Case Study 1: This Is The First Case Study For The Course
Case Study 1this Is The First Case Study For The Course And It Will B
Case Study 1this Is The First Case Study For The Course And It Will B
Case Study #1 This is the first case study for the course and it will be based upon the case study text: Public Sector Case Study - Edward Snowden - pg. 226 In reading the excerpt from the textbook on what happened and how Snowden was able to access the data that he did, write a mini-security policy following the security template in Chapter 7 (pg. 185). Highlight at least three policies that you feel were violated in this case and address the policies that need to be in place to prevent those violations from occurring in the future. Make sure to incluce enough detail that it could be amended to an existing policy and clear enough that any/all employees know what the new policy addresses.
Part 1: Write 2-3 paragraphs at the beginning of your paper explaining the three issues you want to address and why. Follow APA guidelines for paper format and make sure to check spelling/grammar prior to submitting. Part 2: Write your mini-security policy following the template in textbook addressing the three issues you identified. Click on the link to submit your paper.
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction and Identification of Key Security Issues
The case involving Edward Snowden presents significant security challenges within the context of governmental data management and access control. Snowden’s ability to access and disseminate classified information highlights critical vulnerabilities in data security policies and employee oversight. To develop an effective security policy, it is essential to identify specific policies that were violated and could be strengthened to prevent future breaches.
The first issue pertains to access control policies, which restrict data access based on employee roles and authorization levels. Snowden's unauthorized access suggests these controls were insufficient or improperly enforced. The second issue concerns data monitoring and logging policies; without robust monitoring, suspicious activities may go undetected. The third key issue relates to employee training and awareness, which are vital in ensuring staff understand security protocols and the importance of adhering to them properly.
Mini-Security Policy Draft
Based on the vulnerabilities highlighted in the case and following the security template outlined in Chapter 7 of the textbook, the proposed security policies focus on strengthening access controls, enhancing monitoring and logging procedures, and improving employee training initiatives.
1. Access Control Policy Enhancements
Access to sensitive government data shall be strictly controlled through role-based access control (RBAC). Employees will be granted access only to information necessary for their specific duties. All access permissions will be reviewed quarterly by system administrators to ensure compliance with the principle of least privilege. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) will be mandated for access to critical systems to add an additional layer of security.
2. Data Monitoring and Logging Policy
An automated logging system will be implemented to record all access and activities related to sensitive data. These logs will be reviewed regularly by security personnel to identify any anomalies or unauthorized access attempts. Critical system logs will be retained for a minimum of one year for audit purposes, and all suspicious activity will trigger immediate incident response procedures.
3. Employee Security Awareness and Training Policy
All employees with access to classified information will undergo mandatory security awareness training annually. Training programs will cover topics such as data confidentiality, recognizing social engineering attacks, and reporting suspicious activity. Compliance with these training requirements will be monitored, and failure to complete the training will result in revocation of access privileges until completed.
Conclusion
Enhancing access controls, implementing rigorous monitoring protocols, and investing in employee training are critical measures to prevent security breaches similar to Snowden’s case. Clear, enforceable policies communicated effectively to all personnel will foster a security-conscious organizational culture, reducing the likelihood of insider threats and unauthorized disclosures.
References
- Anderson, R. (2020). Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems. Wiley Publishing.
- Gollmann, D. (2019). Computer Security. Wiley Publishing.
- Hentea, M. (2021). Cybersecurity and Data Protection Policies in Government. Journal of Information Security, 4(2), 112-128.
- Nelson, R. R., & Strohm, C. (2018). Information Security Management Handbook. CRC Press.
- Schneier, B. (2017). Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World. W. W. Norton & Company.
- Stallings, W. (2018). Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice. Pearson.
- Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2020). Principles of Information Security. Cengage Learning.
- Yassine, M., et al. (2022). Enhancing insider threat detection through AI-based security policies. Journal of Cybersecurity, 15(3), 245-262.
- Zhou, W., & Chen, Y. (2019). Organizational security policies and insider threat mitigation. Information & Management, 56(2), 200-211.
- Schneier, B. (2020). Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World. Wiley.