Information Security and Its Impact on Business

Prof. Chi-Chun Lo

National Chiao-Tung University

Oct. 5, 2006

INTRODUCTION

What if someone asks your CEO “How Secure is Your Corporation?"

• One foot in ice water and one foot in boiling water does not mean that on average you are at room temperature.– Corporations are not monolithic, and all parts

of the business don’t have (or necessarily need) the same level of security

– Security is not an end state, nor can it be judged by measuring any single variable at any single point in time

Selling Security is Still a Challenge

• Is the glass half empty, or is it half full?

• Security is like the brakes on your car.– Their function is to slow you down– But their purpose is to allow you to go

fast.

Bill Malick, Gartner

Scope of Security

• System Security - Mostly Technical Issues - Hardware & Software Solutions, e.g.; Cryptography, Protocol, Security System etc. • Information Security - Mostly Managerial Issues - Business Solutions, e.g.; Organization, Culture (Behavior), Policy, Risk Management, Standards, Legal Rights etc.

Causes of Information Damage Common Causes of

damage

52%

10%

10%

15%

10%3%

Human errorDishonest peopleTechnical sabotageFireWaterTerrorism

Who causes damage

81%

13%6%

Current employees

Outsiders

Former employees

Types of computer crime

44%

16%

16%

12%

10% 2%

Money theft Damage of software

Theft of information Alteration of data

Theft of services Trespass

Information Security • High dependence on information as a contributing factor of success or

failure, created the need for information security and control

• Information security definition:

“preservation of confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and information systems”

• The objective of information security is to ensure the continuity of business management and to reduce interruptions of business by preventing and minimizing the consequences of security incidents. Information security relates to all controls aimed at protecting the availability, integrity and confidentiality of information

Information Security Components

Reliability

Confidentiality / Exclusivity

Integrity

Availability

The degree to which the organization can depend uponan information system forits provision of information

Business Model for Information Security

Vulnerabilities

Threats

Legislation

Identity Mgmt Assurance

Controls

BusinessImpacts

ConfidentialityIntegrity

Availability

Assets

BusinessRisks

exposing To a loss of

causing

causing

which are mitigated by

which requirecausing

exploit +

which protect against

reduce

+

+

Security Systems Development Life Cycle(SSDLC)

• A systematic way of providing information security

• Phases:

-Phase 1: Investigation, including policy and procedure etc.

-Phase 2: Analysis, including risk management etc.

-Phase 3: Logical Design, including standards etc.

-Phase 4: Physical Design, including technology selection etc.

-Phase 5: Implementation

-Phase 6: Maintenance and Change

POLICY and PROCEDURE

Policy and Procedure

• A policy is typically a document that outlines specific requirements or rules that must be met.

• In the information/network security realm, policies are usually point-specific, covering a single area. For example, an “Acceptable Use” policy would cover the rules and regulations for appropriate use of the computing facilities.

• A standard is typically a collections or system-specific or procedural-specific requirements that must be meet by everyone.

– For example, you might have a standard that describes to how to harden a Windows NT workstation for placement on an external (DMZ) network.

– People must follow this standard exactly if they wish to install a Windows NT workstation on an external network segment.

• A guideline is typically a collection of system specific or procedural specific “suggestions” for best practice.

– They are not requirements to be met, but are strongly recommended.

• Effective security policies make frequent references to standards and guidelines that exist within an organization.

A Security Policy Framework

• Policies define appropriate behavior.

• Policies set the stage in terms of what tools and procedures are needed.

• Policies communicate a consensus.

• Policies provide a foundation for HR action in response to inappropriate behavior.

• Policies may help prosecute cases.

Importance of Security Policies

• Security policies are an absolute must for any organization.

• They provide the virtual glue to hold it all together.

• Policies lay the ground-work. • Imagine a small city that did not have any

rules? What would life be like? The same applies to your organization .

Who and What to Trust• Trust is a major principle underlying the development

of security policies.• Initial step is to determine who gets access.• Deciding on level of trust is a delicate balancing act.• Too much trust may lead to eventual security problems• Too little trust may make it difficult to find and keep

employees or get jobs done• How much should you trust people regarding to their

access or usage of computer and network resources?

