Building Information Security Core Competencies: A Guide for CISOs and C|CISO Candidates

What does a chief information security officer do, and what are the various CISO roles and responsibilities? As an organization’s most important IT security professional, the CISO is tasked with defending the business from external attackers and cyber threats.

Qualified CISOs must be familiar with many core information security competencies. Below, we’ll look at some essential IT security topics and how CISOs and C|CISO candidates can learn them.

The Fundamentals of Information Security

The IT security field stretches back decades, and organizations have settled on several information security fundamentals and best practices. Just a few of these are:

• Network security: The practice of network security focuses on protecting a company’s network infrastructure from cyber threats such as unauthorized access and data breaches. Solid network security measures include deploying firewalls, IDS/IPS (intrusion detection/prevention systems), secure protocols, and VPNs (virtual private networks). These solutions help safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of information and resources within the organization’s network.
• Encryption: Data encryption is crucial to protect sensitive information in transit and at rest. Effective data encryption relies on converting information into an encoded format using an encryption key; this information can only be decoded and understood with a corresponding decryption key (sometimes the same as the encryption key). Encrypting data ensures that it remains incomprehensible and unusable by anyone except the intended recipient(s), even if it falls into the wrong hands.
• Vulnerability management: It involves proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating the security vulnerabilities in an IT environment. This requires security assessments, vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing to detect potential weaknesses an attacker can exploit. Organizations can then take preventive actions such as installing patches, software updates, and security solutions.
• Incident response: Organizations must have well-defined and effective plans for responding to security incidents when cyber defenses fail. Incident response involves formulating strategies for events and threats like data breaches or ransomware infections. Effective incident response plans define the roles and responsibilities of IT professionals during a security event and outline the steps to follow to restore normal business operations.

To be effective, CISOs must be familiar with these and other information security fundamentals. These skills and best practices collectively form a solid foundation for IT security, enabling organizations to establish robust defenses against malicious actors. Unfortunately, far too few CISOs measure up to this task: a Gartner study revealed that just 12 percent of CISOs are considered “highly effective.”

Risk Assessment in Information Security

Beyond the fundamental topics listed above, the practice of risk assessment in information security is a crucial component of the CISO job description. The good news is that most CISOs take the risk of cyber attacks seriously. According to a 2023 survey by Proofpoint, 68 percent of CISOs believe their organization is at risk of a cyber attack in the next 12 months, and 25 percent rate this event “very likely.”

The process of risk assessment involves steps such as:

• Identifying assets: The first risk assessment stage involves determining the assets and resources within an organization’s IT infrastructure. These may include hardware, software applications, network devices, data, and intellectual property. By determining the IT assets, CISOs can better prioritize their security efforts and protect the most vulnerable or valuable resources.
• Evaluating threats: The next stage of risk assessment in information security requires CISOs to evaluate the likely threats that their organization faces. Hazards to an IT infrastructure can come from external attackers, insider threats, human error, and natural disasters that can significantly disrupt business operations. CISOs must consider each threat’s nature, capabilities, and likelihood and develop appropriate countermeasures and incident response plans.
• Determining vulnerabilities: Risk assessment involves identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities and flaws within an IT environment. Malicious actors can find and exploit these weaknesses to launch an attack or extend their reach within the environment. This process involves conducting vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to detect and address weaknesses before attackers discover them.

Conducting risk assessments at regular intervals is a crucial task for CISOs. The cyber security landscape constantly evolves, with new threats and vulnerabilities emerging.

The Operational Aspects of Information Security

Last but not least, the role of CISO—and the function of information security—requires a significant day-to-day operational aspect. The operational components of strong IT security include:

• Security monitoring: Security monitoring involves continuously observing an organization’s IT environment for suspicious events and potential security incidents. This includes monitoring and collecting logs on network traffic, user behavior, and other relevant data sources to identify unusual or unauthorized actions. Security monitoring is often performed by a security operations center (SOC), using tools such as SIEM (security information and event management) to achieve 24/7 visibility into an IT environment
• Incident detection: The goal of monitoring is prompt and accurate incident detection: finding security incidents and events as they occur. IT security professionals use manual and automated incident detection techniques, such as behavioral analytics and machine learning, to identify anomalous patterns and activities. As a result, security analysts can more effectively distinguish normal user activities and traffic from worrisome indicators of compromise (IoCs).
• Incident response: As discussed above, incident response responds to security events identified through incident detection. Incident response involves a series of coordinated, planned actions to contain the incident, mitigate or prevent its impact, remove the threat to the IT environment, and reestablish normal business operations. Effective CISOs create incident response plans for various security events with their IT security teams, including data breaches, malware infections, and denial of service (DoS) attacks.

The operational aspects of information security demand constant vigilance from CISOs. As security threats become more advanced and damaging, CISOs must ensure that security teams are prepared to handle these threats via methods such as training and education programs, simulated attacks and exercises, and penetration testing.

Continuous Professional Development for CISOs and C|CISO Candidates

The role of CISO demands a great deal of knowledge of and experience with information security. Moreover, with the cybersecurity landscape continuously shifting, CISOs must stay on their toes to be adequately prepared to address the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

This means that continuous professional development is key for CISOs and aspiring CISOs. Programs such as EC-Council’s Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO) certification offer IT professionals the fundamental skills and training to assume the mantle of CISO effectively.

The C|CISO curriculum has been developed by existing CISOs who know what it takes to serve as chief information security officers. C|CISO covers the five essential domains of CISO knowledge:

1. Governance and risk management
2. Information security controls, compliance, and audit management
3. Security program management and operations
4. Information security core competencies
5. Strategic planning, finance, procurement, and vendor management

Source: eccouncil.org

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Study Tips and Skills to Earn CCISO Certification

The CCISO Certification stands out as a top-tier initiative acknowledging the practical expertise essential for success in senior executive roles within information security. It integrates the vital elements crucial for C-Level positions: audit management, governance, IS controls, human capital management, strategic program development, and the financial acumen necessary to lead a highly successful information security program.

The role of the CISO is too crucial to rely on trial and error for learning. The CCISO seeks to close the divide between the executive management knowledge required by CISOs and the technical knowledge of current and aspiring CISOs.

The EC-Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer program is crafted to elevate middle managers to executive leaders and refine the abilities of current InfoSec leaders. CCISO is not a technical program but a leadership course meticulously tailored for seasoned InfoSec professionals.

