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BACKUP POLICY – ISMS TIPS – Week 2

Backup policy definition

A backup policy is a crucial component of an organization’s comprehensive backup strategy. Common backup policies identify critical data and systems to be protected, clarify the frequency of both full and incremental backups, delineate backup administrator responsibilities, and provide details for retention, offsite rotation, restoration procedures, storage of backups, and more.

A well-crafted backup and restore policy is essential as it is frequently a business’s last line of defense against data loss from data corruption, hardware failure, or a security breach.

Benefits of a data backup policy

A backup retention policy helps guide user expectations and provides the broader context for the data restoration and backup process. There are several benefits to developing a strong backup and recovery policy document:

Clarity. A backup policy clarifies specific procedures, policies, and responsibilities, including a well-defined schedule for performing backups, ensuring a more stable process. It also identifies any superseding procedures or policies that already exist, such as contingency plans.

Control. A well defined backup policy allows you to control what kind of backups are performed, how often data should be backed up, what software/hardware or cloud service should be used for performing backups, where backups are located, and who can access backups and how to contact them.

Accountability. The backup policy identifies primary and secondary contacts who are responsible for performing backups and provides their contact information. This piece of the data backup and recovery policy also identifies who is responsible for confirming that reliable backups are successfully performed, and sets forth how and when they will do this.

Reliability. Stronger backup policies are more likely to result in complete data restoration. They offer details on how to protect data, how to access backups, and how to train those responsible for performing backups. They also ensure multiple copies exist separate from the original data, and also make use of multiple forms of media with complementary strengths. Finally, the policy demands at least partial automation, further increasing reliability.

Key considerations for backup retention policies

Preserve essential data with a multi-pronged backup policy. Your backup policy should follow the 3-2-1 rule, creating at least three backup copies of all data in addition to the original file using two different backup media, with one copy in a remote location. This helps to ensure a full set of accessible backup data no matter what the circumstances leading to the need to recover data.

Storing at least one copy of backup data at a remote location is essential for disaster recovery, especially in the event of site-wide failures or geographical disasters. To protect against malware, remote backup data should be air-gapped (separated) from the original data set. Historically, third party vendors could store backup tapes offsite for a fee, but remote disk and cloud storage can be used as well.

It is important to periodically check the integrity of your backup files. Do this by restoring several files from the backup to confirm that you can, that the backup itself is uncorrupted, and that the media is still accessible.

Your backups should also contain versioning data—older versions of your data, not just the current version of files that were backed up most recently. This is important in case of accidental file corruption or ransomware that may be hiding in current data backups.

Determine what data is essential to your organization and establish backup strategies tailored to each type of data. At a minimum, backup mission critical data in real time, or at least daily. Backup less critical data at least once a week. Many businesses create exact mirrors of their systems annually, just to avoid the nightmare of having to start over again from scratch in case of a major failure.

Backup policy best practices

Follow these best practices to select an ideal backup solution that ensures your data remains recoverable and safe. The best backup policy solutions:

Include remote storage. Remote backups are a critical element in any backup solution. It is all but pointless to backup organizational data only to store it on the same disk as the original information. Off-server storage is a minimum requirement, with off-site backup storage being a better alternative. Should a central server become compromised during a disaster, off-site backups, whether on a cloud-based server or physical dedicated server, allow for complete data recovery—a key part of disaster recovery.

Take frequent, regular backups. Prevent critical data loss by creating a regular schedule of frequent backups. Obviously, the most critical data may demand a continuous backup solution, while daily backups or weekly backups may be enough for more static data.

Use automated backups. Avoid manual data backup solutions that rely on end users to back up their data. Your end user data backup policy should mandate a fully automatic backup solution. Manual data backup can easily be delayed and is a dull task—something that, in reality, never gets done.

Address retention span. After frequency, how long each backup should be kept is the next important question. Retaining every backup forever is neither desirable nor feasible, so any good data backup and storage policy and solution provides a series of retention schedules. This changing schedule will, for example, schedule more frequent backups at first—for example, hourly and daily backups for a week—and then pivot to less frequent backups less often.

