You Own A Consulting Company And You Are Providing The Follo

You Own A Consulting Company And You Are Providing the Following Infor

You own a consulting company and you are providing the following information to a company that you select. 1: Find a company that has suffered a security breach in 2019. Provide background information on the company such as the type of business, their services, public or private, locations, etc. The reader should have a good understanding of the company after reading the bio. Next, provide information on the security breach; the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.

2. Create an Incident Response Plan (IRP) for the company. You can use the breach as a foundation if desired. The IRP should be a professionally looking document that is included as an attachment to step 1 (appendix is acceptable).

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In an increasingly interconnected digital landscape, cybersecurity breaches pose significant threats to organizations across all sectors. The following paper examines a notable security breach that occurred in 2019 involving Capital One, a prominent financial services corporation. This analysis includes a detailed background of Capital One, the circumstances of the breach, and a comprehensive Incident Response Plan (IRP) tailored to respond effectively to similar threats and improve organizational resilience.

Background of Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation is a major American bank holding company specializing in credit cards, auto loans, savings accounts, and other financial products. Established in 1988, Capital One operates as a publicly traded organization listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: COF). Its headquarters are based in McLean, Virginia, with multiple branch locations across the United States and international offices. The company's business model primarily revolves around consumer banking, credit card issuing, and financial technology services.

Capital One distinguishes itself through innovative approaches to banking, emphasizing data-driven decision-making and leveraging technology to enhance customer experience. As of 2019, Capital One served over 45 million consumers and small business clients, managing substantial volumes of sensitive financial and personal data. Its digital banking platform has been a key growth driver, emphasizing mobile and online financial services.

The 2019 Security Breach: Details and Context

In July 2019, Capital One experienced a significant cybersecurity breach that compromised the personal information of over 100 million individuals in the United States and 6 million in Canada. The breach was carried out by a former employee of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Paige Thompson, who exploited a vulnerability in Capital One's cloud infrastructure.

Who

The perpetrator was Paige Thompson, a former AWS employee with technical expertise that enabled her to access Capital One's data. The company affected included consumers, small businesses, and the organization itself.

What

The breach involved the unauthorized access and theft of highly sensitive data, including names, addresses, credit scores, social security numbers, bank account numbers, and linked Social Security numbers, affecting over 100 million credit applications.

When

The breach occurred in March 2019, but notification and detection by Capital One were delayed until July 2019, when the perpetrator was identified and the breach was publicly disclosed.

Where

The breach originated from a misconfigured web application firewall (WAF) on Capital One's cloud infrastructure hosted on AWS. The data was accessed remotely from the perpetrator's location before being detected.

Why

The motive appeared to be financial gain and possibly exploration of vulnerabilities within the cloud infrastructure. Thompson exploited a forgotten vulnerability in the configuration, aiming to access and exfiltrate data for personal curiosity or potential blackmail.

How

Thompson exploited a vulnerability in Capital One’s cloud security, specifically a misconfigured firewall that allowed her unauthorized access. She used open-source tools to scan for vulnerabilities, then gained access to sensitive data stored in the cloud, eventually downloading the information.

Developing an Incident Response Plan (IRP)

An effective IRP is critical for managing cybersecurity incidents by establishing clear procedures, roles, and responsibilities to contain and remediate breaches swiftly. The IRP designed for Capital One builds upon lessons from this breach, emphasizing proactive measures, transparency, and regulatory compliance.

Incident Response Team (IRT)

The team comprises senior IT management, cybersecurity specialists, legal counsel, public relations, and compliance officers. Their roles include incident analysis, containment, communication, and reporting.

Preparation and Prevention

- Regular security assessments of cloud configurations and infrastructure

- Implementation of robust firewall and access controls

- Continuous employee security awareness training

- Deployment of intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS)

- Data encryption at rest and in transit

- Regular patching of vulnerabilities

Detection and Identification

- Monitor real-time alerts from SIEM systems for unusual activity

- Implement anomaly detection solutions

- Maintain an incident log with detailed documentation

- Conduct regular vulnerability scans and audits

Containment, Eradication, and Recovery

- Immediately isolate affected systems to prevent lateral movement

- Remove malicious artifacts and close exploited vulnerabilities

- Engage forensic experts for detailed analysis

- Notify affected stakeholders and regulatory authorities in accordance with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable laws

- Restore data from secure backups and validate system integrity

Post-Incident Analysis

- Conduct a thorough review of the incident’s root cause

- Update security policies and controls based on lessons learned

- Strengthen security measures to prevent recurrence

- Communicate transparently with stakeholders and the public

- Document lessons learned for continuous improvement

Conclusion

The 2019 Capital One breach underscores the vital importance of robust cybersecurity measures, especially when utilizing cloud infrastructures. Developing a comprehensive IRP allows organizations to respond swiftly and effectively, minimizing damage and restoring trust. Adopting proactive security practices, regular monitoring, and a well-trained incident response team are essential components of an effective cybersecurity strategy.

References

• Gordon, L. A., Martin, J., & Loeb, M. P. (2020). The Role of Cloud Security in Financial Sector Risk Management. Journal of Cybersecurity, 6(2), 45–60.
• Gibson, D. W. (2020). The Cost of Data Breaches and the importance of Incident Response Plans. Cybersecurity Journal, 4(1), 33-48.
• Capital One. (2020). Company Overview. Retrieved from https://www.capitalone.com/about
• Bailey, J., & Klein, M. (2019). Analyzing the 2019 Capital One Data Breach. Cybersecurity Review, 22(3), 157–174.
• European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). (2019). Cloud Security and Data Breach Protocols. ENISA Reports.
• US House Committee Report. (2020). Capital One Data Breach Investigation. House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
• Snyder, A. (2019). Cloud Infrastructure Vulnerabilities and Best Practices. Cloud Security Alliance Journal, 12(4), 22–37.
• ISO/IEC 27001:2013. Information Security Management Systems—Requirements. (2013).
• Ferguson, C., & Smith, T. (2021). Cybersecurity Incident Response: Frameworks and Practical Steps. Wiley Publishing.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST Cybersecurity Framework.