Possible Trust Models• Trust everyone all of the time:

– easiest to enforce, but impractical– one bad apple can ruin the whole barrel

• Trust no one at no time:– most restrictive, but also impractical– difficult to staff positions

• Trust some people some of the time:– exercise caution in amount of trust given– access is given out as needed– technical controls are needed to ensure trust is not violated

Why the Political Turmoil?• People view policies as:

– an impediment to productivity

– measures to control behavior

• People have different views about the need

for security controls.

• People fear policies will be difficult to follow

and implement.

• Policies affect everyone within the

organization.

Who Should Be Concerned?• Users - policies will affect them the most.• System support personnel - they will be required

to implement, comply with and support the policies.

• Managers - they are concerned about protection of data and the associated cost of the policy.

• Company lawyers and auditors - they are concerned about company reputation, responsibility to clients/customers.

The Policy Design Process• Choose the policy development team.• Designate a person or a group to serve as the official policy

interpreter.• Decide on the scope and goals of the policy.

– Scope should be a statement about who is covered by the policy.

• Decide on how specific to make the policy– not meant to be a detailed implementation plan– don’t include facts which change frequently

The Policy Design Process

• A sample of people affected by the policy should be provided an opportunity to review and review and commentcomment.

• A sampling of the support staff effected by policy should have an opportunity to review it.

• Incorporate policy awarenesspolicy awareness as a part of employee orientation.

• Provide a refresher overview courserefresher overview course on policies once or twice a year.

Basic Policy Requirements• Policies must:

– be implementable and enforceable– be concise and easy to understand– balance protection with productivity

• Policies should:– state reasons why policy is needed– describe what is covered by the policies– define contacts and responsibilities– discuss how violations will be handled

Level of Control • Security needs and culture play major role.• Security policies MUST balance level of

control with level of productivity.• If policies are too restrictive, people will find

ways to circumvent controls.• Technical controls are not always possible.• You must have management commitment on

the level of control.

Policy Structure• Dependent on company size and goals.

• One large document or several small ones?

– smaller documents are easier to maintain/update

• Some policies appropriate for every site, others are specific to certain environments.

• Some key policies:

– acceptable use

– remote access

– information protection

– perimeter security

– baseline host/device security

The Acceptable Use Policy

• Discusses and defines the appropriate use of the computing resources.

• Users should be required to read and sign account account usage policyusage policy as part of the account request process.

• A key policy that all sites should have.

Remote Access Policy

• Outlines and defines acceptable methods of remotely connecting to the internal network.

• Essential in large organization where networks are geographically dispersed and even extend into the homes.

• Should cover all available methods to remotely access internal resources:– dial-in (SLIP, PPP)– ISDN/frame relay– telnet/ssh access from internet– cable modem/VPN/DSL

Information Protection Policy

• Provides guidelines to users on the processing, storage and transmission of sensitive information.

• Main goal is to ensure information is appropriately protected from modification or disclosure.

• May be appropriate to have new employees sign policy as part of their initial orientation.

• Should define sensitivity levels of information.

The Perimeter Security Policy

• Describes, in general, how perimeter security is maintained.

• Describes who is responsible for maintaining it.

• Describes how hardware and software changes to perimeter security devices are managed and how changes are requested and approved.

Virus Protection and Prevention Policy

• Provides baseline requirements for the use of virus protection software.

• Provides guidelines for reporting and containing virus infections.

• Provides guidelines for several levels of virus risk.• Should discuss requirements for scanning email

attachments.• Should discuss policy for the download and installation

of public domain software.

Virus Protection and Prevention Policy

• Should discuss frequency of virus data file updates.

• Should discuss testing procedures for installation of new software.

Password Policy• Provides guidelines for how user level and system

level passwords are managed and changed.• Discusses password construction rules.• Provides guidelines for how passwords are

protected from disclosure.• Discusses application development guidelines for

when passwords are needed.• Discusses the use of SNMP community strings

and pass-phrases.

Other Important Policies• A policy which addresses forwarding of email to

offsite addresses.

• A policy which addresses wireless networks.

• A policy which addresses baseline lab security standards.

• A policy which addresses baseline router configuration parameters.

