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Protection of Information Assets

Temple University

Protection of Information Assets

MIS 5206.951 ■ Summer 2024 ■ David Lanter
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Question 1

April 29, 2024 by David Lanter 30 Comments

Are employees information security risks to organizations? If so, why? If not, why not?

Filed Under: 3a: Creating a Security Aware Organization Tagged With:

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Comments

  1. Yusen Luo says

    May 26, 2024 at 2:20 am

    Yes, employees are indeed information security risks to organizations. Employees can fall victim to phishing emails, inadvertently providing attackers with access to the organization’s systems and data.Disgruntled employees or those with malicious intent might deliberately steal, destroy, or leak sensitive information.Without regular updates and training, employees may be unaware of the latest threats and how to mitigate them.Employees might use weak or easily guessable passwords, increasing the risk of unauthorized access.

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  2. Dongchang Liu says

    May 26, 2024 at 10:45 pm

    Yes, employees can be information security risks to organizations for several reasons. They might unintentionally engage in risky behaviors such as clicking on malicious links, falling for phishing scams, or using weak passwords. Additionally, employees might lack awareness of security policies and best practices. Some might misuse company resources by downloading unauthorized software or connecting personal devices to the corporate network, which can introduce vulnerabilities. Furthermore, disgruntled employees or those with malicious intent can deliberately cause security breaches by stealing sensitive data or sabotaging systems. Finally, employees might inadvertently disclose sensitive information through social engineering attacks or negligence, such as leaving sensitive documents unattended.

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  3. Yifei Que says

    May 26, 2024 at 11:22 pm

    (1) Human error: Employees may make various errors in their daily work, such as mistakenly sending sensitive information, deleting important data, configuring incorrect system access permissions, etc.
    (2) Insufficient security awareness: If employees lack sufficient information security awareness, they may not be aware that their actions may pose risks to the organization. For example, they may use weak passwords, click on malicious links, or perform sensitive operations on insecure networks.
    (3) Internal fraud: Although uncommon, employees may intentionally disclose or misuse sensitive information of the organization for personal gain. This type of internal fraud may have a serious impact on the organization’s reputation, financial condition, and customer trust.
    (4) Social engineering attacks: Attackers often exploit the psychological weaknesses and social relationships of employees to carry out social engineering attacks, in order to gain access to organizational systems or induce employees to leak sensitive information. If employees have not received relevant training or lack vigilance, they may become victims of these attacks.

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  4. Jianan Wu says

    May 27, 2024 at 12:53 am

    The information security of employees does pose risks to the organization, and the following are the main reasons:
    Lack of security awareness: If employees lack basic information security awareness, they may not follow the organization’s security policies and procedures, thereby increasing the risks faced by the organization.
    Human error: Employees may make errors due to negligence, misunderstanding, or lack of security awareness, which can lead to data leaks, system crashes, or other security incidents. For example, they may send sensitive information through insecure channels or click on links containing malicious software.
    Internal fraud: Some employees may intentionally disclose sensitive information of the organization or engage in fraudulent behavior for personal gain, such as retaliation, greed, or dissatisfaction. These behaviors may bring significant financial and legal risks to the organization.
    Improper permission management: If the organization does not properly manage the access rights of employees, some employees may access data they do not need or perform operations they should not. This may lead to data leakage or misuse.
    Therefore, ensuring the information security of employees is an important part of organizational risk management. Organizations should enhance employee safety awareness and reduce the risks they may bring to the organization through training, education, and implementation of appropriate safety strategies.

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  5. Ao Li says

    May 27, 2024 at 1:16 am

    Employees can indeed pose information security risks to organizations, and there are several reasons why this occurs:
    -Insider Threats: Employees can pose a threat to an organization’s information security. Intentional insider threats include acts such as fraud, espionage, or sabotage, where employees may misuse their access privileges to steal sensitive data, intellectual property, or financial information. Unintentional insider threats.
    -Lack of Awareness: Many employees may not be fully aware of the importance of information security and the potential consequences of security breaches. They may fail to follow basic security practices.
    -Mobile Devices and Remote Access: With the increasing use of mobile devices and remote working, organizations face additional security risks. Employees may connect their personal devices to the corporate network, exposing the organization to potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, remote workers may be less likely to follow strict security protocols when working outside the office.

