Which two information security objectives could be put at risk if the mitigations (i.e. “safeguards”) recommended by the Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns are applied? Explain how each of the security objectives is put at risk by the safeguards.
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Two information security objectives that could be put at risk are Availability and Integrity. For availability ,in emergency situations where rapid access to geospatial data is crucial, complex authentication processes could hinder timely access for first responders and other authorized personnel, thus compromising the availability of the data when it is needed the most.And the encryption processes, especially if applied in real-time, can significantly slow down the retrieval and sharing of large geospatial datasets, causing delays and potential downtime.For integrity, incorrect configuration of encryption keys or access controls could lead to unauthorized modifications of geospatial data, either by mistake or malicious intent, compromising the data’s integrity. If a third-party encryption service is breached or experiences a malfunction, the integrity of the encrypted geospatial data could be compromised, leading to potential data corruption or unauthorized alterations.
The two information security objectives that could be put at risk are availability and integrity.
According to the material: “If the data need to be safeguarded, the guidelines offer two options: Change the data. Restrict the data.”
Change the data will influence the availability and Restrict the data will influence the integrity of the data. Removing or modifying the sensitive information will make the original data actually unreal. For instance,we can not use those data which is modified to doing the scientific research and quoting them in a paper. Restrict the data means users can only see part of the whole data. There is a limitation to access to the whole data. The data is incomplete and without integrity.
Based on the FIPS 199 standards and the “Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns,” the application of the recommended mitigations could put two information security objectives at risk: integrity and availability.
Integrity could be compromised if the recommended mitigations involve altering the geospatial data to obscure sensitive details. According to FIPS 199, integrity involves guarding against improper information modification or destruction, and ensuring information non-repudiation and authenticity. The unauthorized modification of information could lead to serious adverse effects on organizational operations, assets, or individuals. When geospatial data is altered, there is a risk that the changes might not be accurately documented or communicated, leading to errors that could mislead users and decision-makers.
Availability is at risk when access to geospatial data is restricted to authorized personnel only. FIPS 199 defines availability as ensuring timely and reliable access to and use of information. The disruption of access to or use of this information could have serious adverse effects on organizational operations, assets, or individuals. Restricting access might delay the availability of critical information during emergencies, hindering response efforts and operational efficiency.
From my persoective, the two information security objectives that could be put at risk are Accessibility and Usability.
For Accessibility, the safeguards recommended in the guidelines may inadvertently hinder accessibility by imposing overly restrictive access controls or cumbersome authentication processes. For instance, if the safeguards require multiple layers of authentication or if access permissions are overly granular and difficult to manage, authorized users may encounter delays or barriers when attempting to access the data they require.
And for Usability, the safeguards proposed in the guidelines may compromise usability if they introduce complexity or constraints that hinder user interaction with the data. For example, if the safeguards require specialized software or tools to access or interpret the geospatial data, there is a risk that users may struggle to navigate or understand the information effectively.
In responding to security concerns, the recommended mitigations to provide appropriate access to geospatial data may pose a risk to two information security goals, which are typically data integrity and data availability. The following is a detailed explanation of how these safeguards pose a risk to these two security goals:
Data Integrity Risks:
When applying the safeguards recommended in the Guidance for Providing Appropriate Geospatial Data Access in Response to Security Concerns, new points of risk may be introduced that could impact data integrity.
While access controls are an important means of protecting data integrity, overly strict access controls may result in only a small number of authorized personnel being able to access and modify data. This may lead to delays in data correction and may even prevent data from being updated in a timely and accurate manner when changes are needed.
Data availability risk:
Data availability is the ability of data to be accessed and used in a timely and accurate manner when needed. Applying certain safeguards may limit data availability.
Strict access controls may limit access to data by legitimate users, especially in emergency situations that require a rapid response. This may result in critical decisions being delayed because necessary data is not available in a timely manner.
Data Segregation and Backup Strategies: While these strategies help protect data from unauthorized access and loss, excessive segregation or backup may make data retrieval more difficult and delayed. These extra steps can be a hindrance when data needs to be accessed quickly.
Security auditing and logging: While these measures are essential for tracking down potential security threats, excessive logging may take up a lot of storage space and even affect the normal operation of the system, thus reducing the availability of data.
