Speaker 1: All right, So this stack of security management stuff you sent,
Speaker 1: it's uh, we're going through excerpts from the official is
Speaker 1: C two Guide to the eec IS smp CBK, which
Speaker 1: I mean, this thing's huge.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a dense, a lot, it's a lot, It's
Speaker 2: packed with information.
Speaker 1: It's the ultimate guide for security pros it really is.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Our mission today is to kind of go through
Speaker 2: this and extract the gold. Okay, you know, like the
Speaker 2: actionable insights.
Speaker 1: Okay, so like, how do we you can actually use
Speaker 1: how do we make this? Yeah, how do we make
Speaker 1: this applicable to what people are doing out there?
Speaker 2: Exactly?
Speaker 1: So we're aiming to give everyone a framework for not
Speaker 1: just understanding security, but really living it.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. By the end of this, we're going to be
Speaker 2: covering how to build a really robust security framework, how
Speaker 2: to proactively spot those weaknesses okay before they become like
Speaker 2: big problems, and then also navigate the complex world of
Speaker 2: compliance and incident response.
Speaker 1: Okay, So let's unback this starting with the foundation security
Speaker 1: leadership and management. I mean, why is this even important?
Speaker 2: Sure?
Speaker 1: Does it really matter if like the CEO understands firewalls?
Speaker 2: It matters more than you think Okay, because you see
Speaker 2: senior management, they set the tone for the entire organization,
Speaker 2: so their understanding of risk it directly influences like budget decisions,
Speaker 2: resource allocation, and even like the overall culture of security awareness.
Speaker 1: So it's like a company can have all the latest
Speaker 1: security tech, but if the leaders don't get the why
Speaker 1: behind it, it's all.
Speaker 2: For show exactly. It's just checking a box at that point.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: A really great example is the Department of Homeland Security.
Speaker 2: If you look at their mission statement, it actually explicitly
Speaker 2: includes safeguarding cyberspace. Wow, so it's not just an IT
Speaker 2: thing for them. It's like, yeah, it's part breaked into
Speaker 2: their Yeah, it's like baked into their purpose.
Speaker 1: Okay, that makes sense for a government agency. But why
Speaker 1: should a regular business, Like, why should they care about
Speaker 1: this high level buy in?
Speaker 2: Because a security breach can have a really devastating impact
Speaker 2: on any business. Okay, imagine the financial costs of downtime,
Speaker 2: the hit to your reputation, the legal ramifications.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a nightmare.
Speaker 2: Yeah, a total nightmare that you want to avoid. Right.
Speaker 1: Prevention is key, But you know, I think a lot
Speaker 1: of people think of security as mostly an it department issue.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and while it is definitely at the forefront of
Speaker 2: a lot of these things, effective security leadership involves way
Speaker 2: more than just technical expertise. Okay, the soft skills they're
Speaker 2: actually just as critical.
Speaker 1: Okay, I like that, So let's unpack that. Sure, what
Speaker 1: kind of soft skills are we talking about?
Speaker 2: So think about things like really understanding business processes, assigning
Speaker 2: roles and responsibilities appropriately.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: And then also this is a big one, communicating risk
Speaker 2: in a way that people who aren't technical can grasp.
Speaker 1: Okay, So like communication, collaboration, big picture thinking.
Speaker 2: Big time.
Speaker 1: It's almost like it's almost like being a security leader
Speaker 1: is a management role.
Speaker 2: It absolutely is a management role. You know, you can
Speaker 2: have the most advanced technology in the world, but if
Speaker 2: your employees don't understand the why behind security protocols, it's
Speaker 2: all for nothing.
Speaker 1: Right, Because a chain is only as strong as its
Speaker 1: weakest link, exactly, and sometimes that weakest link is human.
Speaker 2: Unfortunately, that's very often the case. So you need to
Speaker 2: build like a culture of security awareness that really does
Speaker 2: permeate the entire organization.
Speaker 1: Okay, So strong leadership sets the stage. Now, how do
Speaker 1: we actually translate that into a rock solid security structure, right,
Speaker 1: what are the building blocks?
Speaker 2: Okay? So that's where security life cycle managed comes in
Speaker 2: and staler alert. It's not just for software development anymore.
Speaker 2: Wait really yeah? Oh okay, So think of it like
Speaker 2: building a house. You wouldn't start construction without a blueprint, right. Well,
Speaker 2: you shouldn't launch any project without considering security at every
Speaker 2: single stage, from the initial planning phase all the way
Speaker 2: to deployment okay and beyond.
Speaker 1: So it's not just about like checking off boxes on
Speaker 1: a checklist, it's about baking security into like the DNA
Speaker 1: of every project from the get go.
Speaker 2: One hundred percent okay. And this is especially important when
Speaker 2: you're dealing with prototypes.
Speaker 1: Ah. Prototypes, Yes, fun, always exciting, yeah.
Speaker 2: Buggy, a little buggy, right, and often insecure because prototypes
Speaker 2: they're typically built for speed and functionality, not necessarily security. Okay.
Speaker 2: So that can create a lot of risks if you're
Speaker 2: not careful.