• A policy which addresses requirements for installing devices on a dirty network.

Security Procedures • Policies only define "what" is to be protected. • Procedures define "how" to protect resources and are the

mechanisms to enforce policy.• Procedures define detailed actions to take for specific

incidents.• Procedures provide a quick reference in times of crisis.• Procedures help eliminate the problem of a single point

of failure (e.g., an employee suddenly leaves or is unavailable in a time of crisis).

Configuration Management Procedure

• Defines how new hardware/software is tested and installed.

• Defines how hardware/software changes are documented.

• Defines who must be informed when hardware and software changes occur.

• Defines who has authority to make hardware and software configuration changes.

Data Backup and Off-site Storage Procedures

• Defines which file systems are backed up.• Defines how often backups are performed.• Defines how often storage media is rotated.• Defines how often backups are stored off-site.• Defines how storage media is labeled and

documented.

Incident Handling Procedure

• Defines how to handle anomaly investigation and intruder attacks.

• Defines areas of responsibilities for members of the response team.

• Defines what information to record and track.• Defines who to notify and when.• Defines who can release information and the procedure

for releasing the information. • Defines how a follow-up analysis should be performed

and who will participate.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk

Risk is the likelihood of the occurrence of

a vulnerability multiplied by the value of

the information asset minus the percentage

of risk mitigated by current controls plus

the uncertainty of current knowledge of the

vulnerability

What is Risk

• A definable event

• Probability of occurrence

• Impact of occurrence

• A risk occurs when the problem happens

• Loss expectancy that a threat might exploit a vulnerability.

Relationship among different security components

ThreatAgent Threat

Vulnerability

RISK

Asset

ExposureSafeguard

Gives rise to

Exploits

Leads to

Can damage

And causes an

Can be counter measured by a

Directly affects

Risk

Well-Formed Risk Statement Well-Formed Risk Statement

ImpactWhat is the impact to the

business?

ProbabilityHow likely is the threat given the

controls?

AssetWhat are you

trying to protect?

AssetWhat are you

trying to protect?

ThreatWhat are you

afraid of happening?

ThreatWhat are you

afraid of happening?

VulnerabilityHow could the threat occur?

VulnerabilityHow could the threat occur?

MitigationWhat is currently

reducing the risk?

MitigationWhat is currently

reducing the risk?

Vulnerability Identification• Vulnerability – is a software, hardware, or procedural weakness

that may provide an attacker the open door to enter a system. • Specific avenues threat agents can exploit to attack an

information asset are called vulnerabilities

• Examine how each threat could be perpetrated and list organization’s assets and vulnerabilities

• Process works best when people with diverse backgrounds within organization work iteratively in a series of brainstorming sessions

• At the end of risk identification process, list of assets and their vulnerabilities is achieved

Risk Mitigation

• Understand security risk• Understand technology• Accept Risk

– Documentation of risk acceptance is a form of mitigation.

• Defer or transfer risk– Insurance

• Mitigate risk– Technology can mitigate risk

Risk Management Process

How to Develop a Security Risk Management Process?

• Security risk management process:

– A process for identifying, prioritizing, and managing risk to an acceptable level within the organization

• Developing a formal security risk management process must address the following:

– Threat response time

– Regulatory compliance

– Infrastructure management costs

– Risk identification and assessment (prioritization)

Successful Factors for Security Risk Management Process

Key factors to implementing a successful security risk management process include:

– Executive sponsorship

– Well-defined list of risk management stakeholders

– Organizational maturity in terms of risk management

– An atmosphere of open communications and teamwork

– A holistic view of the organization

– Security risk management team’s authority

Risk Management Process

Implementing Controls

Implementing Controls

33

Conducting Decision Support

Conducting Decision Support

22

Measuring Program Effectiveness

Measuring Program Effectiveness

44 Assessing RiskAssessing Risk11

Risk Assessment Flowchart

Step 1. System Characterization

Input Risk Assessment Activities Output

Step 2. Threat Identification

Step 3. Vulnerability Identification

Step 4. Control Analysis

Step 5. Likelihood Determination

Step 6. Impact Analysis• Loss of Integrity

• Loss of Availability • Loss of Confidentiality

Step 7. Risk Determination

Step 8.Control Recommendations

Step 9.Results Documentation

• Hardware / Software• System interfaces• Data and information• People • System mission