(1) Confidentiality
Security measures typically include access control, encrypted transmission, and storage measures, aimed at ensuring that only authorized users can access geospatial data. However, if the access control policy is improperly configured or the encryption key is poorly managed, it may lead to unauthorized users gaining access to the data, thereby threatening the confidentiality of the data.
For example, if the access control list is incorrectly configured to allow users or groups who should not have access to sensitive data, the confidentiality of the data will be threatened. Similarly, if the encryption key is lost, stolen, or leaked, the encrypted data may be decrypted and viewed by unauthorized users.
(2) Availability
In order to enhance the security of geospatial data, some security measures such as backup, recovery, and disaster recovery plans may be taken. However, if these measures are not designed or implemented properly, they may affect the availability of data.
For example, during the backup process, if the backup strategy is set improperly (such as too low backup frequency or insecure backup storage location), it may lead to the inability to recover data in a timely manner when it is lost or damaged. In addition, overly complex authentication and authorization processes may increase the difficulty for legitimate users to access and reduce system availability.
When adopting the mitigation measures recommended in the Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data to Address Security Issues (i.e. “safeguard measures”), although the main purpose of these measures is to reduce risks and enhance security, it is still possible that certain information security objectives may face risks due to improper implementation or limitations in specific contexts. The following are two information security objectives that may face risks, and an explanation of how security measures can put these objectives at risk:
1. Data Confidentiality:
Risk source: Some safeguard measures may involve data sharing or collaboration, which may increase the risk of data leakage. For example, in order to promote the access and use of geospatial data, some strategies may be implemented, such as setting data access permissions, providing a data sharing platform, etc. However, if permissions are set improperly or there are security vulnerabilities in the platform, unauthorized users may access sensitive data, thereby compromising the confidentiality of the data.
The impact of safeguard measures: While pursuing data availability and collaboration, safeguard measures may lower the requirements for data confidentiality. This requires careful consideration of the relationship between data confidentiality and other security objectives when implementing security measures, and ensuring that appropriate security measures are taken to protect data confidentiality.
2. Data Integrity:
Risk source: In the process of promoting access to geospatial data, security measures may increase the risk of data tampering or destruction. For example, in order to facilitate user data analysis and processing, data editing and modification functions may be provided. However, without appropriate permission control and auditing mechanisms, malicious users may tamper with data or compromise its integrity.
The impact of safeguard measures: While improving data availability and flexibility, safeguard measures may increase the risk of data integrity being threatened. Therefore, when implementing safeguard measures, it is necessary to ensure that data is appropriately protected during transmission, storage, and processing, and to take measures to prevent unauthorized modification and destruction.
The two information security objectives that could be put at risk by applying the recommended safeguards are:
(1) Integrity: Safeguards like changing or restricting data access can potentially affect the integrity of geospatial data. By modifying or limiting access, there’s a potential for unintended changes or loss of information which can lead to improper modification or destruction of data.
(2) Availability: Restrictions on the use and distribution of geospatial data can limit accessibility, which contradicts one of the core objectives of making such data available for public use and engagement. While this control aims to mitigate risks, it also poses challenges to maintaining data availability for legitimate uses.
Data Integrity: The objective of data integrity ensures that information remains accurate and consistent throughout its lifecycle. When geospatial data are changed to remove or modify sensitive information, the integrity of the data could be compromised. Altering the data to mitigate security risks can lead to a loss of accuracy and detail, which can diminish the quality and reliability of the data for legitimate users.
Availability: The objective of availability ensures that information is accessible to authorized users when needed. The guidelines recommend restricting access to geospatial data as a safeguard. This restriction can limit the availability of important data to users who rely on it for legitimate purposes.
Two information security risks you may face are availability and integrity.
Integrity:
Incorrect matching of encryption keys or access controls may result in unauthorized modification of geospatial data. Whether by mistake or malice.
Availability:
Implementation of data redundancy and load imbalance, data cannot be quickly accessed. Not having a detailed emergency plan in place, not being able to bypass certain strict security controls in an emergency, and not having quick access to critical data.
Sources of risk:1.Safeguards may include restrictions on access to data that, while reducing the risk of unauthorized access, may also keep the data out of the reach of persons or systems that have a legitimate need to access it. 2. How it affects: When access to data is restricted, even users with legitimate access rights may not be able to access the data they need due to complex authorization processes or technical limitations. This can lead to a delay in the delivery of critical information and may even be completely inaccessible, thus compromising the confidentiality of the data.
