Enhancing Information Security Management in Organizations
Explore the importance of information security management in organizations, including sources of security threats, types of problems, and safeguard elements to protect against various threats. Study questions provide a comprehensive overview of security programs, technical safeguards, data safeguards, human safeguards, disaster preparedness, and incident response. Learn about phishing scams, elements of a security program, technical safeguards against malware, data safeguards, and human safeguards in preventing security threats.
Enhancing Information Security Management in Organizations
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Presentation Transcript
Management Information Systems Chapter 12 Information Security Management
This Could Happen to You • Emerson Pharmaceuticals • $800M in sales • 200 person IT department • DSI • $50M in sales • 1 person IT department • No in-house software development • Why the difference? • Directors and project managers at DSI are knowledgeable in IT • Support users at DSI want only reliable IT infrastructure • DSI has a wired/wireless LAN with two servers • What about security?
Study Questions • Q1. What are the sources and types of security threats? • Q2. What are the elements of a security program? • Q3. How can technical safeguards protect against security threats? • Q4. How can data safeguards protect against security threats? • Q5. How can human safeguards protect against security threats? • Q6. What is necessary for disaster preparedness? • Q7. How should organizations respond to security incidents?
Q1. Sources of Security Threats (1) • Human errors and mistakes • Accidental problems • Poorly written programs • Poorly designed procedures • Physical accidents • Malicious human activity • Intentional destruction of data • Destroying system components • Hackers • Virus and worm writers • Criminals • Terrorists
Sources of Security Threats (2) • Natural events and disasters • Fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches, tornados • Initial losses of capability • Losses from recovery actions
Types of Problems (1) • Unauthorized data disclosure • Human error • Posting private information in public place • Placing restricted information on searchable Web sites • Inadvertent disclosure • Malicious release • Pretexting • Phishing • Spoofing • Sniffing • Breaking into networks
Types of Problems (2) • Incorrect data modifications • Human errors • Incorrect entries and information • Procedural problems • Incorrect data modifications • Systems errors • Hacking • Faulty recovery actions • Faulty Service • Incorrect systems operations • Usurpation
Types of Problems (3) • Denial of service (DOS) • Human error • Attacks • Loss of infrastructure • Accidental • Theft • Terrorism • Natural disasters
MIS in Use: Phishing for Credit Card Accounts • Phishing • Operation that spoofs legitimate companies in an attempt to get credit card information, driver’s licenses, and other data • Usually initiated by e-mail request • Designed to cause you to click • Asks for personal data • May install spyware, malware, adware • Defenses • Know your purchases and deal directly with vendors • Implausibility of e-mail • Don’t be misled by legitimate-looking graphics, addresses
Q2. Elements of a Security Program • Senior management involvement • Must establish a security policy • Manage risk • Balancing costs and benefits • Safeguards • Protections against security threats • Incident response • Must plan for prior to incidents
Q3. Technical Safeguards (1) • Involves hardware and software components • User names and passwords • Identification • Authentication • Smart cards • Personal identification number (PIN) • Biometric authentication • Fingerprints, facial scans, retina scans • Single sign-on
Technical Safeguards (2) • Malware • Viruses • Worms • Trojan horses • Spyware programs • Adware • Malware safeguards • Antivirus and anti-spyware programs • Scan hard drive and e-mail • Update definitions • Open e-mail attachments only from known sources • Install updates promptly • Browse only reputable Web sites
Q4. Security Threat Protection by Data Safeguards • Data administration • Organization-wide function • Develops data policies • Enforce data standards • Database administration • Database function • Procedures for multi-user processing • Change control to structure • Protection of database
Data Safeguards • Encryption keys • Key escrow • Backup copies • Store off-premise • Check validity • Physical security • Lock and control access to facility • Maintain entry log • Third party contracts • Safeguards are written into contracts • Right to inspect premises and interview personnel
Q5. Human Safeguards (1) • People and procedure component • Access restriction requires authentication and account management • User accounts considerations • Define job tasks and responsibility • Separate duties and authorities • Grant least possible privileges • Document security sensitivity • Hiring and screening employees
Human Safeguards (2) • Employees need to be made aware of policies and procedures • Employee security training • Enforcement of policies • Define responsibilities • Hold employees accountable • Encourage compliance • Management attitude is crucial • Create policies and procedures for employee termination • Protect against malicious actions in unfriendly terminations • Remove user accounts and passwords
Non-Employee Personnel • Temporary personnel and vendors • Screen personnel • Training and compliance • Contract should include specific security provisions • Provide accounts and passwords with the least privileges • Public users • Harden Web site and facility • Take extraordinary measures to reduce system’s vulnerability • Partners and public that receive benefits from system • Protect these users from internal company security problems
Account Administration • Account management procedures • Creation of new accounts, modification of existing accounts, removal of terminated accounts • Password management • Acknowledgment forms • Change passwords frequently • Help-desk policies • Authentication of users who have lost password • Password should not be e-mailed
Guide: Metasecurity • Metadata is data about data • Securing the security system • Accounting controls • Storage of file accounts and passwords • Encryption and keys • Use temporary keys • Encourage reporting of flaws • Using white hats • Do you trust them? • What do you do with them when they’ve completed their check of system? • Code control
Information Systems Safety Procedures • Procedure types • Normal operations • Backup • Recovery • Should be standardized for each procedure type • Each procedure type should be defined for both system users and operations personnel • Different duties and responsibilities • Varying needs and goals
Security Monitoring • Activity log analyses • Firewall logs • DBMS log-in records • Web server logs • Security testing • In-house and external security professionals • Investigation of incidents • How did the problem occur? • Lessons learned • Indication of potential vulnerability and corrective actions
Q6. Disaster Preparedness • Disaster • Substantial loss of infrastructure caused by acts of nature, crime, or terrorism • Best safeguard is location of infrastructure • Backup processing centers in geographically removed site • Create backups for critical resources • Hot and cold sites • Train and rehearse cutover of operations
Q7. Incident Response • Organization must have plan • Detail reporting and response • Centralized reporting of incidents • Allows for application of specialized expertise • Speed is of the essence • Preparation pays off • Identify critical employees and contact numbers • Training is vital • Practice incidence response
How Does Knowledge from This Chapter Help You at DSI? • Use it personally • Limit DSI’s exposure • Limit your own exposure • Create strong passwords • Follow appropriate data procedures • Do not store sensitive data on computer • Limit data on laptops • Recognize phishing attacks • Send information on disaster preparedness and incidence response to management