Intellectual Amplification: Reconfiguring InfoSec for Maximum Value

Reconfigurable cybersecurity most often refers to the ability of a system or network to adapt and modify its security measures in response to changing threats or requirements. This means that the system can be reconfigured, either manually or automatically, to enhance its security posture based on new information, emerging threats, or changes in the environment.

Reconfigurable cybersecurity can include various techniques, such as dynamic access controls, threat intelligence, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and behavioral analytics. These techniques allow the system to continuously monitor and analyze its security posture and adjust its defenses as needed.

Overall, reconfigurable cybersecurity provides a flexible and responsive approach to security, allowing organizations to stay ahead of evolving threats and protect their critical assets and data.

Beyond the Tech: People Who Master the Ability to "Reconfigure" Amplify Their Knowledge, Skill, and Ability

But what about the Information Security (InfoSec) department itself? With the rigid work roles and disciplines associated with all InfoSec-related positions, the organization necessarily needs to have specific talent in the form of security architects, engineers, consultants, and analysts. Add to these managerial positions such as Directors and Chief Information Security Officer/Deputy CISO roles, full-time equivalent (FTE) budgets can get expensive.

Third-party technical and advisory firms such as Managed Services Providers/Managed Security Services Providers (MSP/MSSP) help calibrate resources requirements. The functional role of a virtual or fractional CISO means the organization does not have to carry the FTE burden of an in-house CISO. These types of arrangements can work very well.

Resource roles and availability, however, are strained as you add increasingly important job responsibilities, including, but not limited to privacy, protection, legal, and incident response. While no one wants to suffer a breach, if it does happen, vital knowledge, skills, and abilities concerning incident response often cost the organization hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps millions.

Additionally, federal, state, and international regulatory requirements are more stringent than ever. The growing list of U.S. states that have enacted their own variations of GDPR, especially considering heavy consumer activity on an organization’s website, can be frustrating at best and legally detrimental at worst. Whereas InfoSec and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) use to be at different ends of the security spectrum, it is imperative that any organization have a clearly defined game plan to address both the criticality of cybersecurity and their ability to manage risk while “being compliant.”

Ready, Set, Go?

The astute InfoSec leader and company executives knows there is no one-size-fits-all, “silver bullet” approach to security and regulatory control. The proactive organization has well-established, beneficial relationships with key third-party providers and has a well-oiled InfoSec department. But this is not a complete “win.” Each of their strategic providers must be able to arrange and rearrange their teams to maximize the experience and expertise for which they are hired to perform. The in-house team, even with cross-training, cannot fulfill the obligations for every role, all the time. The rate and pace of change throughout the InfoSec world is accelerating. The ability to not just keep up, but exceed expectations is a given. So, what exactly does the Reconfigurable Infosec Team look like?

A Practical Guide to The Reconfigurable InfoSec Team

To become reconfigurable, an InfoSec department needs to implement a range of processes and technologies that enable it to adapt and respond to changing threats and requirements. Some of these are familiar enough, while others apply techniques from other programs, processes, and disciplines.

1. Embrace agile development methodologies mindset: The department should adopt an agile development methodologies mindset that allows it to rapidly respond to changing business needs and security threats. This is not just about software development. It is an organization-wide operating model. Think of this as your Reconfigurable InfoSec SDLC.
2. Develop a comprehensive risk management framework: The organization should have a well-defined risk management framework that identifies potential threats and vulnerabilities, assesses their potential impact, and defines appropriate mitigation strategies. This goes beyond the usual framework assessment tools such as NIST, CIS Critical Security Controls, etc. It is a comprehensive understanding of the threat landscape and must be monitored daily. This type of framework incorporates a detailed understanding of each third-parties ability to be polymorphic: simultaneously being able to take on different forms based on immediate circumstances.
3. Implement continuous monitoring and analysis: To stay ahead of evolving threats, the department should implement a continuous monitoring and analysis program that identifies potential security incidents in real-time and provides actionable intelligence. Standing up Threat Intelligence can be as simple as generating noteworthy feeds, to Deep Dark Web analysis and monitoring. But the Threat Intel must be immediately actionable. In a discovered threat, speed takes priority over “analysis paralysis.” Often, the Threat Intelligence analyst must be in a position to take action, whether in the form of generating a “hot brief” or immediately addressing the threat.
4. Adopt a dynamic operating model: The department should adopt a dynamic model that allows it to quickly address roles, responsibilities, and requirements. Going through the “not my job” circle is in no way beneficial to InfoSec. Up-to-date, clearly defined, and known resource requirements and responsibilities must be in place for a truly effective InfoSec team and its third-party providers.
5. Foster a culture of resiliency first: The department should foster a culture of “resiliency first” across the organization, ensuring that all employees understand their role in protecting sensitive information and data.

