- Management Reference Guide
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Strategic Management
- Establishing Goals, Objectives, and Strategies
- Aligning IT Goals with Corporate Business Goals
- Utilizing Effective Planning Techniques
- Developing Worthwhile Mission Statements
- Developing Worthwhile Vision Statements
- Instituting Practical Corporate Values
- Budgeting Considerations in an IT Environment
- Introduction to Conducting an Effective SWOT Analysis
- IT Governance and Disaster Recovery, Part One
- IT Governance and Disaster Recovery, Part Two
- Customer Management
- Identifying Key External Customers
- Identifying Key Internal Customers
- Negotiating with Customers and Suppliers—Part 1: An Introduction
- Negotiating With Customers and Suppliers—Part 2: Reaching Agreement
- Negotiating and Managing Realistic Customer Expectations
- Service Management
- Identifying Key Services for Business Users
- Service-Level Agreements That Really Work
- How IT Evolved into a Service Organization
- FAQs About Systems Management (SM)
- FAQs About Availability (AV)
- FAQs About Performance and Tuning (PT)
- FAQs About Service Desk (SD)
- FAQs About Change Management (CM)
- FAQs About Configuration Management (CF)
- FAQs About Capacity Planning (CP)
- FAQs About Network Management
- FAQs About Storage Management (SM)
- FAQs About Production Acceptance (PA)
- FAQs About Release Management (RM)
- FAQs About Disaster Recovery (DR)
- FAQs About Business Continuity (BC)
- FAQs About Security (SE)
- FAQs About Service Level Management (SL)
- FAQs About Financial Management (FN)
- FAQs About Problem Management (PM)
- FAQs About Facilities Management (FM)
- Process Management
- Developing Robust Processes
- Establishing Mutually Beneficial Process Metrics
- Change Management—Part 1
- Change Management—Part 2
- Change Management—Part 3
- Audit Reconnaissance: Releasing Resources Through the IT Audit
- Problem Management
- Problem Management–Part 2: Process Design
- Problem Management–Part 3: Process Implementation
- Business Continuity Emergency Communications Plan
- Capacity Planning – Part One: Why It is Seldom Done Well
- Capacity Planning – Part Two: Developing a Capacity Planning Process
- Capacity Planning — Part Three: Benefits and Helpful Tips
- Capacity Planning – Part Four: Hidden Upgrade Costs and
- Improving Business Process Management, Part 1
- Improving Business Process Management, Part 2
- 20 Major Elements of Facilities Management
- Major Physical Exposures Common to a Data Center
- Evaluating the Physical Environment
- Nightmare Incidents with Disaster Recovery Plans
- Developing a Robust Configuration Management Process
- Developing a Robust Configuration Management Process – Part Two
- Automating a Robust Infrastructure Process
- Improving High Availability — Part One: Definitions and Terms
- Improving High Availability — Part Two: Definitions and Terms
- Improving High Availability — Part Three: The Seven R's of High Availability
- Improving High Availability — Part Four: Assessing an Availability Process
- Methods for Brainstorming and Prioritizing Requirements
- Introduction to Disk Storage Management — Part One
- Storage Management—Part Two: Performance
- Storage Management—Part Three: Reliability
- Storage Management—Part Four: Recoverability
- Twelve Traits of World-Class Infrastructures — Part One
- Twelve Traits of World-Class Infrastructures — Part Two
- Meeting Today's Cooling Challenges of Data Centers
- Strategic Security, Part One: Assessment
- Strategic Security, Part Two: Development
- Strategic Security, Part Three: Implementation
- Strategic Security, Part Four: ITIL Implications
- Production Acceptance Part One – Definition and Benefits
- Production Acceptance Part Two – Initial Steps
- Production Acceptance Part Three – Middle Steps
- Production Acceptance Part Four – Ongoing Steps
- Case Study: Planning a Service Desk Part One – Objectives
- Case Study: Planning a Service Desk Part Two – SWOT
- Case Study: Implementing an ITIL Service Desk – Part One
- Case Study: Implementing a Service Desk Part Two – Tool Selection
- Ethics, Scandals and Legislation
- Outsourcing in Response to Legislation
- Supplier Management
- Identifying Key External Suppliers
- Identifying Key Internal Suppliers
- Integrating the Four Key Elements of Good Customer Service
- Enhancing the Customer/Supplier Matrix
- Voice Over IP, Part One — What VoIP Is, and Is Not
