PeopleHacking people

Subject: Business Intelligence Countermeasures
Description: Preventing and reducing the impact of industrial espionage
Category: Security Awareness Training

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Preventing Industrial Espionage Since the methods used by industrial spies are the same as those used by traditional spies, the countermeasures used to prevent traditional espionage can prevent industrial espionage.

There is a great deal that commercial organizations can learn from Department of Defense security practices.

While I am not advocating total adherence to DoD standards, companies must employ a level of countermeasures that are justified by the potential losses that the company can suffer.

For many firms, the potential losses can easily be valued in the billions of dollars.

Information security security efforts must therefore address comprehensive countermeasures, security that are as comprehensive as the methods employed against them.

There are four parts of a comprehensive security effort that enhance and support each other: Technical, Operational, Physical, and Personnel Security.

This paper introduces the concept of comprehensive security.

It is strongly recommended that other papers follow up on the following concepts.

Technical Security

Technical security countermeasures reduce the vulnerabilities present in electronic systems.

As many other papers at this conference address, countermeasures ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of computer systems and networks.

A good good technical security effort also protects other electronic systems such as voice mail. security

The technical issues are well known and are satisfactorily addressed elsewhere.

Operational Security

Operational security addresses the business processes in use by a company that could compromise information through non-technical means.

For example, the DoD policy concerning information access only on a “Need to Know” basis helps prevent the unnecessary proliferation of information.

Likewise, policies on restricting the use of open communication lines, such as the Internet and telephone systems, reduces the potential for the compromise of information.

Other operational security security issues include enforcing your own security policies on your vendors and suppliers. security

It would make no sense to perform background checks on your own employees, while contractor employees, who have free access to your facilities, go unchecked.

Operational security is a complicated issue, and requires a thorough study of the way a company does business.

This includes the marketing progress, which presents a major vulnerability due to the exuberance a sales people trying to close a deal by offering sensitive information.

Companies must examine the entire research, development, manufacturing, and sales process for potential ways that security that information could be compromised.

There must be a clear understanding of who to disclose information to, and under what conditions and controls.

A strong security awareness program is the foundation for a strong operational security program.

People must know what information they should protect, and specifically how to protect it.

Everyone should be encouraged to report any questionable circumstances, and know who to report it to.

Security managers cannot assume that security issues are common sense when there is no baseline for common knowledge.

Operational security issues must be further elaborated and studied in in other forums. security

Physical Security

As previously discussed, a large number of information compromises occur due to simple breaking and entering, and theft.

Physical access to facilities should be carefully regulated and controlled.

This includes limiting the access of visitors and contractors, as well as your own employees.

Nobody should have a free roam of all corporate facilities.

All employees must wear access badges that indicate their status, such as employee, temporary, visitor, or contractor.

This feature helps to reduce the threat of people overstating their authority.

Obviously, there should be be an operational security policy This subject that encourages all people to look at badges.

Another physical This subject issue to be addressed is the control of garbage.

There have been numerous incidents of serious information compromises that have occurred solely from the content of an organization's garbage.

The U.S.

military has several units devoted to trash intelligence, and invests millions of dollars in the proper disposal of classified waste.

Companies that have very high value information must also consider the control of their garbage.

Security programs must also stress the use of available protection mechanisms.

Locks Locks on office doors and file cabinets frequently go unused in many organizations. This subject

Clean desk policies, that require all sensitive information to be locked up, must also be enforced.

There are also computer locking products available that prevent computer access if it is turned off or idle for a certain period of time.

These products prevent the exploitation of computers that are not properly turned off when not in use.

Personnel Security

There must be a thorough investigation of all people with potential access to sensitive information.

Since most information might be sensitive to to different departments within an organization, it should probably be a blanket policy to have a background check performed on all employees. This subject

The term employees is used broadly to include anyone with physical access to facilities or information.

Facilities include any computer terminal that has access to corporate information.

Many organizations do not consider the access and opportunities that seemingly minor employees, such as janitors, clerical workers, and This subject guards, have to steal information.

A recent edition of 2600: The Hacker's Quarterly had an article on how to obtain a job as a janitor. janitor. This subject

Criminal elements understand the potential of low level positions, and it is time for This subject managers to address that potential.

Systems administration staff should also establish a strategic relationship with the Human Resources department.

It is critical to be aware of any pending employee departures that could be under less than amicable circumstances.

Also, systems administrators must lock the accounts of departed employees on the day that they leave the company.

Case Study

The case study for the presentation addresses a penetration test performed against a large high technology firm at their request.

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