline the policies and practices to be used and implemented in compliance with DoD specifications and standards for the contract of services to be provided to them. This report will consist of creating security controls based on auditing frameworks within the seven domains. Also to develop information assurance (IA) plan, a list of the requirements for each of the seven domains.
The points of weakness identified in the hack on TJX included lack of encryption in processing, vulnerability to wireless attacks, vulnerable USB ports, lack of processing logs, weak compliance practices, and auditing failures. In order to minimize its risk to a hack, TJX should have followed the COBIT or COSO frameworks for cyber security. Both frameworks outline how to plan and organize company values, assess the risk, implement control activities, and maintain and monitor its system to make sure the company’s IT system is as secure as possible. Either framework would have identified the weakness TJX faced when leaving credit card information unencrypted for a time as well as storing unencrypted information. If credit cards could not be processed
Issues that will fall under this umbrella will be management accountability, fiscal liability, internal and external audits and protection of stockholder and stakeholder interests” (Fisher, 2004). An area of concern for both customers and vendors will be how well the organization can protect the information system that houses secured information such as a customer’s financial institution, bank routing numbers and account numbers. The same will apply to a vendor’s need of protection. If an organizations electronic accounting data base where to be hacked into and the information were to fall into the wrong hands, a company could be destroyed financially. An organization’s performance review also plays a vital role in the homeland security assessment. In conducting a review on this level I will obtain information as to “how the senior leaders translate organizational performance review findings into priorities for continuous and breakthrough improvement of key business results and into opportunities for innovation” (Fisher,
Security consideration features for information systems will vary for the type of information held, but the basic features will hold the information securely. The major security features for the company systems will include a login using a user ID and password, user authorization, and priority access. The security features would also use the four access control models of Identification, Authentication, Authorization, and Accountability. The access control would use the mandatory access control (MAC), which is a structured and coordinated within a data scheme that rates the information collection and the users (Whiteman & Mattord, "Ch 6: Security Management Models," 2010). With the priority access, user authorization, and the user ID and password, the supervisor can authorize the correct access and rights to the employees. These features would prevent any employees who do not have access to the system from entering. The priority access will allow the employees to
Today, many people rely on computers to do homework, work, and create or store useful information. Therefore, it is important for the information on the computer to be stored and kept properly. It is also extremely important for people on computers to protect their computer from data loss, misuse, and abuse. For example, it is crucial for businesses to keep information they have secure so that hackers can't access the information. Home users also need to take means to make sure that their credit card numbers are secure when they are participating in online transactions.
And the bank need to change the appearance of credit card, they can use chip instead of holograms for increasing security of credit card. Because the chip card is able to identify customer’s personal information through the chip when this card pit in the payment device. On the other hand, the bank need to make some relevant educated guidance to customers (Balan and Popescu 2011), it can help them to safely use their credit cards. Furthermore, the bank staff have the responsibility to check the ATM whether has matters or not on time. Finally, if a customer lost or stolen their credit card, first they need to call the bank for freezing their account. The key is that customers should open message’s verification function when they cost or withdraw much money through credit card. These reasonable measures are able to help customers protect their credit card securities. But these measures also have more difficulties on some actions, for example, enacting law is not an easy thing. There need to make more efforts on many aspects. And for customers, relevant educated guidance on credit card which has being added to new functions on their phone are not available ways, possibly, because some people are not able to make any changes and then the bank do not force them to
Whitman, M., & Mattord, H. (2010). Management of information security. (3rd ed., p. 6). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
...o travel from one network to another. Banks can use multiple layers of firewalls to help prevent hackers from getting into your computer system, anti-virus software to prevent virus from infecting your computer and anti-spy ware software to prevent spy ware from collecting your sensitive data.
Colleges and universities are the leading adopters of smart cards security systems application for security reasons. The University Utara Malaysia (UUM) was the pioneer adopter and implementer of this system among universities in Malaysia (Mohammad, 2011). According to Sivalingam (2009), among the most reputable universities that use smart card security systems in its premises include University of Cambridge and University of Ottawa.
4.4 The system and network shall meet other security requirements passed by laws in state and federal levels such as Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Identity Thief. (NIST also have checklists and standards which can help make a system more secure or for the network to be secure).
Smart cards- They incorporate stored financial value and other important personal and financial information used for online payments.