FISMA and the Risk Management Framework


Book Description

FISMA and the Risk Management Framework: The New Practice of Federal Cyber Security deals with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), a law that provides the framework for securing information systems and managing risk associated with information resources in federal government agencies. Comprised of 17 chapters, the book explains the FISMA legislation and its provisions, strengths and limitations, as well as the expectations and obligations of federal agencies subject to FISMA. It also discusses the processes and activities necessary to implement effective information security management following the passage of FISMA, and it describes the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Risk Management Framework. The book looks at how information assurance, risk management, and information systems security is practiced in federal government agencies; the three primary documents that make up the security authorization package: system security plan, security assessment report, and plan of action and milestones; and federal information security-management requirements and initiatives not explicitly covered by FISMA. This book will be helpful to security officers, risk managers, system owners, IT managers, contractors, consultants, service providers, and others involved in securing, managing, or overseeing federal information systems, as well as the mission functions and business processes supported by those systems. - Learn how to build a robust, near real-time risk management system and comply with FISMA - Discover the changes to FISMA compliance and beyond - Gain your systems the authorization they need




Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government


Book Description

Policymakers and program managers are continually seeking ways to improve accountability in achieving an entity's mission. A key factor in improving accountability in achieving an entity's mission is to implement an effective internal control system. An effective internal control system helps an entity adapt to shifting environments, evolving demands, changing risks, and new priorities. As programs change and entities strive to improve operational processes and implement new technology, management continually evaluates its internal control system so that it is effective and updated when necessary. Section 3512 (c) and (d) of Title 31 of the United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA)) requires the Comptroller General to issue standards for internal control in the federal government.




At the Nexus of Cybersecurity and Public Policy


Book Description

We depend on information and information technology (IT) to make many of our day-to-day tasks easier and more convenient. Computers play key roles in transportation, health care, banking, and energy. Businesses use IT for payroll and accounting, inventory and sales, and research and development. Modern military forces use weapons that are increasingly coordinated through computer-based networks. Cybersecurity is vital to protecting all of these functions. Cyberspace is vulnerable to a broad spectrum of hackers, criminals, terrorists, and state actors. Working in cyberspace, these malevolent actors can steal money, intellectual property, or classified information; impersonate law-abiding parties for their own purposes; damage important data; or deny the availability of normally accessible services. Cybersecurity issues arise because of three factors taken together - the presence of malevolent actors in cyberspace, societal reliance on IT for many important functions, and the presence of vulnerabilities in IT systems. What steps can policy makers take to protect our government, businesses, and the public from those would take advantage of system vulnerabilities? At the Nexus of Cybersecurity and Public Policy offers a wealth of information on practical measures, technical and nontechnical challenges, and potential policy responses. According to this report, cybersecurity is a never-ending battle; threats will evolve as adversaries adopt new tools and techniques to compromise security. Cybersecurity is therefore an ongoing process that needs to evolve as new threats are identified. At the Nexus of Cybersecurity and Public Policy is a call for action to make cybersecurity a public safety priority. For a number of years, the cybersecurity issue has received increasing public attention; however, most policy focus has been on the short-term costs of improving systems. In its explanation of the fundamentals of cybersecurity and the discussion of potential policy responses, this book will be a resource for policy makers, cybersecurity and IT professionals, and anyone who wants to understand threats to cyberspace.




FISMA Compliance Handbook


Book Description

This comprehensive book instructs IT managers to adhere to federally mandated compliance requirements. FISMA Compliance Handbook Second Edition explains what the requirements are for FISMA compliance and why FISMA compliance is mandated by federal law. The evolution of Certification and Accreditation is discussed. This book walks the reader through the entire FISMA compliance process and includes guidance on how to manage a FISMA compliance project from start to finish. The book has chapters for all FISMA compliance deliverables and includes information on how to conduct a FISMA compliant security assessment. Various topics discussed in this book include the NIST Risk Management Framework, how to characterize the sensitivity level of your system, contingency plan, system security plan development, security awareness training, privacy impact assessments, security assessments and more. Readers will learn how to obtain an Authority to Operate for an information system and what actions to take in regards to vulnerabilities and audit findings. FISMA Compliance Handbook Second Edition, also includes all-new coverage of federal cloud computing compliance from author Laura Taylor, the federal government's technical lead for FedRAMP, the government program used to assess and authorize cloud products and services. - Includes new information on cloud computing compliance from Laura Taylor, the federal government's technical lead for FedRAMP - Includes coverage for both corporate and government IT managers - Learn how to prepare for, perform, and document FISMA compliance projects - This book is used by various colleges and universities in information security and MBA curriculums




Glossary of Key Information Security Terms


Book Description

This glossary provides a central resource of definitions most commonly used in Nat. Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) information security publications and in the Committee for National Security Systems (CNSS) information assurance publications. Each entry in the glossary points to one or more source NIST publications, and/or CNSSI-4009, and/or supplemental sources where appropriate. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find publication.