The retention schedule will also keep some backups longer, or even indefinitely. Annual, bi-annual, or even monthly backups might be retained to provide ready benchmarks. Another reason to retain these scheduled backups is to ensure your organization remains compliant with data retention standards and requirements in your vertical. For example, healthcare organizations will need to craft backup policies that are HIPAA compliant. Businesses that are active in the EU may need a GDPR backup policy.

Encrypt backups. Even when backups are off-site, your data backup policy should always require encryption of backup files.

Use cloud storage for backup storage. Storing your backups in the cloud adds redundancy to your infrastructure and improves cost and scalability. In fact, leveraging the cloud for disaster recovery is one of the best ways to lower your risk of data loss after a disaster.

Find a comprehensive backup solution. Find a backup solution that fits the full needs of your business, including onsite as well as SaaS applications that host your data.

 

Data backup policy example

A typical data backup policy example might look something like this.

Overview/policy statement
In this first section, the server backup policy will state how the procedures in the plan will help the organization ensure continuity of its operations, ensure reliable, timely backup of its IT assets, and meet its enterprise business objectives. This section of a backup and recovery policy template might also state other high-level business objectives and cite involved team members.

Purpose
Next, the backup and restore policy will describe its purpose—the “why” behind the backup policy. Typically this sets out the way the organization will recover should there be a software failure, hardware failure, or both, and describes how the team will protect against data loss in case of disaster, human error, or other problem.

Scope
The scope of the backup policy will typically set forth the who, what, when, and how of the backup and restore process, to follow up with the “why” stated in the purpose section. A backup policy generally applies to all employees, contractors, and third party employees, and anyone who might be contractually bound to or have access to IT assets of the organization.

A backup policy will also describe the “what,” describing its scope as covering all IT assets and the entire organization’s IT infrastructure as well as data contained in SaaS applications. The scope statement will also describe documentation and how documentation will be controlled. For example, scope may touch upon the existence of a data retention policy for records.

A backup policy will spell out the “how” backups are to be taken, including the types of backups that will be taken and how long those backups will be stored. The policy will also explain the “when,” or how often and what time of day backups are to be taken.

Finally, a scope statement in a backup policy will cover maintenance and distribution of the documentation itself. This way, everyone who needs the backup policy in the organization should have access to it.

Substantive policy
In the substantive data backup policy and procedure section, your backup management policy should identify mission critical data, and which user-level data and system-level data will be maintained. More details about backup frequency in accordance with the acceptable risk and importance of the data should all be here.

Other elements of a data backup and restore policy might include backup retention details, restoration procedures and documentation, restoration testing procedures, guidelines for how to proceed when backup media has expired, and a list of other applicable policies.

An IT data backup policy must also designate responsible personnel for proper policy implementation. Along these lines, it should set forth terms of enforcement, including disciplinary actions that will be taken against employees who violate the backup policy in line with existing HR policies, industry standards, and controlling law.

Finally, the backup and recovery policy and procedure should include all relevant definitions to ensure clarity and the ability to execute. It should also include revision history, and any changes to the document must be controlled. This ensures recoverability in the event of a catastrophe.

Remember, while you might begin with a backup and restore policy template, it is important to craft any backup policy to meet your organization’s specific needs.

CFS ISMS MANAGER

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PASSWORD POLICY – ISMS TIPS – Week 1

What Is a Password Policy?

A password policy is a set of rules designed to enhance computer security by encouraging users to create and implement stronger passwords. A part of an organization’s official rules, it’s often included in the security awareness training.

A password policy allows you to set a definite tone for how people create and use passwords on your web application. While you may not be able to control users’ activities 100%, it enables you to guide them for their own safety.

Why Is a Password Policy Important?

 

Cybersecurity is a buzzword in information technology. And that’s because cyber crimes are increasing by the day.

Passwords are essential in cybersecurity as they determine, to a large extent, whether an attacker can break into a system or not. So, having an effective password policy to safeguard your network is key.

There are significant benefits to having a well-designed password policy.

  1. Prevent Data Breaches

Safeguarding your business’ data and customer details is paramount. Your failure to do so makes your network vulnerable to data breaches.

With just a tiny loophole, attackers can initiate a data breach that will leave you professionally, financially, and legally exhausted.

  1. Maintain Order

A password policy is meant for everyone using your network, regardless of their status. The top-down hierarchy in most organizations doesn’t come to play here, and that creates a sense of orderliness.

