Week4 Homework
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School
Webster University *
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Course
5000
Subject
Information Systems
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
8
Uploaded by LieutenantRockLemur10
Title: Strategies for Addressing Information Security Threats and Technologies
Name: Anila Macha
Webster University
1
1.
How is technological obsolescence a threat to information security? How can an organization protect against it?
Technological obsolescence poses a huge danger to information security owing to
the inherent vulnerabilities of outmoded technologies. As technology advances,
outdated devices and software may no longer receive security upgrades and patches,
making them vulnerable to fraudsters' exploits. These flaws might be used to obtain
unauthorized access, steal sensitive data, or disrupt vital operations, posing significant
hazards to companies. In the actual world, I've seen cases when out-of-date technologies posed a risk to
information security. In one situation, a corporation continued to use antiquated
software for its internal communication systems. The vendor eventually stopped
supporting this software, leaving the firm open to security attacks. A lack shortage of
security patches and upgrades meant that vulnerabilities that were identified were
ignored, posing a substantial danger to the company's sensitive data. To mitigate the threat of technology obsolescence, firms must take proactive steps
to manage their IT infrastructure properly.
One way is to establish a complete IT lifecycle management plan. This
entails routinely reviewing the technology landscape, identifying obsolete
systems, and planning their replacement or upgrading. Staying ahead of
the curve allows firms to guarantee that their systems are supported and
safe, reducing the risks associated with obsolescence.
Furthermore, enterprises may use virtualization and cloud technologies to
extend the life of aging systems while ensuring security. Virtualization
enables older technology to run modern operating systems securely in a
virtual environment, lowering the risk of exploitation.
Similarly, switching to cloud-based solutions allows enterprises to shift the
responsibility of hardware maintenance and security upgrades to service
providers, assuring ongoing assistance and safeguarding against
obsolescence-related concerns.
To summarize, technical obsolescence is a serious danger to information security,
but businesses may reduce this risk by proactive IT lifecycle management,
virtualization, as well as cloud adoption. By remaining attentive and proactive,
companies may guarantee that their systems remain safe and robust in the face of
emerging cyber threats.
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2.
What is Port Address Translation (PAT) and how does it work?
How is PAT implemented?
What is the difference between PAT and Network Address
Translation (NAT)?
Port Address Translation (PAT) serves as a networking technique that converts
numerous private IP addresses into a single public IP address through the use of
various ports. It acts at the OSI model's transport layer, altering port numbers in TCP
or UDP headers to allow interaction among devices within a private network as well
as external networks such as the internet.
Operation:
Whenever a device under a private network attempt to communicate with an
external network, the NAT device (such as a router or firewall) dynamically
allocates an individual port number to each and every outgoing packet.
The NAT device replaces the packet's source port number using a unique port
number selected from a pool of accessible ports.
Mapping:
This approach enables several devices over the private network to make use of
one public IP address while keeping the uniqueness of every communication
session by using various port numbers.
PAT has a translation database that converts each private IP address as well as
port number to their matching public IP address as well as port number.
Whenever responses from external networks are received, the NAT device
utilizes this translation table to identify which internal device ought to get the
response depending on the target port number.
Benefits:
Efficient use of limited public IP addresses: PAT safeguards public IP
addresses through enabling numerous devices under a private network to use
the same public IP address.
PAT improves security by hiding the internal network structure and providing
a single public IP address towards external networks, decreasing the
vulnerability of internal devices to possible attacks.
Example Scenario:
In a small office network with numerous computers connecting to the internet
via a single router, PAT will be used to allow all machines to access the
internet via the same public IP address.
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The router assigns a unique port number to each outbound communication
session from a computer, allowing it to identify between them and route
replies back to the proper computer depending on the port number.
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PAT is implemented via a NAT device, such as a router or firewall, that
dynamically allocates port numbers to outbound traffic coming from various internal
devices. Whenever packets from these devices approach the NAT device, their secret
IP addresses are converted to the NAT device's public IP address, as well as each
packet is allocated a unique port number to retain its distinctness. This procedure
enables numerous devices to interact with external networks while utilizing the same
public IP address, ensuring that their data is correctly routed and handled.
The main distinction between PAT and Network Address Translation (NAT)
is the breadth of the translation process. NAT normally includes a one-to-one
mapping of private IP addresses towards public IP addresses; however PAT involves
connecting numerous private IP addresses onto a single public IP address employing
distinct port numbers. NAT is typically used when each internal device requires a
unique public IP address, for instance in a static NAT configuration to earn hosting
servers. PAT, on the other hand, is better suited to cases in which several devices
must share a restricted number of public IP addresses, which includes in a home or
small business network.
In essence, Port Address Translation (PAT) represents a useful networking technology
that allows numerous devices in a private network to make use of a single public IP
address by assigning them individual port numbers. PAT, when implemented using
NAT devices, preserves public IP addresses and allows for effective communication
between internal as well as external networks, which makes it a vital component of
current network security measures.
3.
What are IDPSs? List and describe the three control strategies proposed for IDPSs.