Speaker 1: So how do you balance that need to move quickly
Speaker 1: with need to protect sensitive data?
Speaker 2: You need to be acutely aware of the risks that
Speaker 2: are involved in prototype, and then you need to from
Speaker 2: the very beginning implement safeguards. Okay, So like strong access controls,
Speaker 2: data encryption, regular security assessments, like you need to treat
Speaker 2: that prototype with the same level of security that you
Speaker 2: would a live system.
Speaker 1: Okay, that makes sense because I mean a data breach
Speaker 1: during the prototype phase could be just as damaging as
Speaker 1: a breach and a finished product.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: Sure, But you know, how do we future proof security?
Speaker 2: Yeah?
Speaker 1: I mean technology changes so quickly it does.
Speaker 2: It changes so fast it does, and that's where it
Speaker 2: becomes really critical to understand how those emerging technologies impact security. Okay,
Speaker 2: So like cloud computing, virtualization, these things, they bring a
Speaker 2: lot of great opportunities I do, but they also bring
Speaker 2: new vulnerabilities.
Speaker 1: Right, because with new technology comes new ways to exploit
Speaker 1: it exactly. So we need to be proactive, not reactive, one.
Speaker 2: Hundred percent before you jump on the bandwagon of the
Speaker 2: latest tech trend. Yeah, you need to really thoroughly assess
Speaker 2: the security implications. And it's a continuous learning curve in
Speaker 2: this field.
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm already seeing that security management is way more
Speaker 1: than just an IT issue. This is a company wide
Speaker 1: it is endeavor. Okay. And speaking of company wide endeavors,
Speaker 1: let's talk about compliance.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 1: Compliance the word that strikes fear into the hearts.
Speaker 2: Of many A lot of people don't like that word.
Speaker 1: But honestly, where do we even begin with that?
Speaker 2: Okay? Let let's kind of demystify compliance a little bit.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: You mentioned nissed SP eight hundred and fifty three, which
Speaker 2: is a fantastic framework. Okay, especially if you're operating in
Speaker 2: the US. Okay, but remember it's not the only game
Speaker 2: in town.
Speaker 1: So there are other options out there. Oh absolutely, Yeah,
Speaker 1: what are some examples?
Speaker 2: So, for instance, there's ISO twenty seven zero two point
Speaker 2: two zero one team okay, which offers more more of
Speaker 2: a global perspective, and it provides guidelines for implementing and
Speaker 2: maintaining information security management systems.
Speaker 1: Gotcha. Okay, So we've got these frameworks, but honestly, I'm
Speaker 1: looking at them. They feel pretty dense.
Speaker 2: Yeah, they can be a bit overwhelming. Yeah, and overwhelming
Speaker 2: for sure.
Speaker 1: So how do we actually use them in like a
Speaker 1: practical way.
Speaker 2: Think of them as blueprints, not like rigid rule books.
Speaker 2: You can leverage these external frameworks to actually create your
Speaker 2: own internal standard guidelines, procedures, ones that actually align with
Speaker 2: your organization's specific needs and risk profile.
Speaker 1: So it's kind of like taking inspiration from a recipe
Speaker 1: but adapting it exactly to your own taste.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to put it. Yeah, the key
Speaker 2: is to understand the underlying principles of these frameworks and
Speaker 2: then tailor them to fit your unique operational context.
Speaker 1: Okay, that makes sense. Nobody wants to surprise audit.
Speaker 2: He likes the surprise audit.
Speaker 1: No, how can we proactively prepare for those?
Speaker 2: Yeah, So audits can definitely be nerve wracking, but if
Speaker 2: you understand what auditors are looking for, it becomes way
Speaker 2: less daunting. Okay, So they're primarily looking for evidence that
Speaker 2: you're following establish best practices and meeting those compliance requirements.
Speaker 2: So having things like really clearly documented policies, conducting regular
Speaker 2: security assessments, implementing a solid vulnerability management program, those are
Speaker 2: all like key pieces of the puzzle.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and don't forget about like those annual contingency plan exercises.
Speaker 2: Those are always oh yeah, fun, those are crucial demonstrated
Speaker 2: to make.
Speaker 1: Sure that your plans are more than just words on
Speaker 1: paper exactly. Yeah, oh yeah, those exercises not exactly my
Speaker 1: favorite part of the job, but I get why they're important.
Speaker 2: They're not the most exciting thing in the world. But yeah,
Speaker 2: you know, the type of exercise you conduct should really
Speaker 2: align with the impact level of the systems that you're
Speaker 2: trying to protect, right, Okay, So for low impact systems, ye,
Speaker 2: like a tabletop exercise might be enough, but for high
Speaker 2: impact like mission critical systems, you need to be doing
Speaker 2: more comprehensive, like full scale deployment exercise.
Speaker 1: So it's all about aligning, like the intensity of your testing, yes,
Speaker 1: with the potential consequences of a failure exactly.
Speaker 2: Okay, And here's a pro tip, use those test results, Yeah,
Speaker 2: to continuously improve your preparedness. Every single exercise is a
Speaker 2: chance to learn and refine your processes.
Speaker 1: So it's a cycle of like plan, test, adjust, repeat,
Speaker 1: Never let those.
