Securing the Open University Network Environment IT Risk Assessment and Security Policy Compliance Measurement Kent Knudsen, Texas A & M University Security.

Securing the Open University Securing the Open University Network Network EnvironmentEnvironmentIT Risk Assessment and Security Policy Compliance Measurement

Kent Knudsen, Texas A & M University

Security Professionals Security Professionals Workshop 2004Workshop 2004

May 18May 18

Copyright 2004 Kent Knudsen. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

© Copyright 2004 – Kent Knudsen, Texas A&M University© Copyright 2004 – Kent Knudsen, Texas A&M University

An Open Network is Like a An Open Network is Like a City . . .City . . . Network lines, like roadways, are open and designed to move trafficNetwork lines, like roadways, are open and designed to move traffic Security varies at the nodes or segmentsSecurity varies at the nodes or segments Secure nodes - Administrative computing requires stronger security, Secure nodes - Administrative computing requires stronger security,

like bankslike banks Minimal Security nodes - Student lab workstations have minimal securityMinimal Security nodes - Student lab workstations have minimal security

like retail storeslike retail stores Nodes with unknown security - Faculty and Student owned computers Nodes with unknown security - Faculty and Student owned computers

have unknown security, have unknown security,

like residential housinglike residential housing Not a perfect analogy, but it Not a perfect analogy, but it

illustrates that security tends illustrates that security tends

to be focused on the nodesto be focused on the nodes

The Result:The Result:

Decentralized SecurityDecentralized Security


Challenges of Decentralized Challenges of Decentralized SecuritySecurity

Some departments have full-time, trained IT staff – while other Some departments have full-time, trained IT staff – while other departments rely on student workers (or worse, have no IT staff)departments rely on student workers (or worse, have no IT staff)

Diversity of operating systems (Apple/Mac, Linux, MVS, Novell, Unix, Diversity of operating systems (Apple/Mac, Linux, MVS, Novell, Unix, Windows, etc.) – difficult to be an expert on more than one platformWindows, etc.) – difficult to be an expert on more than one platform

Residential network allowing students to connect their PCs with little or Residential network allowing students to connect their PCs with little or no security protectionno security protection

Libraries must provide access to information resources to both the Libraries must provide access to information resources to both the University populous and the community at largeUniversity populous and the community at large

Research computers funded by grants that have little or no provision for Research computers funded by grants that have little or no provision for security measuressecurity measures

Need a forum to allow IT staff to share best practices and tips on Need a forum to allow IT staff to share best practices and tips on securing the various platformssecuring the various platforms

Who is keeping up with patches and security updates?Who is keeping up with patches and security updates?

© Copyright 2004 – Kent Knudsen, Texas A&M University

Which Security Standard?Which Security Standard?

First, you have to decide upon a security standard . . .

“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.”



U.S. Standards:If your organization needs a benchmark based on industry best practices, there are some sources available:

State and Local Standards

Obviously, compliance with your state and local security standards should be measured. However, if your state and local standards are incomplete or lacking, there are other standards to consider.

NIST Computer Security Resource Center (csrc.nist.gov)

The NIST CSRC provides several publications (FIPS PUBS) and other documents to serve as standards.



U.S. Standards:Additional sources:

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars)

Provides some circulars pertaining to information security of federal systems (A-130 in particular).

DITSCAP – DoD IT Security Certification and Accreditation Process that includes standards (www.dtic.mil)

The Department of Defense provides the DITSCAP process that can serve as a resource for additional security measures.



U.S. Standards:

Several U.S. industry and governmental entities have produced guidelines and standards – visit the link below for a comprehensive list.

http://iase.disa.mil/policy.html#ditscap



International Standards:

The ISO17799 Standard (www.iso17799-web.com)The ISO17799 Standard is a set of security standards (based on the British Standards Institution - BS 7799) adopted and approved by the ISO, IEC and JTC1 (International Electrotechnical Commission, International Organization for Standardization and Joint Technical Committee) and is available for a fee.

The Common Criteria (www.commoncriteria.org)The Common Criteria project was started in 1993 in order to bring together various standards (TCSEC, ITSEC, etc.) into a single international standard for IT security evaluation.

Centralized Information Security Centralized Information Security ProgramProgram

IT Risk Assessment and Security Policy Compliance Measurement


Texas A&M’s Answer . . .Texas A&M’s Answer . . .


“Information Security Program in a box”

ISAAC –

Information

Security

Awareness,

Assessment, and

Compliance

What is ISAAC?What is ISAAC?



Assesses the security posture of diverse information systems

Measures compliance with Information Security standards

Security awareness training (focused on various audiences)

Monthly Information Security Forum and e-mail discussion List

Mechanism for reporting security incidents

Guides for creating Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery plans

A checklist for annual inspections of the physical security

ISAACISAAC - a web-based “information security

program in a box”. Thinking inside the box…


A Web-based Solution Providing . . .A Web-based Solution Providing . . .

