We Will Now Look At Another Case That Has Happened To The Ge

We Will Now Look At Another Case That Has Happened To the General Publ

We will now look at another case that has happened to the general public — the Equifax data breach. Highlight at least three policies that you feel were violated in this case and address the policies that need to be in place to prevent those violations from occurring in the future. Make sure to include enough detail that it could be amended to an existing policy and clear enough that any/all employees know what the new policy addresses. Part 1: Write 2-3 paragraphs at the beginning of your paper explaining the three issues you want to address and why. Follow APA guidelines for paper format and make sure to check spelling/grammar prior to submitting. Part 2: Write your mini-security policy following the template in the textbook addressing the three issues you identified. Click on the link to submit your paper.

Paper For Above instruction

The Equifax data breach was one of the most significant cybersecurity incidents in recent history, exposing sensitive personal information of approximately 147 million Americans. This breach revealed multiple weaknesses in organizational security policies and practices. First, the incident highlighted lapses in data encryption protocols. Equifax failed to adequately encrypt sensitive consumer data stored on their servers, making it accessible to unauthorized parties once the breach occurred. Ensuring that all sensitive data is encrypted both at rest and in transit is crucial for protecting against data theft.

Second, the breach exposed deficiencies in patch management policies. Equifax did not promptly apply security patches to known vulnerabilities in their systems, specifically the Apache Struts vulnerability that was exploited by hackers. Regular and timely patching of software vulnerabilities is essential to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting known weaknesses. Third, there was a significant oversight in employee cybersecurity training and awareness. Employees were possibly unaware of how to identify and respond to phishing attempts or other social engineering tactics that could facilitate breaches. Comprehensive cybersecurity training should be mandatory for all staff to foster a security-aware culture and mitigate insider threats or accidental disclosures.

Proposed Security Policies

Encryption Policy

All sensitive data, including personally identifiable information (PII) such as Social Security numbers, addresses, and financial information, shall be encrypted using industry-standard encryption algorithms both at rest and during transmission. This policy aims to ensure that even in the event of unauthorized data access, the information remains unintelligible and protected from misuse. Regular encryption audits will be conducted to verify compliance and effectiveness.

Patch Management Policy

The organization shall implement a comprehensive patch management policy requiring the prompt application of security updates and patches to all software, operating systems, and applications whenever they become available. Critical vulnerabilities shall be addressed within 48 hours of release, and monitoring systems will be employed to identify unpatched systems. This proactive approach minimizes the window of opportunity for attackers exploiting known weaknesses.

Employee Cybersecurity Awareness Policy

All employees shall undergo mandatory cybersecurity awareness training annually, covering topics such as phishing recognition, safe password practices, and incident reporting procedures. The organization will establish a simulation program to test employees' responses to phishing attempts, reinforcing good security habits. Regular updates and refresher courses will ensure that staff remains vigilant against emerging threats, thereby reducing the risk of human error leading to data breaches.

References

  1. Herjavec, R. (2014). The Cybersecurity to English Dictionary. Harper Business.
  2. Kesan, J. P., & Balas, S. (2014). Mitigating cyber security risks: Strategies and policies. Journal of Information Privacy and Security, 10(4), 222-240.
  3. Lewis, J. A. (2017). The future of cyber security and data privacy. Cybersecurity Journal, 3(2), 45-59.
  4. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST Special Publication 800-53.
  5. Ponemon Institute. (2019). 2019 Cost of a Data Breach Report. IBM Security.
  6. Schneier, B. (2015). Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World. W. W. Norton & Company.
  7. Smith, R. E. (2018). Cybersecurity policy and best practices. Journal of Cyber Policy, 3(4), 389-404.
  8. U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). (2020). Federal Agencies' Data Security Practices. GAO-20-157.
  9. Walden, I. (2019). Data security and privacy law principles. Harvard Law Review, 132(3), 657-695.
  10. Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2018). Principles of Information Security. Cengage Learning.

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