Embrace an Agile Development Methodologies Mindset

Embracing agile development methodologies means adopting a set of principles and practices that prioritize flexibility, collaboration, and rapid iteration over strict processes and rigid planning. An Agile Mindset is designed to help teams deliver high-quality, effective results by breaking down barriers and “political strongholds.”

The key principles of an Agile Mindset include:

1. Collaboration: Work closely with stakeholders to ensure that InfoSec meets organizational and individual needs and expectations.
2. Continuous delivery: An Agile Mindset focuses on delivering consistent, frequent incremental improvement rather than waiting for an incident that calls for massive intervention.
3. Flexibility: Agile Mindset-driven teams are able to respond quickly to changing requirements or priorities, adjusting their approach as needed to deliver the best possible experience.
4. Cross-functional teams: Agile Mindset teams are typically composed of members with a variety of skills and expertise, enabling them to work collaboratively and efficiently.
5. Iterative development: Agile Mindset teams iterate on their work, continually refining and improving outcomes based on feedback testing, and results.

Embracing an Agile Mindset helps organizations become more responsive to changing business needs and threat landscape conditions and delivering high-quality results more quickly and cost-effectively.

Develop a Comprehensive Reconfigurable Risk Management Framework

To reconfigure an InfoSec department to handle a Risk Management Framework (RMF), there are several steps that must be taken:

1. Define roles and responsibilities: Establish clear roles and responsibilities for the assessment process, including who will be responsible for conducting the assessment, who will be responsible for reviewing and approving assessment results, and who will be responsible for implementing and monitoring risk mitigation strategies.
2. Develop assessment criteria: Develop a set of criteria for assessing risks, including identifying potential threats, assessing their likelihood and impact, and determining appropriate mitigation strategies. This can be done through a combination of internal and external audits, vulnerability assessments, and threat modeling.
3. Establish assessment procedures: Establish procedures for conducting the assessment, including data collection, analysis, and reporting. This can involve using tools and techniques such as risk registers, risk heat maps, and risk scoring models.
4. Develop risk mitigation strategies: Based on the results of the assessment, develop risk mitigation strategies that are appropriate for the identified risks. These strategies should be based on a combination of technical and administrative controls and should be aligned with organizational goals and objectives.
5. Implement and monitor risk mitigation strategies: Once risk mitigation strategies have been developed, implement them across the organization and monitor their effectiveness. This may involve regular reporting and review processes to ensure that the risk management framework remains effective and up to date.
6. Communicate with stakeholders: Communicate the results of the assessment to relevant stakeholders, including senior management and the board. This helps to ensure that they are aware of potential risks and understand the steps being taken to mitigate them.

By following these steps, an InfoSec department can configure itself to handle a Risk Management Framework, assessment effectively, thus ensuring that risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated in a structured and systematic manner.

The Key Criteria for the Implementation of Reconfigurable Continuous Monitoring and Analysis

1. Real-time data collection: Continuous monitoring and analysis requires real-time data collection from various sources within the organization's infrastructure. This includes network and system logs, application logs, and other sources of security-related data.
2. Automated analysis: Automated analysis of the collected data is necessary to quickly identify potential security incidents or anomalies. This can involve using machine learning algorithms, artificial intelligence, and other advanced analytics techniques to detect and respond to security threats.
3. Alerts and notifications: Automated alerts and notifications should be generated when potential security incidents or anomalies are detected, allowing security personnel to take appropriate action in a timely manner.
4. Prioritization and remediation: Prioritization and remediation of detected security incidents should be based on the level of risk and potential impact on the organization. This requires a clear understanding of the organization's critical assets and business processes, as well as established policies and procedures for responding to security incidents.
5. Continuous improvement: Continuous monitoring and analysis should be an ongoing process that includes regular reviews and updates to policies, procedures, and technical controls based on the evolving threat landscape and changing business requirements.
6. Integration with existing systems and Processes: Continuous monitoring and analysis should be integrated with existing security systems and processes, including security information and event management systems, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS), and vulnerability management systems.
7. Compliance and regulatory requirements: Continuous monitoring and analysis should be designed to meet relevant compliance and regulatory requirements, including those related to data protection, privacy, and security.

By addressing these key criteria, organizations can implement an effective reconfigurable continuous monitoring and analysis program that enables them to proactively detect and respond to potential security incidents, reduce risk, and improve overall security posture and maximizing third-party relationships.

The Dynamic Operating Model

A dynamic operating model is a business framework that enables organizations to quickly adapt to changing market conditions, customer needs, and technology trends. It involves a continuous process of assessing, designing, and implementing changes to the organization's operating model, including its processes, people, technology, and governance structures.