CCISO Certification Exam Information

Successful outcomes in the CCISO exam may vary between 60% and 85%, contingent on the complexity of the specific exam version given. The 2.5-hour examination comprises 150 scenario-based, multiple-choice questions encompassing the following five domains:

Governance, Risk, Compliance

Information Security Controls and Audit Management

Security Program Management & Operations

Information Security Core Competencies

Strategic Planning, Finance, Procurement, and Third-Party Management

Top Study Tips to Pass the CCISO Certificaton Exam

1. Creating a Study Schedule

Crafting a study schedule is fundamental to effective preparation. Start by prioritizing topics based on their difficulty level. Allocate dedicated time daily to focus on specific domains, ensuring comprehensive coverage.

2. Utilizing Official Resources

EC-Council provides official study materials that are indispensable for exam preparation. Dive into these resources to gain insights into the exam structure and content. Additionally, explore other reputable cybersecurity references to bolster your understanding.

3. Engaging in Practical Labs

There needs to be more than theory for success in the CCISO exam. Engage in practical labs to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. Hands-on experience enhances your problem-solving skills, a critical aspect of the certification.

4. Joining Study Groups

Collaborative learning is a powerful tool. Joining study groups allows you to share knowledge and insights with peers. Discussing complex topics with others can provide fresh perspectives and deepen your understanding.

5. Taking Practice Exams

Simulating exam conditions through practice tests is invaluable. Identify official and reliable CCISO practice exams to gauge your preparedness. Analyze your performance to identify weak areas and refine your study focus accordingly.

6. Staying Updated with Industry Trends

The field of cybersecurity is dynamic, with constant advancements and changes. Stay abreast of industry trends and updates. Adjust your study materials to align with the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

7. Overcoming Common Challenges

Preparing for the CCISO certification exam comes with its set of challenges. Time constraints and stress management are common hurdles that candidates face. Develop strategies to tackle these challenges, ensuring a balanced and effective preparation phase.

Understanding the Responsibilities of a Chief Information Security Officer

The main objectives of CISOs involve supervising cybersecurity systems, procedures, and policies. Most, if not all, business and cybersecurity choices interconnect and influence each other. CISOs must assess these decisions, gauging their potential impact and evaluating associated risks.

CISOs usually manage a group of IT and cybersecurity experts. They work together and provide updates to other managers and top-level executives, such as CIOs, CTOs, and CEOs.

The significance of a CISO's career rises with the surge in cybercrime. Nevertheless, the rapid evolution of cybercrime presents numerous hurdles for cybersecurity professionals. They must adapt to emerging technologies, shifting targets, escalating sophistication, and the progressively decentralized nature of organizational structures.

Here, we outline specific skills that CISOs can develop to enhance their prospects of success in this intricate position.

Essential Soft Skills Every CISO Should Possess

Communication: CISOs must communicate with their teams and fellow managers for project completion. Additionally, they are required to articulate and convey cybersecurity issues in a clear and meaningful manner.

Leadership: CISOs frequently lead teams of IT professionals, necessitating the ability to adjust their leadership approach according to each individual. Additionally, they must possess the skills to supervise projects, budgets, and the implementation of policies.

Decision-making: CISOs must possess the capacity to comprehend intricate and sometimes contradictory information to make well-founded business decisions. Their decision-making process should encompass a range of factors and reflect the interests of stakeholders, staff, and consumers.

Problem-solving: CISOs face numerous cybersecurity challenges that require careful and thoughtful consideration. They must analyze these issues and devise practical solutions to prevent them from escalating.

Critical Hard Skills Every CISO Should Possess

Business operations: CISOs must comprehend the functioning of businesses and the way operations influence cybersecurity. Additionally, they should know how cybersecurity choices affect operations and understand stakeholders' priorities for business concerns.

Cybersecurity systems: CISOs require expertise in cybersecurity systems to engage in discussions with managers and stakeholders. They should be familiar with the capabilities of their systems, understand the trajectory of technology, and grasp the potential impact of system changes.

Security standards: CISOs should be acquainted with security best practices and standards to assess the alignment of their systems and processes. Familiarity with cybersecurity laws and regulations may also be necessary.

Risk Analysis: CISOs are required to assess business decisions for potential risks. They must evaluate and provide insights on how new business initiatives and systems align with the existing cybersecurity infrastructure.

Conclusion

Success in the EC-Council CCISO certification exam is achievable with a tailored and strategic study approach and acquiring the needed soft and hard skills. Candidates can significantly increase their chances of passing by creating a study schedule, utilizing official resources, engaging in practical labs, joining study groups, taking practice exams, and staying updated with industry trends.

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Essential CISO Learnings

With cyberattacks on the rise, it’s no surprise that many enterprises are searching for a CISO to mitigate their security risk and bolster their defenses. Between 2021 and 2025, the percentage of Fortune 500 company board members with cybersecurity experience is predicted to rise from 17 percent to 35 percent (Lake, S. 2022). A chief information security officer (CISO) is a senior executive in an organization who is in charge of the organization’s information security. These individuals are hired by security-conscious businesses that want to protect their valuable information assets.

The CISO must leverage both non-technical and in-depth technical skills to protect the organization’s IT systems. Much goes into the CISO learning process, and effective CISOs must draw on their knowledge and experience to keep data and assets safe. This article will discuss everything you must know about the CISO position: roles, responsibilities, skillset, and the qualifications and certifications needed to be a CISO.

CISO Learning: Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of a CISO will vary significantly between organizations. For example, a large enterprise with countless legacy on-premises systems and massive amounts of confidential data will have very different security concerns from a tiny startup using software as a service (SaaS) and cloud computing.

However, several typical functions tend to emerge when comparing the CISO job across businesses. Below are the most common roles and responsibilities you should be aware of during the CISO learning process:

1. Developing and implementing an IT security program: CISOs must establish policies, procedures, and standards to improve the security of the organization’s IT systems, networks, resources, and data.

2. Ensuring regulatory compliance: CISOs must verify that the organization is compliant with the relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, including any updates to these laws and regulations.

3. Protecting data and assets: CISOs must prevent malicious actors from gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data and IT assets, which would result in a cyberattack or data breach. To do so, CISOs implement security controls such as firewalls and data encryption to make it harder for attackers to steal information undetected.

4. Drafting incident response plans: After a security breach or other incident, the CISO is responsible for leading and coordinating the organization’s response, ensuring appropriate measures are taken to minimize and rebound from the event.

5. Managing IT security professionals: The CISO oversees other information security professionals in the organization. They set overarching goals and objectives for the IT security team and may be involved in hiring and training new team members.

