A five-pillar survival guide for an insecure cyber world

[Audrey McNeil <audrey () riskbasedsecurity com>]

http://www.networkworld.com/news/tech/2013/101113-rethinking-cyber-security-274784.html

Edward Snowden’s action demonstrated that an ordinary insider with a U.S.
security clearance can intercept and distribute highly confidential
information, even in an age of complex technology designed to prevent such
action. What further risks are there?

Here are five pillars to consider in rethinking your approach to data
security in a cyber-environment in which both values and risks increase
daily:

1. Rely Not On Compliance Policy Alone.  Compliance with legislative and
regulatory requirements and internal company policies is mandatory in
today’s organizations. Failures can lead to significant career and
financial penalties.

However, even compliance with legislation and policies designed to improve
security may not be sufficient if the policies are not current with respect
to growing cyber threats. Organizations need a risk-based approach to
security, in addition to compliance. They should also work to ensure
compliance requirements receive regular reviews for currency. This is the
approach, for example, the US federal government agencies are developing to
move from a compliance-driven approach for their security operations to
“continuous monitoring” in modernizing the Federal Information Security
Management Act (FISMA).

2. Focus on Protecting Data vs. Infrastructure. Infrastructure in an age of
BYOD is highly vulnerable. The American Society of Civil Engineers recently
gave US infrastructure a grade of D+ in this area, citing many critical
deficiencies. A new paradigm is in order: protect data before
infrastructure. Data and information is at the core of invasion risk from
such challenges as the Advanced Persistent Threat. Protect your information
first.
Companies where sensitive and secure data is at stake desire a user
interface that is highly functional, yet intuitive and easy to learn. It
should provide utmost control and in managing sensitive data for insiders
and collaborating organizations.

Major organizations are developing data classification standards to improve
the protection of sensitive information. For example, EDUCAUSE, the
association of IT leaders in higher education, has published extensively on
these policy developments in leading research universities.

3. Security is Ubiquitous. Knowledge workers are everywhere; therefore,
their eyes and ears represent a high value of security protection.
Organizations must ensure that these knowledge workers are aware of current
threats and are able to recognize risky situations quickly.

End-users are also partners and providers, particularly in an emergent age
of cloud computing. This calls for provider shielding; the provider has no
capability to access the information located within customer data once
encryption is set for their application and use. A provider can still add
the value of helping their clients build a private cloud without being
privy to its content.

4. "He Who Guards Everything, Guards Nothing." Frederick the Great of
Prussia said it, but the expression is relevant here. Leadership must think
effectively about what needs the most protection. Focus on highest risk
areas first and take action upon them, rather than safeguard everything.
This is the approach for the above risk-driven approaches to security and a
key part of the above data protection policies.

External stakeholders pose risk, but internal stakeholders can pose more
risk. Focus on areas such as access and privacy controls and instill
security policy and compliance from the inside out. Guard with targeted
precision, and your protection will be stronger.

5. Security should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.
 Einstein said, “Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any
simpler.” Security should be as simple and user friendly as possible, but
still adequate to meet the needs of the organization.

Easy-to-execute security training and qualification is necessary to ensure
compliance and improve security. Remember, most of the time employees will
choose to address the pressures of their job over the drudgery of reading a
security policy. Thus, the quality of the training is essential. Some
leading organizations are using game technology for security training to
help engage their staff members with security policies and practices.

Similarly, security product and service firms are focusing on effective
interfaces and performance levels in their designs. Select the best systems
and services to enable your company’s policies. In some cases, it is
actually as easy to be secure as it is to send a file. It costs one click.

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