External users of your network are also obliged to follow your policy. They drop whatever preconceived notions they have about password usage and adopt your policy.

  1. Build Trust

Many online users are wary of entering their personal information on websites due to fear of cyber-attacks. So, they get a sense of relief when they see a password policy on a website. It shows that the owners of the website take cybersecurity seriously.

Since everyone on the network is guided by the same password policy, users trust that their personal information is secured.

  1. Cultivate Cybersecurity Culture

Implementing effective cybersecurity may seem daunting. But the most difficult part is taken care of if your team or users understands how to secure themselves.

Most cyberattacks happen due to the loopholes created by people. If the users of your network are informed about cyber threats and how to avoid them, there’ll be little or no room for attackers to penetrate.

 

CFS ISMS MANAGER

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PHYSICAL SECURITY – ISMS TIPS – Week 4

Introduction

Physical security describes security measures that are designed to deny unauthorized access to facilities, equipment, and resources and to protect personnel and property from damage or harm (such as espionage, theft, or terrorist attacks).  Physical security involves the use of multiple layers of interdependent systems that can include CCTV surveillance, security guards, protective barriers, locks, access control, perimeter intrusion detection, deterrent systems, fire protection, and other systems designed to protect persons and property.

What is physical security?

Physical security protects personnel, property, data, and physical assets from actions and events that cause damage or loss to an organization. Businesses take physical security measures to safeguard equipment and buildings against security vulnerabilities, natural disasters, theft, vandalism, and terrorism.

Physical security maintenance is crucial to prevent the loss of resources and reduce the chances of attempted criminal activity.

Most modern workplaces understand the need to protect networks and data from cyber-attacks. However, cybersecurity often overshadows physical security, a basic necessity that ensures the smooth functioning of everyday on-site operations.

Importance of physical security

A break-in is not fun. Physical security in workplaces is as important as maintaining security in the comfort of your home, since many people spend up to and beyond 8 hours of their day.

Even if you and your business depend heavily on a robust IT infrastructure, your platforms require significant physical security measures to safeguard data, servers, and networks. Any virtual machine or cloud-based application is only as safe as its physical server and data center network.

Physical security ensures that the people and assets of an enterprise are safe from potential internal and external threats, such as physical deterrents and intruders. Leaving building perimeters and spaces vulnerable increases the likelihood of physical attacks, personnel accidents, and data losses.

Types of physical attacks include:

  • Accessing secure areas
  • Stealing or damaging business assets
  • Gaining unauthorized access to critical business and data applications
  • Uploading malware onto networks and systems

Regardless of the type and extent of the attack, physical security is critical when it comes to protecting sensitive material control areas. These include server rooms or data centers from on-site third parties. Keeping confidential information safe from internal members who don’t have the necessary access must also be a priority.

What are physical security controls?

A comprehensive physical security program outlines all the controls and components vital to protecting organizational assets. These controls include technology and specialized hardware to create layers of security that work in sync with cybersecurity policies to guard against threats.

Common physical security measures might be:

  • Building design and layout
  • Environmental controls (prediction and warning systems)
  • Emergency response alerts
  • Employee and security training
  • Intrusion detection (lockdown controls)
  • Fire protection

Developing a complete physical security system takes into account a variety of components to save the business from incurring losses due to asset damage and theft.

The four main principles to keep in mind when investing in security measures are deterrence, detection, delay, and response. Let’s dive into each of these and discuss how they relate to physical security best practices.

Deterrence

Components and physical barriers such as walls, doors, turnstiles, or revolving doors keep intruders away from buildings and secure areas.

Deterrence can also incorporate implementing technology like GPS tracking, access controls, and security cameras to discourage unauthorized personnel from attempting to enter the premises.

Detection

Once deterrents are installed, you must invest in detection measures to help identify potential threats. Having effective object detection systems prevents crimes before they happen.

Common detection components are sensors, alarms, breach detection mechanisms, and security notifications that disarm and isolate intruders’ activities.

Delay

Certain security systems are specifically designed to slow the entry of intruders by initiating a countdown once a security alert is sent out. The security system must be disarmed before the time runs out.