6. Communicating with key stakeholders: The CISO acts as a spokesperson for information security concerns to senior leadership, such as other executives and the board of directors.

CISO Learning: The 5 Domains of a CISO

The field of information security is vast, so there’s a lot on your plate during the CISO learning process. For this reason, CISOs often obtain a cybersecurity management certification to prove their knowledge. To be effective in their jobs, CISOs should be familiar with the following five domains:

1. Governance, Risk, and Compliance

CISOs may be responsible for:

◉ Defining and implementing an IT governance program

◉ Establishing a framework for monitoring the governance program’s effectiveness

◉ Defining and implementing a risk management policy framework

◉ Assessing the organization’s risk profile

◉ Knowing compliance issues, laws, and regulations

2. Information Security Controls and Audit Management

CISOs may be responsible for:

◉ Implementing IT system controls that align with business processes and objectives

◉ Conducting regular testing and monitoring to evaluate these controls

◉ Understanding IT audit standards and successfully executing the audit process

3.  Security Program Management and Operations

CISOs may be responsible for:

◉ Developing the scope, schedule, budget, and resources for IT system projects

◉ Hiring, training, and managing IT security personnel and teams

◉ Establishing communications between IT teams and other personnel

◉ Resolving personnel and teamwork issues

◉ Negotiating and managing vendor agreements

◉ Measuring the effectiveness of IT systems projects

◉ Communicating project performance to key stakeholders

4. Information Security Core Competencies

CISOs may be responsible for:

◉ Implementing access control procedures to govern information access

◉ Understanding social engineering concepts and protecting against them

◉ Designing plans for defending against and responding to phishing attacks

◉ Creating standards and procedures for protecting physical IT assets

◉ Making plans for disaster recovery and business continuity to maintain operations

◉ Selecting and implementing firewalls, IDS/IPs, and network defense systems

◉ Identifying common vulnerabilities and attacks associated with wireless networks

◉ Protecting against viruses, Trojans, malware, and other malicious code threats

◉ Ensuring the use of secure coding best practices and securing web applications

◉ Hardening operating systems against common vulnerabilities and attacks

◉ Developing a strategy for encrypting data and assets

◉ Crafting a regimen of regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing

◉ Responding to security incidents and determining their cause with digital forensics

5. Strategic Planning, Finance, Procurement, and Third-party Management

CISOs may be responsible for:

◉ Defining a strategic plan for the enterprise’s IT security architecture

◉ Analyzing and forecasting the IT security budget

◉ Monitoring the costs and ROIs of IT security purchases

◉ Collaborating with stakeholders on procuring new IT security products and services

◉ Designing the process of selecting and assessing third-party partners

CISO Learning: CISO Key Skills

To fulfill the roles and responsibilities across the five domains listed above, you must draw on several technical and non-technical skills during the CISO learning process.

CISO Technical Skills

The technical skills of a CISO may include:

◉ Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and the ISO 27001 standard

◉ Knowledge of best practices surrounding network security, cloud security, data encryption, identity and access management tools, and security protocols

◉ Experience in security testing methodologies, such as penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.

The CISO learning process should impart a broad range of technical skills to move smoothly between tasks—everything from business analysis and budget management to security architecture and digital forensics. Before being a CISO, individuals often served in a technical capacity for many years. CISOs may have served in technical roles such as security engineers, security analysts, network engineers, and software developers.

CISO Non-Technical Skills

As a leadership role in the C-suite, the CISO must also have many non-technical skills. The CISO learning process should develop a candidate’s communication abilities since much of the work of a CISO involves making presentations to other executives and key stakeholders. CISOs should also be skilled at administration and conflict management, acting as leaders and mediators across the organization.

Source: eccouncil.org

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How Well Aligned Information Security Programs Help Business Grow

Information security is a top priority for businesses, but ensuring that information security aligns with business objectives can be a challenge. Many factors need to be considered when designing an information security strategy, such as the type of data being protected and the risks associated with its loss or unauthorized access. In order to ensure that information security aligns with business objectives, businesses need to take a holistic approach that considers all aspects of the organization. Here we’ll explore how information security can be aligned with business objectives and discuss some key considerations for doing so.

Why Information Security and Business Objectives Should Be in Sync

You don’t need to be a chief security officer to know that information security is crucial for businesses. But what many don’t realize is that aligning information security goals with business objectives can be hugely beneficial for an organization.

Read More: 712-50: EC-Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO)

When it comes to protecting your data and systems, you need to have a plan in place that covers all the potential threats. These include everything from malicious attacks to accidental data breaches. But if your information security strategy isn’t aligned with your business objectives, you could be missing out on opportunities to improve your overall security posture.

Here are a few reasons why information security and business objectives should be in sync:

1. Improves Security Posture

If you want to reduce the risk of a data breach or other security incident, you must take a holistic approach to information security. This means looking at all the potential threats and vulnerabilities and then implementing controls that mitigate those risks.

However, if your information security strategy isn’t aligned with your business objectives, you could be missing out on opportunities to improve your overall security posture. For example, you might implement a security control that doesn’t address a key vulnerability or fail to deploy a critical security update because it doesn’t fit with the organization’s business goals (Scalzo, C., 2018).

2. Plays a Key Role in Strategic Planning 

Information security is a critical part of any business, and you should include it in your overall strategic planning. However, many organizations fail to take information security into account when they’re developing their business plans. This can lead to problems down the road, such as a lack of response plans in the event of a data breach or other security incident.

Aligning your information security strategy with your business objectives can help you avoid these problems and ensure that information security is given the attention it deserves. Including information security in your strategic planning will allow you to develop effective response plans and make sure that all stakeholders are aware of their roles and responsibilities in the event of a security incident (BizzSecure, 2020).

3. Establishes a Security-Focused Company Culture

Organizations are made up of different departments, each with its own objectives and goals. However, if there’s a disconnect between the information security team and the rest of the organization, it can lead to problems. For example, the marketing department might launch a new campaign without involving the security team, which could result in sensitive data being exposed.

Aligning your information security strategy with your business objectives can help you ensure that all departments are working together towards a common goal. In addition, establishing a security-focused company culture can help everyone in the organization understand the importance of information security and their role in protecting the company’s data.

4. Helps Mitigate Risks at Touch Points

One of the most important aspects of information security management is protecting your data from unauthorized access. There are many ways that attackers can gain access to your data, and having controls in place can mitigate these risks. For example, you might implement a password policy or use two-factor authentication to make it more difficult for attackers to gain access to your systems.