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  6. Ruoyu Zhi says

    May 27, 2024 at 2:11 am

    Yes, employees do bring information security risks to the organization.

    If some employees have malicious intentions or are dissatisfied with the organization, they will take certain measures to steal or leak organizational information, damage the system, or engage in other behaviors that damage the organization’s image and internal structure, thereby leading to information security risks for the organization. In addition, employees who have not received sufficient training or understanding of best practices in information security may unknowingly engage in risky behavior.

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  7. Qian Wang says

    May 27, 2024 at 2:50 am

    Employees can be a risk to organizations’ information security. Firstly, employees may lack the necessary knowledge and awareness about secure practices in their work environment, making them vulnerable to social engineering tactics such as phishing or hoaxes. Additionally, employees who are careless with their passwords or fail to update antivirus software can inadvertently put the organization at risk by allowing malware into the network through their devices.

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  8. Yihan Wang says

    May 27, 2024 at 3:52 am

    Yes,employees are information security risks to organization.
    For instance,in Case 2:Autopsy of a Data Breach The Target,the fundamental cause of information security incidents is their insufficient security awareness.
    According to the SANS Reading 1,one of the greatest threats to information security could actually come from within your company or organization. Inside ‘attacks’ have been noted to be some of the most dangerous since these people are already quite familiar with the infrastructure. It is not always disgruntled workers and corporate spies who are a threat. Often, it is the nonmalicious, uninformed employee .

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  9. Mengfan Guo says

    May 27, 2024 at 4:06 am

    Yes, employees can indeed pose information security risks to organizations. Many employees may not be fully aware of the potential threats and vulnerabilities that exist in the digital landscape. They might not understand how their actions can inadvertently expose the organization to risks such as phishing attacks, malware infections, and data breaches.Otherwise, Employees can unintentionally make mistakes that lead to security incidents. This can include falling for phishing scams, mishandling sensitive data, failing to follow security protocols, or accidentally downloading malicious software.
    However, it’s important to note that employees are not inherently security risks; they become risks due to lack of awareness, training, and proper security measures. Organizations can mitigate these risks through comprehensive security awareness programs, regular training, clear policies, and by fostering a culture of security.

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  10. Zhichao Lin says

    May 27, 2024 at 6:41 am

    Employees can be significant information security risks to organizations. This is because they may inadvertently or deliberately expose sensitive data through actions such as falling for phishing scams, mishandling confidential information, or failing to follow security protocols. Additionally, insider threats, whether from disgruntled employees or those with malicious intent, can result in severe breaches of security.

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  11. Xinyue Zhang says

    May 27, 2024 at 6:42 am

    Yes, employees pose an information security risk to the organization.
    1. Human error: Employees can inadvertently click on malicious links, disclose sensitive information, or misconfigure systems, leading to security breaches.
    2. Lack of training: Without adequate information security training, employees may not know how to identify and respond to security threats.
    3. Insider threats: Disgruntled or departed employees may intentionally leak or misuse sensitive information.

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  12. Tongjia Zhang says

    May 27, 2024 at 6:54 am

    Employees do pose an information security risk to organizations for the following reasons: Human error: Employees may accidentally click on malicious links in phishing emails, download viruses, or misplace sensitive files. Lack of awareness: Employees may not fully understand the importance of information security or the consequences of a security breach. Without proper training and awareness, they may unknowingly engage in risky behaviors, such as sharing sensitive information or using weak passwords. Malicious intent: In some cases, employees may intentionally compromise security for personal gain. This could involve stealing sensitive data, compromising systems, or leaking information to outside parties.
    However, employees do not necessarily pose an information security risk to an organization for the following reasons: With proper training, awareness, and motivation, employees can help identify and report security threats, adopt security practices, and act as the first line of defense against cyberattacks. To mitigate the risks posed by employees, organizations should: provide regular security awareness training to ensure employees understand the importance of information security and how to protect sensitive information. Implement strong authentication practices, such as multi-factor authentication, to reduce the risk of certificate theft. Encourage employees to report suspected security threats and incidents in a timely manner. Security policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated to address new risks and threats.

