Data Security Responsibilities Quiz

Security Systems Development Life Cycle (SecSDLC)

• SecSDLC is a structured process for developing secure systems
• The SecSDLC follows a series of phases, similar to the traditional SDLC
• Each phase requires specific activities and deliverables

Phases of SecSDLC

• Investigation:
  • Initiated by upper management directives defining project goals and constraints
  • Establishes an enterprise information security policy (EISP) to guide the implementation of the project's security program
  • Identifies responsible managers, employees, and contractors; analyses problems, scope, specific goals, and additional constraints
• Analysis:
  • Studies the documents and findings from the investigation phase
  • Preliminarily analyzes existing security policies and programs, documented threats, and associated controls
  • Contains analysis of relevant legal and regulatory issues for security solutions
  • Risk management is implemented at this stage, focusing on identifying, assessing, and evaluating organizational security risks
• Logical Design:
  • Creates blueprints for information security by examining and implementing key security policies.
  • Includes incident response actions in case of partial or catastrophic loss
  • The planning phase addresses issues such as continuity planning, incident response mechanisms, and disaster recovery procedures
• Physical Design:
  • Evaluates and selects information security technologies to meet logical design requirements
  • Considers various design options to determine the best fit
• Implementation:
  • Acquires and tests security solutions, performs a second test, and implements them
  • Addresses personnel issues, providing training and education programs
  • Presents the tested and implemented security solution to upper management for approval
• Maintenance and Change:
  • The most crucial phase due to the constant change in threat environments.
  • Requires continuous monitoring, testing, modification, updating, and repairing of security systems.
  • Involves defending against constant threats to maintain consistent stability
  • Focuses on defending against continuous security threats

SDLC and SecSDLC Phase Summary

• Common steps in both SDLC and SecSDLC include outlining project scope and goals, estimating costs, evaluating existing resources, analyzing feasibility, and analyzing the current system against a security plan
• Unique steps in SecSDLC include defining project processes and goals, analyzing policies and programs, analyzing current threats and controls, examining legal issues, performing risk analysis, and developing security blueprints

NIST Approach to Securing the SDLC

• Initiation:
  • Early consideration of security is important throughout the development life cycle, taking into account threats, requirements, and constraints
  • Focus is on business risks, with input from the information security office
  • Key security activities include defining and delineating business requirements (confidentiality, integrity, and availability); identifying information categorization/handling requirements (like personally identifiable information); and determining privacy requirements
• Development/Acquisition:
  • Conduct risk assessment, supplementing baseline security controls
  • Analyze security requirements; perform function and security testing
  • Prepare initial documents for system certification and accreditation; design security architecture
• Implementation/Assessment:
  • Install and evaluate the system in the operational environment
  • Integrate the information system while planning and conducting system certification activities
  • Complete system accreditation activities
• Operations and Maintenance:
  • The system is in operation
  • Implement enhancements, modifications, and new hardware/software
  • Monitor for continued performance and implement needed system modifications
  • Key security activities include performing operational readiness reviews, managing system configuration, instituting processes for operations security and continuous monitoring; performing reauthorization.
• Disposal:
  • Method for orderly termination, preserving vital information that may be needed later
  • Key security activities include creating a disposal plan, archiving critical information, sanitizing media and disposing of hardware and software

Senior Management

• Chief Information Officer (CIO):
  • Oversees the organization's computing technology and strives for efficiency in information processing and access
• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO):
  • Top information security officer, typically reporting to the CIO, focusing on the security aspects of information systems

Information Security Project Team

• Project Team:
  • Small team of experienced individuals in appropriate technical and nontechnical areas
• Team Leader:
  • Project manager often a department or staff line manager, understanding project management, and information security technical requirements
• Security Policy Developers:
  • Understand the organization's culture, existing policies, and requirements for developing successful security policies
• Risk Assessment Specialists:
  • Understand financial risk assessment techniques and the value of organizational assets, familiar with security methods
• Security Professionals:
  • Dedicated, experienced specialists in information security from both technical and nontechnical standpoints
• Systems Administrators:
  • Responsible for administering systems housing organizational information
• End Users:
  • Those who will directly use the new system, providing insight into real-world application of security controls.

Data Responsibilities

• Data Owners:
  • Senior management members responsible for the security and use of particular information sets, define data classification & changes
• Data Custodians:
  • Directly work with owners, manage data storage (including backups), implement policies, report findings & actions
• Data Users:
  • All organizational members, regardless of specific role, are responsible for data security

Communities of Interest

• Information Security Management and Professionals:
  • Aligned with the goals and mission of the information security community, responsible for protecting information systems
• Information Technology Management and Professionals:
  • Focus on system creation costs, ease of use, and response time
• Organizational Management and Professionals:
  • Organization's general management team and other resources; encompasses various interests like executive management, departmental staff etc.

Test your knowledge on the roles and responsibilities regarding data security within an organization. This quiz covers topics such as data custodianship, IT management, and risk assessment techniques. Challenge yourself to understand the nuances of data security roles in your organization!