Aligning your information security strategy with your business objectives can help you ensure that you’re taking all the necessary steps to protect your data. This includes identifying all the potential risks and implementing controls that will mitigate those risks.

In addition, you can avoid these problems and improve your overall security posture. Implementing an effective information security strategy can help you protect your data, attract and retain customers, and improve your bottom line. 

Source: eccouncil.org

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How Can Security Align with Business Objectives?

Information security is a top priority for businesses, but ensuring that information security aligns with business objectives can be a challenge. Many factors need to be considered when designing an information security strategy, such as the type of data being protected and the risks associated with its loss or unauthorized access. In order to ensure that information security aligns with business objectives, businesses need to take a holistic approach that considers all aspects of the organization. Here we’ll explore how information security can be aligned with business objectives and discuss some key considerations for doing so.

Why Information Security and Business Objectives Should Be in Sync

You don’t need to be a chief security officer to know that information security is crucial for businesses. But what many don’t realize is that aligning information security goals with business objectives can be hugely beneficial for an organization.

When it comes to protecting your data and systems, you need to have a plan in place that covers all the potential threats. These include everything from malicious attacks to accidental data breaches. But if your information security strategy isn’t aligned with your business objectives, you could be missing out on opportunities to improve your overall security posture.

Here are a few reasons why information security and business objectives should be in sync:

1. Improves Security Posture

If you want to reduce the risk of a data breach or other security incident, you must take a holistic approach to information security. This means looking at all the potential threats and vulnerabilities and then implementing controls that mitigate those risks.

However, if your information security strategy isn’t aligned with your business objectives, you could be missing out on opportunities to improve your overall security posture. For example, you might implement a security control that doesn’t address a key vulnerability or fail to deploy a critical security update because it doesn’t fit with the organization’s business goals (Scalzo, C., 2018).

2. Plays a Key Role in Strategic Planning 

Information security is a critical part of any business, and you should include it in your overall strategic planning. However, many organizations fail to take information security into account when they’re developing their business plans. This can lead to problems down the road, such as a lack of response plans in the event of a data breach or other security incident.

Aligning your information security strategy with your business objectives can help you avoid these problems and ensure that information security is given the attention it deserves. Including information security in your strategic planning will allow you to develop effective response plans and make sure that all stakeholders are aware of their roles and responsibilities in the event of a security incident (BizzSecure, 2020).

3. Establishes a Security-Focused Company Culture

Organizations are made up of different departments, each with its own objectives and goals. However, if there’s a disconnect between the information security team and the rest of the organization, it can lead to problems. For example, the marketing department might launch a new campaign without involving the security team, which could result in sensitive data being exposed.

Aligning your information security strategy with your business objectives can help you ensure that all departments are working together towards a common goal. In addition, establishing a security-focused company culture can help everyone in the organization understand the importance of information security and their role in protecting the company’s data.

4. Helps Mitigate Risks at Touch Points

One of the most important aspects of information security management is protecting your data from unauthorized access. There are many ways that attackers can gain access to your data, and having controls in place can mitigate these risks. For example, you might implement a password policy or use two-factor authentication to make it more difficult for attackers to gain access to your systems.

Aligning your information security strategy with your business objectives can help you ensure that you’re taking all the necessary steps to protect your data. This includes identifying all the potential risks and implementing controls that will mitigate those risks.

In addition, you can avoid these problems and improve your overall security posture. Implementing an effective information security strategy can help you protect your data, attract and retain customers, and improve your bottom line.

How the Certified CISO Program Helps

EC-Council’s Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO) program was developed in collaboration with top industry chief information security officers. The program focuses on the key domains of information security management and information security and business objectives.

The C|CISO program gives cybersecurity leaders the knowledge and skills they need to effectively lead their organizations in today’s ever-changing digital landscape.

EC-Council’s Certified CISO program is the only certification that covers all five domains of information security management:

◉ Governance

◉ Risk Management

◉ Asset Security

◉ Security Architecture and Design

◉ Security Operations

Businesses today are under more pressure than ever to protect themselves from a growing number of cyberthreats. Balancing the need for security with the demands of customers and partners can be a tough tightrope to walk, but it is possible to find alignment between these two competing interests.

By understanding your business objectives and using them as a guide, you can develop an information security strategy that meets your needs without sacrificing the agility or customer experience that your business depends on.

Source: eccouncil.org

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What Is Cybersecurity Management, and Why Is it Important?

Cyberattacks increased by 50% in 2021, reaching an all-time peak in Q4 as companies experienced an average of 900 attacks per week (Check Point, 2022). Businesses are under relentless assault and can only keep their data safe by investing in a sophisticated cybersecurity management strategy.

Most organizations take cybersecurity management seriously, with businesses spending an average of 10.9% of their IT budget on strengthening their digital defenses (Deloitte, 2020). Many companies appoint a dedicated board member—the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)—to oversee their cybersecurity management strategy.

What Is Cybersecurity Management?

Modern organizations often have complicated IT infrastructures. The typical tech stack includes a mix of on-premises and cloud services, so staff members might log in from the office or home. This complexity can create new attack vectors for cybercriminals and raises new data security risks for organizations.

Cybersecurity management is about creating and implementing a unified data security strategy so that data remains safe no matter how the company’s infrastructure evolves.

The CISO or other senior infosec executive will develop a cybersecurity management strategy that covers everything, including:

◉ Technology: Overseeing the primary security architecture, including hardware and software, as well as assessing any new services for potential vulnerabilities

◉ Infrastructure: Guiding decisions on changes to the IT infrastructure, which involves a balance between flexibility and stability

◉ Personnel: Educating users about security best practices. People are often the weakest link in an organization, but with knowledgeable support, employees can do their part to prevent cybercrime

◉ Incident response: Identifying and resolving issues as quickly as possible, assessing the extent of the breach, and mitigating damage

◉ Business strategy: Working with other senior leaders to deliver a long-term strategy as the company grows while avoiding any increase in cyber risk

Cybersecurity management is about more than just making sure the firewalls are functional; it’s about nurturing a safety-first organizational culture that puts security at the heart of everything you do.

What Is the Importance of Cybersecurity Management?

Cybersecurity is now the number one global business risk. When asked to name their biggest concerns, 44% of business leaders said cybersecurity incidents—more than those who said pandemic (22%) or a recession (11%) (Allianz, 2022).

