Introduction
In this course, students will gain a comprehension of policy in information security, including the different types of policies that are part of an overall security strategy. These policies include rules, best practices, and different access control types, such as discretionary access control, mandatory access control, and role-based access control. Students learn about the fundamental components of constructing policies. Incorporating the professional and ethical application of a security policy is crucial in ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information. Adhering to ethical principles such as honesty, integrity, and accountability can help to maintain trust between stakeholders and promote a culture of security within the organization. A well-defined security policy that is aligned with professional and ethical principles can help organizations to achieve their security objectives while also ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Coursework Artifacts
SolarWinds Hack
The SolarWinds hack was a significant cybersecurity breach that triggered a much larger supply chain incident that affected thousands of organizations, including the U.S. government. The incident resulted in multiple lawsuits against SolarWinds, with investors alleging that the board of directors failed to implement the proper monitoring processes/systems to maintain secure systems and enforce cybersecurity standards. One of the biggest takeaways from this incident is the importance of following an industry-standard cybersecurity framework, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, to better understand, manage, and reduce cybersecurity risks. Lessons learned from the SolarWinds breach include the need for better logging implementations, the importance of well-documented network log activities for forensic investigations, and the need to address multiple security deficiencies to prevent similar attacks in the future. The breach highlighted the critical need for companies to implement proper monitoring processes and systems to maintain secure systems and enforce cybersecurity standards. The SolarWinds breach also demonstrated the risks of weak passwords, inadequate network segmentation, and insufficient cybersecurity investments.
This paper discusses the importance of cyber law and legal protections for businesses that use the internet, particularly for e-commerce companies. The legal plan for an e-commerce business called Zoomie focuses on six segments, including duty of care, multi-region compliance, data privacy, cryptography, digital forensics, and cyber liability insurance. The text emphasizes the role of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in creating a well-designed legal program that can protect the organization from legal action resulting from cyber incidents. The article also discusses the shared responsibility model between the organization and cloud provider, as well as the importance of compliance with industry-specific standards. Finally, the text highlights the importance of cyber liability insurance to protect against financial losses due to a cyber-attack. Expressing the need for businesses to take cybersecurity seriously and to create comprehensive legal plans to address the risks associated with conducting business online.
The paper examines importance of protecting children's privacy on the internet and complying with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The case of HyperBeard violating COPPA is analyzed, and suggestions are made for improving the cybersecurity program and privacy posture of organizations in the digital gaming space. The suggestions include integrating age confirmation with parental verification, using warnings and comprehensive privacy policy disclaimers, verifying parental consent, and migrating web hosting services to a secure third-party vendor like Amazon Web Services. The goal is to prevent potential privacy violations and strengthen security posture while staying in compliance with COPPA and other federal regulations.
Reflection
The field of cybersecurity law and policy requires professionals who are committed to upholding ethical standards and promoting responsible behavior. By adhering to these principles, cybersecurity professionals can help ensure that their organizations maintain the trust of stakeholders and that the field of cybersecurity continues to evolve in a positive direction. The Cybersecurity Law & Policy course is essential for cybersecurity professionals because it provides an in-depth understanding of the legal and policy frameworks governing cybersecurity. In today's highly regulated and litigious environment, cybersecurity professionals must have a solid understanding of the laws and regulations that apply to their organizations. This course covers a range of topics, including cybersecurity laws, regulations, and standards, as well as privacy laws, intellectual property laws, and international law. It also covers the legal and policy considerations related to incident response, risk management, and compliance. By taking this course, cybersecurity professionals can ensure that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex legal and policy landscape surrounding cybersecurity and protect their organizations from legal and reputational harm.
Cybersecurity law and policy professionals require a diverse set of skills and knowledge that spans technical and legal domains. Key skills include a strong understanding of cybersecurity laws, regulations, and policies, the ability to identify and manage risks using frameworks and assessments, effective communication with non-technical stakeholders, foundational technical knowledge of networking, encryption, and incident response, analytical skills for data analysis and trend identification, and project management skills to develop and implement security policies and procedures. A combination of legal knowledge, technical expertise, and strong communication and analytical skills is necessary to be successful in this field. This course helps prepare students to strengthen their understanding of foundational skills required to compete in the cybersecurity field.
