Cybersecurity Is A Daily Process For Organizations 701239
Cybersecurity Is A Daily Process As An Organization Continues To Evol
Cybersecurity is a daily process. As an organization continues to evolve, making sure the security is continuously protected effectively against the latest threats is important. Create a matrix of requirements with pass/fail criteria based on the organization's framework controls. Make sure to include: Five technical controls specified within your guiding framework. If your guiding framework does not have technical controls enumerated, use NIST Special publication 800-53 and select technical controls appropriate for your organization. Using your design/architecture, create test cases for each of the five technical controls that are appropriate for your design.
Paper For Above instruction
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity has transformed from a static set of practices to a dynamic, ongoing process. As organizations adapt and grow, maintaining a robust security posture requires continuous monitoring, assessment, and improvement of security controls. Central to this effort is the development of a comprehensive matrix of technical requirements with clear pass/fail criteria, aligned with recognized security frameworks. This paper discusses the identification of five key technical controls based on organizational or NIST standards, the creation of a security requirements matrix, and the formulation of test cases to validate these controls within an organization’s architecture.
The foundational step in establishing an effective cybersecurity posture is selecting appropriate technical controls. For illustration, five controls derived either from the organization’s own security framework or the NIST Special Publication 800-53— which provides a comprehensive catalog of security controls— will be discussed. These controls include Access Control (AC), Audit and Accountability (AU), Identification and Authentication (IA), Media Protection (MP), and System and Communications Protection (SC). Each plays a vital role in safeguarding organizational assets, and their effectiveness depends on meticulous validation through testing.
Requirements Matrix with Pass/Fail Criteria
| Control | Requirement | Pass Criteria | Fail Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Control (AC-2) | User accounts are uniquely identified, and access levels are appropriately assigned. | All user accounts are unique; access levels match assigned roles; unauthorized access is restricted. | Duplicate accounts detected; access levels are misassigned; unauthorized access occurs. |
| Audit and Accountability (AU-2) | Audit logs capture successful and unsuccessful access attempts, with proper retention and review mechanisms. | Logs record all relevant events; logs are retained according to policy; regular reviews are conducted. | Logs are incomplete or missing; retention policies are not followed; review processes are lacking. |
| Identification and Authentication (IA-2) | All users authenticate via multifactor methods before access is granted. | Multifactor authentication is enforced; successful authentication grants access as per policies. | Single-factor authentication used; authentication fails to meet security standards. |
| Media Protection (MP-6) | Removable media is encrypted and access is controlled. | All removable media are encrypted; access is logged and controlled appropriately. | Media is unencrypted; access is uncontrolled or undocumented. |
| System and Communications Protection (SC-7) | Communications are encrypted using approved encryption protocols. | All communications utilize approved protocols such as TLS 1.2 or higher; no unencrypted traffic. | Unencrypted communication occurs; outdated or insecure protocols are used. |
Test Cases for Selected Technical Controls
1. Access Control (AC-2): User Account Verification
Test Case: Verify that each user has a unique account with appropriate access rights aligned with their role. Attempt to create duplicate accounts and access levels outside assigned roles. Check that unauthorized users cannot gain access to protected resources.
2. Audit and Accountability (AU-2): Log Review
Test Case: Generate specific access attempts and verify that logs capture both successful and unsuccessful events with timestamps. Ensure that logs are stored securely and are retained according to the organizational policy. Conduct periodic review simulations to detect anomalies.
3. Identification and Authentication (IA-2): Multifactor Authentication Enforcement
Test Case: Attempt to access the system with only single-factor authentication to confirm rejection. Then, authenticate using the mandated multifactor process and verify access withdrawal if any factor fails. Evaluate the robustness of MFA mechanisms such as hardware tokens, OTP, or biometric authentication.
4. Media Protection (MP-6): Removable Media Encryption
Test Case: Encrypt a sample USB drive or external media device using organizational encryption standards. Attempt to read data on an unencrypted device and verify the encryption process and access controls. Check logs to ensure access is monitored.
5. System and Communications Protection (SC-7): Encryption of Data in Transit
Test Case: Transfer data across different network segments using approved encryption protocols (like TLS 1.2+). Use network analyzers to ensure the traffic is encrypted and no unencrypted data is transmitted during the session. Test fallback mechanisms for non-compliant protocols.
Conclusion
Establishing a security requirements matrix and corresponding test cases is essential for effective cybersecurity management. Regular testing and monitoring of controls like access management, logging, authentication, media protection, and communication encryption ensure that safeguards remain active against emerging threats. By aligning these controls with recognized frameworks such as NIST 800-53, organizations can systematically validate their security posture and improve resilience.
References
- National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2020). Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations (NIST Special Publication 800-53 Rev. 5). https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53r5
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