Why are businesses so concerned about cybersecurity management? For several reasons, including:

◉ Excessive cost of incident response: The average data breach cost in 2022 was $4.35 million. This is an all-time high, up 12.7% since 2020 (IBM Security, 2022).

◉ Slow response to cybersecurity incidents: Businesses sometimes don’t realize they have experienced an attack until months later. On average, it took 277 days to identify and resolve a breach in 2022 (IBM Security, 2022).

◉ Risk of extortion or espionage: Organized criminal gangs target large organizations so they can steal valuable data or demand a ransom. Recent high-profile attacks have shut down the United States’ largest fuel pipeline (Turton, 2021) and Ireland’s national health service. (Harford, 2021).

◉ Reputational damage: People trust businesses with sensitive personal data. If cybercriminals steal that data, it destroys that sense of trust. One study of an e-commerce brand affected by a data breach found that one-third of consumers affected would not shop there again (Strzelecki and Rizun, 2022).

◉ Business stability: Cybersecurity management is a life-or-death matter for most businesses. In 2022, the medical startup myNurse shut down its service after hackers accessed confidential patient records (Whittaker, 2022). myNurse is just one example of the thousands of businesses that collapse directly because of cybercrime.

When cybersecurity management fails, the entire business can fail. Therefore, companies need to hire a talented CISO to avoid the catastrophic aftermath of a cyberattack.

What Is the CISO's Role in Cybersecurity Management?

The CISO is responsible for keeping their company one step ahead of malicious hackers.

This means overseeing operations, assessing risk factors, and implementing policy changes on a day-to-day basis. You’ll work with people from every business function to learn about the data needs in each department and ensure that the cybersecurity management strategy is right for your organization.

A CISO’s typical workload includes:

1. Governance, risk, and compliance

A CISO is responsible for all aspects of data governance, which includes the cybersecurity management team structure. They also oversee the frameworks for assessing cybersecurity risk management and ensure that everything is compliant with applicable laws.

2. Information security controls and audit management

Each organization needs an internal controls framework to help implement data security management. The CISO oversees the technology and best practices that make up such controls. They will also implement an audit program to help identify potential breaches.

3. Security program management and operations

The CISO defines the culture of the entire cybersecurity management team. They are responsible for laying out a mission statement, communicating policy, and ensuring a suitable team structure to deliver the strategy.

4. Dealing with cybersecurity issues

CISOs need excellent technical knowledge to get involved in major cybersecurity issues. This may involve overseeing the response to a data breach or patching a known vulnerability.

5. Strategic planning and finance

Finally, a CISO must deal with organizational issues similar to other executive leaders. This means balancing the departmental budget and working with other leaders to develop a business strategy.

How CISO Training Can Help You Become a Chief Information Security Officer

As a CISO, you’ll have a chance to make a real difference to your company’s cybersecurity management strategy, and you can also expect a healthy rewards package. The average CISO in the United States earns $232,090 as of July 26, 2022 (Salary.com, 2022).

You’ll need an extensive track record in cybersecurity management to secure a position as CISO or another senior infosec executive role. This means having expert-level cybersecurity knowledge, including threat analysis and security architecture. You will also need management skills, including communication, delegation, and creating high-level strategies.

If you’re ready to move into senior leadership, you can level up your career with the Certified Chief Information Security Officer Program (C|CISO) program from EC-Council. This certification builds on your existing knowledge of cybersecurity management and teaches you what you’ll need to know to succeed in executive leadership.

Seasoned CISOs developed the C|CISO program to help you deliver the right cybersecurity management strategy for your company.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Navigate the Challenging CISO Career Path With CCISO Certification

The EC-Council CCISO certification is the first of its kind certification program geared towards producing top-level information security executives. The CCISO does not concentrate on technical knowledge but on applying information security management standards from an executive management perspective. The program was developed by sitting CISOs for present and aspiring CISOs.

The CCISO plans to fill the gap between the executive management knowledge that CISOs require and the technical expertise many sitting and aspiring CISOs own. This can be an acute gap as practitioners step up from mid-management to higher executive management positions. Much of this is commonly learned as on-the-job training. Still, the CCISO certification can be the key to a successful shift to the highest levels of information security management.

Top 3 Inviting Reasons to Earn EC-Council CCISO Certification

1. CCISO Certification Is Created By CISOs

The CCISO Advisory Board includes CISOs from government and private sectors ranging from various industries and areas of expertise. They delivered their vast knowledge to create this certification to deal with the deficit of leadership training in information security.

2. CCISO Certification Is Not Slanted Towards The Technical Aspects Of The CISO Job Role

The syllabus of the CCISO certification exam is from the standpoint of executive management. It requires high-level knowledge of technical topics. It doesn’t spend much time on precisely technical information but on utilizing technical knowledge in an information security executive’s everyday work.

3. CCISO Includes Tactical and Financial Management

To become reliable leaders in their organizations, IS professionals need to have better business intelligence than has ever been demanded. The CCISO certification explores further how security should be infused into the procurement procedure and how a CISO should manage budgets and assets – crucial skills and knowledge many in the profession lack.

Career Outlook

The career outlook for chief information security officers is quite optimistic. This is because more and more valuable assets are available on computer networks, which provokes black hat hackers to grow, each in hopes of taking advantage of or exploiting a situation. Thus, you and your fellow certified chief information security officer professionals must increase to overcome them and protect networks and databases.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) may not trail CISOs particularly, but the agency does indicate that information security analysts with a bachelor’s degree receive an average salary of $99,000. At the same time, computer and information systems managers receive an average salary of $146,000, with an average bachelor’s degree education. In the C-suites, chief executives make an average salary of $193,000, and those specializing in computer systems earn an average salary of $232,000.

Given that the field for information security analysts is scheduled to increase by 31% through 2029, it’s apparent that the need for CISOs will correspondingly evolve. The actual number of jobs in the CISO employment field is sure to be distinctly lower, but the growth rate should track with that of infosec analysts.

CCISO Exam Information

• Total No. of Questions: 150
• Exam Duration: 150 minutes (2.5 Hours)
• No. of questions: 150
• Question Type: Scenario-based multiple choice
• Passing score: 72% resting on the exam form
• Recertification required: every three years
• Language: English

To be eligible for the CCISO exam and receive the certification, applicants must satisfy the fundamental CCISO requirements. Applicants who do not yet fulfill the CCISO requirements but are involved in information security management can earn the EC-Council Information Security Management (EISM) certification. EISMs can apply for the CCISO Exam once they hold the required years of experience.