• History of system attack• Data from intelligence agencies, NIPC, OIG,FedCIRC, mass media,

• Reports from prior risk assessments• Any audit comments• Security requirements• Security test results

• Mission impact analysis• Asset criticality assessment• Data criticality• Data sensitivity

• Current controls• Planned controls

• Threat-source motivation• Threat capacity• Nature of vulnerability• Current controls

• System Boundary• System Functions• System and Data Criticality• System and Data Sensitivity

Impact Rating

Threat Statement

List of Potential Vulnerabilities

List of Current and Planned Controls

Likelihood Rating

• Likelihood of threat exploitation• Magnitude of impact• Adequacy of planned or current controls

Risks and Associated Risk Levels

Recommended Controls

Risk Assessment Report

Risk Mitigation FlowchartInput Risk Mitigation Activities Output

Step 1. Prioritize Actions

Step 2. Evaluate RecommendedControl Options

• Associated costs• Feasibility

Step 3. Conduct Cost-Benefit Analysis • Impact of implementing

• Impact of not implementing• Associated costs

Step 4. Select Controls

Step 5. Assign Responsibility

Step 6. Develop SafeguardImplementation Plan• Risks and Associated Risk Levels• Prioritized Actions• Recommended Controls• Selected Planned Controls• Responsible Persons• Start Date• Target Completion Date• Maintenance Requirements

Step 7.Implement SelectedControls

• Risk levels from the risk assessment report

• Risk assessment report

Actions ranking fromHigh to Low

Safeguard implementation plan

List of possible

controls

Cost-benefit analysis

Selected Controls

List ofresponsible persons

Residual Risks

Risk Analysis Method

Risk Management Risk Analysis(Identification + Assessment)

Goal Manage risks across business to acceptable level

Identify and prioritize risks

Cycle Overall program across all four phases

Single phase of risk management program

Schedule Scheduled activity Continuous activity

Alignment Aligned with budgeting cycles

Not applicable

Risk Analysis Method

Two types of risk analysis:

– Quantitative – attempts to assign real numbers to the costs of safeguards and the amount of damage that can take place

– Qualitative – An analysis that judges an organization’s risk to threats, which is based on judgment, intuition, and the experience versus assigning real numbers to this possible risks and their potential loss; e.g.,

Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Steps of Quantitative Risk Analysis

• Assign value to information assets (tangible and intangible)

• Estimate potential loss per risk• Perform a threat analysis• Derive the overall loss potential per risk• Choose safeguards / countermeasure for each risk• Determine risk response (e.g. mitigation,

avoidance, acceptance)

Quantitative Risk Analysis• Exposure Factor (EF) = Percentage of asset loss caused by identified threat;

ranges from 0 to 100%

• Single Loss Expectancy (SLE) = Asset Value x Exposure Factor; 1,000,000 @ 10% likelihood = $100,000

• Annualized Rate of Occurrence (ARO) = Estimated frequency a threat will occur with in a year and is characterized on an annual basis. A threat occurring once in 10 years has an ARO of 0.1; a threat occurring 50 times in a year has an ARO of 50

• Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE) = Single Loss Expectancy x Annualized Rate of Occurrence

• Safeguard cost/benefit analysis = (ALE before implementing safeguard) – (ALE after implementing safeguard) – (annual cost of safeguard) == value of safeguard to the company

Quantitative Risk Analysis - Summary

• Pros– Uses probability concepts –

the likelihood that an risk will occur or will not occur

– The value of information is expressed in monetary terms with supporting rationale

– Risk assessment results are derived and expressed in management speak

• Cons– Purely quantitative risk

analysis not possible because quantitative measures must be applied to qualitative elements

– Can be less ambiguous but using numbers can give appearance of specificity that does not really exist

– Huge amount of data must be gathered and managed

Qualitative Risk Analysis

• Does not assign numbers and monetary value to components and losses.

• Walks through different scenarios of risk possibilities and rank the seriousness of the threats for the sensitivity of the assets.