Other measures that delay unauthorized personnel from entering secure premises include key card requirements and verification to mitigate damage.

Response

You have a security system and measures in place, but something bad happens anyway. So what do you do then?

You invest in security response components to minimize the breach’s or intrusion’s effects.

Physical security response methods include communication systems, perimeter lockdowns, and contacting emergency services and first responders such as law enforcement, paramedics, or firefighters.

How does physical security work?

Now that we’ve covered what physical security measures can look like, let’s answer the question, “But what is the purpose of physical security safeguards, and how do they really work?”

A framework tailored to a company’s needs must be developed to create successful physical security controls. A physical security program maintains business continuity, unifies physical and cybersecurity measures, and fights larger threats and unexpected challenges.

External physical security threats:

  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Natural catastrophes
  • Terrorism
  • Workplace violence

Internal physical security threats:

  • Data breaches
  • Unauthorized sharing of sensitive information
  • Easily identifiable authentication processes
  • Slow and limited incident responses

The three main components of a physical security plan are access control, surveillance, and testing. The framework’s success depends on implementing these components and monitoring them continuously.

Access control

One of the biggest aspects of physical security is limiting unauthorized physical access to certain assets and confidential operation areas. This restriction reduces the exposure of these assets to authorized persons only.

Investing in first-line physical security systems such as gates, walls, and doors that prevent break-ins and provide safety from natural disasters is the primary way to achieve access control. These systems can be modified per security needs to include additional locks, barbed wire, and ID scanners at entry points.

To improve access controls within the building, businesses can provide security access level permissions to each employee and security guard. Implementing biometric identification across the organization and multi-factor authentications for company devices and laptops offer further safety.

Surveillance

Ever get the feeling that you’re being watched? It’s not a good feeling, but surveillance equipment offers prevention and recovery against physical security incidents for businesses.

The biggest upside of using surveillance technology and personnel is that it provides visual evidence to monitor criminal activity and identify perpetrators. Examples of surveillance measures include sensors, notification systems, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

CCTVs are effective as they elicit caution in would-be vandals and burglars. Video surveillance software also effectively captures real-time evidence against unauthorized movement and entry.

Testing

Regular security testing is integral in understanding how a business can address criminal tactics. Establishing active testing protocols and extensive security policies improves the quality of physical security procedures.

Active also helps gauge how a company handles disasters. Developing a disaster recovery (DR) plan and evaluating its objectives and role assignments minimize the risk of mistakes. Disaster recovery-as-a-service (DRaaS) solutions give companies backup and disaster recovery services to protect applications, data, and network infrastructures.

physical security software

Physical security solutions help establishments monitor personnel movement, receive real-time security alerts, and file reports. They also provide detailed analytics and reporting capabilities from security teams.

Benefits of physical security technology:

  • Safeguards employees, data, and business sites
  • Prevents unauthorized access to premises and assets
  • Helps maintain trust and confidence with internal and external stakeholders
  • Works to mitigate damage caused by threats and disasters

 

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REMOVABLE MEDIA

Removable media devices are portable storage devices that can be removed from one place and used in another. They come in various forms, such as DVDs, CDs, flash drives and hard drives. And as data storage becomes more innovative on digital devices, smartphones and tablets have also been seen as another effective way to store data and other media.

There’s a wide range of removable media devices on the market today. Unlike non-removable hard drives, information stored on these devices is often highly transportable, making it ideal for sharing between home computers, work computers, and friends. Removable media devices can also pose security threats that are less common with other forms of data storage. The best way to protect your data is to learn how to use and secure these devices properly.

Removable media devices have revolutionized our world by expanding communication, business and entertainment. A quick look at the evolution of data storage devices will show you how much they have grown from a small floppy disk to a huge external hard drive. To continue that growth, removable media devices should enhance their security.

 

Examples of Removable Media

“Removable media” is a term that encompasses many different types of devices. Here are some examples of standard removable media devices:

  • Optical disks: CDs and DVDs are the most popular forms of removable media. They can be used for data storage, software distribution, games and movies. Computers can read optical disks with optical disk drives.
  • USB flash drives: These small devices store and transfer files between computers. They can run applications on some operating systems without installing them on the computer’s hard drive first.
  • Memory cards: These cards store information such as pictures, music files and video clips, which can then be transferred to another device such as a laptop computer or mobile phone using an adapter cable if needed.
  • External hard drives: These devices allow users to store data externally instead of inside their computer’s internal memory, where it might be erased if deleted or damaged somehow by viruses or other harmful software programs.
  • Smart devices: Devices like smartphones or smart tablets also have advanced storage capabilities. Some also have connections to cloud storage services that can keep a vast memory of data.

