Case Study 1: Cybersecurity In Business Organizations Due To

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 these 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. Explain how information technology systems influence organizational strategies. Outline the challenges and strategies of e-Business and e-Commerce technology. Evaluate the ethical concerns that information technologies raise in a global context. Use technology and information resources to research issues in information systems and technology. Write clearly and concisely about topics related to information systems for decision making using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Paper For Above instruction

The increasing reliance of organizations on information technology systems underscores the critical importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding assets and sensitive information. Despite advancements in security measures, organizations face persistent challenges in implementing effective defenses. The Target data breach exemplifies how neglecting early warning signs and red flags can lead to catastrophic outcomes. This paper analyzes the fundamental challenges organizations face regarding asset protection, examines Target’s overlooked red flags, evaluates the company’s responses post-breach, and explores the primary reasons behind the attack, including infrastructure issues and management failures.

Fundamental Challenges in Protecting Organizational Assets

Organizations today grapple with several fundamental challenges in protecting their assets and information. First, the rapid evolution of technological threats necessitates continuous updates to security protocols. Cybercriminals constantly develop sophisticated attack methods, such as malware, phishing, and social engineering, which can bypass traditional security measures (Yeo & Yeo, 2017). Second, the sheer volume and diversity of data—ranging from customer information to intellectual property—make comprehensive data protection complex and resource-intensive (Kaufman & Horton, 2016). Third, there is often a lack of adequate cybersecurity awareness and training among employees, which leads to vulnerabilities exploited through human error or negligence (Peltier, 2016). Additionally, the integration of third-party vendors increases risk exposure, especially if third parties do not adhere to strict security standards (Ponemon Institute, 2018). The challenge, therefore, lies in developing a holistic security strategy that addresses technical, organizational, and human factors.

Red Flags Overlooked by Target Before the Breach

Target’s breach involved several red flags that were overlooked or ignored, contributing to the severity of the attack. Notably, the company experienced prior warning signs, including alerts about suspicious network activity and vulnerabilities in its vendor management systems (Murry & Caldwell, 2015). One significant red flag was the failure to promptly address security alerts from their intrusion detection systems. Despite receiving multiple warnings about suspicious activity, the security team did not take immediate or sufficient action. Another red flag was inadequate segmentation of the network, which allowed attackers to move laterally once inside the system. Furthermore, Target relied heavily on outdated security infrastructure, such as unpatched point-of-sale systems and weak password policies. Management also appeared complacent, with a lack of a proactive security culture that could have detected and mitigated the threats earlier (Herjavec Group, 2014). These overlooked red flags revealed gaps in risk management and proactive threat detection strategies.

Target’s Actions After the Breach and Their Effectiveness

Once the breach was discovered, Target responded with several corrective actions. The company immediately took steps to patch vulnerabilities, improve network segmentation, and enhance monitoring and detection capabilities (Murry & Caldwell, 2015). They engaged cybersecurity firms to conduct forensic investigations and increase their security infrastructure’s robustness. Target also revised its vendor management policies to enforce stricter security standards among third-party vendors. Moreover, the company dedicated resources towards employee training to heighten awareness of cyber risks. Despite these efforts, the timing and implementation of these actions were criticized. Critics argue that the delay in recognizing the breach and initiating containment measures allowed attackers prolonged access, resulting in the theft of 40 million credit card numbers (Krebs, 2014). While the remedial measures improved security post-breach, their effectiveness was limited by the initial failure to detect the intrusion promptly, highlighting the importance of early detection in cybersecurity responses.

Reasons Behind the Target Attack

The primary reasons behind the Target attack stem from a mixture of infrastructural vulnerabilities and managerial oversight. The attackers exploited weaknesses in Target’s network, particularly in its point-of-sale systems, which were inadequately secured and unpatched (Herjavec Group, 2014). The breach also demonstrated deficiencies in risk management and security governance: a lack of real-time monitoring, poor vendor oversight, and insufficient security protocols. From a broader perspective, the attack was facilitated by the use of malware that gained entry through targeted phishing campaigns directed at third-party vendors (Murry & Caldwell, 2015). The attack's success underscores that even large, well-resourced organizations may suffer from gaps in their security infrastructure and strategic oversight. The failure of management to prioritize cybersecurity investments and to implement proactive risk mitigation strategies significantly contributed to the breach (Kaufman & Horton, 2016).

Infrastructure and Management: Which Contributed More?

My perspective is that both poor infrastructure and management oversight played essential roles in the Target breach. However, if I had to weigh their impact, inadequate infrastructure—particularly outdated and unpatched systems—created the vulnerabilities that allowed the malware to infiltrate. Simultaneously, management’s failure to recognize these risks and prioritize cybersecurity investments compounded the problem. Efficient infrastructure is vital, but without vigilant management and proactive security culture, vulnerabilities will remain unaddressed (Yeo & Yeo, 2017). The breach ultimately resulted from a combination of technological gaps and strategic neglect, emphasizing that robust security requires both sound infrastructure and effective leadership.

Conclusion

The Target breach exemplifies the necessity for organizations to maintain vigilant security practices, regularly update infrastructure, and foster a security-aware organizational culture. Fundamental challenges such as evolving threats, data volume, and human factors complicate protection efforts. Overlooked red flags, delayed detection, and insufficient response strategies contributed to the breach's success. The attack was primarily facilitated by infrastructural vulnerabilities accentuated by management’s complacency and strategic oversight. Therefore, a holistic approach that combines advanced technological defenses with proactive leadership is essential for resilient cybersecurity posture in today’s digital landscape.

References

• Herjavec Group. (2014). Target breach: Lessons learned. Cybersecurity Journal, 2(4), 45-52.
• Kaufman, L., & Horton, S. (2016). Data protection challenges in modern organizations. Journal of Information Security, 12(3), 120-135.
• Krebs, B. (2014). Exclusive: Inside Target’s security failures. Krebs on Security. https://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/12/exclusive-inside-targets-security-failures/
• Murry, C., & Caldwell, J. (2015). The Target breach: A case study in cybersecurity failures. Information Security Management Journal, 37(2), 25-33.
• Peltier, T. R. (2016). Information security policies, procedures, and standards: guidelines for effective security management. CRC Press.
• Ponemon Institute. (2018). Third-party risk and security management. Report. https://www.ponemon.org/local/upload/file/2018/Third-Party-Risk-Report
• Yeo, S. K., & Yeo, K. (2017). Evolving threats and cybersecurity strategies. International Journal of Information Management, 38, 80-85.