You Are The Webmaster Of A College Website. You Share 073664 ✓ Solved
You are the webmaster of a college website. You share a
You are the webmaster of a college website. You share a server with other school departments such as accounting and HR. Based on this chapter, create at least five security-related rules for staff members who are adding web pages being added to your site. Include a justification and explanation for each rule. Rules should relate to college, staff and student, and system information security.
Paper For Above Instructions
In today’s digital age, the importance of web security cannot be overstated, especially for institutions that handle sensitive information. As the webmaster of a college website, it is vital to implement security rules that protect not only the college's web infrastructure but also its staff, students, and the sensitive information they handle. Below are five essential security-related rules that must be followed by staff members when adding web pages to the college website.
Rule 1: Implement Strong Password Policies
All staff members must establish and maintain strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Passwords must be changed every three months.
Justification: Strong passwords mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to the website’s backend and associated databases. If weak passwords are used, there is a higher likelihood that cybercriminals could breach the system, potentially exposing sensitive staff and student information (Whitman & Mattord, 2018).
Rule 2: Conduct Regular Software Updates
Staff members must ensure that all content management systems (CMS), plugins, and security software are regularly updated to their latest versions. Updates should be performed at least once a month or whenever a critical security update is released.
Justification: Software updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities. Keeping the web platform and its components updated significantly reduces the risk of exploitation and preserves system integrity (Kumar et al., 2019).
Rule 3: Restrict User Permissions Based on Roles
Access to the web content management system should be granted based on the principle of least privilege. Each staff member should only be given permissions necessary to perform their specific duties. Role-based access control should be implemented and regularly reviewed.
Justification: Limiting user permissions ensures that even if an account is compromised, the potential damage is minimized, protecting sensitive information and reducing the risk of unauthorized changes to the website’s content (North et al., 2020).
Rule 4: Train Staff on Security Best Practices
All staff members involved in managing website content must undergo annual training on web security best practices, including phishing awareness, secure coding practices, and the importance of data encryption.
Justification: Training increases awareness of potential security threats and prepares staff to recognize and respond to them effectively. Informed staff members are less likely to make security mistakes that can lead to data breaches (Hadnagy, 2018).
Rule 5: Implement Regular Security Audits
Security audits of the website and its associated systems should be conducted bi-annually to identify and address vulnerabilities. This includes checking for outdated software, weak passwords, and any unauthorized changes to the website.
Justification: Regular audits are critical to maintaining a secure environment. They provide an opportunity to identify potential weaknesses before they can be exploited and ensure compliance with security policies and protocols (Bernard & Kouadio, 2021).
In conclusion, the implementation of these five security rules will enhance the security posture of the college website and protect sensitive data belonging to staff and students. By actively working to mitigate risks, the college can foster a secure and trustworthy online environment.
References
- Bernard, H. R., & Kouadio, L. (2021). Security in Information Systems: Protecting Networks in an Evolving Threat Landscape. Journal of Cyber Security Technology.
- Hadnagy, C. (2018). Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking. Wiley.
- Kumar, R., Singh, P., & Tyagi, S. (2019). Cyber Security: Current Trends and Future Directions. International Journal of Computer Applications, 182(32), 1-5.
- North, J., Lee, H., & Ahmad, M. (2020). Role-based access control and its importance in cybersecurity. International Journal of Information Security, 19(1), 45-55.
- Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2018). Principles of Information Security. Cengage Learning.