Develop A System Security Plan (SSP) Based On Health Info ✓ Solved

Develop a System Security Plan (SSP) based on the Health information system in Community Pharmacy

Develop a System Security Plan (SSP) based on the Health information system in Community Pharmacy. you only need to specify the appropriate control baseline from NIST SP 800-53 and any additional controls or control enhancements (MINIMUM OF 2) added as part of the tailoring process, including your rationale for the addition. Do NOT list all the controls and enhancements in the selected baseline.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The protection of health information systems within community pharmacies is paramount due to the sensitive nature of the data involved, including protected health information (PHI). Ensuring robust cybersecurity measures aligns with federal standards such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-53, which provides comprehensive security controls tailored to various organizational needs. This paper delineates a System Security Plan (SSP) for a community pharmacy's health information system, focusing on selecting an appropriate NIST SP 800-53 control baseline, implementing additional controls, and justifying these choices to enhance security posture.

Selection of Control Baseline

Based on the operational context and the data sensitivity, the Moderate baseline from NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 is most appropriate for the community pharmacy health information system. This control baseline offers a balanced approach that provides adequate security measures for systems that handle sensitive health data without imposing excessive operational constraints (NIST, 2020). The Moderate baseline encompasses essential controls, including access control, incident response, and audit management, which are vital for safeguarding PHI against cybersecurity threats.

Additional Controls and Enhancements

While the Moderate baseline establishes a solid foundation, the unique environment of a community pharmacy warrants additional controls. Two control enhancements are selected:

1. AC-2 (Account Management) - Automated Account Management

Rationale: Automating account management processes ensures timely deactivation of inactive accounts and enforces consistent application of account policies, reducing vulnerabilities associated with manual processes (Higgins & Marziale, 2019).

2. SI-7 (Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity) - Software Supply Chain Risk Management

Rationale: Given the increasing sophistication of cyber threats targeting software supply chains, implementing this control mitigates risks associated with counterfeit or compromised software components that could disrupt pharmacy operations or compromise PHI (Kim & Laskey, 2021).

These enhancements strengthen the system by reducing likelihood of unauthorized access and ensuring integrity of critical software components, which are crucial in healthcare settings.

Implementation and Justification

The selected controls and enhancements are integrated into the SSP with a focus on practical implementation:

- For AC-2, automated tools will be utilized for the ongoing management of user accounts, coupled with policy-driven procedures for account provisioning and de-provisioning. This minimizes human error and enforces consistency.

- For SI-7, the pharmacy will adopt a comprehensive supply chain risk management program, including vetting vendors, verifying software integrity, and conducting regular security assessments of third-party software components.

The rationale for selecting the Moderate baseline lies in the need to balance robust security controls with usability in a community pharmacy environment. The additional controls address specific risks identified through threat modeling, such as insider threats and malicious software insertion, which are prevalent in healthcare settings.

Conclusion

Developing an effective SSP for a community pharmacy’s health information system necessitates careful selection of baseline controls aligned with system sensitivity and operational requirements. The Moderate baseline from NIST SP 800-53 offers a suitable security foundation, complemented by targeted enhancements like automated account management and supply chain risk mitigation, which address critical vulnerabilities. Implementing these controls ensures compliance with federal standards, enhances the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of health data, and ultimately safeguards patient information against evolving cyber threats.

References

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3. NIST. (2020). NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5: Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53r5
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