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  13. Luxiao Xue says

    May 27, 2024 at 10:33 am

    Employees can be an information security risk to an organization. This is because :1. Employees may share sensitive information with unauthorized parties. 2. Failure to follow proper security protocols, such as using weak passwords or leaving devices unlocked. 3. Click on a malicious link or download an infected file. 4. Stealing or leaking information for personal gain. 5. Sabotage the system out of malice or discontent.
    However, it would be unfair to say that all employees are a risk. However, the potential for human error or malicious behavior does exist, and organizations need to be aware of this and take appropriate steps to mitigate the risks associated with their employees.

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  14. Wenhan Zhao says

    May 28, 2024 at 5:43 am

    Yes, employees can pose information security risks to organizations. There are several reasons:
    1. Human Errors: Employees may compromise security through actions such as clicking on malicious links in phishing emails.
    2. Insider Threats: There are employees with bad intentions, whether due to disgruntlement, financial gain, or other motivations, who can steal data, or leak sensitive information.
    3. Lack of awareness: Many employees may not understand the importance of information security, leading to vulnerabilities.

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  15. Chaoyue Li says

    May 28, 2024 at 6:29 am

    The security of employees’ information poses risks to the organization.
    I believe there are several
    1. Human error and negligence: Employees may inadvertently cause security breaches, such as clicking on phishing email links, using weak passwords, losing devices, etc.
    2. Confidentiality leakage: Employees may leak sensitive information or abuse privileges for malicious operations
    3. Security Awareness: Lack of adequate information security training and awareness.
    These risks can be mitigated by increasing employee awareness, implementing strict access control and monitoring measures

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  16. Weifan Qiao says

    May 28, 2024 at 7:16 am

    Yes. Because employees may make mistakes, such as accidentally leaking sensitive information, clicking on malicious links, using weak passwords, etc. These human errors may lead to security issues such as data leakage and system intrusion. And Attackers may use social engineering techniques to lure employees into leaking information or performing malicious operations. For example, phishing emails may disguise themselves as legitimate notifications, luring employees to click on malicious links or provide login credentials. In addition, sometimes employees may intentionally disclose sensitive information, steal intellectual property, or engage in other malicious activities. Internal threats may come from dissatisfied employees, departing employees, or employees who are forced to accept bribes. If the devices used by employees, such as laptops and mobile phones, are not properly protected, such as not encrypted or not updated with software in a timely manner, these devices may also become targets of attacks, leading to data leakage or intrusion.

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  17. Fang Dong says

    May 28, 2024 at 9:19 am

    I think that employees pose an information security risk to the organization for the following reasons,
    1. Lack of awareness of employees, Employees may not have sufficient awareness of the importance of information security and do not know that their actions may bring security risks.
    2. Employees will be negligent,Employees may forget to implement security measures due to negligence, such as not locking screens, using weak passwords, not updating software, etc.
    3. Non-compliance with policies,In rare cases, employees may intentionally violate security policies, such as disclosing sensitive information, conducting unauthorized access, and not encrypting data.
    4. Disclosure of social software, Employees can become targets of social software attacks, inadvertently disclosing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.
    8. Employees can’t keep up with The Times,Security threats are constantly changing as technology evolves, and employees who don’t keep their knowledge up to date may inadvertently increase their risk.

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  18. Menghe LI says

    May 28, 2024 at 10:21 am

    Yes, employees can pose information security risks to organizations due to inadvertent errors, lack of awareness, or malicious intent, compromising data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

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  19. Ziyi Wan says

    May 28, 2024 at 4:18 pm

    Employees can pose an information security risk to the organization,
    1 Lack of awareness: If employees are not sufficiently aware of the importance of information security, they may not take appropriate precautions to protect data and systems.
    2. Human error: Employees may inadvertently violate security policies or fail to properly handle sensitive information.
    3. Insider threats: In rare cases, employees may intentionally abuse their access, resulting in a data breach.

