The Role of Active and Passive Organizational Network Analysis in Cybersecurity

As organizations increasingly rely on digital tools for collaboration, understanding the complex web of relationships and communications within a company is essential for maintaining security. Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) is a powerful approach that helps organizations gain insights into these relationships, offering unique strategies to enhance cybersecurity. ONA can be categorized into two types: active ONA and passive ONA, each playing a distinct role in securing an organization.

What is Organizational Network Analysis?

ONA is a method used to visualize and analyze the relationships and communication flows within an organization. It uncovers patterns and dynamics that might not be immediately visible, enabling organizations to optimize their structures and strategies. In the context of cybersecurity, ONA can help identify potential vulnerabilities and improve the overall security posture of the organization.

There are two primary types of ONA:

• Active ONA: This approach leverages online surveys to gather direct insights from employees. Active ONA captures employees’ perceptions and self-reported data about their interactions and relationships within the organization. The results from active ONA can be analyzed at the individual level, providing detailed insights into the social and relational dynamics that impact cybersecurity.
• Passive ONA: In contrast, passive ONA relies on aggregated metadata from collaboration tools like email, calendars, and videoconferencing. Unlike active ONA, passive ONA does not focus on individual behaviors but instead provides a high-level view of how information flows across teams and departments, analyzing communication patterns without delving into the content of communications or focusing on individual-level data.

The Role of Active ONA in Cybersecurity

Active ONA offers a detailed look into the human dynamics within an organization by collecting data through surveys. This approach provides insights into the social and relational aspects of cybersecurity, complementing the broader view provided by passive ONA.

1. Identifying High-Risk Relationships

Active ONA can identify relationships and networks within the organization that might pose a security risk. For example, employees who are highly influential within informal networks could be key targets for social engineering attacks. Understanding these dynamics helps in tailoring cybersecurity strategies to address these vulnerabilities.

2. Enhancing Security Awareness and Training

Through surveys, active ONA can assess employees’ perceptions of security policies and their awareness of potential threats. This information is invaluable for designing targeted training programs that address specific gaps in knowledge and behavior, making the organization more resilient against cyber threats.

3. Supporting Incident Response

In the aftermath of a cybersecurity incident, active ONA can provide insights into how employees perceive the response efforts and where communication breakdowns occurred. This feedback can be used to improve future incident response strategies, ensuring that teams are better prepared to handle similar situations.

The Role of Passive ONA in Cybersecurity

Passive ONA is particularly useful in cybersecurity due to its ability to analyze large-scale communication patterns without invading privacy. By aggregating metadata from tools like email, calendars, and videoconferencing, passive ONA helps identify and mitigate potential cybersecurity risks.

1. Detecting Anomalous Communication Patterns

Aggregated interaction data can reveal unusual spikes or drops in communication between departments. For instance, a sudden surge in after-hours emails between typically unconnected teams might indicate unauthorized access or an insider threat. By focusing on these patterns, passive ONA enables organizations to detect potential security breaches early.

2. Assessing Organizational Resilience

Passive ONA uses aggregated metadata to evaluate the resilience of an organization’s communication network. It helps identify key nodes—such as departments or roles that are heavily interconnected—and ensures these critical areas are well-protected. Understanding the connectivity and redundancy within the network enhances the organization’s ability to respond effectively to cybersecurity threats.

3. Optimizing Security Resource Allocation

By mapping out high-level collaboration networks through the aggregation of communication data, passive ONA helps security teams identify which areas of the organization are most critical and interconnected. This allows for strategic allocation of cybersecurity resources, focusing on the most vital communication pathways.

The Synergy Between Active and Passive ONA

While active ONA offers a detailed, individual-level view of relationships within an organization, passive ONA provides a broader, high-level view of communication patterns. Together, they offer a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity:

• Holistic Risk Assessment: By combining active ONA’s insights into employee relationships and perceptions with passive ONA’s analysis of communication flows, organizations can achieve a more holistic understanding of potential risks.
• Enhanced Incident Response: During a cybersecurity incident, active ONA can gauge the effectiveness of communication and coordination among employees, while passive ONA tracks the flow of information. This dual approach ensures that both the technical and human aspects of the response are optimized.
• Tailored Security Strategies: The combination of active and passive ONA allows organizations to develop security strategies that are both data-driven and people-centered, addressing the full spectrum of cybersecurity challenges.

Conclusion

As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, organizations must adopt more sophisticated methods to protect their networks and data. Organizational Network Analysis, both active and passive, offers a powerful way to understand and secure the complex web of relationships within a company. By leveraging the strengths of both approaches, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture, balancing technical defenses with a deep understanding of human dynamics.

This publication is an adaptation from CTS ONA Insights , the ONA newsletter of Cognitive Talent Solutions + here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/role-active-passive-organizational-network-qcfff/