Cyber Attacks


Book Description

Cyber Attacks, Student Edition, offers a technical, architectural, and management approach to solving the problems of protecting national infrastructure. This approach includes controversial themes such as the deliberate use of deception to trap intruders. This volume thus serves as an attractive framework for a new national strategy for cyber security. A specific set of criteria requirements allows any organization, such as a government agency, to integrate the principles into their local environment. In this edition, each principle is presented as a separate security strategy and illustrated with compelling examples. The book adds 50-75 pages of new material aimed specifically at enhancing the student experience and making it more attractive for instructors teaching courses such as cyber security, information security, digital security, national security, intelligence studies, technology and infrastructure protection. It now also features case studies illustrating actual implementation scenarios of the principles and requirements discussed in the text, along with a host of new pedagogical elements, including chapter outlines, chapter summaries, learning checklists, and a 2-color interior. Furthermore, a new and complete ancillary package includes test bank, lesson plans, PowerPoint slides, case study questions, and more. This text is intended for security practitioners and military personnel as well as for students wishing to become security engineers, network operators, software designers, technology managers, application developers, etc. - Provides case studies focusing on cyber security challenges and solutions to display how theory, research, and methods, apply to real-life challenges - Utilizes, end-of-chapter case problems that take chapter content and relate it to real security situations and issues - Includes instructor slides for each chapter as well as an instructor's manual with sample syllabi and test bank




Elementary Information Security


Book Description

Comprehensive and accessible, Elementary Information Security covers the entire range of topics required for US government courseware certification NSTISSI 4013 and urges students analyze a variety of security problems while gaining experience with basic tools of the trade. Written for the one-term undergraduate course, the text emphasises both the technical and non-technical aspects of information security and uses practical examples and real-world assessment tools. Early chapters in the text discuss individual computers and small LANS, while later chapters deal with distributed site security and the Internet. Cryptographic topics follow the same progression, starting on a single computer and evolving to Internet-level connectivity. Mathematical concepts throughout the text are defined and tutorials with mathematical tools are provided to ensure students grasp the information at hand. Rather than emphasizing memorization, this text challenges students to learn how to analyze a variety of security problems and gain experience with the basic tools of this growing trade. Key Features: -Covers all topics required by the US government curriculum standard NSTISSI 4013. - Unlike other texts on the topic, the author goes beyond defining the math concepts and provides students with tutorials and practice with mathematical tools, making the text appropriate for a broad range of readers. - Problem Definitions describe a practical situation that includes a security dilemma. - Technology Introductions provide a practical explanation of security technology to be used in the specific chapters - Implementation Examples show the technology being used to enforce the security policy at hand - Residual Risks describe the limitations to the technology and illustrate various tasks against it. - Each chapter includes worked examples of techniques students will need to be successful in the course. For instance, there will be numerous examples of how to calculate the number of attempts needed to crack secret information in particular formats; PINs, passwords and encryption keys.




Federal Information System Controls Audit Manual (FISCAM)


Book Description

FISCAM presents a methodology for performing info. system (IS) control audits of governmental entities in accordance with professional standards. FISCAM is designed to be used on financial and performance audits and attestation engagements. The methodology in the FISCAM incorp. the following: (1) A top-down, risk-based approach that considers materiality and significance in determining audit procedures; (2) Evaluation of entitywide controls and their effect on audit risk; (3) Evaluation of general controls and their pervasive impact on bus. process controls; (4) Evaluation of security mgmt. at all levels; (5) Control hierarchy to evaluate IS control weaknesses; (6) Groupings of control categories consistent with the nature of the risk. Illus.




Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations


Book Description

NIST SP 800-171A Rev 2 - DRAFT Released 24 June 2019 The protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) resident in nonfederal systems and organizations is of paramount importance to federal agencies and can directly impact the ability of the federal government to successfully conduct its essential missions and functions. This publication provides agencies with recommended security requirements for protecting the confidentiality of CUI when the information is resident in nonfederal systems and organizations; when the nonfederal organization is not collecting or maintaining information on behalf of a federal agency or using or operating a system on behalf of an agency; and where there are no specific safeguarding requirements for protecting the confidentiality of CUI prescribed by the authorizing law, regulation, or governmentwide policy for the CUI category listed in the CUI Registry. The requirements apply to all components of nonfederal systems and organizations that process, store, or transmit CUI, or that provide security protection for such components. The requirements are intended for use by federal agencies in contractual vehicles or other agreements established between those agencies and nonfederal organizations. Why buy a book you can download for free? We print the paperback book so you don't have to. First you gotta find a good clean (legible) copy and make sure it's the latest version (not always easy). Some documents found on the web are missing some pages or the image quality is so poor, they are difficult to read. If you find a good copy, you could print it using a network printer you share with 100 other people (typically its either out of paper or toner). If it's just a 10-page document, no problem, but if it's 250-pages, you will need to punch 3 holes in all those pages and put it in a 3-ring binder. Takes at least an hour. It's much more cost-effective to just order the bound paperback from Amazon.com This book includes original commentary which is copyright material. Note that government documents are in the public domain. We print these paperbacks as a service so you don't have to. The books are compact, tightly-bound paperback, full-size (8 1/2 by 11 inches), with large text and glossy covers. 4th Watch Publishing Co. is a HUBZONE SDVOSB. https: //usgovpub.com




Guide for Developing Security Plans for Federal Information Systems


Book Description

The purpose of the system security plan is to provide an overview of the security requirements of the system and describe the controls in place or planned for meeting those requirements. The system security plan also delineates responsibilities and expected behavior of all individuals who access the system. The system security plan should be viewed as documentation of the structured process of planning adequate, cost-effective security protection for a system. It should reflect input from various managers with responsibilities concerning the system, including information owners, the system owner, and the senior agency information security officer (SAISO). Additional information may be included in the basic plan and the structure and format organized according to agency needs, so long as the major sections described in this document are adequately covered and readily identifiable.