Strategic Information Security

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$94.95
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ISBN 9780849320415
Cat# AU2041
 

Features

  • Focuses on the life-cycle aspect of building a security program, emphasizing that security is an ongoing effort
  • Presents a higher level view of the security manager's role, integrating it with a company's strategic focus
  • Contrasts the responsibilities of a chief security officer with those of a chief information security officer
  • Explores authentication models and strategies
  • Delivers an overview of crisis management
  • Provides a listing of valuable internet-based security resources
  • Examines security concepts and tasks such as business continuity, single sign-on, risk management, risk reduction, and auditing and testing
  • Summary

    The new emphasis on physical security resulting from the terrorist threat has forced many information security professionals to struggle to maintain their organization's focus on protecting information assets. In order to command attention, they need to emphasize the broader role of information security in the strategy of their companies. Until now, however, most books about strategy and planning have focused on the production side of the business, rather than operations.

    Strategic Information Security integrates the importance of sound security policy with the strategic goals of an organization. It provides IT professionals and management with insight into the issues surrounding the goals of protecting valuable information assets. This text reiterates that an effective information security program relies on more than policies or hardware and software, instead it hinges on having a mindset that security is a core part of the business and not just an afterthought.

    Armed with the content contained in this book, security specialists can redirect the discussion of security towards the terms and concepts that management understands. This increases the likelihood of obtaining the funding and managerial support that is needed to build and maintain airtight security programs.

    Table of Contents

    Introduction to Strategic Information Security
    What Does It Mean to Be Strategic?
    Information Security Defined
    The Security Professional's View of Information Security
    The Business View of Information Security
    Changes Affecting Business and Risk Management
    Strategic Security
    Strategic Security or Security Strategy?
    Monitoring and Measurement
    Moving Forward

    ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES
    The Life Cycles of Security Managers
    Introduction
    The Information Security Manager's Responsibilities
    The Evolution of Data Security to Information Security
    The Repository Concept
    Changing Job Requirements
    Business Life Cycles and the Evolution of an Information
    Security Program
    The Introductory Phase
    The Early Growth Phase
    The Rapid Growth Phase
    The Maturity Phase
    Skill Changes over Time
    Conclusion

    Chief Security Officer or Chief Information Security Officer
    Introduction
    Organizational Issues
    Justifying the Importance and Role of Security in Business
    Risk Management Issues Affecting Organizational Models
    Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Role Defined
    The Chief Security Officer (CSO) Role Defined
    Organizational Models and Issues
    Organization Structure and Reporting Models
    Choosing the Right Organization Model

    RISK MANAGEMENT TOPICS
    Information Security and Risk Management
    Introduction
    The Information Technology View of Threats, Vulnerabilities,
    and Risks
    Business View of Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Risks
    The Economists' Approach to Understanding Risk
    Total Risk
    Technology Risk
    Information Risk
    Information Risk Formula
    Protection Mechanisms and Risk Reduction
    Matching Protection Mechanisms to Risks
    The Risk Protection Matrix
    Conclusion

    Establishing Information Ownership
    Establishing Information Ownership
    Centralized Information Security
    Local Administrators vs. Information Owners
    Transferring Ownership
    Operations Orientation of Information Ownership
    Information Ownership in Larger Organizations
    Information as an Asset
    Decentralized vs. Centralized Information Security Controls
    Ownership and Information Flow
    Information Ownership Hierarchy
    Functional Owners of Information
    Income Statement Information Owners
    Information Value
    Statement of Condition Information Owners
    Conclusion

    The Network as the Enterprise Database
    Introduction
    A Historical View of Data and Data Management
    Management Information Systems (MIS)
    Executive Information Systems (EIS)
    The Evolving Network
    The Network as the Database
    Conclusion

    Risk Reduction Strategies
    Introduction
    Information Technology Risks
    Evaluating the Alternatives

    Improving Security from the Bottom Up: Moving Toward
    a New Way of Enforcing Security Policy
    Encouraging Personal Accountability for Corporate Information
    Security Policy
    Background
    The Problem
    The Role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in
    Improving Security
    Centralized Management vs. Decentralized Management
    Security Policy and Enforcement Alternatives
    Policy Compliance and the Human Resources Department
    Personal Accountability
    Conclusion

    Authentication Models and Strategies
    Introduction to Authentication
    Authentication Defined
    Authentication Choices
    Public Key Infrastructure
    Administration and Authentication: Management Issues
    Identity Theft
    Risks and Threats Associated with Authentication Schemes
    Other Strategic Issues Regarding Authentication Systems
    Conclusion

    INFORMATION SECURITY PRINCIPLES AND
    PRACTICES
    Single Sign-On Security
    Overview
    The Authentication Dilemma
    The Many Definitions of Single Sign-On
    Risks Associated with Single Sign-On
    Single Sign-On Alternative: A More In-Depth Review
    User Provisioning
    Authentication and Single Sign-On

    Crisis Management: A Strategic Viewpoint
    Introduction
    Crisis Defined
    Benefits from a Formal Crisis Management Process
    Escalation and Notification
    Organizational Issues and Structures for Dealing with Crisis
    Management
    Strategies for Managing through a Crisis
    Creating a Formalized Response for Crisis Management
    Conclusion

    Business Continuity Planning
    Introduction
    Types of Outages and Disasters Outages
    Planning for a Disaster
    Roles and Responsibilities
    Plan Alternatives and Decision Criteria
    Risk Mitigation vs. Risk Elimination
    Preparation: Writing the Plan
    Testing and Auditing the Plan
    Issues for Executive Management
    Conclusion

    Security Monitoring: Advanced Security Management
    Introduction.
    Monitoring vs. Auditing
    Activity Monitoring and Audit Trails
    How Security Information Management Systems Work
    Other Security Information Monitoring Sources
    Privacy and Security Monitoring
    Reactions to Security Monitoring Information
    Problems with Security Monitoring
    Senior Management Issues and Security Monitoring

    Auditing and Testing a Strategic Control Process
    Introduction: The Role of Auditing and Testing
    Auditing and Security Management
    Security Audits
    Information Protection
    Audit Logs and Audit Trails
    Security Testing and Analysis
    Application Controls and Strategic Security Goals
    Reporting of Security Problems and the Role of the Auditor
    Auditing, Testing, and Strategic Security

    Outsourcing Security: Strategic Management Issues
    Information Security Operations and Security Management
    Management Issues Regarding the Outsourcing Decision
    Outsourced Security Alternatives
    Return on Investment (ROI) with Outsourced Services
    Contract Issues for Security Outsourcing
    Integration of Outsourcing with Internal Operational
    Functions
    Risks Associated with Outsourcing Security Functions
    Business Continuity Planning and Security Outsourcing
    Strategic Management Issues with Outsourced Security

    Final Thoughts on Strategic Security
    Executive Management and Security Management
    The Future of Information Security and the Challenges Ahead

    Appendix Helpful Internet Resources

    Editorial Reviews

    "[A]n interesting book rooted in experience … . [The] author offers … philosophical considerations [in understanding] computer and information security not as [a] technical issue but [as a] strategic and management issue. … [A] calm reading for [the] strategic and tactical manager that offers a broad vision … . "
    - Dr. Jeimy Cano, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Columbia