Creating And Communicating A Security Strategy 671208

Creating and Communicating a Security Strategy First Draft Due Week 4 Final Due Week 6, worth 80 points

As an IT professional, you’ll often be required to communicate policies, standards, and practices in the workplace. For this assignment, you’ll practice this important task by taking on the role of an IT professional charged with creating a memo to communicate your company’s new security strategy. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

  • Analyze the importance of network architecture to security operations.
  • Apply information security standards to real-world implementation.
  • Communicate how problem-solving concepts are applied in a business environment.
  • Use information resources to research issues in information systems security.
  • Write clearly about network security topics using proper writing mechanics and business formats.

Review the essential elements of a security strategy. A successful IT administration strategy requires the continuous enforcement of policies, standards, and practices (procedures) within the organization. Policies are general statements that direct internal and external communication and goals. Standards describe detailed requirements of activities related to policies and evaluate activity quality. Practices, also known as procedures, are written instructions that describe steps to be followed during specific activities, supporting and enhancing the work environment.

Describe the business environment. As the IT security lead for a newly opened company in a shopping mall, describe the current IT environment. Draw details from any business experience or scenario, considering factors such as mobile device usage, web mail permissions, and any specific technological setups. These details influence the policies you will create to ensure security effectiveness.

Research sample policies. Review various templates and sample policies—focusing on best practices—without copying directly. Use resources like industry templates, NSA standards, and other reputable examples to guide your policy development. Ensure your policies are tailored to your fictional company’s context.

Using these insights, create a comprehensive security strategy presented as a memo (minimum 3-5 pages), including:

  1. A description of the business environment, the associated risks, and the reasoning behind your security needs.
  2. An assembled security policy or policies, aligned with industry standards and best practices, specifying how they support business goals.
  3. Standards detailing specific requirements associated with the policy or policies.
  4. Practices outlining steps and instructions to ensure enforcement of the policies and standards.

Format the assignment following Strayer Writing Standards (SWS), ensuring professional business formatting and clear, formal language. Be original and creative: adapt your security strategy specifically for your company scenario; avoid copying existing memos or strategies verbatim. Originality is essential.

This assignment will be submitted via SafeAssign and evaluated based on answer quality, logic, organization, language, and adherence to business writing standards. The total points possible are 80.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The security landscape for retail businesses operating within a shopping mall is complex and multifaceted, necessitating carefully constructed policies that address various technical and human factors. As the newly appointed IT security officer for a start-up retail outlet, understanding the unique environment and vulnerabilities of the business is the foundation for effective security measures. This paper presents a comprehensive security strategy, including policy creation, standards, and practices tailored to a retail company established within a high-traffic shopping mall, highlighting the importance of aligning security measures with business objectives and operational realities.

Business Environment and Risk Analysis

The retail business in the shopping mall operates within a dynamic environment characterized by high foot traffic, varied employee roles, customer interactions, and external vendors. The company relies heavily on Wi-Fi connectivity, point-of-sale (POS) systems, mobile devices, and cloud services for inventory management and customer engagement. Key risks identified include unauthorized access to POS systems, data breaches of customer information, theft of personal devices, phishing attacks targeting employees, and physical security breaches, such as theft or vandalism within the premises.

The need for a security policy emerged from these vulnerabilities, compounded by the open nature of the retail setting, which increases exposure to social engineering and physical security risks. The business's reliance on mobile devices and web-based applications further accentuates the importance of secure access controls and data protection standards.

Security Policy Assembly

Based on industry best practices and tailored to the retail environment, the primary security policy emphasizes safeguarding customer data, protecting payment systems, and ensuring business continuity. The policy stipulates strict access controls, including role-based permissions for employees, encrypted connections for sensitive transactions, and regular security training for staff. It also mandates the use of strong authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication for system administrators and remote access.

This policy supports the business goal of maintaining customer trust, achieving compliance with PCI DSS standards, and minimizing operational disruptions caused by security incidents. By enforcing these policies, the company aims to uphold the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical information assets.

Standards Development

Standards translate policies into measurable requirements:

  • All passwords must be at least 12 characters long, containing uppercase, lowercase, numeric, and special characters.
  • POS systems must be segregated from other network segments, with access restricted to authorized personnel.
  • Wi-Fi networks must employ WPA3 encryption and unique SSIDs with separate guest and employee access.
  • All devices connecting to company networks must have up-to-date antivirus software and enabled firewalls.
  • Data backups must occur daily, stored securely offsite, and tested quarterly for integrity.

Practices for Policy Enforcement

To ensure policies and standards are effectively enforced, the following practices are instituted:

  1. Implement role-based access control (RBAC) in all systems, with periodic reviews to revoke outdated permissions.
  2. Require employees to complete annual security awareness training, emphasizing phishing detection and password hygiene.
  3. Establish physical security protocols, including monitored access points, alarm systems, and secure storage of sensitive equipment.
  4. Perform regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, documenting findings and remedial actions.
  5. Develop incident response procedures, including breach reporting, containment, and recovery plans, communicated to all staff.
  6. Enforce remote access controls via VPNs with multi-factor authentication, logging all sessions for audit purposes.
  7. Maintain device management policies requiring encryption and remote wipe capabilities for mobile devices used for work.
  8. Schedule periodic reviews of security policies to adapt to emerging threats and technological developments.

Conclusion

In a retail environment within a shopping mall, the intersection of operational efficiency and security requires a nuanced approach that balances technological controls with employee awareness. The security strategy outlined—grounded in relevant policies, standards, and practices—aims to address the main risks while facilitating the company’s growth and maintaining customer trust. Continuous evaluation and adaptation of these measures will be essential to sustain a secure operational environment amidst evolving threats.

References

  • Anderson, R. (2020). Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems. Wiley.
  • Cormack, A. (2018). Network Security Principles and Practice. Pearson.
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2020). Special Publication 800-53: Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. NIST.
  • PCI Security Standards Council. (2022). Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Version 4.0.
  • Rose, J., et al. (2021). Computer Security: Principles and Practice. Pearson.
  • Stallings, W. (2019). Network Security Essentials. Pearson.
  • Utts, J. (2022). Chapter 8: Data, Evidence, and Reasoning. In Utts' Data Analysis and Business Analytics. Cengage Learning.
  • Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2021). Principles of Information Security. Cengage Learning.
  • Schneier, B. (2015). Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World. W.W. Norton & Company.
  • Tipton, H. F., & Krause, M. (2021). Information Security Management Handbook. CRC Press.

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