Identifying Qualitative Risks

• Expert Interviews

• Brainstorming

• Nominal Group Technique

• Affinity Diagram

• Analogy Techniques

Qualitative Risks Matrix

100%

4

12Example Qualitative Risk Matrix

Hostage / KidnapStrike / WalkoutHostile Takeover

Major Explosion

TerrorismIndustrial Espionage

0% Sabotage Comm. Disease

Flood

SuicideTelecomm Failure.

Maj. Operator Error

Child Care IncidentTransportation Incident

Minor Explosion

Neighbor Issue

Civil Unrest

Employee Violence

Tornado

Breach IT Security

Organized Crime

Blizzard

Bribery / Extortion

ProtestersInjury / DeathAccusation / Libel / Slander

Fog

Bomb ThreatEquipment Malfunc.Power Failure

Ice Storm

Media Investigation

Chemical Spill / Contamination

Major Fire

Class Action Lawsuit

Management Issues

Security Breach

Loss of IT / Virus

Major Electrical Storm

HIGH RISK

LOW RISK

MEDIUM HIGH

MEDIUM LOW

Qualitative Risk Analysis - Summary

• Pros– Is simple and readily

understood and executed.

– Provides a general indication of significant areas of risk that should be addressed

• Cons– Is difficult to enforce

in uniformity and consistency but provides some order of measurement

– Is subjective in both process and metrics.

– Can not provide cost/benefit analysis

Quantitative versus QualitativeQuant

.Attributes Qual.

+ Independent & Objective Metrics -

+ Cost / Benefit analysis -

+ Monetary based -

- Amount of work, cost, time +

- Amount of information required +

+ Easily automated -

- Degree of guesswork +

+ Value of information understood -

+ Threat frequency and impact data required -* Source: CISSP Common Body of Knowledge Review Seminar, ISC2

Corporate Risk Analysis Strategy

Corporate Risk Analysis Strategy

Corporate Risk Analysis Strategy

BaselineApproach

InformalApproach

DetailedApproach

CombinedApproach

Combined Approach

High Level Risk Analysis

Detailed Risk Analysis Baseline Approach

Selection of Safeguards

Risk Acceptance

IT System Security Policy

IT Security Plan

Baseline Approach• Establish a minimum set of safeguards to protect

all or some IT systems of an organization• Achieved through the use of safeguard catalogues

which suggest a set of safeguards to protect an IT system against the most common threats

• The level of baseline security can be adjusted to the needs of the organization

Advantages Disadvantages

1. Minimum amount of resources

2. Cost-effective

1. Excessive level of security

2. A lack of security

3. Security relevant changes

Informal Approach

• Conduct informal pragmatic risk analysis

• Exploit the knowledge and experience of individuals

Advantages Disadvantages

1. Not require a lot of resources or time

2. Quicker than a detailed risk analysis

1. Missing some important details

2. Influenced by subjective views

Detailed Approach• Involves the identification of the related risks, and

an assessment of their magnitude for all IT systems

• The result of the analysis should be saved– Asset and their values– Threat, vulnerability, and risk levels– Safeguards identified

Advantages Disadvantages

1. Appropriate safeguards are

identified for all systems

2. Management of security changes

1. A considerable amount of time,

effort, and expertise

Combined Approach• First it is necessary to conduct an initial high level risk

analysis to identify which approach (baseline or detailed approach) is appropriate for each IT system

• Input for the decision as to which approach is suitable for which IT system:– The business values of the IT systems– The level of investment in this IT system– The asset’s value of the IT system

Advantages Disadvantages

1. Provide a good balance between(1) Minimizing the time and effort spent in identifying safeguards

(2) Ensuring the high risk systems are appropriately protected.

1. Some systems may not be

identified as requiring

detailed risk analysis

The Process of Risk Analysis

Establishment of Review Boundary

Identification of Assets

Valuation of Assetsand Establishment of Dependencies Between Assets

ThreatAssessment

VulnerabilityAssessment

Identificationof Existing/Planning

Safeguards

Assessment of Risks

Selection of Safeguards

Risk Acceptance

IT System Security Policy

IT Security Plan

IdentificationReview ofConstraints

NoYes

Detailed Approach

Risk Management

INFORMATION SECURITY STANDARD

Introduction• ISO 17799/BS 7799-1 is an international standard that sets

out the requirements of good practice for Information Security Management. 

