Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives
Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications
From: "Santucci, Anthony" <santucaj () WFU EDU>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2018 10:32:29 -0500
Hi Cyndie .. we have a work-in-progress process that I manage for what we call software evaluations. I have attached our checklist that we currently use. We have been using a set of questions for InfoSec, PCI, BCDR and accessibility that I would say is a subset of the HECVAT. It seems to be working for us right now and overtime I expect to do CSI as the campus gets more and more comfortable with the process. Right now, it has been great except for occasional bottlenecks due to slow vendor response times or limited resources to review the documentation. Once the evaluation is complete and it moves to 'production', can usually glean SLA/SLR info from the contract which helps me complete the Service Portfolio information (last page of attachment). I work very closely with procurement, legal, info sec and the requester. Excellent questions regarding SLA/SLR -- like Sue, we "*ensure the contract or SLAs contains language that protects the institution's data*." I would like to establish a yearly (periodic?) review for each of the solutions but that would take an army of people so any suggestions as to how we can establish a criteria would be great. This is a good idea - "*write into the contract that we want documents each year (at our request).*" I will float that by our team here. Thanks, Anthony -------------------------------------------- *Anthony J. Santucci* *Manager, Service Management* *Information Systems* *Wake Forest University* On Thu, Feb 15, 2018 at 5:38 PM, Sue McGlashan <sue.mcglashan () utoronto ca> wrote:
Hi Cyndie This will part of one of the panel discussions at the Security Professionals Conference, and something I work with daily - not that I have all (or even many) of the answers. I am really happy Ruth (procurement) answered - we work with Procurement, and the departments, in trying to ensure the contract or SLAs contain language that protects the institution's data. We assess the information in the HECVAT, and in whatever other documentation we manage to get (SOCS, application scans, summaries of pentests), to assess whether controls are sufficient. - and we write into the contract that we want documents each year (at our request). I think most important after reviewing the HECVAT and other provided docs, and assuming the company passes your requirements, is a good contract that specifies where data resides, how you would be informed if there is a breech, how you would receive logs, how you obtain your data when you need it (standard format), that the company maintains security posture, ... ... - and then how do we manage to review each year / who monitors? - good question. As I said, we do not have all of the answers. I look forward to hearing what others think. Note. There needs to be some triage. Our small group cannot look at every SaaS vendor. -- Sue McGlashan M.Ed. CISSP CCSK ISA, Information Security and Enterprise Architecture Information and Technology Services University of Toronto Phone 416-946-3260 This email communication is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and all copies (electronic or otherwise) immediately. On 2018-02-15, 5:18 PM, "The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv on behalf of Ruth Ginzberg" <SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU on behalf of rginzberg () UWSA EDU> wrote: Hi Cyndie, Procurement person here... This is a great set of questions - ones that you should discuss internally with other stakeholders at your institution. The thing that matters most is that everybody is on the same page and knows who is doing that, so that it doesn't accidentally turn out to be, "Mr/Ms. Nobody!" Regards, Ruth Ginzberg, CISSP, CTPS Sr. I.T. Procurement Specialist University of Wisconsin System 608-890-3961 -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Cyndie Holmes Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2018 4:02 PM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: [SECURITY] Securing Data in SaaS Applications The vendor completed the HECVAT and a university is purchasing a SaaS service. Now what? Trying to determine who has the responsibility for ensuring contracts or SLAs contain language that protects the institution's data. The owner (academic department or business function), procurement, IT, or Legal? Someone else? If the contract or SLA contains sufficient protection for the institution's data, who monitors the vendor for compliance with the contract or SLA data security controls? How are data security controls monitored if the contract or SLA contains no language for customer monitoring? Who monitors? Thanks
Attachment:
Software_Eval_Checklist.pdf
Description:
Current thread:
- Securing Data in SaaS Applications Cyndie Holmes (Feb 15)
- Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications Ruth Ginzberg (Feb 15)
- Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications Sue McGlashan (Feb 15)
- Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications Santucci, Anthony (Feb 16)
- Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications Ronald King (Feb 22)
- Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications Ruth Ginzberg (Feb 22)
- Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications Sue McGlashan (Feb 15)
- Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications Holmes, Cyndie (Mar 01)
- Re: Securing Data in SaaS Applications Ruth Ginzberg (Feb 15)