The key characteristics of a dynamic operating model include:

1. Agility: A dynamic operating model is designed to be agile, allowing organizations to quickly respond to changing business requirements and market conditions.
2. Flexibility: It is flexible and adaptable, allowing organizations to easily adjust their operations in response to changing customer needs, new technologies, and other external factors.
3. Scalability: Scalable, allowing organizations to rapidly scale up or down their operations to meet changing demand.
4. Collaboration: Encourages collaboration and cross-functional teamwork, enabling organizations to work more efficiently and effectively.
5. Continuous improvement: Promotes continuous improvement and innovation, encouraging organizations to constantly evaluate and optimize their operations.
6. Data-driven decision-making: Based on data-driven decision-making, enabling organizations to make informed decisions based on real-time insights and analytics.

Implementing a dynamic operating model requires a comprehensive understanding of the organization's strategic goals, customer needs, and market trends. It also requires a willingness to embrace change and a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. By adopting a dynamic operating model, organizations can improve their agility, flexibility, and overall competitiveness in an ever-changing business environment.

Foster a Culture of Resiliency First

Adopting an operating model of "Resiliency First" requires a comprehensive approach that involves the following steps:

1. Assess current resilience: The first step in adopting a "Resiliency First" operating model is to assess the organization's current resilience capabilities. This includes evaluating the effectiveness of existing resilience plans and procedures, identifying potential vulnerabilities and risks, and assessing the organization's ability to respond to and recover from disruptions.
2. Identify critical functions and assets: Next, the organization should identify its critical functions and assets, including its people, processes, technology, and data. This involves evaluating the potential impact of disruptions on the organization's ability to deliver its products or services and meet customer needs.
3. Develop a resilience strategy: Based on the assessment of current resilience and the identification of critical functions and assets, the organization should develop a resilience strategy that outlines the key objectives, priorities, and actions required to enhance resilience. This may involve developing new resilience plans and procedures, implementing new technologies or systems, and establishing new governance structures or partnerships.
4. Implement resilience measures: Once the resilience strategy has been developed, the organization should implement resilience measures that address the identified vulnerabilities and risks. This may involve investing in new technologies or systems, enhancing existing processes or procedures, and training personnel on new resilience plans and procedures.
5. Test and evaluate resilience: To ensure the effectiveness of resilience measures, the organization should regularly test and evaluate its resilience capabilities. This may involve conducting simulations or tabletop exercises to test the organization's ability to respond to disruptions and conducting post-mortem analyses to identify opportunities for improvement.
6. Continuously improve resilience: Finally, the organization should continuously improve its resilience capabilities by identifying new risks and vulnerabilities, implementing new technologies or systems, and refining resilience plans and procedures based on lessons learned.

By adopting an operating model of "Resiliency First," organizations can enhance their ability to withstand disruptions and quickly recover from incidents, reducing the impact on business operations and customer service.

The Reconfigurability of Key Third-party Relationships

When initiating third-party security providers, there are several important criteria that should be addressed to ensure that the provider can meet the security needs of your organization. Some of these criteria include:

1. Expertise and experience: The provider should have a strong record of accomplishment of delivering effective security solutions and services to organizations like yours. They should also have knowledgeable and experienced staff who can provide expert advice and support.
2. Compliance and certification: Should have relevant certifications and accreditations, such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, or PCI DSS, to demonstrate that they have implemented and adhere to industry best practices for security.
3. Strong security controls and practices: Should have robust security controls and practices in place to protect against a wide range of threats, including network and system security, access control, data encryption, and vulnerability management.
4. Incident response and management: Should have established incident response and management procedures in place to detect and respond to security incidents in a timely and effective manner.
5. Service level agreements (SLAs): Provides clear SLAs that specify the level of service that will be provided, including response times, uptime guarantees, and other performance metrics.
6. Contractual terms and conditions: The provider's contractual terms and conditions should be clear, comprehensive, and aligned with your organization's security and risk management policies.
7. Transparency and communication: The provider should be transparent about their security practices and provide regular communication and reporting on security-related issues and incidents.

By addressing these criteria, you can help ensure that your third-party security provider can meet your organization's security needs and protecting your sensitive data and systems from threats.

Summary

The concept of reconfigurability of an Information Security department refers to the ability of the department to adapt and respond to changes in the threat landscape, business needs, and technology environment. Reconfigurable InfoSec is designed to be agile, flexible, and scalable, enabling it to quickly adjust its operations, processes, and resources to address new and emerging security risks.

Key components of reconfigurability include the use of agile development methodologies, the implementation of risk management frameworks, the adoption of continuous monitoring and analysis, and the establishment of strong partnerships with third-party security providers. Additionally, the department should have a dynamic operating model that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and data-driven decision-making.

Overall, the goal of a reconfigurable InfoSec department is to provide the organization with the necessary security capabilities and resilience to ensure business continuity, protect critical assets, and meet regulatory compliance requirements in an ever-changing business environment.