- Voice Over IP, Part Two — Benefits, Cost Savings and Features of VoIP
- Application Management
- Production Acceptance
- Distinguishing New Applications from New Versions of Existing Applications
- Assessing a Production Acceptance Process
- Effective Use of a Software Development Life Cycle
- The Role of Project Management in SDLC— Part 2
- Communication in Project Management – Part One: Barriers to Effective Communication
- Communication in Project Management – Part Two: Examples of Effective Communication
- Safeguarding Personal Information in the Workplace: A Case Study
- Combating the Year-end Budget Blitz—Part 1: Building a Manageable Schedule
- Combating the Year-end Budget Blitz—Part 2: Tracking and Reporting Availability
- References
- Developing an ITIL Feasibility Analysis
- Organization and Personnel Management
- Optimizing IT Organizational Structures
- Factors That Influence Restructuring Decisions
- Alternative Locations for the Help Desk
- Alternative Locations for Database Administration
- Alternative Locations for Network Operations
- Alternative Locations for Web Design
- Alternative Locations for Risk Management
- Alternative Locations for Systems Management
- Practical Tips To Retaining Key Personnel
- Benefits and Drawbacks of Using IT Consultants and Contractors
- Deciding Between the Use of Contractors versus Consultants
- Managing Employee Skill Sets and Skill Levels
- Assessing Skill Levels of Current Onboard Staff
- Recruiting Infrastructure Staff from the Outside
- Selecting the Most Qualified Candidate
- 7 Tips for Managing the Use of Mobile Devices
- Useful Websites for IT Managers
- References
- Automating Robust Processes
- Evaluating Process Documentation — Part One: Quality and Value
- Evaluating Process Documentation — Part Two: Benefits and Use of a Quality-Value Matrix
- When Should You Integrate or Segregate Service Desks?
- Five Instructive Ideas for Interviewing
- Eight Surefire Tips to Use When Being Interviewed
- 12 Helpful Hints To Make Meetings More Productive
- Eight Uncommon Tips To Improve Your Writing
- Ten Helpful Tips To Improve Fire Drills
- Sorting Out Today’s Various Training Options
- Business Ethics and Corporate Scandals – Part 1
- Business Ethics and Corporate Scandals – Part 2
- 12 Tips for More Effective Emails
- Management Communication: Back to the Basics, Part One
- Management Communication: Back to the Basics, Part Two
- Management Communication: Back to the Basics, Part Three
- Asset Management
- Managing Hardware Inventories
- Introduction to Hardware Inventories
- Processes To Manage Hardware Inventories
- Use of a Hardware Inventory Database
- References
- Managing Software Inventories
- Business Continuity Management
- Ten Lessons Learned from Real-Life Disasters
- Ten Lessons Learned From Real-Life Disasters, Part 2
- Differences Between Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity , Part 1
- Differences Between Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity , Part 2
- 15 Common Terms and Definitions of Business Continuity
- The Federal Government’s Role in Disaster Recovery
- The 12 Common Mistakes That Cause BIAs To Fail—Part 1
- The 12 Common Mistakes That Cause BIAs To Fail—Part 2
- The 12 Common Mistakes That Cause BIAs To Fail—Part 3
- The 12 Common Mistakes That Cause BIAs To Fail—Part 4
- Conducting an Effective Table Top Exercise (TTE) — Part 1
- Conducting an Effective Table Top Exercise (TTE) — Part 2
- Conducting an Effective Table Top Exercise (TTE) — Part 3
- Conducting an Effective Table Top Exercise (TTE) — Part 4
- The 13 Cardinal Steps for Implementing a Business Continuity Program — Part One
- The 13 Cardinal Steps for Implementing a Business Continuity Program — Part Two
- The 13 Cardinal Steps for Implementing a Business Continuity Program — Part Three
- The 13 Cardinal Steps for Implementing a Business Continuity Program — Part Four
- The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
- The Origins of ITIL
- The Foundation of ITIL: Service Management
- Five Reasons for Revising ITIL
- The Relationship of Service Delivery and Service Support to All of ITIL
- Ten Common Myths About Implementing ITIL, Part One
- Ten Common Myths About Implementing ITIL, Part Two
- Characteristics of ITIL Version 3
- Ten Benefits of itSMF and its IIL Pocket Guide
- Translating the Goals of the ITIL Service Delivery Processes
- Translating the Goals of the ITIL Service Support Processes
- Elements of ITIL Least Understood, Part One: Service Delivery Processes
