Residency Group Project: Application Security Assume That Yo ✓ Solved

Residency Group Project Application Security Assume that yo

Residency Group Project: Application Security Assume that yo

Residency Group Project: Application Security Assume that you are the security administrator at ABC corporation in charge of security policies. Your job is to assure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information within ABC corporation. There have been data breaches due to lousy security policies, as determined through forensic investigation. Therefore, to assure IT security to ABC organization, your security team has been tasked to create a proposal on the steps that could be taken to mitigate the risk of data breach into ABC corporation's IT infrastructure. Based on what you have learned from Week 1-7.

Your Task Create a proposal that will be presented to the ABC corporation's functional manager, detailing the steps to mitigate the risk of future data breaches.

Paper For Above Instructions

Executive summary. To mitigate the risk of future data breaches at ABC Corporation, the proposed program adopts a defense-in-depth strategy aligned with recognized frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and ISO/IEC 27001. By integrating governance, risk management, technical controls, and ongoing monitoring, the proposal aims to reduce exposure across people, processes, and technology. The foundational principle is that confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) are inseparable goals; improvements in one area support the others (NIST, 2018; ISO/IEC, 2013). The plan emphasizes proactive controls, rather than reactive detection alone, and is designed to be implementable within a phased timeline while maintaining operational continuity (Verizon, 2020).

Threat landscape and risk assessment. Data breaches frequently stem from a combination of weaknesses in identity management, insecure software, unmonitored access, and insufficient data protection. Empirical evidence from industry reports demonstrates that attackers commonly exploit weak authentication, misconfigurations, and insecure third-party integrations (Verizon, 2020; ENISA, 2020). A formal risk assessment should inventory critical assets (data stores, customer PII, payment information, intellectual property), identify threat sources (external cybercrime, insider risk, third-party vendors), and evaluate likelihood and impact using a standardized method (NIST CSF, 2018). The outcome is a risk-based prioritization of controls to address the most material threats to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Governance and policy. Establishing a cybersecurity governance program is essential to sustain security posture. A formal information security management system (ISMS) structure, consistent with ISO/IEC 27001, should define roles (CISO, CIO, IT security leads), responsibilities, and policy lifecycle. Policies must cover access control, data classification, encryption, secure software development, incident response, business continuity, and third-party risk management. Aligning controls with NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 privacy and security controls provides a concrete catalog of baseline safeguards (NIST, 2020). Regular internal audits and management review ensure that policies adapt to evolving threats and regulatory expectations (ISO/IEC, 2013).

Identity and access management (IAM). A robust IAM program is central to reducing unauthorized access. Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all privileged and remote access, adopt just-in-time and just-enough-access concepts, and deploy privileged access management (PAM) for high-privilege accounts. Implement role-based access control (RBAC) and periodic access reviews tied to job functions. Passwordless authentication and adaptive authentication can reduce credential theft risk (NIST CSF, 2018; ISO/IEC 27001, 2013). Auditing and anomaly detection on authentication events support rapid detection of suspicious activity (Verizon, 2020).

Data protection and privacy. Protect data at rest and in transit using strong encryption and strong key management practices. Data classification informs where encryption and DLP controls are required. Implement data loss prevention (DLP) programs for endpoints and servers, with strict controls on data egress. An effective data protection strategy reduces the potential impact of data exposure even if other controls fail (NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5; ISO/IEC 27002, 2013). Consider tokenization or format-preserving encryption for sensitive data in non-production environments to minimize risk during development and testing (NIST, 2020).

Application security and secure software development. Treat application security as a core capability within the software development lifecycle. Incorporate threat modeling (e.g., STRIDE) at the design stage and conduct secure coding reviews throughout development. Rely on the OWASP Top 10 to prioritize common internet-facing risks (OWASP, 2021). Use the OWASP ASVS to establish verifiable security requirements for applications (OWASP, 2019). Implement a secure SDLC with automated testing, code analysis, and secure deployment pipelines to detect vulnerabilities before production (NIST SP 800-53; CIS Controls, 2021).

Network segmentation and zero trust. Reduce blast radius through network segmentation, role-based firewall rules, and least-privilege gateway access. A zero-trust approach—requiring continuous verification of identities and devices for every access request—minimizes lateral movement by attackers and limits exposure of critical systems (NIST CSF; ENISA, 2020).

Security monitoring, detection, and incident response. Deploy centralized logging, security information and event management (SIEM), and continuous monitoring to detect anomalous activity quickly. An incident response (IR) plan should define roles, escalation paths, and communication protocols, with regular tabletop exercises to test readiness. Align IR capabilities with the NIST IR guidelines and ensure coordination with business continuity plans (NIST CSF, 2018; Verizon, 2020). Post-incident analysis should feed back into the risk assessment and controls updates (ENISA, 2020).

Third-party and vendor risk management. ABC should extend its security program to include third parties that access systems or data. Conduct due diligence, enforce security requirements in vendor contracts, and require regular security assessments of key suppliers. Align with ISO/IEC 27002 guidance on supplier relationships and the NIST SP 800-53 controls for external parties (ISO/IEC, 2013; NIST, 2020).

Implementation plan and metrics. A phased rollout will minimize operational disruption. Phase 1 (0-3 months): establish asset inventory, baseline security policies, and IAM enhancements (MFA, RBAC, and PAM). Phase 2 (3-6 months): implement data protection measures and secure SDLC practices; begin network segmentation and zero-trust pilots. Phase 3 (6-12 months): deploy DLP, SIEM, threat intelligence integration, and formal vendor risk management. Success metrics include reductions in time-to-detect, time-to-contain, and overall residual risk scores; reductions in exposed data categories; and compliance with the core controls outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO standards (NIST, 2020; CIS, 2021).

Evaluation and alignment with standards. The proposed controls map to established frameworks to ensure comprehensiveness and interoperability. The ISMS approach aligns with ISO/IEC 27001 and 27002, while technical controls reflect NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 guidance. Security testing and threat modeling follow OWASP Top 10 and ASVS practices, supported by SANS Critical Security Controls as practical, prescriptive measures. Industry data from Verizon’s DBIR and ENISA threat landscape informs prioritization of defensive investments and awareness campaigns (Verizon, 2020; ENISA, 2020). This alignment supports audit readiness and ongoing improvement across the organization (NIST CSF, 2018).

References

  1. National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2020). NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. Gaithersburg, MD: NIST.
  2. National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (Version 1.1). Gaithersburg, MD: NIST.
  3. International Organization for Standardization. (2013). ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Requirements. Geneva: ISO.
  4. International Organization for Standardization. (2013). ISO/IEC 27002:2013 Information technology — Security techniques — Code of practice for information security controls. Geneva: ISO.
  5. Open Web Application Security Project. (2021). OWASP Top 10. https://owasp.org/www-project-top-ten/
  6. Open Web Application Security Project. (2019). OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) 4.0. https://owasp.org/www-project-asp-verification-standard/
  7. Center for Internet Security. (2021). CIS Critical Security Controls Version 8. https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/
  8. Verizon. (2020). Data Breach Investigations Report 2020. https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/
  9. European Union Agency for Cybersecurity. (2020). ENISA Threat Landscape 2020. https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/enisa-threat-landscape-2020
  10. Sans Institute. (2018). Critical Security Controls Version 7.1. https://www.sans.org/critical-security-controls/

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