Speaker 2: Plans, never let them get stale.
Speaker 1: It's at stale. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Security is a very dynamic process. It requires constant vigilance
Speaker 2: and adit patient. And remember it's not just about your
Speaker 2: internal team. You also need to consider.
Speaker 1: It third party vendors, yes, and con your extended network
Speaker 1: all that they need to be part of the equation too. Yeah, right,
Speaker 1: because a weak link in your supply chain can undermine
Speaker 1: your whole security posture. For sure, Yeah, so you need
Speaker 1: to ensure that any third party you work with meets
Speaker 1: your security standards absolutely, and that's where those service level agreements,
Speaker 1: the slas, becomes so critical.
Speaker 2: They are critical. Yeah, the slas, they're your way of
Speaker 2: defining expectations and holding vendors accountable. So don't just blindly
Speaker 2: sign on the dotted line. Make sure that that contract
Speaker 2: clearly spells out the services that are being provided, the
Speaker 2: performance metrics, and importantly the penalties for non compliance.
Speaker 1: Right, so no surprises down the line exactly. But with contracts,
Speaker 1: I always feel like the devil's in the details.
Speaker 2: Oh, it always is.
Speaker 1: So what specific things should we be paying really close
Speaker 1: attention to?
Speaker 2: I would say, always pay close attention to the resolution
Speaker 2: processes that are outlined in the contract. Okay, so what
Speaker 2: happens if there's a dispute? What are those escalation procedures?
Speaker 2: You need a clear path to resolution in case things go.
Speaker 1: Wrong, and we need to make sure those service levels
Speaker 1: actually meet our needs, especially when dealing with mission critical systems.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean a delayed response from a vendor in
Speaker 2: a crisis that could have disastrous consequences.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it could be really bad.
Speaker 2: So it all comes back to due diligence, don't just
Speaker 2: take their word for it, like, really scrutinize those contracts. Yeah,
Speaker 2: and make sure they're actually aligning with your security requirements.
Speaker 1: Okay. I think we've covered a lot of ground on
Speaker 1: compliance we have. Is it time to finally tackle risk management?
Speaker 2: I think it is. Yeah, all right, let's do it.
Speaker 2: And we're talking risk management. It's really crucial to first
Speaker 2: understand your organization's risk appetite.
Speaker 1: Risk appetite, So like, how much risk are we comfortable with?
Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly how much risk are we okay with access
Speaker 2: in pursuit of our business objectives?
Speaker 1: Right, So it's like we don't want to be too reckless,
Speaker 1: but we also don't want to stifle innovation exactly.
Speaker 2: You don't want to be so cautious that you're not
Speaker 2: actually getting.
Speaker 1: Anything done, right exactly.
Speaker 2: So it's about striking that balance, that delicate balance.
Speaker 1: That's a tightrope block. That's tough.
Speaker 2: It is. It is a tightrope block.
Speaker 1: And that's where a formal risk management program comes in.
Speaker 2: Right, Yes, a well defined program. It provides you with
Speaker 2: a really structured approach to identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks.
Speaker 1: Okay, so break it down. How do we actually do that?
Speaker 2: So it's a multi step process. The first thing you
Speaker 2: have to do is identify the assets that you're trying
Speaker 2: to protect. Okay, so think data, systems, intellectual property, even
Speaker 2: your people.
Speaker 1: Okay, so those are like the crown jewels, right exactly.
Speaker 2: You need to keep those the things you absolutely need
Speaker 2: to protect safe. Yes, Next, you need to identify the
Speaker 2: potential threats.
Speaker 1: To those assets natural disasters.
Speaker 2: Natural disasters, yes, cyber attacks. Cyber attacks big one these days,
Speaker 2: big time, human error, even like a disgruntled employee.
Speaker 1: Okay, so think broadly, think.
Speaker 2: Broadly, and consider all angles.
Speaker 1: Got it.
Speaker 2: Okay, So we've got our assets and our threats. Right now,
Speaker 2: you need to assess the vulnerabilities that could allow those
Speaker 2: threats to exploit your assets.
Speaker 1: So these are the weaknesses in our defenses exactly. Okay,
Speaker 1: give me some examples.
Speaker 2: So like weak passwords, unpatched software, lack of physical security.
Speaker 1: Those are the cracks in the fortress wall.
Speaker 2: Yeah, tho are the cracks that we need to seal up.
Speaker 1: We need to seal up.
Speaker 2: Yeah. So once you've identified those vulnerabilities, you need to
Speaker 2: kind of evaluate two things. The likelihood of each threat
Speaker 2: actually occurring, and then the potential impact if it does.
Speaker 1: So that's where we assign a risk rating.
Speaker 2: To each one, exactly.
Speaker 1: Yeah, but how do we do that in like a
Speaker 1: systematic way?
Speaker 2: The risk matrix comes in. It's a visual tool actually,
Speaker 2: like a grid, and it helps you assess both the
Speaker 2: likelihood and impact of each risk and then helps you
Speaker 2: categorize them based on their severity.
Speaker 1: So you can visually see like which risks are low
Speaker 1: level annoyances and which ones are like potential company killers exactly.