Many of these removable media devices offer different benefits and risks. Determining which works best for your needs requires further discussion.

 

What Are the Benefits of Using Removable Media?

Removable media devices are a great choice if you’re looking for a way to store data that’s easy to transport and doesn’t require much effort. Here are even more advantages in detail:

  • High storage capacity: The most obvious benefit is that they can hold more data than a hard drive. This can be very useful if you transport large amounts of information from one computer to another.
  • More accessible data transportation: Removable media devices are also easier to transport than hard drives. They are smaller and lighter, so they are much easier to carry around in a briefcase or backpack.
  • Cheaper than hard drives: Flash drives and thumb drives tend to be less expensive than internal hard drives. You can buy them for as little as N2,000.00 whereas the price of an internal hard drive is often higher than N7,000.00
  • Faster data transfer speeds: Removable media devices transfer data faster than internal hard drives because they don’t need any cables or connections between each device.
  • Can be used on any computer: Removable media devices don’t require specific software or drivers to work correctly; this makes them excellent for transferring files between two computers or laptops (even if their operating systems are different).
  • Easy to use: Most removable devices are easy to use — simply plug it in or insert it into your computer and find its storage under your computer’s settings. You can also easily drag any data you wish in and out of its application.

Although these benefits are plentiful, there are certain risks to storing data on removable media devices.

What are the risks of using removable media?

Removable media devices have several notable consumer safety risks, including physical loss or theft, malware, data exfiltration and Autorun.in viruses.

  • Physical loss/theft: These devices are small and easy to misplace or lose. If you lose your device, there is no way to recover your information other than by purchasing another device.
  • Malware: Malware is software that infects computers and steals data from the user. Removable media devices can be infected with malware if you plug them into an infected computer or use a malicious USB cable to transfer data.
  • Data exfiltration: Data exfiltration is the unauthorized data transfer from a computer system. Removable media devices can be used for this purpose since they contain information that could be valuable to hackers or criminals who want access to it.
  • Autorun.in viruses: Autorun.in viruses are programs that automatically execute when you plug a device (usually a USB drive) into your computer’s USB port.
  • Lack of password protection: For more traditional devices, password protection is rare, therefore increasing the risk of infiltration from bad actors.

Even with the risks of using removable media, there are plenty of ways to use these devices safely.

 

Using Removable Media Safely

Consumers can protect their data and online privacy by using removable media safely. Here are some essential best practices for doing so.

Install Anti-Virus Software On Your Computer

An anti-virus program is a software application that protects your computer from viruses by scanning for and removing them. Anti-virus software can also scan for, quarantine or delete suspicious emails.

If you are using a new device such as a USB flash drive or memory card, it is important to ensure that it does not contain any viruses before connecting it to your computer. This can be done by installing an anti-virus program on your computer.

The most common type of anti-virus program scans all files when they are opened or saved on your hard drive. This ensures that any new files added to the computer will also be scanned for viruses before they are accessed by other programs or applications such as word processors or email clients.

Disable Your Computer’s Autoplay and Auto-Run Features 

The best way to protect your computer from the autorun viruses described earlier is to disable your computer’s autoplay and auto-run features before you connect a new removable media device.

Suppose your computer has one or both of these features enabled. In that case, it will automatically open the virus folder when you connect an infected removable media device such as a CD or USB drive. This can lead to infection of your system.

Password Protect Your Removable Media Devices  

Data theft can be prevented by implementing access controls to password protect the data on your removable media devices. To prevent unauthorized access to your data, make sure that you’re using strong passwords and keeping them in a secure place.

Make sure you know who has access to your removable media devices and don’t leave them unattended or in places where they could be easily stolen (such as a workbench). If you have sensitive information on any of these devices, consider encrypting it with two-factor authentication as well.

