RE: ROI data

["Mikhail A. Utin" <mutin () commonwealthcare org>]

To the people who want to use risk estimate and management in information security.
Basics: Damages/Exposure/Losses = IxE - in a given year
Where I is the number of incidents in a year, E is the exposure for this particular incident, for this particular year 
and for this particular organization in dollars.
1. How many information security threats/incident types do you know? We know that there are millions of know malware 
instances, and much more unknown, and think about other like a loss of a memory stick, etc. Billions?
2. For each of such known and unknown threats you have to have the exposure value for each particular company, because 
a loss of a memory stick with 200 customer records for HIPAA related company may cost up to $1.5 million, and not 
related to such regulation - almost nothing. Same virus infection for one company could mean all computers affected, 
and for other - only one.
And, moreover, you need dollar value for each component of such matrix of billions of threats/incidents and millions of 
companies.

Please, note, vendors selling tools/SW/systems to estimate such risks do not have such "billions X millions" matrix.

That is about quantitative risk estimate... Such application of theory of probability does not work for Information 
Security.

Best regards

Mikhail Utin, CISSP
Information Security Analyst



-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com] On Behalf Of Thomas Rozenbroek
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 11:33 PM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Cc: gig; grmerrill () epbfi com; Tom.Rozenbroek () comcast net
Subject: Re: ROI data

All,

A few thoughts, if I may.

First, traditional ROI is a non-starter.  I can't think of a situation where having an IA architect would result in a 
simple gain (more revenue/profit, etc).

Second, you may be able to show that by having a single IA solution (designed, developed, deployed and maintained by 
your IA architect), that the overall cost of IA/security for your entire infrastructure is reduced.  (Shared resources, 
common defenses, less duplication of services, etc)

Third, if you address ROI from the risk reduction perspective, you may be able to generate very large "ROI".  This 
would be done by reducing the cost associated with security incidents that "were avoided" because of the work done by 
the IA architect.  For example, if your company can avoid a single IA incident with an estimated cost of $500k every 
year by spending $100K on an IA architect, then you can claim a ROI of 5 to 1.  
(This logic requires that your company is experiencing IA incidences before you hire the architect.  You can't claim 
that the architect is preventing or lessening incidents that aren't happening.)

Fourth, a friend of mine is fond of saying: "That after loss of life, loss of reputation is the worst thing that can 
happen to a company."  
Keeping or improving your company's reputation is another Investment that should be considered when trying to determine 
ROI.

In summary, I would start by trying to put a dollar value on security risks that have been reduced because of the IA 
architect's involvement.  
There is a lot of material available for calculating the cost of an incident.

Hope this helps.

Respectfully,

thr
-----
What I have completed does not matter; it is only what I have not completed that is important.
On 5/28/2012 23:55, gig wrote:
> Gordan,
>
> To answer you directly, no I don't have ROI data.  It seems to me that 
> would be an extreme reach to claim ROI on the functions you mentioned.
>
> I'm responding to your post because I was able to create two IT 
> Security Architects positions using the issue of regulatory compliance 
> as a driver. I started with a realistic Information Security Program 
> gap analysis and simply outlined our deficiencies to management.
>
> "you want these problems fixed, i'll need these types of positions to 
> get it done"...and it worked.
>
> To help you more fully requires an understanding of many 
> things....your own title, your company business, size of current 
> staff...even reporting structure is important.  (a concern for our 
> company was the difference between enterprise architects and security
> architects)
>
> good luck!
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <grmerrill () epbfi com>
> To: <security-basics () securityfocus com>
> Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2012 11:30 AM
> Subject: ROI data
>
>
> > Does anyone have current ROI data on implementing an IA architect 
> > position?
> >
> > This is like an IT security Architect only focusing more on Security 
> > plan, Business Continuity, Disaster Managaement, and Data Integrity.
> >
> > This would be an enterprise manager overseeing several systems admins 
> > responsible in part for their own systems andintegrating all systems 
> > into the master plan.
> >
> > This should also reflect the benefits of getting all of the above in 
> > line as a benefit for meeting many compliance deadlines and 
> > integration dates.
> >
> > Thank You,
> > Gordon R Merrill MSIA
> > Information Assurance Professional
> > GRMerrill () epbfi net
> >
> >
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Securing Apache Web Server with thawte Digital Certificate In this guide we examine the importance of Apache-SSL and 
who needs an SSL certificate.  We look at how SSL works, how it benefits your company and how your customers can tell 
if a site is secure. You will find out how to test, purchase, install and use a thawte Digital Certificate on your 
Apache web server. Throughout, best practices for set-up are highlighted to help you ensure efficient ongoing 
management of your encryption keys and digital certificates.

http://www.dinclinx.com/Redirect.aspx?36;4175;25;1371;0;5;946;e13b6be442f727d1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Securing Apache Web Server with thawte Digital Certificate
In this guide we examine the importance of Apache-SSL and who needs an SSL certificate.  We look at how SSL works, how 
it benefits your company and how your customers can tell if a site is secure. You will find out how to test, purchase, 
install and use a thawte Digital Certificate on your Apache web server. Throughout, best practices for set-up are 
highlighted to help you ensure efficient ongoing management of your encryption keys and digital certificates.

http://www.dinclinx.com/Redirect.aspx?36;4175;25;1371;0;5;946;e13b6be442f727d1
------------------------------------------------------------------------