INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT

INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT Lecture 5: Developing the Security Program You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there. – Yogi Berra

Introduction: Information Security Program Information security program is used to describe the structure and organization of the effort that contains risks to the information assets of the organization Ex. Federal Government Security

Organizing for Security • Variables involved in structuring an information security program

Does Size Matter? :Approaches to Programs • Larger Organization • Medium Sized Organization • Small Business

Security: Very Large Organizations Security budgets often grow faster than IT budgets Even with a large budget, the average amount spent on security per user is still smaller than any other type of organization

Security: Large Organizations Security approach has often matured, integrating planning and policy into the organization’s culture One approach separates functions into four areas:

Security: Large Organizations (cont’d.) • The CISO has responsibility for information security functions • The deployment of full-time security personnel depends on: • Sensitivity of the information to be protected • Industry regulations • General profitability • Budgetary Constraints

Security: Medium-Sized Organizations • Ability to set policy, handle incidents, and effectively allocate resources is worse than any other size • May be large enough to implement a multi-tiered approach to security • Tend to ignore some security functions

Security: Small Organizations • Simple, centralized IT organizational model • Spend disproportionately more on security • Formal policy, planning, or security measures • Commonly outsource functions • Threats from insiders are less likely • Every employee knows every other employee

Components of the Security Program • Organization’s information security needs • Unique to the culture, size, and budget of the organization • Determining what level the information security program operates on depends on the organization’s strategic plan • Also the plan’s vision and mission statements • The CIO and CISO should use these two documents to formulate the mission statement for the information security program

Information Security Roles and Titles • Types of information security positions • Those that define • Those that build • Those that administer • A typical organization has a number of individuals with information security responsibilities

Information Security Roles and Titles (cont’d.) • While the titles used may be different, most of the job functions fit into one of the following: • Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or Chief Security Officer (CSO) • Security managers • Security administrators and analysts • Security technicians • Security staff • Help Desk CISO of Ebay

Implementing Security Education, Training, and Awareness Programs • SETA program • Benefits • Purpose

SETA: Security Education • Employees within information security may be encouraged to seek a formal education • Depth of knowledge • Some organizations may refer to the certifications offered in that field

SETA: Security Education Developing Education Program • Once the knowledge areas are identified, common knowledge areas are aggregated into teaching domains • Course design • Should enable a student to obtain the required knowledge and skills upon completion of the program • Identify the prerequisite knowledge for each class

SETA: Security Training • Involves providing detailed information and hands-on instruction • Management can either develop customized training or outsource • Customizing training for users: • Functional Background • Skill Level

SETA: Training Techniques • Using the wrong method can hinder the transfer of knowledge • Good training programs • Training is often for one or a few individuals • Other best practices

SETA: Training Techniques (cont’d.) • Selection of the training delivery method • Not always based on the best outcome for the trainee

SETA: Security Awareness • Less frequently implemented, but most effective security methods • Security awareness programs: • Set the stage for training by changing organizational attitudes to realize the importance of security and the adverse consequences of its failure • Remind users of the procedures to be followed

SETA: Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Best practices: • Focus on people • Refrain from using technical jargon • Use every available venue • Define learning objectives, state them clearly, and provide sufficient detail and coverage • Keep things light • Don’t overload the users • Help users understand their roles in InfoSec • Take advantage of in-house communications media • Make the awareness program formal • Plan and document all actions • Provide good information early, rather than perfect information late

SETA: Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Commandments of information security awareness training • Information security is a people issue • Speak their language • If they cannot see it, they will not learn it • Make your point, support it, and conclude it • Always let the recipients know how the behavior that you request will affect them • Formalize your training methodology • Always be timely

SETA: Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Designed to modify any employee behavior that endangers the security of the organization’s information • Effective programs make employees accountable for their actions • Dissemination and enforcement of policy become easier • Demonstrating due care and due diligence can help indemnify the institution against lawsuits

SETA: Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Awareness can take on different forms for particular audiences • A security awareness program can use many methods to deliver its message • Recognize that people tend to practice a tuning out process (acclimation)

SETA: Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Many security awareness components are available at little or no cost • Others can be very expensive • Examples of security awareness components • Videos • Another One • Posters and banners • Lectures and conferences • Computer-based training

Management of Information Security, 3rd ed. Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Examples of security awareness components (cont’d.) • Newsletters • Brochures and flyers • Trinkets (coffee cups, pens, pencils, T-shirts) • Bulletin boards

Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Security poster series • A simple and inexpensive way to keep security on people’s minds • Keys to a good poster series: • Varying the content and keeping posters updated • Keeping them simple, but visually interesting • Making the message clear • Providing information on reporting violations

Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Trinket programs • Inexpensive on a per-unit basis • They can be expensive to distribute • Types of trinkets • Pens and pencils, mouse pads • Coffee mugs, plastic cups • Hats, T-shirts

Security Awareness (cont’d.) • Organizations can establish Web pages or sites dedicated to promoting information security awareness • Tips on creating and maintaining an educational Web site (cont’d.) • Keep page loading time to a minimum • Seek feedback • Assume nothing and check everything • Spend time promoting your site

Discussion Topics Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of nesting the information security role within the information technology (IT) part of the organization. Discuss posters, trinkets, and Web sites as information security awareness methods. What are some advantages and disadvantages of each method? Which do you think is the best method and why?

Useful Resources • Building an SETA program • Microsoft Security Awareness

Summary • Organizing for security • Placing information security within an organization • Components of the security program • Information security roles and titles • Implementing security education, training, and awareness programs

Reminders • Breakfast Panel Next Tuesday (7:30 AM) • Next Week • Security Management Models • Demo Project – Start to brainstorm

INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT