Part 1 Research Separation Of Duties Policies 01 Completed

Part 1 Research Separation Of Duties Policies 01 Completednotein

Part 1: Research Separation of Duties Policies (0/1 completed) Note: In this part of the lab, you will review scholarly research on separation of duties policies in order to form a basis for their purpose and usage. Understanding the reason behind a SoD policy is key to understanding the component policies and procedures. Please take time to review the research thoroughly and think through the concepts of the policy itself.

1. Using your favorite search engine, locate and read the following scholarly, peer-reviewed research article referencing separation of duties policies. Lu, J., Li, R., Lu, Z., & Jin, Y. (2009, December 31). Dynamic Enforcement of Separation-of-Duty Policies. Paper presented at the International Conference on Multimedia Information Networking and Security. Write a brief summary of the article. In your summary, focus on the need for a Separation of Duties policy and its key elements.

Paper For Above instruction

The article titled "Dynamic Enforcement of Separation-of-Duty Policies" by Lu et al. (2009) addresses the critical need for establishing effective separation of duties (SoD) policies within organizational information systems to mitigate fraud and reduce the risk of malicious activities by insiders. The authors emphasize that a primary reason for implementing SoD policies is to prevent any single individual from gaining excessive control over critical processes, which could lead to errors or deliberate malicious actions that compromise security and operational integrity. As organizations increasingly operate within complex, distributed environments, static or manually enforced policies fail to adapt to dynamic conditions, thereby necessitating the development of systems capable of dynamically enforcing SoD policies.

Key elements of the article include the necessity for formal models that specify the roles, permissions, and constraints associated with different organizational functions. The authors introduce a framework that dynamically enforces separation policies by monitoring user activities and making real-time decisions about granting or revoking access based on current context and predefined rules. This approach aims to enhance the effectiveness of SoD policies by accommodating organizational changes, hierarchical roles, and evolving security requirements. Ultimately, the article underscores that successful implementation of dynamic enforcement mechanisms can significantly reduce risks associated with privilege abuse and facilitate compliance with regulatory mandates such as Sarbanes-Oxley and other governance standards.

Part 2: Create a Separation of Duties Policy

Review the following scenario for the fictional Bankwise Credit Union: The organization is a local credit union with multiple branches and locations. It relies heavily on online banking and internet-based services due to limited human resources. The customer service department is identified as the most critical function. Bankwise aims to comply with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and IT security best practices, particularly regarding employee conduct and data protection. The organization plans to implement various controls, including content filtering for internet use, bans on personal use of organizational IT assets, email security controls, and integration of these policies into its annual security awareness training. The organization seeks to develop a comprehensive security management policy that clearly defines separation of duties within its information systems security framework.

Create a security management policy with defined separation of duties for Bankwise Credit Union, encompassing the following components:

  • Policy Statement: Clearly state the organization’s stance on separation of duties, emphasizing its role in safeguarding assets, ensuring accountability, and mitigating risks.
  • Purpose/Objectives: Define the aims of the policy, such as minimizing fraud, ensuring operational integrity, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
  • Scope: Specify which organizational units, assets, and information systems are covered—such as online banking platforms, email systems, internet gateways, and employee workstations.
  • Standards: List relevant hardware, software, or configuration standards that support the policy. For instance, specify standards for content filtering, email security configurations, or access controls, and explain how these standards complement the separation of duties framework.
  • Procedures: Describe the methods for implementing the policy across all branches and departments, including access controls, monitoring practices, and regular reviews of duty assignments.
  • Guidelines: Address potential challenges—such as employee resistance or technical limitations—and propose solutions. This section should also discuss managing disputes or gaps in duty delineation.

Paper For Above instruction

In establishing a robust separation of duties (SoD) policy for Bankwise Credit Union, it is essential to articulate a comprehensive framework that aligns with regulatory standards, technological capabilities, and organizational objectives. The core intention of the policy is to prevent any one individual from having undue authority over critical assets and systems, thereby reducing the risk of internal fraud, errors, and malicious activities. This policy is particularly crucial given the organization's reliance on internet-based banking and the necessity for strict controls to protect sensitive financial data and customer information.

The Policy Statement underscores the organization's commitment to implementing SoD principles as a means to safeguard assets and maintain operational integrity. It emphasizes that no single individual should have the capacity to execute, approve, and review critical transactions without oversight, in line with best practices and regulatory requirements such as GLBA. By codifying these principles, Bankwise aims to create a secure environment where accountability is clearly delineated and operational risks are minimized.

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear boundaries of authority, enforce segregation of responsibilities, and promote accountability within the organization. Its objectives include reducing opportunities for fraud and misconduct, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting ongoing security awareness training for employees. The policy also aims to facilitate audits and compliance reviews by providing a structured approach to the segregation of duties across all relevant systems.

The scope of this policy covers all organizational units involved in critical functions such as online banking, customer service, IT management, and financial operations. It extends to all IT assets, including servers, workstations, email systems, internet gateways, and security devices. Employee roles, user accounts, and access privileges are all within the scope to ensure a holistic approach to security and accountability.

Standards associated with this policy include hardware configurations for firewalls and content filtering devices, software standards such as access management tools, email security configurations, and network segmentation practices. These standards support the enforcement of defined access controls and help formalize the segregation of duties by ensuring consistent and compliant configurations across all systems.

Procedures for implementing this policy involve regular role reviews, the use of role-based access controls (RBAC), periodic audits of access privileges, and monitoring of user activities. Training programs will be conducted to educate staff on their responsibilities and the importance of adhering to the segregation principles. Emergency procedures and exception handling will be documented to manage situations where strict duty separation cannot be implemented immediately.

Guidelines acknowledge potential challenges such as employee resistance to changes, technical limitations, and resource constraints. To address these issues, the policy recommends engaging stakeholders early, providing comprehensive training, prioritizing critical areas for initial segregation, and leveraging automation where possible. Disputes or gaps in duty responsibilities will be managed through escalation procedures, periodic reviews, and amendments to the policy, ensuring continuous improvement and compliance.

References

  • Lu, J., Li, R., Lu, Z., & Jin, Y. (2009). Dynamic Enforcement of Separation-of-Duty Policies. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Multimedia Information Networking and Security.
  • Ballesteros, S., Pan, L., Batten, L., & Li, G. (2015). Segregation-of-Duties Conflicts in the Insider Threat Landscape: An Overview and Case Study. In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Education Reform and Modern Management.
  • Cherepanova, L., & Roy, B. (2018). Implementing Effective Segregation of Duties in Financial Organizations. Journal of Financial Compliance, 12(3), 45-58.
  • Omar, N., & Badr, Y. (2017). Role-Based Access Control and Its Application in Protecting Critical Information Infrastructure. IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, 12(8), 1991-2002.
  • Viega, J., & McGraw, G. (2001). Building Secure Software: How to Avoid Security Problems the Right Way. Addison-Wesley.
  • Kim, D., & Solomon, M. G. (2016). Fundamentals of Information Systems Security. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
  • Li, X., & Zhang, T. (2020). Enhancing Cybersecurity Compliance through Policy Design. Cybersecurity Journal, 4(2), 112-130.
  • ISO/IEC 27001:2013. (2013). Information technology — Security techniques — Information Security Management Systems — Requirements. International Organization for Standardization.
  • Kumar, S., & Singh, S. (2019). Risk Management in Information Security. Journal of Cybersecurity and Information Security, 7(1), 23-34.
  • Anderson, R. (2020). Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems. Wiley Publishing.

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