IT 253 Project Two Security Plan

A. Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Technology Officer (CTO):

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) assumes overarching responsibility for the
organization's technological infrastructure and strategy, with a pivotal role in ensuring the
alignment of technology initiatives with the organization's security objectives.
Responsibilities include overseeing the implementation and maintenance of rich security
measures across all technological platforms. Additionally, the CTO plays a key role in
fostering a culture of security awareness and best practices throughout the organization,
collaborating closely with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to develop and
enforce security policies and procedures. The CTO also leads efforts to identify and evaluate
emerging technologies and trends that may impact the organization's security posture,
ensuring that technological advancements are leveraged to enhance security capabilities
effectively. Furthermore, the CTO maintains regular communication with executive
leadership to provide strategic insights and recommendations regarding technology
investments and initiatives that support the organization's overall security objectives.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO):

As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), the individual is entrusted with
multifaceted responsibilities crucial to the organization's security posture. This role
encompasses overseeing the comprehensive implementation and maintenance of the security
plan, ensuring its alignment with organizational objectives and industry best practices.
Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), the CISO maintains consistent
communication with executive leadership, providing regular updates and insights into
security matters to facilitate informed decision-making. Furthermore, the CISO bears the
responsibility of ensuring strict adherence to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) regulations and internal
company policies, safeguarding the integrity and compliance of the organization's operations.

System Administrators:

The system administrators play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth functioning and security
of the organization's IT infrastructure. Their responsibilities encompass managing the day-to-
day operations of the servers, which includes configuration, maintenance, and continuous
monitoring to uphold optimal performance and reliability. Additionally, they implement
security measures as directed by the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), ensuring
that the organization's security policies and procedures are effectively enforced. Moreover,
the system administrators conduct regular audits of system configurations and user accounts
to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities or unauthorized access attempts, thereby
maintaining the integrity and security of the organization's digital assets.

1
Security Analysts:

Security analysts are integral to maintaining the organization's cybersecurity defenses. Their
role involves monitoring system logs and alerts to detect potential security incidents swiftly.
In response to security breaches or unauthorized access attempts, they conduct thorough
investigations and take appropriate actions. Additionally, security analysts collaborate
closely with system administrators to ensure the timely implementation of security patches
and updates, thereby enhancing the overall resilience of the organization's cybersecurity
posture.

Employee Security Awareness Coordinator:

As the Employee Security Awareness Coordinator, the individual plays a vital role in
promoting a culture of cybersecurity awareness throughout the organization. Their
responsibilities include developing and delivering continuous security awareness training
programs tailored to all employees, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills
to recognize and mitigate security threats effectively. Additionally, the Coordinator keeps
employees informed about the latest security threats and best practices, enabling them to stay
vigilant and proactive in safeguarding company assets. Furthermore, they conduct simulated
phishing exercises to assess and enhance employee vigilance, helping to strengthen the
organization's overall resilience against cyber threats.

B. User Awareness Training

In addition to the standard security awareness training provided to all employees, new hires
will receive comprehensive information security training to familiarize them with potential
threats and vulnerabilities. This training will aim to raise awareness among new employees
regarding the importance of safeguarding company information and adhering to security
protocols. Furthermore, quarterly phishing emails will be randomly sent to employees as part
of ongoing security awareness efforts, allowing us to assess and reinforce their ability to
identify and report phishing attempts. To ensure that employees remain up to date on the
latest security risks and mitigation strategies, monthly updates will be distributed,
highlighting emerging threats and providing tips for detecting and responding to potential
security incidents. Moreover, to reinforce and refresh employees' knowledge, comprehensive
training sessions will be conducted annually, covering key security principles and best
practices.

C. Access Control

To manage access control effectively, user accounts will be created based on job roles and
responsibilities. System Administrators will oversee the generation of accounts and enforce
strong password policies, including regular changes and complexity requirements. Regular
reviews of user accounts will be conducted to ensure appropriateness of access, with

2
adjustments made as necessary based on changes in job roles or responsibilities. Access to
critical systems will be granted on a need-to-know basis.

D. Vulnerability Management

To effectively manage vulnerabilities, regular automated scans will be conducted on all

servers and network devices. System Administrators will review scan results and prioritize
remediation based on severity levels, addressing critical vulnerabilities immediately followed
by high and medium-severity ones. A patch management process will be implemented to
apply security updates promptly, with schedules coordinated to minimize disruption to
business operations. Emergency patches for critical vulnerabilities will be prioritized and
deployed expediently.

E. Backup and Recovery

To ensure robust backup and recovery procedures, regular backups of all system data will be
performed on a scheduled basis. System Administrators will ensure that backup data is
encrypted both in transit and at rest to maintain confidentiality. Backup files will be securely
stored offsite in geographically diverse locations to mitigate the risk of data loss due to
disasters. In the event of a data breach or system compromise, System Administrators will
initiate the recovery process, restoring backup data to a clean environment following
established procedures. Incident response teams will work to identify the cause of the breach
and implement measures to prevent recurrence.

F. Internet-Facing Security

To enhance internet-facing security, the firewall (FW1) will be reconfigured to restrict access
to only necessary ports and services. Access control lists (ACLs) will be implemented to
filter inbound and outbound traffic based on predefined rules. Regular reviews of firewall
rules will be conducted to ensure compliance with security policies. Additionally, the web
server (WEBSERV01) will undergo hardening measures to secure against common web-
based attacks. Web application firewalls (WAFs) will be deployed to protect against SQL
injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other web vulnerabilities. Furthermore, HTTPS
encryption will be enforced to secure data in transit between the web server and client
browsers.

Through these comprehensive initiatives, we aim to cultivate a culture of vigilance and

responsibility across the organization, ensuring the ongoing protection of the company's
sensitive information, fostering a vigilant culture, and protecting company information.
These measures not only maintain a secure environment and minimize the risk of

3
unauthorized access to company resources but also proactively identify and mitigate potential
security risks, ensuring the resilience of our systems against cyber threats. Additionally, they
safeguard the integrity and availability of our company's information assets, ensuring timely
recovery in the event of data loss or corruption, while fortifying our internet-facing
infrastructure against potential threats and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of our
online services and customer data.