Tips for EC-Council CCISO Exam Preparation

The first and foremost step in CCISO exam preparation is to visit the official webpage of this exam.

Read over the exam objectives, requirements, policies, and other important information available on the official website. This will help you start the preparation process and let you know what to emphasize when studying.

Many study materials are available for you. If you don’t know where to start, start with the EC-Council platform. EC-Council suggests various preparation methods to create a practical study plan and carry out preparation for the certification exam. They incorporate video courses, self-paced training, instructor-led training, and CCISO practice tests. Let’s look at how you can prepare for and pass your CCISO exam on the first try.

1. Register for a Course

There are no secret formulas and no shortcuts to success. You need to take up a training course. By taking a training course, you will learn from specialists. Another crucial benefit of enrolling in a training course is getting practical experience and understanding from professional instructors.

2. Obtain the Study Guide

You must obtain a study guide for the EC-Council CCISO exam. This study guide covers everything you need to know to get through your CCISO exam. Learn from this guide and study it completely. Write notes as you read so you can use them for revision purposes.

3. Participate in an Online Community

An online community allows you to connect with other applicants, and you can also learn from them and ask your questions. You can easily find online communities relevant to this exam. You can also build a strong network with like-minded people.

4. Take CCISO Practice Tests

This is a must for your success in the CCISO exam. You can depend on the Edusum website to access CCISO practice tests. This helps you to feel the vibe of a natural exam environment. This will help you enhance your time management skills and give you a clear view of what to expect in the CCISO certification exam.

Earning a CCISO credential is not so tough. If you meet the exam requirements and are ready to work hard, you can easily pass it and receive your certification.

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Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO)

EC-Council’s CCISO Program has certified leading information security professionals around the world. A core group of high-level information security executives, the CCISO Advisory Board, contributed by forming the foundation of the program and outlining the content that would be covered by the exam, body of knowledge, and training. Some members of the Board contributed as authors, others as exam writers, others as quality assurance checks, and still others as trainers. Each segment of the program was developed with the aspiring CISO in mind and looks to transfer the knowledge of seasoned professionals to the next generation in the areas that are most critical in the development and maintenance of a successful information security program.

The Certified CISO (CCISO) program is the first of its kind training and certification program aimed at producing top-level information security executives. The CCISO does not focus solely on technical knowledge but on the application of information security management principles from an executive management point of view. The program was developed by sitting CISOs for current and aspiring CISOs.

Why should you consider the CCISO program?

The CCISO Certification is an industry-leading program that recognizes the real-world experience necessary to succeed at the highest executive levels of information security.

Bringing together all the components required for a C-Level positions, the CCISO program combines audit management, governance, IS controls, human capital management, strategic program development, and the financial expertise vital to leading a highly successful IS program. Material in the CCISO Program assumes a high-level understanding of technical topics and doesn’t spend much time on strictly technical information, but rather on the application of technical knowledge to an information security executive’s day-to-day work. The CCISO aims to bridge the gap between the executive management knowledge that CISOs need and the technical knowledge that many aspiring CISOs have. This can be a crucial gap as a practitioner endeavors to move from mid-management to upper, executive management roles. Much of this is traditionally learned as on the job training, but the CCISO Training Program can be the key to a successful transition to the highest ranks of information security management.

CCISO Domain Details

Domain 1

Governance, Risk, Compliance

Domain 2

Information Security Controls and Audit Management

Domain 3

Security Program Management & Operations

Domain 4

Information Security Core Competencies

Domain 5 

Strategic Planning, Finance, Procurement, and Third-Party Management

Source: eccouncil.org

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What is an Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO)?

EC-Council’s CCISO Program has certified leading information security professionals around the world. A core group of high-level information security executives, the CCISO Advisory Board, contributed by forming the foundation of the program and outlining the content that would be covered by the exam, body of knowledge, and training. Some members of the Board contributed as authors, others as exam writers, others as quality assurance checks, and still others as trainers. Each segment of the program was developed with the aspiring CISO in mind and looks to transfer the knowledge of seasoned professionals to the next generation in the areas that are most critical in the development and maintenance of a successful information security program.

The Certified CISO (CCISO) program is the first of its kind training and certification program aimed at producing top-level information security executives. The CCISO does not focus solely on technical knowledge but on the application of information security management principles from an executive management point of view. The program was developed by sitting CISOs for current and aspiring CISOs.

In order to sit for the CCISO exam and earn the certification, candidates must meet the basic CCISO requirements. Candidates who do not yet meet the CCISO requirements but are interested in information security management can pursue the EC-Council Information Security Management (EISM) certification.

What is the role of a certified Chief Information Security Officer(CISO)?

The CISO position emerged worldwide as a designation of executive leaders who can address the emerging threats to information security by developing and maintaining a tough information security strategy. CISOs – with the experience, leadership, communication skills and innovative strengths are born to resolve the ever-growing information security threats. The CISO of tomorrow will play a vital role in creating effective and efficient processes and will lead a team of technically skilled professionals to defend the core interests of their organization.

Become a Chief Information Security Officer

Today’s world is one of constant and instant information exchange. Organizations, be it private businesses or government bodies, rely on sophisticated computer databases and networks to share digital information on a daily basis with their subsidiaries, branches, partners, clients, employees, and other stakeholders. However, years of information security incidences and the onslaught of the recent cyber-attacks prove that digital data can be easily compromised. Organizations therefore, are increasingly in need of a new set of skills and processes to ensure the security of information at a scale that will be required tomorrow.

If your aspiration is to have the highest regarded title within the information security profession – CISO, if you already have earned the role of a CISO, or if you are currently playing the role of a CISO in your organization without the official title, the CISO designation is the recognition of your knowledge and achievements that will award you with professional acknowledgement and propel your career.

Achieving the CCISO Certification will differentiate you from others in the competitive ranks of senior Information Security Professionals. CCISO will provide your employers with the assurance that as a CCISO executive leader, you possess the proven knowledge and experience to plan and oversee Information Security for the entire corporation.

Certification Target Audience

CCISOs are certified in the knowledge of and experience in the following CISO Domains:

◉ Governance (Policy, Legal & Compliance)

◉ IS Management Controls and Auditing Management (Projects, Technology & Operations).

◉ Management – Projects and Operations

◉ Information Security Core Competencies.

◉ Strategic Planning & Finance

Clause: Age Requirements and Policies Concerning Minors

The age requirement for attending the training or attempting the exam is restricted to any candidate that is at least 18 years old.