Automated Risk Assessment (standardized)

Security Awareness Training (including validation)

Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Planning guide

Security Incident Reporting System (web)

Physical Security check list

Security Forms and Templates


Non-invasive, platform independent system to inform and assist departmental IT personnel with InfoSec program:


Consistent, repeatable baseline assessment

Covers both operational and technical requirements

Most admins can complete an assessment < 2 hrs

Results are combined into an overall assessment

Risk report has a consistent format to assist our “team members”, the auditors


A standardized risk assessment process


Departmental registration of system types and quantities (useful for sending targeted security alerts, among other things)


Centralized databases for collecting required departmental data. The databases provide:

Registration of mission critical information resource owners, custodians, and users (state of Texas requirement)


Centralized databases provide (con’t):

The Risk Assessment data is used to produce a composite report for the entire university, including overall percentage of compliance for each policy item on a university-wide basis


The Security Awareness Training data is used to generate “certificates” of completion, and can be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the training program


Business Continuity Module:

The Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Module contains a full-blown guideline for those departments maintaining server/client systems, and a simpler, basic plan for the desktop (peer-to-peer) environment



The State of Texas requires that once a month, a summary report be filed detailing the month’s security incidents


Security Incident Reporting System:

A web-based form for reporting various kinds of security incidents, such as: malicious code attacks, unauthorized access and use, disruption or denial of service, hoaxes, etc.

The SIRS database can be analyzed for trends and to measure effectiveness of various countermeasures



Physical Security Module:

This module contains a checklist which can be printed and used as a guide for making a visual inspection of the facilities. For example:

Are doors solid, fireproof, and lockable?

Are cabling, plugs, and other wires secured?

Do secure areas have full height walls?



Security Forms and Templates Module:

This module contains several items. For example:

Promotes participation in the monthly Information Security Forum meetings and email discussion list

Non-Disclosure Agreement template

Computing Ethics / Acceptable Use template for staff

Sample Security Manual

Incident Handling Guide

Recommended security related email lists


ISAAC Because . . . It WorksISAAC Because . . . It Works

First Year of Implementation:

• Achieved 100% participation from all 214 departments represented by 164 system administrators involving 17,000 systems (servers and desktops).

• Produced first ever, composite risk assessment report for the University IT infrastructure.


ISAAC Because . . . Scalable ISAAC Because . . . Scalable SolutionSolution

Large, Decentralized University

Over 44,000 Students

Over 10,000 Faculty

and Staff Over 60,000 nodes


ISAAC Because… Security Best ISAAC Because… Security Best PracticesPractices

The approach of beginning each risk assessment from scratch with a group of people was not practical for our diverse environment – so we reviewed a multitude of assessment methodologies to produce a “best of breed” product

Also, a large number of threats are already known, and security standards have been established, therefore we chose to design a tool that establishes a good security baseline


ISAAC Because . . . Best of Breed ISAAC Because . . . Best of Breed RARA

Assessment based on established NIH risk methodology

Modified to include components of the NIST Special Publication 800-26 and the IAM methodology from NSA

Mainly a qualitative risk assessment with a quantitative risk rating (for prioritizing risk management decisions)


ISAAC Because . . . Part of ISAAC Because . . . Part of Security PolicySecurity Policy

PolicyOnly authorized

personnel allowed toaccess the systems

Standard

All authorized user accounts willbe protected by a password

Procedure, Guideline, Practice

Passwords will be eight characters long, include 1non-alpha character and not be a dictionary word

ISAAC ISAAC


ISAAC Because . . . Assessment ISAAC Because . . . Assessment FlexibilityFlexibility

An annual process that yields an

institutional wide assessment as well as individual assessments that each department can use to evaluate their risks and make risk management decisions.

Three risk assessment types:– “Departmental” (for the servers and clients)– “Desktop” (for peer-to-peer setup)– “Good Net Neighbor” – (for public access or lab

computers)


ISAAC Because . . . Department ISAAC Because . . . Department FlexibilityFlexibility

Assessment report includes a “corrective action” plan that gives the departmental IT staff an opportunity to recommend solutions to management for their consideration

Management has the flexibility to make risk management decisions for implementing the recommendations based on cost-benefit analysis


ISAAC Benefits . . . Easy to ISAAC Benefits . . . Easy to ImplementImplement

The Departmental IT Staff (System Admins) already feel harried and were not sitting idle looking for something to do – so, in consideration of their time, an effective and efficient assessment was key to implementation

We also wanted this new initiative to be palatable, and to garner “buy in” from the departmental managers

We held informational forums, and offered an on-site assistance option via online calendar. (However, ISAAC was so well received, not much assistance was requested)

All this and more done to ease burden, facilitate departmental use, and to smooth implementation


ISAAC Benefits . . . Easily ISAAC Benefits . . . Easily AdaptedAdapted

“Raising the Bar” on security -

Each year ISAAC is evaluated against the current IT environment (new threats, legal and/or regulatory issues, etc.) and modified as necessary.

In addition, any new assessment methodologies are considered for enhancement to ISAAC.


Any Any Questions?Questions?

Contact Information:E-mail: [email protected]

Postal: Computing & Information Services Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-3142


Securing the Open University Network Environment IT Risk Assessment and Security Policy Compliance Measurement Kent Knudsen, Texas A & M University Security.

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