Draft Risk Management Plan
Security Threats
Alfred De Leon III
IS4560
Project Part 1: Current Security Threats
The top three security threats that Aim Higher College faces are the following:
* Mobile devices connecting to the network
* Social Media
* Compromised routers intercepting sensitive information
These threats are the most common that any college faces. The threats have remained at the top of the list every year for a variety of reasons. This list of threats is also unique to college campuses. I will discuss each of the threats in this report.
Students, especially college students, are consistently on some type of social media site or on a mobile device that gains them that type of access. There are many varieties of devices such as tablets, smartphones, laptops, and now even smartwatches. Devices such as these are connecting to wireless networks whether it’s from a service provider or campus. With these connections many aren’t just using them for social media, but also for checking grades, schedules, or relevant news. The devices depend on connecting to networks but also need to do so in a secure fashion. Each device has to be checked for viruses, spyware, and other types of malware while still maintaining the C-I-A triad. A balance must be found between usability and security. Each time a remote device is connected to the network there is a possibility that the network can be compromised by one these devices. Every device should be authenticated, scanned, and identified. Many are unaware of the risks that can come from connecting to networks, especially wireless access.
The use of social media has increased in recent years and according to this chart we can see according to age groups how many are connecting to social media. Students and teachers both use things like Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin, Instagram and many more. These applications have the potential to transmit malware every time they are used on the campus network. Malware can be embedded in everything
Alfred De Leon III
IS4560
Project Part 1: Current Security Threats
The top three security threats that Aim Higher College faces are the following:
* Mobile devices connecting to the network
* Social Media
* Compromised routers intercepting sensitive information
These threats are the most common that any college faces. The threats have remained at the top of the list every year for a variety of reasons. This list of threats is also unique to college campuses. I will discuss each of the threats in this report.
Students, especially college students, are consistently on some type of social media site or on a mobile device that gains them that type of access. There are many varieties of devices such as tablets, smartphones, laptops, and now even smartwatches. Devices such as these are connecting to wireless networks whether it’s from a service provider or campus. With these connections many aren’t just using them for social media, but also for checking grades, schedules, or relevant news. The devices depend on connecting to networks but also need to do so in a secure fashion. Each device has to be checked for viruses, spyware, and other types of malware while still maintaining the C-I-A triad. A balance must be found between usability and security. Each time a remote device is connected to the network there is a possibility that the network can be compromised by one these devices. Every device should be authenticated, scanned, and identified. Many are unaware of the risks that can come from connecting to networks, especially wireless access.
The use of social media has increased in recent years and according to this chart we can see according to age groups how many are connecting to social media. Students and teachers both use things like Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin, Instagram and many more. These applications have the potential to transmit malware every time they are used on the campus network. Malware can be embedded in everything
Citations: http://cve.mitre.org/find/index.html http://nvd.nist.gov/ http://www.securityweek.com/college-cyber-security-tightrope-higher-education-institutions-face-greater-risks http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2011/01/12/Higher-Education-Top-Five-Network-Security-Threats-for-2011.aspx?Page=2 http://royal.pingdom.com/2010/02/16/study-ages-of-social-network-users/