If the candidate is under the age of 18, they are not eligible to attend the official training or eligible to attempt the certification exam unless they provide the accredited training center/EC-Council a written consent of their parent/legal guardian and a supporting letter from their institution of higher learning. Only applicants from nationally accredited institution of higher learning shall be considered.

Passing Criteria:

In order to maintain the high integrity of our certifications exams, EC-Council Exams are provided in multiple forms (I.e. different question banks). Each form is carefully analyzed through beta testing with an appropriate sample group under the purview of a committee of subject matter experts that ensure that each of our exams not only have academic rigor but also have "real world" applicability. We also have a process to determine the difficulty rating of each question . The individual rating then contributes to an overall "Cut Score" for each exam form. To ensure each form has equal assessment standards, cut scores are set on a "per exam form" basis. Depending on which exam form is challenged, cut scores can range from 60% to 85%.

Source: cert.eccouncil.org

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All About Regulatory Compliance: What It Is and Why Is It Essential?

In this fast-moving world, there have been various developments and discoveries that are now impossible to work without. Every organization has been developing and incorporating the multiple findings made. With the addition of new equipment and the incorporation of new technologies and strategies, it is vital to maintain specific laws, policies, and regulations to maintain stability, security, a practical and statistical approach. With the implication of such rules, policies/guidelines, and regulations, an order of uniformity and stability is maintained. Legal actions can be taken if any regulation or policy is violated and is the basic foundation of the organization. These rules and policies are known as regulatory compliance. Employees are required to adhere to and follow the policies and regulations stated. Every working sector has regulatory compliance, which is followed, and violating them can result in legal consequences.

What Is Regulatory Compliance (RC)?

Regulatory compliance is the organization’s adherence to the various laws, regulations, policies, guidelines, and other standards, which the government establishes. It accomplishes the regulation’s commitment to accounting, tax, judicial reporting, and other compliance factors. Regulatory compliance is set for every industry by the government and varies from country to country. It is essential for business employees and administrators to have the basic knowledge and the understanding of the laws and regulations and how they work and why they are crucial. Failing to abide by the laws and regulations, legal action can be taken against the individual.

Regulatory compliance management and auditing are usually expensive ventures. The organizations need to invest in fulfilling the compliance laws and conciliating the stakeholders to maintain the business process by turning a profit simultaneously. It is often confusing and complex as the organization has to imply various compliance requirements in every sector in the organization’s market. There has always been a dual verdict when it comes to regulation. Many individuals debate about it, stating that it should radically diminish the burden of the regulation. In contrast, the other half of individuals debate contradicting to them on how regulation is essential to maintain accurate and secure corporate behavior.

Importance of Regulatory Compliance (RC)

Regulatory compliance is considered to be an establishment of customer protection. It ensures that the organizations do not have misconduct that may harm society. Organizations that do not follow/imply regulatory compliance can be fined and face other legal consequences. RC plays a vital role in consumer-oriented industries such as Healthcare (HIPPA), financial (PCI-DSS, GLBA), food and beverage industry (HACCP), and federal agencies (FISMA). Few organizations preserve compliance data: the data associated with the organization or included in the law, which is used later for auditing purposes and to implement and validate compliances incorporating the latest updates. Every organization needs to integrate regulatory compliance as it also helps in the management of compliance data, like audit trails, data transfers, etc., more efficiently.  When the rules, policies, and procedures are not followed/complied by, it results in a compliance breach. Breaches can result from human or technical error, the misconception of the obligations, or can be done intentionally. Compliance breach often ruins the reputation of the organization or the brand, leading to a lot of damage concerning the financial aspects of the organizations. The problem is minimized by enforcing compliance training, which giver a clear outlook of why and how is regulatory compliance is essential and how to maintain it.

Implementation of Regulatory Compliance (RC)

It is important to ensure the accurate implementation of regulatory compliance in an organization. To have substantial regulatory compliance, it must have comprehensiveness, attention to detail, precise analytics of the data and requirements. This can be broadly classified into six steps:

1. Identification of applicable acts, regulations, directives, standards:

Knowing which laws are required based on the nature/sector of the organizations is essential to understand implement an accurate act/law which is up to date with the terms and conditions. Every law has a unique structure making it difficult to finalize the apt law and acts required for the organization.

2. Identify acceptable requirements:

Identify all the laws, regulations, and policies applicable/suitable for the organization’s operations. Compliances are expensive and time-consuming, and hence it is necessary to know and understand which regulations and their applicability are apt for the organization and its standards. Government issues guidance documents help the organization understand the requirements and how the government interprets them concerning various regulatory aspects.

3. Monitor for changes:

With the evolution of technologies, there are constant changes in the requirements that regularly need to be updated. It is essential to monitor all the documents thoroughly to identify if a change in regulation is required.

4. Determining the applicability of the changes:

Once a change is detected in applicable law, determining if the changes would comply and fit in perfectly concerning the organizations is important. If it is apt, it can be implemented, and the required training about the updated law should be given.

5. Collaborating with the team and with experts:

Once a change is determined as applicable, it is necessary to imply tasks to close the compliance gap which has been caused due to the change. The tasks should be defined and supported by references supporting it and must answer the five W’s:

◉ Why should we have the change?

◉ When should we have to change?

◉ What should be changed?

◉ Who is responsible for implementing the change?

◉ Where should the change take place (sector of the organization)?

6. Documentation of compliance reviews: It is essential and a must to maintain evidence of the compliance reviews. This evidence plays a vital role during audits and helps in a better understanding of the compliance regulations and their overdue course time.

Regulatory Compliance Training

It is essential to regularly conduct compliance training for the employees to create awareness about the regulations, laws, policies, standards, etc., which are implemented in their organization. Regulatory compliance training ensures that the employees know every policy’s necessity and abide by them to avoid legal consequences when policy or regulatory law is violated. This prevents poor conduct, bad interpersonal behavior and enables in gaining a good reputation. Regulatory compliance deals with the laws, legal directives, and the legislation stated by the government bodies, whereas corporate compliance deals with an organization’s internal compliance structure, which all the organization’s employees follow. It is very crucial to maintain and protect the organization over the long term.

Compliance training has various benefits, such as:

◉ Employee engagement by building employee awareness: Employees who understand and abide by the organization’s compliance are more reliable and often promote a healthier environment.