Clear Removable Media Devices of Sensitive Data When You’re Done with Them

Removable media devices are a great way to store sensitive data, but once you’ve secured it elsewhere or no longer need it, you should clear the device of all sensitive data.

First, the information stored on them may be vulnerable to physical theft. For example, if someone steals your USB drive and you don’t have a backup copy of the data, that person could gain access to your private information. Second, USB drives or SD cards can be infected with malware that steals information from them when inserted into a computer’s USB port.

Encrypt The Data

If you’re more of a tech-savvy user or you have more sensitive information on your removable media device, one way to ensure its security is to encrypt the data. Encryption is the process of translating data into code that can only be unscrambled with a specific cipher and keys.

In certain smart devices, you can also hire cloud storage service providers to encrypt your data for you. This way, you won’t have to worry about building an indestructible encryption code just to keep confidential data safe.

 

CFS ISMS MANAGER

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PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION POLICY
Privacy and Personal Data Protection Policy refers to the set of rules and guidelines put in place by an organization to ensure the protection and confidentiality of personal data collected from individuals. This policy outlines how personal data is collected, used, stored, and shared, as well as the measures in place to ensure its security and privacy.
The policy typically includes information on the types of personal data collected, the purpose and legal basis for collecting such data, the rights of individuals regarding their data, the retention period of data, and the steps taken to protect against data breaches or unauthorized access.
Organizations usually implement this policy to comply with legal requirements related to data protection, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union or local data protection laws. By adhering to this policy, organizations demonstrate their commitment to respecting individuals’ privacy and protecting their personal data from misuse or unauthorized disclosure.
It is important for organizations to regularly review and update their Privacy and Personal Data Protection Policy to ensure compliance with evolving privacy laws and regulations, as well as to adapt to any changes in their data processing practices.
A privacy and personal data protection policy is a document that outlines how an organization collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards personal information collected from individuals. It is important for organizations to have such a policy in place to ensure compliance with privacy laws and regulations and to protect the privacy rights of individuals.

The policy typically includes the following key components:
1. Purpose: This section explains the purpose of the policy and emphasizes the organization’s commitment to privacy and data protection.
2. Scope: It specifies the scope of the policy, including the types of personal information covered, the individuals to whom it applies, and any applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
3. Definitions: This section provides clear definitions of key terms used in the policy, such as personal information, data subject, data controller, etc., to ensure a common understanding.
4. Collection and Use of Personal Information: It outlines the types of personal information collected, the purposes for which it is collected, and the legal basis for processing. It also explains how consent is obtained, and for what purposes personal information may be used.
5. Data Retention and Destruction: This section explains how long personal information is retained, the criteria used to determine retention periods, and the procedures for its secure destruction.
6. Security Measures: The policy describes the technical and organizational security measures implemented to prevent unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of personal information.
7. Third-Party Disclosures: It explains the circumstances under which personal information may be shared with third parties, such as service providers or business partners, and the measures taken to protect the information.
8. Individual Rights: The policy outlines the rights of individuals regarding their personal information, such as access, rectification, erasure, and objection. It also explains the procedures for exercising these rights.
9. Complaints and Breach Notification: The policy provides information on how individuals can file complaints regarding the organization’s handling of personal information and how breaches are addressed, including notification procedures.
10. Compliance and Accountability: It explains the organization’s commitment to complying with applicable privacy laws and regulations and the mechanisms in place to ensure accountability, such as conducting regular privacy audits and providing staff training.
11. Updates and Contact Information: This section states that the policy may be updated periodically and provides contact information for individuals to address any inquiries or concerns regarding privacy and data protection.
Having a clear and comprehensive privacy and personal data protection policy not only helps an organization demonstrate its commitment to protecting personal information but also reassures individuals that their privacy rights are respected.
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CLOUD SECURITY – ISMS TIPS

WHY CLOUD SECURITY IS IMPORTANT?

In modern-day enterprises, there has been a growing transition to cloud-based environments and IaaS, Paas, or SaaS computing models. The dynamic nature of infrastructure management, especially in scaling applications and services, can bring number of challenges to enterprises when adequately resourcing their departments. These as-a-service models give organizations the ability to offload many of the time-consuming, IT-related tasks.

