Assignment 4 Cybersecurity Governance for a Higher Education Institution | CSIS 343 - Cybersecurity

3. Strategies for Identifying, Assessing, and Mitigating Risks

a. Identifying Risks:

User Behavior Analysis: Monitor user activities to detect abnormal patterns that may indicate a security incident. Asset Management: Maintain an inventory of all institutional assets, including hardware, software, and data repositories. External Threat Intelligence: Subscribe to threat intelligence services to stay informed about potential external threats targeting the higher education sector.

b. Assessing Risks:

Vulnerability Assessment: Regularly scan systems and applications for known vulnerabilities. Penetration Testing: Conduct periodic penetration tests to simulate real-world attack scenarios and identify weaknesses. Compliance Checks: Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or FERPA, depending on the institution's location and data handling practices.

c. Mitigating Risks:

Access Control: Implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring users have only the access necessary to perform their duties. Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Backup and Recovery: Establish regular backup procedures and test the recovery process to ensure data integrity and availability. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA for critical systems and applications to add an extra layer of security.