Compare and contrast pros and cons for each strategy.
IDPSs play a crucial role in modern cybersecurity by proactively detecting and
preventing unwanted access and destructive actions on computer networks or systems.
These systems continually monitor network traffic as well as system records, looking
for evidence of suspicious activity or policy infractions. IDPSs are critical in
protecting sensitive data and ensuring the integrity of business networks since they
identify possible threats quickly. Control Strategies For IDPSs: 1.
Signature-Based Detection:
Signature-based detection uses predetermined signatures or patterns from
previously identified attacks to identify malicious activity. These signatures are
basically digital fingerprints for known dangers. 4
Pros:
Specific signature matching allows for high accuracy in recognizing
known threats.
Signatures are founded on well-known attack methods, resulting in a low
false positive rate.
Cons:
Inability to identify zero-day attacks and unknown threats.
To remain successful in the face of changing threats, periodic upgrades are
required.
2.
Anomaly-based detection:
Anomaly detection identifies anomalies from typical behavior in a network or
system. It provides a baseline of typical activity and identifies any variations as
potential security issues.
Pros:
Detects unknown or zero-day assaults through anomalous activity.
Adaptability to evolving threat environments without depending on
established signatures.
Cons:
High false positive rate when genuine actions are reported as anomalies.
It is difficult to correctly define "normal" conduct, which might lead to
misinterpretations.
3. Policy-based detection:
Policy-based detection uses organization-specific security procedures and
guidelines to detect and prohibit illegal activity. It entails developing rules and
regulations specific to the organization's security needs and compliance criteria.
Pros:
Customizability to meet company security policies as well as compliance
standards.
Layered authority over security measures is based on unique
organizational requirements.
Cons:
Relying on predefined rules may not address all potential dangers.
The complexity of creating and administering an entire set of security
policies.
5 Comparison and Contrast of Control Strategies:
Control strategies for IDPSs have distinct benefits and limitations, making them
ideal for varied organizational demands and security settings.
Signature-based detection is very accurate in detecting known dangers but
lacks the capacity to detect unexpected threats.
Anomaly-based detection allows for adaptation to emerging threats, but it may
result in a greater false positive rate.
Policy-based detection allows organizations to customize their policies, but it
is based on pre-determined rules and can be difficult to administer.
In my experience installing IDPSs in numerous businesses, I've seen that integrating
several control mechanisms is frequently the most effective defense against complex
cyber attacks. For example, combining signature-based and anomaly-based detection
might increase threat detection capabilities by addressing both known and
undiscovered threats. Furthermore, policy-based detection ensures that security
measures are consistent with company rules and compliance requirements, which
improves overall governance and risk management. Finally, successful cybersecurity
protection requires a comprehensive approach to IDPS deployment that takes into
account the strengths and limits of each control technique.
Conclusion:
To summarize, the efficacy of an IDPS is determined by adopting the proper
control technique or combination thereof depending on the organization's unique
security requirements, risk tolerance, as well as compliance criteria. Understanding
the benefits and drawbacks of each control technique allows companies to make
educated decisions to improve their overall cybersecurity posture and guard against a
variety of security threats.
4. Describe the three strategic plans for continuous availability.
a.
Why are each important to an organization?
Continuous availability is a fundamental feature of modern corporate operations,
ensuring that users have uninterrupted access to important services and resources. In
order to attain continuous availability, businesses create strategic strategies targeted at
reducing downtime and guaranteeing the smooth running of their IT infrastructure.
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1. Fault Tolerance:
Description:
Fault tolerance entails creating systems with multiple components to prevent
single sources of failure. Critical components like as servers, storage systems, as
well as networking equipment are designed with redundancy to enable continuous
functioning in the event of a hardware failure.
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Importance to an Organization:
Fault tolerance is critical for sustaining continuous availability because it
eliminates disruptions caused by hardware breakdowns. Organizations may reduce
downtime and preserve business continuity by removing single points of failure,
ensuring that important services are available to users even during hardware
breakdowns.
2.
High Availability.
Description:
High availability aims to reduce downtime by integrating redundant
systems and failover procedures. It entails establishing duplicate or reserve
components which can smoothly take over operations in the event of breakdown,
assuring continuous service availability.
Importance to the Organization:
High availability is critical for companies that require ongoing access to
resources and services that are available. By adopting redundant systems along
with failover processes, companies may reduce downtime and guarantee that key
services remain available to users, thereby sustaining productivity and customer
satisfaction.
3.
Disaster recovery:
Description:
Disaster recovery entails developing and implementing plans to recover
from catastrophic occurrences such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, or system
failures. It involves backup and recovery methods, data replication, as well as
external data storage to guarantee that data and systems are available in the case of
a disaster.
Importance to the Organization:
Disaster recovery is critical for businesses to reduce the detrimental effect
of catastrophic disasters on their operations. Organizations that adopt strong
disaster recovery strategies may reduce downtime, recover vital data and systems,
and restart operations rapidly, resulting in lower financial losses as well as
reputational harm.