Speaker 2: Exactly. So by plotting your risks on the matrix, you
Speaker 2: get a really clear picture of which ones pose the
Speaker 2: biggest threat right and require immediate attention.
Speaker 1: Okay, So those are the ones that we prioritize when
Speaker 1: it comes to mitigation strategies.
Speaker 2: Exactly.
Speaker 1: Okay, So what does risk mitigation actually look like?
Speaker 2: So, risk mitigation is all about reducing the likelihood and
Speaker 2: or impact of those high priority risks.
Speaker 1: So we're talking about like implementing safeguards controls to protect
Speaker 1: those vulnerable assets exactly. So things like strong passwords, multi
Speaker 1: factor authentication, encryption, regular security awareness training for our employees.
Speaker 2: You nailed it, okay, So it's all about layering those
Speaker 2: defenses to create a really robust security posture.
Speaker 1: I like that. This is like building a medieval castle.
Speaker 2: That's a great way to think about it.
Speaker 1: Multiple layers of protection, I get that much harder to breach.
Speaker 2: Yeah, good analogy.
Speaker 1: But even the best built castle needs constant upkeep right
Speaker 1: it does. So, how do we make sure our risk
Speaker 1: management efforts, yes, stay relevant in this ever changing threat landscape.
Speaker 2: That's where the ongoing part of risk management comes in. Okay,
Speaker 2: so you need to regularly reassess your risks, you know,
Speaker 2: taking into account new technologies, yeah, emerging threats, right, and
Speaker 2: changes within your own organization.
Speaker 1: So it's not like set it and forget it.
Speaker 2: No, it's definitely not a set it and forget it.
Speaker 2: You need to be constantly evaluating in evolving your.
Speaker 1: Approach, right, because new threats emerge all the time, all
Speaker 1: the time, and old threats can resurface in new and
Speaker 1: creative ways.
Speaker 2: Oh for sure.
Speaker 1: So this brings us back to the importance of security
Speaker 1: awareness training absolutely for our employees.
Speaker 2: Yeah, because even with the best technology in place, human
Speaker 2: error can still be a major vulnerability.
Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean people click on phishing links, they do,
Speaker 1: they fall for social engineering scams, they inadvertently expose sensitive data.
Speaker 2: It happens all the time.
Speaker 1: And those mistakes can have huge.
Speaker 2: Consequences, huge consequences. That's why regular engaging relevant security awareness
Speaker 2: training is so crucial.
Speaker 1: It's about making security everyone's responsibility. Yes, not just the
Speaker 1: IT department's burden exactly. But how do we make sure
Speaker 1: the training actually sticks.
Speaker 2: That's a great question and one that will dive into
Speaker 2: more in part three. Okay, but for now, let's maybe
Speaker 2: take a pause.
Speaker 1: Yeah, this is a good place to stop.
Speaker 2: Give our listener a chance to absorb all this information.
Speaker 1: Yeah, this is dense stuff, it is, but it's fascinating
Speaker 1: how all these pieces fit together to create a holistic
Speaker 1: security strategy.
Speaker 2: It really is.
Speaker 1: I'm starting to feel like I could actually pass a
Speaker 1: security audit.
Speaker 2: Now, don't get ahead of yourself. There's still more to learn. Okay,
Speaker 2: but you're definitely on the right track.
Speaker 1: Okay, So to our listener, if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed,
Speaker 1: take a deep breath.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: We'll be back soon with the final part of our
Speaker 1: deep dive, where we'll tackle contingency planning and incident response.
Speaker 2: That's right, Yeah, those what if scenarios. Yeah, nobody wants
Speaker 2: to think about them.
Speaker 1: No, but you have to be prepared.
Speaker 2: But you have to be prepared exactly exactly.
Speaker 1: Okay, So we're back back for more part two of
Speaker 1: our deep dive into security management. We left off talking
Speaker 1: about compliance, right, and honestly, I'm still a little fuzzy
Speaker 1: on what that actually means like in practice.
Speaker 2: Okay, Yeah, so let's try to break it down a
Speaker 2: little bit. Okay. So you know, we were talking about
Speaker 2: those frameworks like NISSED SP eight hundred fifty three, which is,
Speaker 2: like I said, a great framework, particularly if you're operating
Speaker 2: in the US, but it's not the only one out there.
Speaker 1: Okay, so what are some other options?
Speaker 2: So there's you know, like ISO twoty seven thousand and
Speaker 2: two point two zero one team, which offers more of
Speaker 2: a global perspective, okay, and it basically provides guidelines for
Speaker 2: implementing and maintaining information security management systems.
Speaker 1: Gotcha. Okay, So we've got these frameworks. Yeah, they can
Speaker 1: feel really dense and overwhelming. They can, So how do
Speaker 1: we actually use them in a practical way?
Speaker 2: Right? So, I think the best way to think about
Speaker 2: it is like they're blueprints okay, not rigid rule.
Speaker 1: Books, right, So it's not just about checking boxes exactly.
Speaker 2: Yeah. So you can leverage these like external frameworks to
Speaker 2: create your own internal standards, guidelines, and procedures. Okay, and
Speaker 2: you want these to really align with your organization's needs
Speaker 2: and its risk profile.
