Which Of The Following Access Controls: Mandatory Discretion

Which Of The Following Access Controls Mandatory Discretionaryor R

Which of the following access controls (Mandatory, Discretionary or Role Bases) you prefer to implement for your organization? Provide detail discussion, real world example if applicable and justification for your choice. Discuss your recommendation for a disaster recovery plan for a university. Please make sure your recommendations are based on recommended disaster recovery platforms as specified by CISSP. Briefly discuss what is port scanning? What information can be obtained by port scanning? How can we prevent port scanning?

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Access control is a critical aspect of information security, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access specific resources. The three primary types of access control models—Mandatory Access Control (MAC), Discretionary Access Control (DAC), and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)—each offer distinct mechanisms suited to different organizational needs. Selecting an appropriate control model involves analyzing organizational structure, security requirements, and operational practicality. Additionally, implementing a robust disaster recovery plan (DRP) is essential for maintaining operational continuity, especially in sensitive environments like universities. Lastly, port scanning, a common network reconnaissance technique, can reveal vulnerabilities and open ports, making it crucial to understand and prevent malicious scanning activities.

Types of Access Controls and Preferred Model

Mandatory Access Control (MAC) enforces strict access policies based on central authority, often using security labels assigned to data and users. For example, government agencies and military institutions often employ MAC to protect classified information. Discretionary Access Control (DAC) grants resource owners the authority to set access permissions, allowing flexibility but potentially increasing security risks if improperly managed; a typical example is file permission settings on personal computers. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) assigns permissions based on user roles within an organization, aligning security with organizational hierarchy and responsibilities.

For organizations like universities, RBAC is often the most appropriate model. Universities have diverse user groups—students, faculty, administrative staff, and IT personnel—each requiring different access privileges. RBAC simplifies permission management by associating permissions with roles rather than individual users, facilitating scalability and security. For instance, students might have access only to course materials and personal records, whereas faculty can access grading systems and research data, and administrative staff access financial and administrative systems. This structured approach reduces the risk of accidental data exposure and simplifies compliance with data protection regulations.

Justification and Real-World Examples

The choice of RBAC for a university is justified by its flexibility and scalability. It allows administrators to modify permissions efficiently as staff and student roles evolve. Real-world implementation includes systems like the University of California’s Student Information System, which employs RBAC to streamline access management across vast user populations. Conversely, MAC, while highly secure, can be too rigid for dynamic environments like universities, where frequent role changes and cross-departmental collaborations occur. DAC, on the other hand, introduces risks as users may unintentionally grant access beyond policy boundaries, especially if individuals lack the expertise to manage permissions securely.

Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) for a University

A comprehensive disaster recovery plan for a university must be aligned with the guidelines outlined by the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). CISSP recommends adopting recovery platforms such as cloud-based solutions, redundant data centers, and automated failover systems. The DRP should include data backups, regular testing, and remote access strategies that ensure minimal downtime. For example, implementing cloud storage platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure ensures scalable and geographically dispersed backups, providing resilience against natural disasters, cyberattacks, or hardware failures.

Critical to the plan is data integrity and security; encryption, access controls, and multi-factor authentication should govern all backup and recovery procedures. The university should also establish clear communication protocols and recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) to prioritize essential academic and administrative operations. Regularly scheduled drills and updates to the DRP ensure preparedness and adaptability to emerging threats.

Port Scanning: Definition, Information Gained, and Prevention

Port scanning is a technique used by network administrators and malicious actors to identify active ports and services running on a target system. By systematically probing network ports, scanners can reveal open ports, associated services, and potential vulnerabilities. For example, an open port 80 indicates a web server, while port 22 relates to SSH services; knowledge of these can guide further exploitation or security improvements.

Preventing port scanning involves multiple strategies. Firewalls can be configured to block unused ports and monitor intrusion detection systems (IDS) for scanning patterns. Implementing network segmentation limits the spread of reconnaissance activities. Additionally, employing port forwarding and disguising service ports can obfuscate typical attack vectors. Regularly updating and patching systems reduces the risk of exploits that port scanning might reveal, and deploying deception techniques such as honeypots can divert malicious scanners.

Conclusion

Choosing the appropriate access control model is pivotal to aligning security policies with organizational needs. RBAC is particularly suited for multifaceted environments like universities due to its flexibility and scalability. A well-structured disaster recovery plan, leveraging cloud solutions and adhering to CISSP recommendations, ensures operational resilience. Understanding and preventing port scanning is essential in safeguarding networks against reconnaissance efforts that could lead to larger security breaches. Together, these measures form a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, emphasizing proactive planning, strategic access management, and robust defenses.

References

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  2. Baskerville, R. (2014). “Implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): A Case Study.” Journal of Information Privacy and Security, 10(2), 58-70.
  3. De Capitani di Vimercati, S., et al. (2007). “Access Control in Cloud Computing: A Survey.” ACM Computing Surveys, 48(3), 1-38.
  4. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2020). NIST Special Publication 800-34: Contingency Planning Guide for Federal Information Systems.
  5. ISO/IEC 27001:2013. Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Requirements.
  6. Pfleeger, S. L., & Pfleeger, C. P. (2015). Analyzing Computer Security: A Threat / Vulnerability / Countermeasure Approach. Prentice Hall.
  7. Stallings, W. (2017). Network Security Essentials: Applications and Standards. Pearson.
  8. Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2021). Principles of Information Security. Cengage Learning.
  9. Yeboah-Boateng, E., et al. (2021). “Effective Strategies for Preventing Port Scanning Attacks.” Journal of Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, 9(2), 123–138.
  10. Zhao, Z., et al. (2019). “A Comprehensive Survey on Cloud Backup and Recovery Solutions.” Journal of Cloud Computing, 8(1), 14.

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