My expectation for this course was to create more refined analytical skills which are critical components of identifying and analyzing cybersecurity threats and incidents. I was able to refine this skill throughout this course by following a structured approach that includes collecting and analyzing data from various sources, using appropriate tools, investigating incidents, developing recommendations, and communicating findings. This course really challenges students to identify and analyze cybersecurity threats and incidents by leveraging their technical knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. By being able to develop these skills, as a professional I can better understand the nature and scope of cybersecurity threats, determine appropriate response strategies, and implement effective measures to prevent future incidents. The development of analytical skills is essential for security professionals seeking to maintain a secure cybersecurity posture and protect their systems and data from potential attacks. Each artifact selected for this course reflects the application of the analytical skills learned throughout this course.
Artifact 1:
Lessons Learned
The SolarWinds breach emphasized the importance of following industry-standard cybersecurity frameworks to better understand, manage, and reduce cybersecurity risks. The incident showed that companies need to implement proper monitoring processes and systems to maintain secure systems and enforce cybersecurity standards. The breach highlighted the risks of weak passwords, inadequate network segmentation, and insufficient cybersecurity investments. Companies should prioritize well-documented network log activities for forensic investigations and address multiple security deficiencies to prevent similar attacks in the future. The SolarWinds breach resulted in multiple lawsuits, which highlights the importance of board members taking proactive steps to ensure that proper monitoring processes/systems are in place to maintain secure systems and enforce cybersecurity standards. The SolarWinds breach serves as a reminder that cybersecurity should be a top priority for all organizations, and that the consequences of inadequate cybersecurity investments can be severe.
Artifact 2:
Lessons Learned
Having well-designed legal program to protect citizens who use the internet for personal and business reasons. Emphasizing the need for organizations to implement a cybersecurity framework, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, to better understand, manage, and reduce cybersecurity risks. Exploration also highlights the importance of adhering to industry standards and complying with regulations, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and data privacy laws. Stressing the importance of having cyber liability insurance to protect against potential financial losses resulting from cyber events and incidents. The use of cloud technologies, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), is recommended as a way to strengthen an organization's overall security posture and provide legal reassurances, as all network activity will be readily available for the legal team to decipher as required for any legal matters. The legal plan for Zoomie includes a focus on duty of care, multi-region compliance, data privacy, cryptography, digital forensics, and cyber liability insurance. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of having a well-rounded legal plan that thoroughly addresses the most legally critical components of cybersecurity law.
Artifact 3:
Lessons Learned
The case of HyperBeard violating COPPA highlights the importance of complying with federal regulations to protect children's privacy on the internet. The need for organizations to contribute to the wellness of future generations and the potential negative consequences of exploiting children for advertisement dollars. Lessons learned include the need to implement cybersecurity-oriented changes with extensive privacy protection for children, such as integrating age confirmation with parental verification, using warnings and comprehensive privacy policy disclaimers, verifying parental consent, and migrating web hosting services to a secure third-party vendor like Amazon Web Services. The importance of following COPPA guidelines and federal compliance mandates to prevent potential privacy violations and protect children's privacy online was a major takeaway.
The Cybersecurity Law & Policy course provides an essential foundation for cybersecurity professionals to develop a comprehensive understanding of the legal and policy frameworks governing cybersecurity. This course covers a range of topics and provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex legal and policy landscape surrounding cybersecurity. By taking this course, professionals can gain the skills required to identify and manage risks using frameworks and assessments, effectively communicate with stakeholders, analyze data, and develop and implement security policies and procedures. This course challenges students to refine their analytical skills, which are critical components of identifying and analyzing cybersecurity threats and incidents. Ultimately, the development of a diverse set of skills and knowledge, including legal and technical expertise, strong communication and analytical skills, and risk management capabilities, is essential for success in the field of cybersecurity law and policy.