Speaker 1: Okay. So it's like taking inspiration from a recipe, yes,
Speaker 1: adapting it to your own taste exactly.
Speaker 2: That's a great analogy. The key is to understand the
Speaker 2: underlying principles and then tailor them to fit your unique
Speaker 2: operational context.
Speaker 1: That makes sense. Okay, So nobody wants to surprise.
Speaker 2: Audit, No, nobody does.
Speaker 1: How can we proactively prepare for those and avoid any
Speaker 1: major headaches?
Speaker 2: Audits can definitely be nerve wracking, yeah for sure, but
Speaker 2: if you understand what the auditors are actually looking for,
Speaker 2: it becomes much less daunting. So they're primarily looking for
Speaker 2: evidence that you are following establish best practices and meeting
Speaker 2: those compliance requirements. So things like you know, having really
Speaker 2: clearly documented policies, conducting regular security assessments, implementing a solid
Speaker 2: vulnerability management program. Yeah, those are all key.
Speaker 1: And don't forget about those annual contingency plan exercises.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, those are crucial too. They're really important for
Speaker 2: demonstrating that your plans are more than just work it's.
Speaker 1: On paper, right, Yeah, those exercises not exactly my favorite
Speaker 1: part of the job.
Speaker 2: Not always the most exciting though, but I get why
Speaker 2: they're important. Yeah. And you know, the type of exercise
Speaker 2: you conduct should really align with the impact level of
Speaker 2: the systems that you're protecting, right right, So for low
Speaker 2: impact systems, a tabletop exercise might be enough, but for
Speaker 2: high impact, like mission critical systems, you really need to
Speaker 2: be doing those more comprehensive, full scale deployment exercises.
Speaker 1: Okay. So it's about aligning, like the intensity of your testing, yes,
Speaker 1: with the potential consequences of a failure exactly exactly.
Speaker 2: And here's a pro tip, use those test results, yeah,
Speaker 2: to continuously improve your preparedness. Okay, So every exercise is
Speaker 2: an opportunity to learn and refine your processes.
Speaker 1: So it's that cycle, plan, test A, just repeat. Never
Speaker 1: let those plans.
Speaker 2: Get stale, you ever let them get stale?
Speaker 1: Yeah, Okay, this is good.
Speaker 2: Security is a very dynamic process. You got to remember
Speaker 2: it requires constant visual adaptation and it's not just about
Speaker 2: your internal team.
Speaker 1: Yeah, we touched on this. You also need to consider
Speaker 1: third party vendors and contractors, yes.
Speaker 2: Your extended network, all of that. They need to be
Speaker 2: part of the.
Speaker 1: Equation as well, right, because a weak link in your
Speaker 1: supply chain totally can really undermine your whole security posture.
Speaker 2: It can bring down the whole house of cards.
Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, so you need to ensure that any third
Speaker 1: party you work with meets your security standards absolutely, and
Speaker 1: that's where those service level agreements, the slas, Yes, those
Speaker 1: are key, becomes so critical.
Speaker 2: They are critical. Yeah, So the slas are basically your
Speaker 2: way of defining those expectations and holding vendors accountable. Okay,
Speaker 2: so don't just blindly sign on the dotted line. Make
Speaker 2: sure that that contract clearly spells out the services that
Speaker 2: are being provided, the performance metrics, and importantly the penalties
Speaker 2: for non compliance.
Speaker 1: So no surprises down the line. But with contracts, I
Speaker 1: always feel like the devil is in the details.
Speaker 2: Oh for sure, what.
Speaker 1: Specific things should we be paying really close attention to?
Speaker 2: I would say, always pay close attention to the resolution
Speaker 2: processes that are outlined in the contract. So, like what
Speaker 2: happens if there's a dispute. What are the escalation procedures?
Speaker 2: You need a clear path to resolution in case things
Speaker 2: go wrong.
Speaker 1: And we need to make sure those service levels actually.
Speaker 2: Meet our needs absolutely.
Speaker 1: Especially when dealing with mission critical systems.
Speaker 2: Right, because a delayed response from a vendor in a
Speaker 2: crisis that could have disastrous consequences.
Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2: So it really all comes back to due diligence. Okay,
Speaker 2: you know, don't just take their word for it. Really
Speaker 2: scrutinize those contracts, make sure they're actually aligning with your
Speaker 2: security requirements.
Speaker 1: Okay, I think we've covered a lot of ground on compliance,
Speaker 1: I think so, yeah, is it time to finally tackle
Speaker 1: risk management?
Speaker 2: I think it is. Yeah. All right, So when we're
Speaker 2: talking about risk management, it's really crucial to first understand
Speaker 2: your organization's risk appetite.
Speaker 1: Risk appetite, so like, how much risk are we comfortable accepting?
Speaker 2: Exactly how much risk are we willing to accept? Yeah,
Speaker 2: in pursuit of you know, achieving our business objectives.
Speaker 1: Right, So it's like we don't want to be too reckless,
Speaker 1: but we also don't want to be so cautious exactly
Speaker 1: that we like stifle innovation.