Availability:1. Sources of risk: Attempts to remove or modify sensitive information by modifying the data may result in the integrity of the data being compromised, making the data unavailable or unable to be correctly parsed. In addition, strict access controls can also result in data being blocked from access when it is needed, affecting its availability. 2. How it affects: Data availability is the ability of data to be accessed and used by authorized users when needed. If data is incorrectly modified or deleted, it will not be used for its intended purpose. Similarly, if access to data is severely restricted, even if the data itself is not compromised, it may lose its availability because it cannot be accessed by those who need it.
Two information security objectives that may be at risk are :1. Availability: If protection measures are too strict or complex, it may make it difficult for legitimate users to access geospatial data when they need it. For example, overly strict access controls can cause delays and even prevent authorized users from obtaining data in a timely manner, resulting in customer churn. 2. Availability: Too much protection can make data difficult to use or navigate, reducing the overall availability of information. Examples include cumbersome encryption methods or overly detailed authorization processes, which can slow down data processing and analysis and thus affect usability goals.
It is important to find the right balance between these security objectives and the need for proper access and use of data to ensure that safeguards do not inadvertently cause more harm than good.
Two information security objectives that may be at risk are the confidentiality and integrity of data. Regarding Confidentiality: When data is altered to remove or modify sensitive information, while this helps reduce the risk of data breaches, it also increases the possibility of misuse or unauthorized access to the data. Because modified data may no longer match its original design intent or use case, this may result in improper use or dissemination of the data. Regarding Integrity: Any modification or restriction of access to data may affect the integrity of the data. Modifying data can undermine its originality and accuracy, while restricting access can make it unavailable to those who need it, affecting decision-making processes and the effectiveness of data use. In addition, if access to and use of the data is restricted, the accuracy and reliability of the data may be affected, as the data may not be properly updated or validated.
When applying the safeguards recommended by the Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns, availability, and integrity could be at risk:
Two information security objectives that may be at risk are Availability and Integrity.Availability refers to ensuring that data and systems can be accessed by legitimate users when needed. Certain safeguards may affect the availability of data and systems while protecting them from unauthorized access.IntegrityIntegrity refers to the protection of data from unauthorized modification and destruction, and ensures the accuracy and consistency of data. Certain safeguards may accidentally affect the integrity of data during implementation.
The Guidelines are designed to protect geospatial data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. However, if safeguards are not properly implemented or if they are overly restrictive, they could potentially put other information security objectives at risk. And the two information security objectives that could be put at risk are Availability and Integrity.
1. Availability: Safeguards are designed to protect data by restricting access to it. However, if access controls are too stringent or if they are not properly managed, they could inadvertently restrict legitimate users from accessing the geospatial data they need to perform their jobs. This could lead to a decrease in the availability of the data for authorized users, potentially disrupting business operations and decision-making processes.
2. Integrity: Safeguards are also intended to ensure the integrity of geospatial data by preventing unauthorized modifications. However, if the safeguards themselves are compromised or if they are not regularly audited and updated, they could become vectors for attacks that compromise the integrity of the data.
When implementing these safeguard measures, there may be two information security objectives that may face risks:
Confidentiality:
The confidentiality objective involves ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive geospatial data to prevent unauthorized disclosure. However, certain safeguard measures may increase the risk of confidentiality. For example, if data is extensively encrypted to protect its confidentiality, but cannot be quickly decrypted when necessary to provide legal access, this may result in authorized users not being able to obtain the required data in a timely manner, thereby affecting confidentiality.
Availability:
The availability goal involves ensuring that geospatial data is accessible and usable when needed. However, certain safeguard measures may have a negative impact on availability. For example, strict access control and authentication mechanisms have been implemented to ensure that only authorized users can access data. If these measures are too strict or improperly implemented, it may cause legitimate users to encounter difficulties in obtaining the required data, thereby affecting the availability of the data.
Therefore, by adopting the safeguard measures in the Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data to Address Security Issues, there may be certain risks in terms of confidentiality and availability. In order to minimize these risks to the greatest extent possible, it is necessary to conduct sufficient risk assessments when implementing safeguard measures and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to balance the needs of security and availability.