◉ Defines the policies and goals of an organization: Every organization defines its policies and plans to succeed. The policies help in maintaining a smooth and ordeal environment which, when violated, can lead to legal consequences, which helps the organization eliminate internal threats and risks.

◉ Safer working environment: A virtuous and stable compliance policy enables and promotes a positive working behavior, making it simple yet effective and have good communication amongst the employees, making them feel well associated with the organizational values.

Regulatory compliance is a crucial and vital part of every organization. To maintain the regulatory compliances and retain them, organizations hire compliance specialists who have complete knowledge and help the organization by suggesting and making compliance-related decisions to achieve the desired goals. Organizations usually prefer a certified specialist, as compliance is ultimately a technical process. Organizations typically hire a CISO to handle the organization’s significant security aspects, including regulatory compliance implications.

Source: eccouncil.org

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The Ultimate Guide to a Cybersecurity Audit: An Essential for Your Success

With the evolution in technology and constant development, there have been discoveries, advanced technologies being used regularly. This has also led to a rise in cyberattacks. The perpetrator has adopted various methods to infiltrate the new and updated applications, databases, etc., which raises significant concerns for the application’s security to maintain confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. Organizations store the data on the system, which undergoes regular updates. At times, few vulnerabilities may be present with the new version of an application after an update, giving the attacker infiltrate the system. Therefore, a system to monitor and verify these aspects is required. Security audits are the systematic evaluation or analysis of the security aspects of the organization’s data/information based on various sets of conditions and criteria.

What Is A Security Audit and How Is It Performed?

A cybersecurity audit is the systematic evaluation of the organization’s security policies and determining the accuracy and how well it matches the established standards and guidelines. Security audits have become an integral part of the organization’s assessments. They are performed on the information security level of the organization. The audit is performed on three broadly classified aspects which are technical, physical, and administrative.

Read More: EC-Council Certified Encryption Specialist (ECES)

Security audits are very crucial to the organization as they expose all the vulnerabilities and security strategies. They help identify and recognize insider threats, vulnerabilities, and help in being ahead of security breaches, cyber threats, and cyberattacks, which affect the organization’s security, reputation, and financial conditions.

The security audit follows a particular pattern/workflow:

1. Defining the assessment criteria

It is essential to determine the objectives which need to be addressed. This gives a clear outlook on the problems which need to be addressed quickly and provides insight into the current situation. Identify the prevailing threats and outline the possible risks caused by the threat and other vulnerabilities. Define the audit procedure and methods and methods to track the audit procedure.

2. Evaluating current security policies and methods

Reflect on the current security situation and narrow down the security perimeter and the current threats, vulnerabilities, and risks that affect the overall security. Analyze and conclude what is lacking and how to fix it to strengthen the security policies and procedures.

3. Preparing the security audit

The next step is to prepare the security audit plan. Prioritize the area which needs at most importance to be resolved or upgraded. Organize and select the tools which are required to perform the audit. Imply methodologies to collect and preserve accurate and correct data to proceed with the audit based on the acquired data.

4. Conducting the security audit

Once the required tools are finalized, the audit can be performed. While performing the audit, it is essential to provide the appropriate documents and constantly perform due diligence. Monitor the audit accurately and document it for future use. Use the data collected and previous audit records to understand and check for the various factors that affect the organization’s IT security, resulting in differences and multiple factors.

5. Completion and the final result of the audit

Once the auditing procedure is completed, document it, prepare a list of the actions that need to be taken based on the audit, and resolve the changes to remediate the organization’s security. On completion, share the detailed results with the respective authorities.

Why Is a Security Audit Important and Necessary?

A security audit helps evaluate the security status, and regular audits help recognize new threats and vulnerabilities, which allows the organization to understand its security policies and guidelines. Some organizations make it mandatory to imply security audits, as it complies with legal aspects as well. Security audits are done regularly to identify and resolve security issues.

With the constant development and updating of the applications, new hardware and software are added, creating new security endpoints – potentially leading to new vulnerabilities and threats. It is crucial to perform audits regularly to prevent any risks from happening. A security audit is essential and beneficial to an organization. It helps in:

• Analyzing the current security practices of the organization and verifying if they are apt or not.
• Monitoring the training procedure ensuring that the audit is conducted.
• Vulnerabilities and possible threats are discovered which were caused by new technology, application, or a process.
• It helps assure that the organization is compliant with the security regulations (HIPPA, SHIELD, CCPA, etc.).
• Protects the resources of the organization.
• Identifies security vulnerabilities.
• Prepares the organization for a potential security breach or cyberattack.
• Up-to-date about the latest security measures required for the organization.
• Responsible for framing new security policies based on the auditing results.

Types of Security Audits

Security audits can be classified under three categories:

1. One-Time-Assessment:

Security audits that are performed for ad-hoc applications or exceptional situations, resulting in a change of the current operational flow. For example, an addition of new software or hardware needs to be tested and audited for potential risks and threats to ensure the security of the resources related to it.

2. Tollgate Assessment:

Security audits resulting in binary outputs are known as tollgate assessments. It’s a yes or no audit that helps in determining if a new process can be incorporated or not. The audit ensures that it can be included if the process is secure; else, it discards, giving no room for risks and threats.

3. Portfolio Assessment:

Security audits which are bi-annual or annual, are known as Portfolio Assessments. They are done at regular intervals depending upon the organization’s security practices. This helps to ensure that the security standards are maintained, and security procedures are being followed and maintained appropriately.

Tips on Good Security Audit Analysis

Assessing and preparing security audits can be confusing, and sometimes, certain things can be overlooked. It is essential to know what a security audit consists of. Preparing a checklist can help to form a security audit strategy based on crucial factors which should be considered. The following is an essential checklist that you can follow:

• Record and document the entire audit procedure, including who will be performing the audit and what is being audited.
• Document the current security policy, which can be used as a reference to understand where the problem was and to compare the before and after statistics.
• Evaluate the existing security measures that have been taken and if they are being followed to maintain security.
• Update security patches regularly to avoid risks that can take place due to vulnerabilities and bugs in the older versions.
• Ensure that there are no gaps in the firewalls, which can lead to potential risk.
• Ensure that data access is done according to segregation of duties and least privilege and need-to-know principles.
• Incorporate the best encryption practices to ensure integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity of the data and resources.
• Verify the wireless security policies and incorporate standard security policies for wireless networks.
• Scan network and access points/ports at regular intervals to ensure the authenticity of every connection and data transmitted.
• Record and review the event logs to identify any unauthorized activity.

Source: eccouncil.org

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