Speaker 2: You don't want to stifle innovation. You don't want to
Speaker 2: be so scared to do anything that you just like
Speaker 2: stay stagnant exactly. So it's about striking that balance.
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's that's a tightrope walk, for sure, it is.
Speaker 2: It is a tightrope walk.
Speaker 1: And that's where a formal risk management program comes in.
Speaker 2: Right, Yes, so a well defined program. Okay, it gives
Speaker 2: you that structured approach to identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks.
Speaker 1: So break it down. How do we actually do that?
Speaker 2: Okay, So it's a multi step process.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: The first thing you have to do is identify the
Speaker 2: assets that you're trying to protect. So think you know, data, systems,
Speaker 2: intellectual property, yeah, even your people.
Speaker 1: Okay, so these are like the crown jewels that we
Speaker 1: need to protect.
Speaker 2: Exactly, the things that you absolutely cannot afford to lose. Next,
Speaker 2: you need to identify the potential threats to those assets.
Speaker 1: So like natural disasters, natural disasters, yep, cyber attacks.
Speaker 2: Cyber attack is a big one these days, huge human error,
Speaker 2: even things like disgruntled employees.
Speaker 1: Right, so think broadly.
Speaker 2: Broadly, consider all angles. Okay, Right, so you've got your assets,
Speaker 2: you've got your threats, right, now you need to assess
Speaker 2: the vulnerabilities okay that could allow those threats to exploit
Speaker 2: your assets.
Speaker 1: So these are like the weaknesses in our defenses.
Speaker 2: Exactly, the weaknesses in your defenses.
Speaker 1: Okay, give me some examples.
Speaker 2: So things like you know, weak passwords, patch software, yeah,
Speaker 2: lack of physical security yeah.
Speaker 1: Okay. So these are the cracks and the fortress walls
Speaker 1: that we need to seal up.
Speaker 2: Exactly the cracks we need to seal up. Okay. So
Speaker 2: once you've identified those vulnerabilities, you need to evaluate two things,
Speaker 2: the likelihood of each threat actually happening, and then the
Speaker 2: potential impact if it does.
Speaker 1: So that's where we assign that risk rating each one exactly. Okay,
Speaker 1: But how do we do that in a systematic way?
Speaker 2: Right? So that's where the risk matrix comes in. So
Speaker 2: this is a visual tool. Usually it's like a grid,
Speaker 2: and it helps you assess both the likelihood and impact
Speaker 2: of each risk, and then helps you categorize them based
Speaker 2: on their severity. So you can visually see like which
Speaker 2: risks are low level annoyances and which ones are potential
Speaker 2: company killers, right exactly. So by plotting your risks on
Speaker 2: the matrix, you can get a really clear picture of
Speaker 2: which ones pose the biggest threat and require your immediate attention.
Speaker 1: So those are the ones that we prioritize when it
Speaker 1: comes to mitigation.
Speaker 2: Strategy use exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1: Okay, So what does risk mitigation actually look like?
Speaker 2: Okay, So risk mitigation it's all about reducing the likelihood
Speaker 2: and parador impact of those high priority risks. Okay.
Speaker 1: So we're talking about like implementing safeguards controls to protect
Speaker 1: those vulnerable assets exactly. So things like you know, strong passwords,
Speaker 1: John passwords, Yeah, multi factor authentication, encryption, regular security awareness
Speaker 1: training for employees, you nailed it. Okay.
Speaker 2: So it's all about layering those defenses to create that
Speaker 2: really robust security posture.
Speaker 1: I like this, This is like building a medieval castle.
Speaker 2: It's great analogy.
Speaker 1: Multiple layers of protection make it that much harder to.
Speaker 2: Breath exactly, It's much harder to get through.
Speaker 1: But even the best built castle needs constant upkeeper, it does.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: So how do we make sure our risk management efforts
Speaker 1: stay relevant in this ever changing threat landscape?
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's where the ongoing part of risk management comes in.
Speaker 2: You need to regularly reassess your risks, you know, taking
Speaker 2: into account new technologies, emerging threats, changes within your own organization.
Speaker 1: So it's not set it and forget it.
Speaker 2: No, it's definitely not a set it and forget it.
Speaker 2: You've got to be constantly evaluating and evolving.
Speaker 1: Your approach because new threats emerge all the time, all
Speaker 1: the time, and old threats can resurface in new and
Speaker 1: creative ways.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, the bad guys are always coming up with new stuff.
Speaker 1: So it brings us back to the importance of that
Speaker 1: security awareness training for employees.
Speaker 2: Yeah, because even with the best technology in place, human
Speaker 2: error can still be a major vulnerability.
Speaker 1: I mean, people click on phishing links, they do, they
Speaker 1: fall for social engineering scams.
Speaker 2: Happens all the time.
Speaker 1: They inadvertently expose sensitive data, and those mistakes can have huge.
Speaker 2: Consequences, huge consequences. Yeaheah. That's why you know, regular engaging
Speaker 2: relevant security awareness training is so important.
Speaker 1: It's about making security everyone's responsibility, not just the IT
Speaker 1: departments burden exactly. Yeah, but how do we make sure
Speaker 1: the training actually sticks.
