Security+All-In-One Edition

Chapter 2 – Organizational Security

Brian E. Brzezicki

no security that is not designed

An organization cannot expect to be secure, unless security is directed from the top-down.

• Management must realize the need for security

• Management must create a security policy

• Management must empower the security team to design and enforce the security program

Polices, Standards, Guidelines and Procedures

A security program needs to be implemented with, procedures, standards and guidelines. These are all part of an organizations security plan. We will talk about each of these in a few slides.

Due Care and Due Diligence (41)

Corporate polices, standards and guidelines help show and implement Due Diligence and Due Care.

Due Diligence – The idea that a company researches and attempts to understand the risk it faces. Risk analysis is a form of Due Diligence.

Due Care – shows that a Company makes reasonable efforts to minimize risk and protect a companies assets. Having polices, procedures and guidelines show a company is exercising Due Care.

Policy (27)Policies – high level non-specific broad statement

explaining the companies need and commitment to security. Very much like a mission statement.

The corporate Policy will be very non-specific, there will be system/issue specific security policies that attempt to lay the security foundation for the organization

• Example: Password Policies• Example: Data Encryption Policies

Standards (27)Standards – mandatory elements regarding the

implementation of a policy.

Example: All users will wear a ID badge when on the premises, all employees will report any people that are not displaying an ID badge.

Guidelines (27)

Recommendations relating or supporting a policy, when no specific standard or rule exists.

• Example: When dealing with customer information you must do your utmost to protect the confidentiality of the information.

Procedures (27)Specific step by step actions in relating to

implementing part of a policy.

• Example: There are often written procedures on how to install and configure a new Desktop computer that will be placed on the network.

Security Plan Lifecycle (28)The policies, standards, guidelines and

procedures will change as the company changes, it is a lifecycle

1. Plan for security

2. Implement the plan

3. Monitor the implementation

4. Evaluate the effectiveness

5. Adjust and restart

Some Specific Types of Policies• Information Classification Policies• Acceptable Use Policies• Internet Usage Policies• Email Usage Policies• Data Disposal Policies• Password Policies• Termination Policies• Data Privacy Policies

These are just some specific examples of specific policies that give the legs to a corporate security policy.

Human Resources

Human Resources (44)Humans are the weakest link in computer

security, what's more we are the most prevalent part of an organization. There must be policies specific in regards to HR practices. A few of these are very important.

Hiring Policies (44)• Background Checks on ALL employees –

why?• Reference Checks – why?• Education Checks – why?• Employment Checks• NDAs etc MUST be signed.• Non-Competes MUST be signed

Once hired you should have an orientation, and all policies should be reviewed and signed.

Employment

• Periodic drugs tests

• Periodic reviews– Performance– Permissions/Access reviews, especially during

role changes – why?– “attitude” – why?– If demoted, supervisors should be alerted to keep

a close eye on employee – why?

Termination (45)

An organization must take careful steps when an employee is leaving either on their own or through firing/layoffs. Each situation may be different and may have to evaluate

• Access to sensitive information

• Access to customers

• Access to systems and networks

(more)

Terminations

If an employee is being terminated they should

• Have access immediately revoked

• Return all access devices (key cards etc)

• Return all equipment

• Change passwords if necessary

• Not interact with other employees

• Be escorted out of the building

(more)

Termination

Either way, there should be written policies describing what procedures to take with terminations, also there should always be an exit interview.

Separation of Duties / Mandatory Vacations (46)

HR should enact

• Separation of duties

• Job rotation

• Mandatory Vacations

These are discussed on the next slides.

Job Rotation (12)Individuals rotate through various jobs

responsibilities, such that no one person is solely responsible for something.

• Decreases the ability to commit fraud undetected.

• Decreases the chance that something could be seriously negatively effected if someone leaves the organization

• Decreases ability for employees to “blackmail”

Mandatory Vacations

Mandatory Vacations (NB)All employees are REQUIRED to take their

vacation.

• Decreases the ability to commit fraud undetected. (main security reason)

• Decreases the chance that something could be seriously negatively effected if someone leaves the organization

Attacks that which can be defended well against by policies

and education

Social Engineering (34)What is social Engineering?• Incredibly easy to exploit• Often can trivially bypass advanced logical/technical

security controls• Takes advantage of a few things

– People are the weakest part of security– People want to avoid confrontation– People often don’t think about security implications– People are often untrained about computing and security– A little knowledge here or there allows me to “aggregate”

knowledge and piece things together.

Phishing (35)An attacker attempts to obtain sensitive

information from a user by masquerading as a trusted entity via email, or instant messaging.

• Usually send a link to a forged website

• Website looks just like the real website

• User is tricked into entering personal information

(more)

Phishing (35)

Signs of phishing• Long website links with similar names• Poor grammar and spelling

Countermeasures• Anti-phishing software• Digital Certificates• Have organizational policy that you will never send

emails requesting personal information• User education (most effective)

Old School Phishing attackA gentleman in one of my classes pointed out

an old attack that I had forgotten about. One of the predecessors to modern phishing… 5-10 years ago people used to put up fake ATMs that would read and store you ATM numbers and PINs. After you swiped the card and put in your PIN you’d get a “system down” message… most people never would realize that they had their info stolen… this is a predecessor to modern phishing.

Vishing (36)Phishing, but with phone system (voice

communications)

• Phone calls with Spoofed Caller ID (easy to do with VoIP), or with a dedicated PRI line.

• Hacked voicemail systems

Shoulder Surfing (36)

What is this?

• May include advanced equipment such as cameras

Countermeasures

• Privacy screens

• User environmental awareness

Dumpster Diving? (37)

Anyone Heard of Kevin Mitnick?

Countermeasures

• Have a corporate policy regarding data destruction

• Shred sensitive documents

• Lock and secure trash receptacles/areas

Chapter 2 – Review Questions

Q. What is the best countermeasure against phishing attacks?

Q. Why is a hoax still a security concern?

Q. Installing camera to read credit card numbers at gas pumps is what type of attack?

Q. Does an Organization Security Policy Statement detail specifics such as how to properly encrypt data?

Chapter 2 – Review Questions

Q. What is the difference between Due Diligence and Due Care?

Q. What is the term for a set of “required steps to be taken” when doing some action called?