The “Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns” typically focus on balancing the need for access to geospatial data with security concerns. However, there could be instances where implementing the recommended mitigations or safeguards could inadvertently put certain information security objectives at risk. Let’s explore two such objectives and how they might be compromised:
1. Data Availability: One of the primary goals of information security is to ensure that data is available when needed by authorized users. However, implementing strict access controls or encryption mechanisms, as recommended by the guidelines, could potentially hinder data availability. For example, if encryption keys are lost or access controls are overly restrictive, authorized users may face difficulties accessing the geospatial data they need on time. This risk increases if the safeguards are overly complex or poorly implemented, leading to potential disruptions in data availability during critical operations.
2. Data Integrity: Another crucial security objective is maintaining the integrity of geospatial data, ensuring that it remains accurate, consistent, and unaltered throughout its lifecycle. While encryption and access controls can help protect data from unauthorized modifications, they could also introduce risks to data integrity if not implemented properly. For instance, if encryption algorithms are weak or misconfigured, it may become easier for malicious actors to tamper with the encrypted data without detection. Similarly, overly restrictive access controls may prevent legitimate users from making necessary updates or corrections to the geospatial data, leading to integrity issues over time.
In summary, while the recommended safeguards in the guidelines aim to enhance the security of geospatial data, their implementation must be carefully balanced to avoid unintended consequences that could jeopardize critical information security objectives such as data availability and integrity. Organizations need to conduct thorough risk assessments and carefully tailor their security measures to mitigate risks without unduly compromising essential security goals.
The “safeguards” recommended in the Guidance on Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns are designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of geospatial data. However, these measures may adversely affect certain information security objectives. Here are two information security objectives that may be at risk, with explanations，
1. Availability of data，In order to protect geospatial data, it may be necessary to implement access control and encryption measures. These measures ensure that only authorized users have access to the data and that the data is encrypted both during transmission and storage. If not implemented properly, these measures can limit the availability of data. In addition, encryption and decryption processes can add latency to data access, especially in application scenarios that require real-time data processing.
2. Integrity of the system， In order to ensure that data is not subject to unauthorized modification, integrity checks and audit logging may be implemented. These measures can detect and record any unauthorized changes to the data. While these measures are designed to protect the integrity of data, they can also introduce new security risks. In addition, over-reliance on technical measures may lead to neglect of human factors, such as employee training and awareness raising, which are equally critical to the integrity of the system.
Two information security objectives that may be at risk are availability and integrity. 1. Availability: Protection measures are designed to protect data by restricting access to it. However, if access controls are too strict or poorly managed, they can inadvertently limit legitimate users’ access to the geospatial data they need to perform their jobs. This can lead to reduced data availability for authorized users, potentially disrupting business operations and decision-making processes. 2. Integrity: Protection measures also aim to ensure the integrity of geospatial data by preventing unauthorized modifications. However, if the protections themselves are compromised or not regularly reviewed and updated, they can become vectors of attack that compromise data integrity.
The two information security objectives of availability and integrity may be at risk, and implementing security measures to protect information from unauthorized access and ensure its integrity and confidentiality may reduce the availability of information halfway through.
If protection measures such as access controls are too strict, they may prevent legitimate users from accessing some data, which can cause some operations to be delayed or inefficient. The response time will also be affected.
The two information security goals of Accessibility and Usability may be affected by the recommended mitigation measures (i.e. “Security measures”) . If security measures require multiple levels of authentication or access that are too fine-grained and difficult to manage, authorized users may encounter delays or barriers when attempting to access the required data, affecting availability. If security measures require the use of special software or tools to access or interpret geospatial data, this can affect availability, as users may encounter difficulties in navigating or understanding information
Two information security objectives that could be put at risk are Availability and Integrity. For Accessibility, the safeguards recommended in the guidelines may inadvertently hinder accessibility by imposing overly restrictive access controls or cumbersome authentication processes. Data availability is the ability of data to be accessed and used in a timely and accurate manner when needed. Applying certain safeguards may limit data availability.Strict access controls may limit access to data by legitimate users, especially in emergency situations that require a rapid response. This may result in critical decisions being delayed because necessary data is not available in a timely manner.
