Analyze The Breach Causes Related To Cybersecurity Events

Analyze the breach causations related to cybersecurity event scenarios

End of term paper objective: Analyze the breach causations related to cybersecurity event scenarios. Select one of the following companies involved in a cybersecurity breach: Equifax, Home Depot, or Target. Briefly describe the organization and its mission as stated on their website. Identify and evaluate the breach event. Recommend changes to their security controls that could have better protected customer data, supported by scholarly references. The paper should be 5-7 pages, double-spaced, with 12-point font and one-inch margins, including a cover page and sections such as introduction, analysis, recommendations, and conclusion.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Cybersecurity breaches have become increasingly frequent and damaging, highlighting vulnerabilities in organizational security frameworks and practices. Among major data breaches, the Equifax breach of 2017 stands out due to its severity and wide-reaching impacts. This paper explores the Equifax organization, analyzes the causation factors behind the breach, and proposes security improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Organization Overview and Mission

Equifax is a global data, analytics, and technology company with a mission to put consumers and businesses on a path to greater financial integrity. According to their official website, Equifax’s primary goal is to "empower organizations and consumers by delivering essential information that helps them make informed decisions" (Equifax, 2023). The company provides credit reporting, credit scoring, and financial data services to individuals, lenders, and other organizations. Their services facilitate creditworthiness assessments but also involve sensitive personal data, making robust cybersecurity measures crucial.

The Breach Event

In September 2017, Equifax experienced a cybersecurity breach that compromised personal data of approximately 147 million Americans. Attackers exploited a vulnerability in the Apache Struts web framework used by Equifax’s online dispute portal. The breach was initially discovered in late July 2017 but was not disclosed until September 7, 2017 (Federal Trade Commission, 2019). The exposed data included names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and, in some cases, driver’s license numbers, posing significant threats to consumers’ identity security.

Causation Factors of the Equifax Breach

Analysis reveals several contributory causes to the Equifax breach, primarily rooted in organizational failures and technical vulnerabilities. A crucial factor was the failure to patch the known Apache Struts vulnerability, CVE-2017-5638, despite a security update being available months before the breach (United States Government Accountability Office [GAO], 2018). This neglect reflects a deficient patch management process, which is fundamental to organizational cybersecurity.

Further, Equifax's security controls lacked adequate detection and response capabilities. The breach went undetected for over a month, allowing attackers prolonged access to sensitive data. This delay points to deficiencies in intrusion detection system (IDS) deployment and monitoring protocols (GAO, 2018). Additionally, the organization’s governance structure did not prioritize cybersecurity sufficiently, as evidenced by the insufficient security staffing and weak internal controls.

Another causation factor derives from the failure to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and encryption for stored data. These lapses increased data vulnerability, and when combined with poor network segmentation, facilitated lateral movement within the compromised systems (Cavus, 2019). The breach exemplifies how organizational neglect in deploying layered security controls can result in catastrophic vulnerabilities.

Recommendations for Improved Security Controls

To mitigate future breaches, Equifax should implement comprehensive security control enhancements. First, establishing a robust patch management framework is critical. This involves routine vulnerability assessments, timely application of patches, and automated patch deployment systems (Kaur & Kaur, 2020). Regular patching reduces exploitable vulnerabilities, a principle supported by numerous cybersecurity standards, including NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework (NIST, 2018).

Second, deploying advanced intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) combined with security information and event management (SIEM) platforms can improve breach detection and response times (Alharkan & Mina, 2020). These tools enable real-time monitoring of network traffic and anomaly detection, facilitating quicker mitigation efforts.

Third, data encryption both at rest and in transit is essential for protecting sensitive consumer information. Implementing strong encryption protocols such as AES-256 ensures that even if data is accessed without authorization, it remains unintelligible (Gouda et al., 2019). Equifax also needs to enhance internal controls by enforcing least privilege access models and conducting routine security audits.

Furthermore, promoting a cybersecurity-aware culture through staff training can drastically reduce human error and insider threats. Regular training sessions on phishing, social engineering, and security best practices empower employees to recognize and respond to potential threats effectively (Shumay et al., 2021).

Finally, adopting an end-to-end risk management approach aligned with international standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001, will help systematically identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks (ISO, 2021). Continuous improvement driven by regular audits and penetration testing is vital for fostering a resilient security posture.

Conclusion

The Equifax breach underscores the critical importance of proactive and layered cybersecurity controls in protecting sensitive consumer data. Organizational deficiencies in patch management, detection, encryption, and staff awareness significantly contributed to the success of the attack. Implementing comprehensive security frameworks, including timely patching, advanced detection tools, encryption, and a security-conscious culture, can considerably reduce the likelihood of similar breaches. As cyber threats evolve, organizations must adopt a dynamic, risk-based approach to cybersecurity that emphasizes prevention, early detection, and rapid response.

References

Alharkan, I., & Mina, M. M. (2020). Cyber threat detection using machine learning and data analytics. IEEE Access, 8, 156724-156736.

Cavus, M. (2019). Data security and privacy issues in cloud computing. International Journal of Cloud Applications and Computing, 9(3), 1-20.

Equifax. (2023). About us. https://www.equifax.com/about-us/

Gouda, A. A., Almalag, M. A., & Alshammari, R. M. (2019). Encryption techniques and security challenges: a review. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 97(8), 2055–2064.

ISO. (2021). ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information security, cybersecurity and privacy management systems — Requirements. International Organization for Standardization.

Kaur, J., & Kaur, P. (2020). Patch management process and strategies for effective security. International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering, 8(12), 935-939.

NIST. (2018). Framework for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity. National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Shumay, A., Woodard, C., & Farris, J. (2021). Human factors in cybersecurity: The role of employee awareness training. Journal of Organizational Security, 15(2), 75-88.

United States Government Accountability Office. (2018). Equifax: Actions needed to better protect consumer data. GAO-18-519.

Federal Trade Commission. (2019). Equifax data breach settlement. https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/152-3084/equifax-inc.