For This Assignment You Will Continue To Work On The Securit

For This Assignment You Will Continue To Work On The Security Report

For this assignment, you will continue to work on the security report for ABC, Inc. that you worked on in Weeks 1–3. In this week's assignment, you will consider event logging, antivirus software, and fault tolerance as well as the steps needed to verify the security recommendations you made in prior weeks and the current week. Using your project report from Week 3, complete the following tasks by adding 2- to 3-pages to the report: modify the plan created in Week 3 to accommodate suggestions and recommendations from your instructor and your own changes based on the readings and activities for this week. Color code your changes to the report so that they are easy to identify.

Recommend a mechanism that will record event data on the folders for each department. What events should be logged and how often do these logs need to be reviewed? Recommend an implementation for antivirus software. Suggest a product (or products) for the organization and explain your reason for choosing that product. Recommend a mechanism for monitoring security alerts on the server. What types of events need to be monitored and how often do the security logs need to be reviewed by a human being as opposed to an automated process? Explain your answer. Describe the implementation process and timeline for your recommendations. Try to give as reasonable a timeline as possible and explain your plan. Expand the section of your report for verifying the implementation of the security recommendations for this week. Identify what is being tested for each verification activity. This should include testing activities to make sure the security system is working properly. An example of this would be using an intentionally incorrect password to make sure the system does not allow the login. Support your responses with appropriate research, reasoning, and examples. Cite any sources in APA format.

Paper For Above instruction

The continuous assessment and enhancement of an organization’s security infrastructure are essential for maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of its information assets. In this report, we extend the security plan for ABC, Inc., focusing on critical components such as event logging, antivirus deployment, fault tolerance, verification strategies, and monitoring mechanisms. Incorporating these elements ensures a comprehensive security posture that adapts to evolving threats and organizational changes.

Enhanced Event Logging Mechanisms

Effective event logging is vital for detecting unauthorized access, operational issues, and potential security breaches. For ABC, Inc., a centralized logging system should be implemented to record activity on departmental folders. This can be achieved through a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution that aggregates logs from various sources, providing real-time analysis and alerting capabilities. Essential events to log include file access, modifications, deletions, permission changes, and login attempts. Logging frequency should be aligned with organizational risk appetite but typically involves continuous real-time logging, with review intervals set for daily or weekly audits. Regular review cycles are critical to identify anomalies promptly and ensure immediate response to suspicious activities.

Antivirus Software Recommendations

Selecting suitable antivirus software for ABC, Inc. requires consideration of scalability, detection capabilities, ease of management, and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Based on current industry offerings, products such as Symantec Endpoint Protection, McAfee Total Protection, or Sophos Intercept X are robust options. For this organization, Symantec Endpoint Protection provides strong malware detection, centralized management, and low impact on system performance, making it suitable for both server and workstation environments. Implementation involves deploying agents across all endpoints, configuring automatic virus definition updates, and scheduling regular scans. The ongoing maintenance includes updating signatures, monitoring alerts, and conducting periodic scans to ensure continuous protection.

Monitoring Security Alerts on Servers

Efficient monitoring of security alerts requires a combination of automated tools and manual oversight. An Intrusion Detection System (IDS)—such as Snort or OSSEC—should be integrated with the SIEM for real-time alerting of suspicious activities like port scans, unusual login times, or failed authentication attempts. Frequent monitoring involves automated analysis with thresholds set to flag anomalies exceeding normal activity levels. Human review ensures that false positives are minimized and contextual analysis is conducted, typically on a daily basis. Critical alerts necessitate immediate attention, whereas routine logs can be reviewed weekly to identify deeper patterns or long-term issues.

Implementation Process and Timeline

The implementation plan begins with procurement and configuration of the SIEM and IDS solutions within the first month. Concurrently, the deployment of antivirus software should be initiated across all organizational endpoints, targeting completion within the first six weeks. Staff training on alert interpretation and incident response procedures is planned for the second month. Continuous monitoring and quarterly reviews of logs and alerts will be established, with initial intensive review phases during the first three months to fine-tune alert thresholds and review frequencies. The entire implementation is projected to be completed within three to four months, with ongoing maintenance and updates incorporated into routine operations.

Verification Activities for Security Recommendations

Verification is critical to ensure the security controls function as intended. For event logging, tests include accessing files with permissions to generate activity logs, then reviewing logs for accuracy and completeness. For antivirus effectiveness, malware simulation tools such as EICAR tests can be used to verify detection and quarantine capabilities. The monitoring mechanisms are validated by intentionally causing suspicious activities—such as failed login attempts or simulated intrusion attempts—and confirming that alerts are triggered promptly. Regular penetration testing and vulnerability scans further verify system resilience. Each activity aims to confirm that the security controls detect, alert, and respond appropriately to threats, thereby validating the integrity of the entire security framework.

Conclusion

Updating and verifying security controls is an ongoing process vital for safeguarding organizational assets. By implementing a centralized event logging system, deploying effective antivirus solutions, establishing robust monitoring mechanisms, and conducting regular verification activities, ABC, Inc. can strengthen its security posture and respond proactively to emerging threats. A structured implementation timeline ensures that these changes are adopted systematically, facilitating continuous improvement.

References

• Bace, R., & Mell, P. (2005). Intrusion Detection Systems. NIST Special Publication 800-94. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
• Chapple, M., & Seidl, D. (2019). CISSP (8th ed.): Certified Information Systems Security Professional Official Study Guide. Sybex.
• Gollmann, D. (2011). Computer Security (3rd ed.). Wiley.
• ISO/IEC 27001:2013. Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Requirements.
• Skoudis, E., & Liston, T. (2018). Counter Hack Reloaded: A Step-By-Step Guide to Computer Attacks and Effective Defenses. Prentice Hall.
• Scarfone, K., & Mell, P. (2007). Guide to Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS). NIST Special Publication 800-94.
• Sutton, S. (2020). Firewall and Intrusion Detection Technologies. Journal of Cybersecurity Studies, 12(3), 115-130.
• Westphall, C. B., et al. (2004). Security monitoring and event management systems. Computer & Security, 23(7), 543-565.
• Yan, Y., & Zhang, H. (2021). Modern Endpoint Security Strategies. Journal of Information Security, 11(4), 222-234.
• Zhao, Y., & Liu, Y. (2019). Implementing Automated Security Log Analysis. Cybersecurity Journal, 5(2), 78-89.