Information Security Continuous Monitoring—Challenges And So ✓ Solved

Information Security Continuous Monitoring—Challenges and Solutio

Continuous monitoring is a critical part of the risk management process. "Continuous monitoring is ongoing observance with intent to provide warning. A continuous monitoring capability is the ongoing observance and analysis of the operational states of systems to provide decision support regarding situational awareness and deviations from expectations." —Source: Keith Willett (MITRE) in support of the National Security Agency. "Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM) is defined as maintaining ongoing awareness of information security, vulnerabilities, and threats to support organizational risk management decisions." —NIST. Organizations should establish, implement, and maintain ISCM.

ISCM should be a recursive process as its monitoring strategy is continually refined so that ISCM is a robust system. A tiered organization-wide ISCM framework and dynamic ISCM processes are proposed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Its Appendix D "Technologies for Enabling ISCM" provides some technical and managerial details and examples. NIST (2011).

The importance of continuous monitoring of information systems cannot be overstated, especially in today’s ever-evolving threat landscape. Continuous monitoring enables organizations to detect vulnerabilities and threats in real time, thereby enhancing their overall security posture. According to NIST, effective continuous monitoring can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks, which can have catastrophic consequences for businesses, governments, and individuals alike (NIST, 2011).

However, implementing continuous monitoring is not without its challenges. Organizations often face technical challenges, such as the integration of various monitoring tools and the management of large sets of data. These challenges can lead to gaps in monitoring, leaving systems vulnerable. Managerial challenges are equally significant, as they involve ensuring proper policies, training, and resource allocation to support continuous monitoring efforts (Chapple et al., 2018).

One of the primary technical challenges of continuous monitoring is the need to collect and analyze vast amounts of data generated by information systems. This data can come from logs, alerts, and telemetry, but it often requires sophisticated tools for analysis. Without the right tools, organizations may struggle to maintain awareness of their security posture (Gregory, 2018). Moreover, data from different sources may not be easily correlated, complicating the identification of threats.

Another technical challenge is ensuring that monitoring systems do not disrupt the normal operation of information systems. As organizations implement continuous monitoring solutions, they must balance the need for vigilance with the need for system availability (Oniha et al., 2017). This often requires careful tuning of monitoring tools to minimize false positives and negatives.

On the managerial side, the challenges can include securing buy-in from leadership and adequately training staff. Continuous monitoring is not just a technical concern; it involves establishing a culture of security and risk management within the organization (Mell et al., 2012). Leaders must understand the value of continuous monitoring, and staff must be trained to recognize and respond to alerts generated by monitoring systems.

To overcome these challenges, organizations can implement several technical and managerial solutions. Technically, adopting a tiered approach to monitoring can help organizations focus their resources effectively. By categorizing assets based on their sensitivity and criticality, organizations can prioritize their monitoring efforts and ensure that the most important systems receive the attention they need (NIST, 2011).

Moreover, organizations can leverage automation in their continuous monitoring efforts. Automated tools can help streamline data collection and analysis, enabling organizations to respond more swiftly to threats (Snedaker & Rima, 2014). Automation can also reduce the burden on cybersecurity teams, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks.

From a managerial perspective, establishing clear policies and procedures for continuous monitoring is crucial. Organizations should define roles and responsibilities, establish communication channels, and implement training programs to ensure that all staff understand their role in the continuous monitoring process (Mell et al., 2012). Regular training sessions can help keep staff informed about the latest threats and mitigation strategies.

Additionally, organizations should consider leveraging security frameworks such as the CAESARS (Continuous Assessment and Security) framework, which provides a structured approach to implementing continuous monitoring (Mell et al., 2012). This framework emphasizes the importance of integrating continuous monitoring into an organization’s overall risk management strategy, ensuring that security efforts are aligned with business objectives.

In conclusion, continuous monitoring is essential for effective risk management in today’s complex cybersecurity environment. While organizations face significant technical and managerial challenges in implementing ISCM, a combination of tiered monitoring, automation, clear policies, and established frameworks can significantly enhance their monitoring capabilities. By fostering a culture of security awareness and vigilance, organizations can better protect themselves against threats and vulnerabilities.

References

• Chapple, M., Stewart, J. M., & Gibson, D. (2018). Certified Information Systems Professional Study Guide (8th ed.). Sybex.
• Gregory, P. H. (2018). CISM Certified Information Security Manager All-in-One Exam Guide. McGraw-Hill/Osborne.
• Mell, P., Waltermire, D., Feldman, L., Booth, H., Ouyang, A., Ragland, Z., & McBride, T. (2012). CAESARS framework extension: An enterprise continuous monitoring technical reference model.
• NIST. (2011). Information Security -- Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM) for Federal Information Systems and Organizations. National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication.
• Oniha, A., Weaver, G., Arnold, C., & Shreck, T. (2017). Information security continuous monitoring. Journal of Cyber Security and Information Systems, 5(1).
• Snedaker, S., & Rima, C. (2014). Cybersecurity Risk Management: A Governance Perspective. Syngress Publishing.