- Case Study: Recovery Reactions to a Renegade Rodent
- Elements of ITIL Least Understood, Part Two: Service Support
- Case Studies
- Case Study — Preparing for Hurricane Charley
- Case Study — The Linux Decision
- Case Study — Production Acceptance at an Aerospace Firm
- Case Study — Production Acceptance at a Defense Contractor
- Case Study — Evaluating Mainframe Processes
- Case Study — Evaluating Recovery Sites, Part One: Quantitative Comparisons/Natural Disasters
- Case Study — Evaluating Recovery Sites, Part Two: Quantitative Comparisons/Man-made Disasters
- Case Study — Evaluating Recovery Sites, Part Three: Qualitative Comparisons
- Case Study — Evaluating Recovery Sites, Part Four: Take-Aways
- Disaster Recovery Test Case Study Part One: Planning
- Disaster Recovery Test Case Study Part Two: Planning and Walk-Through
- Disaster Recovery Test Case Study Part Three: Execution
- Disaster Recovery Test Case Study Part Four: Follow-Up
- Assessing the Robustness of a Vendor’s Data Center, Part One: Qualitative Measures
- Assessing the Robustness of a Vendor’s Data Center, Part Two: Quantitative Measures
- Case Study: Lessons Learned from a World-Wide Disaster Recovery Exercise, Part One: What Did the Team Do Well
- (d) Case Study: Lessons Learned from a World-Wide Disaster Recovery Exercise, Part Two
This is the third of a four-part series on designing and implementing a strategic security process. In Part Two I summarized the twelve steps, shown below in Figure 1, required to implement an effective strategic security process and explained in some detail the first four of these steps. In this part I explain the remaining eight of these steps in more detail, and present examples of corporate security policies.
|
Figure 1 Process Steps for Developing a Strategic Security Process
Step 5: Identify, categorize, and prioritize requirements. - Representatives from each of the two review boards, along with other appropriate subject matter experts should meet to identify security requirements, categorize them according to key areas for security issues (as shown in Table 1), and then prioritize them.
Step 6: Inventory current state of security. - This step involves taking a thorough inventory of all current security-related items to determine what you already have inhouse and what may need to be developed or purchased. These items should include
- Security policies approved, adhered to, and enforced
- Security policies approved, but not adhered to or enforced
- Security policies drafted but not yet approved
- Existing software security tools with the ability to be used for enforcement
- Existing hardware security tools with the ability to be used for enforcement
- Current security metrics available to analyze
- Virus attacks
- Password resets
- Multiple sign-ons
- Trouble tickets
Step 7: Establish security organization. - Based on input from the two review boards, on the list of requirements, and on the inventory of current security policies, tools, and metrics, establish a centralized security organization to be headed by a security manager. The location of the security organization and the responsibilities and authorities of the security manager will be jointly determined by the two security review boards and other appropriate areas of management.
Table 1 Key Areas for Categorizing Security Issues
Key Area |
Security Issues |
Client/serve |
Antivirus |
|
Desktop software |
|
|
Network/Internet |
Firewalls |
|
Intrusion/detection |
|
Remote access |
|
Encryption |
Data center |
Physical access |
|
Databases |
|
Application software |
|
Operating systems |
Security policies |
Executive proposals |
|
Technical evaluation |
|
Approval and implementation |
|
Communication and enforcement |
Step 8: Develop policy statements. - Based on the inventory of existing security policies, eliminate obsolete or ineffective policies, modify those policies requiring changes, and develop necessary new policies. Figure 2 is shows a sample corporate security policy and Figure 3 shows a sample security policy on the use of the Internet.
Step 9: Assemble planning teams. - Cross-functional teams should be assembled to develop plans for new policies, procedures, initiatives, and tools proposed by the either of the two security review boards.
Step 10: Review and approve plans. - The executive security review board should review the implementation plans from a standpoint of policy, budget, schedule, and priority.