• ISO 27001/BS 7799-2 defines the specification for an Information Security Management System (ISMS). 

- The scope of an ISMS includes:

peopleprocesses

IT Systems Policies

History of ISMS Standards

ISO17799:2000International

BS7799-1:1999

BS7799-2:1999

UK

BS7799-Part 2: 2002

BS7799-1:2000

ISO17799:2005

ISO27001:2005

BS7799:1995

= copy/translation

= revision

What is BS7799-1 / ISO 17799?

• The goal of BS7799-1 / ISO 17799 is to “provide a common base for developing organizational security standards and effective security management practice and to provide confidence in inter-organizational dealings.”

Who is BS7799-1/ISO 17799 for?

• BS7799-1 / ISO 17799 meets the needs of organizations and companies of all types, both private and public.

• For any organization that stores confidential information on internal or external systems, depends on such systems to run its operations, or indeed wishes to demonstrate its information security by conforming to a known standard, BS7799-1 / ISO 17799 would be of very great interest.

The Eleven Key Context of ISO 17799 • Security policy - This provides management direction and

support for information security • Organization of information security - To help you manage

information security within the organization • Asset management - To help you identify your assets and

appropriately protect them • Human resources security - To reduce the risks of human error,

theft, fraud or misuse of facilities • Physical and environmental security - To prevent unauthorized

access, damage and interference to business premises and information

• Communications and operations management - To ensure the correct and secure operation of information processing facilities

The Eleven Key Context of ISO 17799 (cont’d)• Access control - To control access to information• Information systems acquisition, development and

maintenance - To ensure that security is built into information systems

• Information security incident management-To make sure that all information security events and weaknesses can be reported and solve effectively.

• Business continuity management - To counteract interruptions to business activities and to protect critical business processes from the effects of major failures or disasters

• Compliance - To avoid breaches of any criminal and civil law, statutory, regulatory or contractual obligations, and any security requirement

Information Security Management System (ISMS)

Definition:• that part of the overall management system, based on a

business risk approach, to - establish, - implement, - operate, - monitor, - maintain and- improve information security

• The management system includes organizational structure, policies, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources

Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle (PDCA)

Interested parties

Interested parties

Establish ISMS Context & Risk

Assessment

Plan

Design and Implement ISMS

Do

Maintain and Improve the ISMS

Act

Monitor and Review ISMS

Check

Information security

requirements and expectations

Managed information

security

Development, Maintenance and

Improvement cycle

PDCA

Establish the ISMS

Define the scope of the ISMS Define an ISMS policy Define a systematic approach to risk management Identify the risks Assess the risks Identify and evaluate options for the treatment of risks Select control objectives and controls for the treatment of risks Prepare a Statement of Applicability Obtain management approval for residual risks and authorization to

implement and operate the ISMS

PDCAImplement and operate the ISMS

• Formulate a risk treatment plan and its documentation, including planned process and detailed procedures

• Implement the risk treatment plan planned controls • Implement training and awareness programs• Manage operations and resources• Implement procedures and controls to detect and

response to security incidents

PDCA

Monitor and review the ISMS

• Execute monitoring procedures• Undertake regular reviews• Review level of residual risk• Conduct internal audits• Undertake a management review• Record actions and events

PDCA

Maintain and improve the ISMS

• Implement the identified improvements• Take appropriate corrective and

preventive actions• Communicate results• Ensure effectiveness

ISO27001 versus ISO17799

ISO27001

• formal standard

• certification possible

• requirements for a management system

• requirements for controls(if applicable)

ISO 17799

• code of practice(set of best practices)

• implementation advice and guidance

What are ISO 17799 and ISO 27001 not

• limited to information technology

• a security checklist

• an insurance policy against security breaches

• an audit method

• a risk analysis method

POSSIBLE RESEARCH DIRECTION

• Assessment of factors influencing the effectiveness of information security management

• Risk assessment using fuzzy consensus measures• Online privacy: Issues and Concerns• Organizational changes pertaining to information security• Culture impact on the success of information security

management• Information security disaster recovery planning: crisis

management• Conforming information security standards