As companies continue to migrate to the cloud, understanding the security requirements for keeping data safe has become critical. While third-party cloud computing providers may take on the management of this infrastructure, the responsibility of data asset security and accountability doesn’t necessarily shift along with it.

By default, most cloud providers follow the best security practices and take active steps to protect the integrity of their servers. However, organizations need to make their own considerations when protecting data, applications, and workloads running on the cloud.

Security threats have become more advanced as the digital landscape continues to evolve. These threats explicitly target cloud computing providers due to an organization’s overall lack of visibility in data access and movement. Without taking active steps to improve their cloud security, organizations can face significant governance and compliance risks when managing client information, regardless of where it is stored.

Cloud security should be an important topic of discussion regardless of the size of your enterprise.  Cloud infrastructure supports nearly all aspects of modern computing in all industries and across multiple verticals.

However, successful cloud adoption is dependent on putting in place adequate countermeasures to defend against modern-day cyberattacks. Regardless of whether your organization operates in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment, cloud security solutions and best practices are a necessity when ensuring business continuity.

CHALLENGES OF CLOUD SECURITY

There are several potential challenges to cloud security:

  1. Data breaches– since cloud service providers manage large amounts of data for multiple clients, it can make them susceptible to cyber-attacks or data breaches.
  2. Data breaches– since cloud service providers manage large amounts of data for multiple clients, it can make them susceptible to cyber-attacks or data breaches.
  3. Insecure APIs – application programming interfaces (APIs) are used to connect cloud-based services with third-party applications or systems. If these APIs are not properly secured, it can expose data or infrastructure to cyber threats.
  4. Insider threats– as users with access to the cloud may have access to sensitive data, they can also pose a threat to cloud security. Therefore, cloud systems must be monitored continuously for security breaches.
  5. Compromised credentials– If an attacker can get hold of a user’s identity credentials, he/she can be impersonated to access confidential data.
  6. Regulatory compliance– companies that store personal and sensitive data within the cloud must adhere to specific governance and compliance requirements, such as HIPAA, PCI DSS and GDPR. The responsibility of security compliance lies with the cloud provider, but often clients mistakenly misinterpret a provider’s compliance capabilities. Overall accountability for data privacy and security still rests with the enterprise, and heavy reliance on third-party solutions to manage this component can lead to costly compliance issues.
  7. Lack of visibility– companies that use the cloud for data storage and services may have limited control over the security and system administration of their data, as cloud providers may not give the necessary access to clients.
  8. Limited view of log and usage data – the cloud provider holds responsibility for the system logs and usage data and can be vague about offering a detailed view of this information to clients.
  9. Multitenancy – Public cloud environments house multiple client infrastructures under the same umbrella, so it’s possible your hosted services can get compromised by malicious attackers as collateral damage when targeting other businesses.
  10. Access management and shadow IT – While enterprises may be able to successfully manage and restrict access points across on-premises systems, administering these same levels of restrictions can be challenging in cloud environments. This can be dangerous for organizations that don’t deploy bring-your-own device (BYOD) policies and allow unfiltered access to cloud services from any device or geolocation.
  11. Misconfigurations – Misconfigured assets accounted for 86% of breached records in 2019, making the inadvertent insider a key issue for cloud computing environments. Misconfigurations can include leaving default administrative passwords in place, or not creating appropriate privacy settings.

TYPES OF CLOUD SECURITY

1.    Identity and access management (IAM)

Identity and access management (IAM) tools and services allow enterprises to deploy policy-driven enforcement protocols for all users attempting to access both on-premises and cloud-based services. The core functionality of IAM is to create digital identities for all users so they can be actively monitored and restricted when necessary, during all data interactions

2.    Data loss prevention (DLP)

Data loss prevention (DLP) services offer a set of tools and services designed to ensure the security of regulated cloud data. DLP solutions use a combination of remediation alerts, data encryption, and other preventative measures to protect all stored data, whether at rest or in motion.

3.    Security information and event management (SIEM)

Security information and event management (SIEM) provides a comprehensive security orchestration solution that automates threat monitoring, detection, and response in cloud-based environments. Using artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technologies to correlate log data across multiple platforms and digital assets, SIEM technology gives IT teams the ability to successfully apply their network security protocols while being able to quickly react to any potential threats.