Step 11: Evaluate technical feasibility of plans. - The technical security review board should evaluate the implementation plans from a standpoint of technical feasibility and adherence to standards.
Step 12: Assign, schedule, and execute the implementation of plans. - Individuals or teams should be assigned responsibilities and schedules for executing the implementation plans.
M E M O R A N D U M To: All Employees of Company XYZ From: Mr. KnowItAll, Chief Executive Officer Subject: Corporate Security Policy–Electronic Media Date: July 1, 2007 The purpose of this memorandum is to establish a Corporate-wide Security Policy covering any and all electronic information and data at Company XYZ. It is further intended that these policies and procedures be conveyed to, and understood by, every employee of XYZ. Many companies today conduct a substantial portion of their business electronically. This electronic business comes in a variety of forms including, but not limited to, mail, files, reports, commerce, and weather information. It is important that as an employee of XYZ you understand: this information and data is considered a corporate asset of XYZ. your rights and responsibilities as they pertain to electronic information and data. The following policies should aid in this understanding. All data, programs, and documentation created, stored, or maintained on any electronic equipment owned or leased by XYZ is the property of XYZ. The ownership by XYZ of the above mentioned material extends to any copies of this material, regardless of whether the copies are in hard document form, electronic form, or on any kind of storage media such as magnetic tape, hard drive disks, or floppy diskettes. All electronic mail messages sent or received by an employee of XYZ is the property of XYZ. Use of the Internet is intended primarily to assist employees in the performance of their job duties and responsibilities, such as researching information or to communicate with outside individuals on business related matters. Any improper use of the Internet such as for sending, downloading, viewing, copying, or printing of any inappropriate material will be grounds for disciplinary action. Employees are prohibited from using any XYZ computers to illegally use or copy any licensed or copyrighted software. |
Figure 2 Sample Corporate Security Policy (1 of 2)
|
Figure 2 Sample Corporate Security Policy (2 of 2)
M E M O R A N D U M To: All Employees of Company XYZ From: Mr. CareerIsOver, Chief Information Officer Subject: Corporate Security Policy–Use of the Internet Date: July 1,2007 The purpose of this memorandum is to describe in greater detail the corporate security policies regarding the use of the Internet. The overall intent of these policies is to ensure that the Internet is used as a productivity tool by employees of company XYZ, is utilized in a professional and ethical manner, and does not in any way put company XYZ at risk for fraudulent or illegal use. INTENDED USE—The use of Internet access equipment at XYZ is intended primarily for conducting business of XYZ. Internet communications, transactions, and discussions may be viewed by personnel authorized by XYZ. Distribution of proprietary data or any confidential information about employees, contractors, consultants, and customers of XYZ is strictly prohibited. PERSONAL USE—Personal use of the Internet should be limited to use during employees' personal time, and goods or services ordered through the Internet must be billed to your home phone or credit card. Internet access equipment at XYZ should not be used for chain letters, personal or group communications of causes or opinions, communications in furtherance of any illegal activity, personal mass mailings, gaining access to information inappropriate to the business environment or otherwise prohibited by local, state, or federal law. XYZ reserves the right to view information that is accessed by employees through the Internet to ensure that nonbusiness-related use of XYZ equipment does not impact business need. CERTIFICATION—Programs (including screen savers, compilers, browsers, etc.) obtained from the Internet shall not be installed and used on XYZ computers, or relevant electronic devices, without first being certified by XYZ IT Department and placed on XYZ common network sever for company access and usage. All documents (stored either on electronic media or diskette) received from Internet sources or any source outside XYZ must be passed through a virus-scanning program before they are used or copied. Instructions on how to do this are available from XYZ IT Department. RESTRICTIONS—XYZ reserves the right to restrict access to inappropriate or nonbusiness-related Internet sites and may do so at any time. VIOLATIONS—Any violation of these policies by an employee of XYZ constitutes grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
|
Figure 3 Sample Internet Security Policy
4.38.2 Summary of Part One
This was the third of a four-part series on developing and implementing a strategic security process. In this segment I summarized the twelve steps required to implement an effective strategic security process and explained in more detail the last eight of these steps. In Part Four I explore the implications of developing and implementing a strategic security process to the information technology infrastructure library (ITIL).