Speaker 2: That's a great question, and it's one that we're actually
Speaker 2: going to dive into in Part three.
Speaker 1: Okay, all right, good, but.
Speaker 2: Maybe for now, let's take a little pause.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think this is a good place to stop
Speaker 1: for now.
Speaker 2: Yeah, give our listeners a chance to absorb all of
Speaker 2: this information.
Speaker 1: Yeah, this is dense.
Speaker 2: Stuff is dense. There's a lot to unpack here.
Speaker 1: But it's really fascinating how all these pieces fit together
Speaker 1: to create like a holistic security strategy.
Speaker 2: It really is.
Speaker 1: I'm starting to feel like I could actually pass the
Speaker 1: security audit.
Speaker 2: Now. Oh, don't get ahead of yourself. There's still more
Speaker 2: to come. Okay, okay, but you're definitely on the right track.
Speaker 1: Okay, So to our listener, if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed,
Speaker 1: take a deep breath.
Speaker 2: Yeah, take a break.
Speaker 1: We'll be back soon with the final part of our
Speaker 1: deep dive, where we'll tackle contingency planning and incident.
Speaker 2: Response if scenarios, right.
Speaker 1: Yes, those what if scenarios.
Speaker 2: That nobody wants to think about, but we have to
Speaker 2: be prepared for But we have to be prepared for
Speaker 2: it exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1: Okay, So we're back for the final act of our
Speaker 1: security management deep dive, which covered a lot from leadership
Speaker 1: to compliance to risk management. Now it's time to kind
Speaker 1: of face the music, like what happens when despite our
Speaker 1: best efforts, things go wrong.
Speaker 2: That's where contingency planning and incident response come in. Okay,
Speaker 2: So it's all about preparing for those what if scenarios,
Speaker 2: the moments when a breach occurs, system goes down, or
Speaker 2: disaster strikes.
Speaker 1: Okay, So let's dive into contingency planning first. Okay, what
Speaker 1: are the essential elements of a truly effective plan?
Speaker 2: All right? So the foundation of any good contingency plan
Speaker 2: is really identifying your critical business functions. So those are
Speaker 2: the processes that are absolutely essential to keeping your operations
Speaker 2: running and the revenue flowing.
Speaker 1: So if those critical functions go offline, the entire business
Speaker 1: grinds to a halt.
Speaker 2: Exactly.
Speaker 1: That's what we need to protect.
Speaker 2: Yeah, those are the things you have to protect at
Speaker 2: all costs, at all costs. So once you've pinpointed those
Speaker 2: critical functions, you need to figure out, like, what's the
Speaker 2: acceptable downtime for each one?
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: So this is known as the recovery time objective or
Speaker 2: RTO and RTO Okay, Yeah, So the RTO is basically
Speaker 2: how long you can afford to have that particular function
Speaker 2: offline before it really starts to hurt the business. Okay,
Speaker 2: and it's going to vary depending on how critical that
Speaker 2: function is. Some things need to be back online within
Speaker 2: minutes to avoid major disruptions. Others might have a little
Speaker 2: bit more of a flexible timeframe.
Speaker 1: Okay, so we've identified what needs to be protected and
Speaker 1: how quickly it needs to be restored. What comes next
Speaker 1: in building out this plan?
Speaker 2: So now you need to actually develop like detailed procedures
Speaker 2: for recovering each of those critical functions.
Speaker 1: Okay, So this is like, step by step how do
Speaker 1: we get this thing back online?
Speaker 2: Exactly? This includes things like, you know, identifying alternate processing sites,
Speaker 2: establishing like clear communication channels, having a solid process for
Speaker 2: restoring data from backups.
Speaker 1: Okay, so it's like having a playbook for getting the
Speaker 1: business back on its feet exactly. Yeah after a disaster.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's your roadmap for recovery.
Speaker 1: Okay, and don't forget about the human element.
Speaker 2: Well, the human element's huge, it is, right, So your
Speaker 2: plan needs to address things like employee safety okay, communication
Speaker 2: protocols during an actual crisis, and then of course you
Speaker 2: need to be doing ongoing training to be cure that
Speaker 2: everybody knows their roles.
Speaker 1: Yeah, because in a crisis, clear communication and a well
Speaker 1: trained team can make all the difference.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, it can be the difference between a minor hiccup,
Speaker 2: yeah and a complete catastrophe.
Speaker 1: Okay, but how do we know if the plan actually works.
Speaker 2: That's where testing comes in.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: You've got to put your plan through its paces.
Speaker 1: Regularly, So like simulations, fire drills, tabletop exercises, whatever it takes,
Speaker 1: whatever it takes to make.
Speaker 2: Sure everyone knows what to do exactly when the pressure's on.
Speaker 1: Yeah, because testing it helps you identify gaps in the plan.
Speaker 1: You can refine your procedures, you can build confidence within
Speaker 1: your team.
Speaker 2: Right because it's a lot less stressful to work out
Speaker 2: those kinks. Oh yes, in a simulation than in a
Speaker 2: real crisis.