4.    Business continuity and disaster recovery

Regardless of the preventative measures organizations have in place for their on-premises and cloud-based infrastructures, data breaches and disruptive outages can still occur. Enterprises must be able to quickly react to newly discovered vulnerabilities or significant system outages as soon as possible. Disaster recovery solutions are a staple in cloud security and provide organizations with the tools, services, and protocols necessary to expedite the recovery of lost data and resume normal business operations.

 

 

 

 

CFS ISMS MANAGER

 

 

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ISMS POLICY STATEMENT

CFS Finance Company Limited is committed to providing financial services and fulfilling the needs of customers and other interested parties, protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and information assets while complying with all legal, regulatory and statutory requirements and to continually improve on the ISMS. 

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CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS AND INTERNET SAFETY MEASURES – ISMS TIPS

Cybersecurity awareness refers to the level of knowledge and understanding that an individual or organization has about the risks and threats posed by cyber-attacks in the digital world. It involves knowing how to protect oneself and one’s assets against cybercriminals and being aware of best practices regarding online security, such as password management, phishing scams, and social engineering tactics. Cybersecurity awareness is critical in today’s digital age, where cyber threats are becoming increasingly prevalent and sophisticated, and can result in financial loss, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. It is essential to continuously educate and train individuals and organizations to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals and minimize the risk of cyber-attacks.

INTERNET SAFETY MEASURES CAN INCLUDE:
1. Using strong and unique passwords for every account
2. Enabling two-factor authentication whenever possible
3. Installing antivirus and firewall software on all devices
4. Keeping software and operating systems up-to-date
5. Avoiding suspicious websites, email attachments, and downloads
6. Being cautious of scams and phishing attempts
7. Restricting personal information shared online
8. Reviewing privacy settings on social media and other accounts
9. Avoid the use or installation of untrusted software.
10. Prohibit or reduce the use of removable drives mostly when not trusted.
If you ever feel threatened or unsafe online, it’s important to report it to the appropriate authorities and seek help if needed.


Author: CFS ISMS MANAGER

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GENERAL SYSTEM/INTERNET SAFETY TIPS – ISMS TIPS

1. Use antivirus software: This will protect your computer against viruses and malware that could potentially damage or steal your files.

2. Keep your operating system up to date: Updates often include security patches that will keep your computer protected from the latest threats.

3. Use strong passwords: Make sure your password is unique and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

4. Avoid suspicious links and downloads: Only download software and files from trusted sources and be wary of clicking on links sent in emails or by unknown sources.

5. Use firewalls: A firewall can help block unauthorized access to your computer and protect you from hacking attempts.

6. Secure your wireless network: Make sure your wireless network is password-protected and use encryption to keep your data safe.

7. Backup your data regularly: Regular backups will ensure that your important files are safe in case of a system failure or cyber-attack.

8. Avoid public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks are often not secure, so avoid accessing sensitive information while using them.

9. Don’t share personal information: Be wary of giving out personal information online and only share it when necessary and with trusted sources.

10. Use common sense: Use good judgment when accessing websites or opening attachments, and be cautious about what you click on.

CFS ISMS MANAGER

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ISMS BRIEFING AND WHY ORGANIZATION MUST ADOPT IMPLEMENTATION – ISMS TIPS
Internet Security Management System (ISMS) is a comprehensive framework designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information stored or transmitted over the internet. The system involves the implementation of policies, processes, procedures, and controls to manage information security risks and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
ISMS focuses on identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities that may compromise the security of electronic data, assessing the impact of such incidents, and developing strategies to prevent or mitigate them. Some of the key aspects of an effective ISMS include:
1. Risk Assessment: Conducting a thorough risk assessment to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities to the internet security infrastructure and the critical assets it contains.
2. Policy Development: Developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of sensitive information.
3. Access Control: Implementing access control measures to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data.
4. Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitoring the system to identify any suspicious activities and promptly responding to security incidents.
5. Disaster Recovery: Developing and implementing disaster recovery plans to recover from any security incidents.
ISMS is essential for businesses and organizations that deal with sensitive data, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies. Implementing an ISMS helps these organizations to protect their reputation, prevent financial losses, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

CFS ISMS MANAGER

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