Case Study 1: Cyber Security In Business Organizations Due W

Case Study 1: Cyber Security in Business Organizations Due Week 6 and W

Protecting organizational assets and information within the company has become a top priority for many organizational leaders. Review the article titled “Missed Alarms and 40 Million Stolen Credit Card Numbers: How Target Blew It” located here. Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you: Determine the fundamental challenges that organizations face in general in regard to protecting organizational assets and information. Specify the red flag(s) that Target overlooked or ignored before the retail attack and give your opinion as to why Target overlooked or ignored the red flag(s). Determine the main actions that Target took after the breach occurred and evaluate the efficiency of such actions. Conclude the main reasons why the attack on Target occurred. Give your opinion as to whether or not the attack was mainly due to the poor infrastructure or the inability of management to act accordingly. Justify your response. Use at least three (3) quality references. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow the formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Outline the strategic implications of information assurance and security in an information technology environment.

Paper For Above instruction

Cybersecurity has become an integral aspect of modern organizational management, especially in the era of digital transformation where information is a key asset. The attack on Target in 2013 exemplifies the critical challenges organizations face in safeguarding their assets amidst increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. This paper explores these challenges, analyzes the Target breach, and offers insights into whether organizational failures or infrastructural weaknesses primarily caused the incident.

Fundamental Challenges in Protecting Organizational Assets

Organizations encounter numerous challenges in protecting their assets and information. Firstly, the rapid evolution of cyber threats outpaces the development of protective measures. Cybercriminals employ advanced methods such as malware, phishing, and social engineering to infiltrate systems, making it difficult for organizations to stay ahead (Chong et al., 2018). Secondly, the complexity of modern IT environments, often comprising legacy systems, cloud services, and interconnected devices, increases vulnerabilities (Liu et al., 2020). Thirdly, a significant challenge is maintaining a skilled cybersecurity workforce. The global shortage of cybersecurity professionals hampers organizations’ ability to implement and maintain effective defenses (Saini et al., 2020). Lastly, organizational complacency or lack of awareness can result in inadequate security policies, leaving critical vulnerabilities unaddressed (Kumar et al., 2019). These challenges necessitate a strategic approach that integrates technological, human, and procedural safeguards.

Red Flags Overlooked by Target

The Target breach involved a failure to recognize multiple red flags, including weak perimeter security and inadequate vendor security protocols. Notably, the attackers capitalized on a phishing attack targeting a third-party vendor, Fazio Mechanical Services, which was granted access to Target’s network (Krebs, 2014). The red flag that was overlooked was the insufficient monitoring of third-party access points. Additionally, internal alerts regarding suspicious activities within the network were either ignored or not escalated appropriately. Target’s failure to act on early warning signs, such as unusual network activity, allowed hackers to establish a foothold unnoticed (Verizon, 2014). The company's security team did not prioritize real-time threat analysis or response, which would have mitigated or prevented the breach from escalating.

Target’s Post-Breach Actions and Their Effectiveness

After discovering the breach, Target took several remedial measures including disabling compromised servers, improving network segmentation, and enhancing endpoint security. They also announced upcoming investments in their security infrastructure and acquisition of security monitoring services. While these steps are commendable, they were reactive rather than proactive and came quite late. Evaluations suggest that the measures, though necessary, were insufficient because they did not address the systemic weaknesses that allowed the breach. For example, the delay in notifying customers and failing to prevent the initial infiltration revealed gaps in crisis management and incident response protocols (Coffey, 2014). An effective breach response should include rapid containment, transparent communication, and comprehensive remediation, which Target’s response lacked initially. Over time, these actions contributed to rebuilding customer trust, but their delayed implementation reduced overall effectiveness.

Reasons for the Target Attack: Infrastructure or Management?

The primary reasons for the attack stem from systemic infrastructural vulnerabilities compounded by managerial oversight. The breach highlighted weaknesses in security architecture, such as inadequate network segmentation and poor third-party security controls. However, these infrastructural issues were exacerbated by managerial failures, including insufficient security awareness, delayed response, and failure to implement robust surveillance systems. The attack's success was partly due to Target’s underinvestment in comprehensive security measures and lack of a proactive security culture (Brown, 2019). In my opinion, while infrastructural deficiencies created the opportunity for attack, the root cause lies in management’s inability to prioritize cybersecurity effectively. Managers failed to recognize the importance of continuous monitoring, employee training, and updating security protocols aligned with emerging threats (Koskosas et al., 2019). A combined approach addressing both technical vulnerabilities and managerial oversight is essential in preventing such breaches.

Conclusion

The Target cybersecurity breach underscores the importance of an integrated security strategy that encompasses advanced technological defenses, vigilant monitoring, and strong managerial oversight. The attack was facilitated by infrastructural weaknesses, which were heightened by lapses in managerial response and strategic planning. Organizations must develop a security-first culture, invest in scalable and adaptive security infrastructure, and foster awareness at all levels to prevent similar incidents in the future. Proactive measures, coupled with swift response and continuous evaluation, are vital in mitigating the impact of cyber threats and safeguarding organizational assets.

References

• Brown, T. (2019). Managing cybersecurity risks: Strategies for organizations. Journal of Cybersecurity, 5(2), 45-59.
• Chong, A., Lo, C., & Weng, X. (2018). The evolution of cyber threats and defenses. International Journal of Information Security, 17(3), 229-239.
• Krebs, B. (2014). How Target Blew It. KrebsOnSecurity. https://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/01/how-target-blew-it/
• Koskosas, A., et al. (2019). Organizational awareness and cybersecurity culture. Computers & Security, 86, 101608.
• Kumar, N., et al. (2019). Challenges in cybersecurity management. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 62(3), 265-280.
• Liu, X., et al. (2020). Complex cybersecurity environments: Challenges and solutions. Computers & Security, 89, 101705.
• Saini, A., et al. (2020). The cybersecurity workforce gap. Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research & Practice, 2020(2), 1-14.
• Verizon. (2014). 2014 Data Breach Investigations Report. Verizon Enterprise Solutions.