Speaker 1: Way less stressful.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Okay. So let's say the unthinkable happens. Ok and
Speaker 2: despite our best efforts, a security incident does occur. What
Speaker 2: are those immediate steps we need to take?
Speaker 1: Okay? So that's when your incident response plan kicks in.
Speaker 2: Okay.
Speaker 1: So this plan should outline like a really clear set
Speaker 1: of actions to take in the event of a security
Speaker 1: breach okay, or any other type of incident.
Speaker 2: So it's like a crisis management playbook.
Speaker 1: Yes, specifically for security incidents.
Speaker 2: Okay.
Speaker 1: So the first priority is containment. Okay, you got to
Speaker 1: stop the bleeding.
Speaker 2: So so isolate the affected systems. Yeah, shut down those
Speaker 2: compromised network connections, prevent the incident from spreading further.
Speaker 1: Damage control.
Speaker 2: Damage control is key, yes.
Speaker 1: Okay, but then what okay, So.
Speaker 2: Then you move into the investination phase. Okay, so you
Speaker 2: need to start gathering evidence, okay, to figure out the
Speaker 2: scope and the nature of the incident. Okay. This is
Speaker 2: where those digital forensic skills that we talked about earlier
Speaker 2: becomes super important.
Speaker 1: So we're like digital detectives.
Speaker 2: Carefully document Yeah, documenting the scene of.
Speaker 1: The crime, preserving evidence for analysis.
Speaker 2: Exactly, because proper evidence collection it's crucial for understanding what happened,
Speaker 2: why it happened, who might be.
Speaker 1: Responsible, and for any potential legal action.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. Yeah, you need that solid evidence.
Speaker 1: Right, and we've got to make sure we're following those
Speaker 1: chain of custody procedures.
Speaker 2: Oh yes, super important.
Speaker 1: To keep that evidence untainted, untainted, yes, yeah, Compromised evidence
Speaker 1: is just as bad as having no.
Speaker 2: Evidence, right exactly. So once you've contained the damage, you've
Speaker 2: gathered your evidence, it's time to move into eradication and recovery.
Speaker 1: All right, so this is where we clean up the
Speaker 1: mess and get things back to normal.
Speaker 2: Exactly, get everything back to normal as quickly and as
Speaker 2: securely as possible.
Speaker 1: Okay, So what does that actually look like?
Speaker 2: So this phase involves removing any malware, restoring data from backups,
Speaker 2: rebuilding any compromise systems, basically taking all the steps to
Speaker 2: get your operations back online and functioning securely.
Speaker 1: It sounds like a really complex process. Can be potentially
Speaker 1: time consuming.
Speaker 2: It can be time consuming, it can be very resource intensive,
Speaker 2: which is why having that really detailed incident response plan
Speaker 2: is so important. The more you can anticipate and plan for,
Speaker 2: the smoother the recovery process is going to be.
Speaker 1: Okay, and once we've recovered, the work isn't done.
Speaker 2: Right, No, the work's not done. You've got to learn
Speaker 2: from what happened.
Speaker 1: We need to learn from our mistakes.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, every security incident, no matter how small, is a
Speaker 2: learning opportunity.
Speaker 1: I like that.
Speaker 2: So it's crucial to conduct like a really thorough post
Speaker 2: incident review.
Speaker 1: All right, So we dig deep, dig deep, figure out
Speaker 1: what went wrong, why it went wrong, and who can
Speaker 1: we prevent it from happening again exactly.
Speaker 2: The goal is to continuously improve, strengthen your defenses, make
Speaker 2: it harder for the attackers to succeed in the future.
Speaker 1: Okay, so we've covered contingency planning, incident response, the hope
Speaker 1: for the best, prepare for the worst.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you g gotta be ready for anything.
Speaker 1: Any final words of wisdom before we wrap up this
Speaker 1: epic deep.
Speaker 2: Dive, I would say remember that security is not a destination.
Speaker 2: It's a journey. The threat landscape's constantly evolving it is,
Speaker 2: so you got stay vigilant, hm adaptable, proactive, never let
Speaker 2: your guard down exactly, and don't be afraid to invest
Speaker 2: in the right resources like PE people, technology, training, training.
Speaker 2: You need all of that to build a really robust program.
Speaker 1: In the end, a strong security posture is an investment,
Speaker 1: not an expense.
Speaker 2: Well said. It's about protecting your most valuable assets, right,
Speaker 2: your reputation and your future.
Speaker 1: Well, I have to say, I feel like I've earned
Speaker 1: an honorary CISSP certification after this deep dive.
Speaker 2: You're well on your way. You're a security champion.
Speaker 1: And to our listener, we encourage you to take what
Speaker 1: you've learned here. Yeah, put it into practice.
Speaker 2: Yeah, don't just let this information sit Start.
Speaker 1: Those conversations, assess those risks, build those defenses. Absolutely, never
Speaker 1: stop learning.
Speaker 2: Never stop learning. That's key in this field.
Speaker 1: The world of security is constantly changing, but with the
Speaker 1: right knowledge and a proactive mindset, you can stay ahead
Speaker 1: of the curve.
Speaker 2: You can stay safe out there.
Speaker 1: Until next time. Stay safe and secure.