The two information security objectives that could be put at risk if the mitigations recommended by the Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns are applied are:
1.Availability: This objective ensures that information is accessible and usable upon demand by an authorized entity. The safeguards might restrict access to geospatial data, thereby limiting its availability to users who need it for legitimate purposes. For example, if access controls are too stringent, emergency responders might not be able to obtain critical geospatial information in a timely manner, potentially hindering their ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
2.Integrity: This objective ensures that information is accurate and complete and that it has not been altered in an unauthorized manner. The implementation of certain safeguards might inadvertently introduce errors or inconsistencies in the data. For instance, if data masking techniques are used to obscure sensitive information, there is a risk that the masked data could be misinterpreted or that important details could be lost, thereby compromising the integrity of the geospatial data.
In summary, while the safeguards aim to protect sensitive geospatial data, they can also inadvertently impact the availability and integrity of the data, which are crucial for ensuring that the information remains useful and reliable for authorized users.
Data protection may include limiting access to data in order to reduce unauthorized risk and prevent access to individuals or systems requiring lawful access. Endangering confidential information.
those who attempt to modify the data to delete or modify sensitive data may destroy the integrity of the data and make it unusable. In addition, strict access controls can make data inaccessible if necessary. Information availability is the ability of users to obtain and use that information. If necessary, this information will not be used for the intended purposes and will not be strictly limited if modified or deleted by mistake, even if it is harmless and may be ineffective, as it is not accessible to those who need it.
1. Confidentiality
The safeguards recommended by the guidelines, such as changing or restricting access to sensitive information in geospatial data, may compromise the confidentiality of the data. For example, if the data is modified or restricted, it may become less useful or lose its value to users who require access to the original, detailed information. This could potentially lead to unauthorized access or disclosure of sensitive information.
2. Availability
The safeguards recommended by the guidelines, such as restricting access to geospatial data or modifying the data to remove sensitive information, may impact the availability of the data. If access is restricted or the data is changed, it may limit the availability of the data to users who need it for legitimate purposes. This could hinder decision-making processes, research, or other activities that rely on the availability of accurate and complete geospatial data.
Availability and integrity
Security measures are designed to protect data and limit access to it. If access controls are too strict or poorly managed, they may unintentionally restrict legitimate users’ access to required geospatial data, affecting business operations and decision-making processes. The protection measures also aim to ensure geospatial data integrity and prevent unauthorized modification. However, if security measures are breached or not regularly audited and updated, they can become a vehicle for attacks that compromise data integrity.
Availability and integrity, two information security goals may be threatened.
1. Encryption is essential to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data, but it also brings performance overhead. Decrypting data every time it is accessed will reduce the system performance and the speed of data retrieval and processing.
2. Regular backup is very important to ensure the availability and integrity of data. However, if the backup data is not encrypted or the security is incorrect, it is easy to be accessed without authorization. Moreover, transferring backup data to another place or storing it in the cloud environment without adequate protection will expose it to additional risks.
1. Confidentiality
Excessive data protection measures may lead to information silos: in order to protect the confidentiality of geographic empty data, organizations may implement strict data access controls and restrict data sharing and access. While such measures help to prevent unauthorized information leakage, it may also lead to the problem of information islands, where information is isolated in different departments or teams and cannot be shared effectively shared, thus affecting the decision-making efficiency and collaborative work of the organization.
2. Availability
Safety measures may result in an increase in the system response time:
To improve the security of the system, various security inspection and verification measures, such as multi-factor authentication, intrusion detection system, etc. Although these measures can improve the security of the system, they may also increase the response time of the system and affect the user’s use experience and work efficiency.
The two information security objectives that could be put at risk if the mitigations (i.e. “safeguards”) recommended by the Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns are applied are confidentiality and availability.
1.Confidentiality: Confidentiality refers to the requirement that information is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals, organizations, or processes. The safeguards recommended in the guidelines may put confidentiality at risk if they result in excessive restrictions on data access. For example, if access controls are too strict, they may prevent authorized users from accessing the geospatial data they need to perform their jobs effectively.
2.Availability: Availability ensures that authorized users have timely and reliable access to information and associated assets. The safeguards recommended in the guidelines may put availability at risk if they introduce delays or disruptions in data access. For example, if incident response plans are overly aggressive, they may result in unnecessary system downtime while investigating potential security incidents, further impacting availability.
While the safeguards recommended in the Guidelines for Providing Appropriate Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns are designed to enhance security, they can also potentially impact the confidentiality and availability of geospatial data. It is essential to strike a balance between implementing effective safeguards and ensuring that they do not unduly restrict access or cause disruptions in data availability.