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  20. Yucheng Hou says

    May 28, 2024 at 9:15 pm

    Yes, employees are a security risk to the organization.
    Uncontrolled rights management: Improper rights management can lead to employees abusing their access rights, which can threaten an organization’s data security, including data theft, unauthorized access, or tampering.
    Internal fraud risk: Some employees may intentionally leak or abuse the sensitive data of the organization for personal benefit, posing a serious threat to the data security of the organization.
    Weak security awareness: Many employees may have insufficient awareness of the importance of data security, leading to neglect of basic security practices and increasing the risk of data breaches in the organization.
    Frequent human errors: Employees may make mistakes due to negligence, misunderstanding, or lack of security awareness, such as sending sensitive information by mistake, deleting data by mistake, or improperly using storage media, which may pose a threat to data security.
    Mobile devices and remote Working challenges: With the proliferation of mobile devices and remote working, organizations are facing new challenges, such as employees using personal devices to access sensitive data and the increased difficulty of securing data in remote working environments.

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  21. Zijian Tian says

    May 28, 2024 at 9:49 pm

    Yes, I believe that enterprise employees can become vulnerabilities in information security. Here is my understanding:
    If a company lacks vocational education on information security, it can lead to employees clicking on links or software contained in phishing emails without protection, which can result in the company being attacked by the internet.
    2. Personal equipment of employees, when not isolated, may carry malicious viruses, thereby infecting the company’s public equipment.
    3. Employees may engage in violations, such as omitting the steps to activate protective software.
    4. There may be situations where employees actively cooperate or infiltrate external hackers, and such potential criminals or thieves of trade secrets must be carefully protected.

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  22. Jingyu Jiang says

    May 29, 2024 at 12:00 am

    Employees may indeed pose information security risks to the organization. This is mainly because employees may have improper operation, insufficient security awareness, or intentional malicious behavior in the handling of sensitive data and information. The specific analysis is provided as follows:
    1. Operation error: Employees may cause data leakage or system damage due to their lack of understanding or negligence of safety policies. For example, accidentally click on links in phishing email, or discuss sensitive information in public.
    2. Lack of safety awareness: Employees may lack sufficient information security training to understand how their behavior may lead to security incidents. This includes using weak passwords, sharing account credentials, or ignoring the importance of updating passwords regularly.
    3. Internal threats: Some employees may be dissatisfied with the company, such as data theft or malware installation. The study shows that the threat of internal employees has surpassed the external threats as the main inducement of information security incidents.

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  23. Yi Zheng says

    May 29, 2024 at 2:35 am

    Yes, employees pose a risk to organizational information security. Employees may become victims of phishing attacks, unintentionally providing attackers with access to organizational systems and data. Employees who are dissatisfied or malicious may intentionally steal, destroy, or leak sensitive information. If there is no regular update and training, employees may not be aware of the latest threats and how to mitigate them. Employees may use weak or easily guessed passwords, increasing the risk of unauthorized access.
    Employees may become a risk to organizational information security due to the following reasons:
    1. Employees may unintentionally engage in risky behaviors, such as clicking on malicious links, falling into phishing scams, or using weak passwords.
    2. Employees may lack safety awareness, lack understanding of safety policies and best practices.
    3. Employees may abuse company resources, download unauthorized software, or connect personal devices to the company network, thereby introducing vulnerabilities.
    Employees who are dissatisfied or malicious may intentionally steal sensitive data or damage systems.
    5. Employees may inadvertently leak sensitive information through social engineering attacks or negligence, such as leaving sensitive files in unsafe places.
    Employees may become a risk to organizational information security due to the following reasons:
    1. Internal threat: Employees may pose a threat to the organization’s information security. Intentional internal threats include fraud, espionage, or destructive behavior, where employees may abuse their access rights to steal sensitive data, intellectual property, or financial information. Unintentional internal threats.
    2. Lack of awareness: Many employees may not fully understand the importance of information security and the potential consequences of security vulnerabilities. They may not follow basic safety practices.
    3. Mobile devices and remote access: With the increase of mobile devices and remote work, organizations face additional security risks. Employees may connect their personal devices to the company network, exposing potential vulnerabilities in the organization. In addition, remote workers may not be likely to follow strict security protocols while working outside the office.
    Employees do pose risks to the organization’s information security, mainly due to the following reasons:
    1. Lack of security awareness: If employees lack basic information security awareness, they may not comply with the organization’s security policies and procedures, thereby increasing the risks faced by the organization.
    2. Human error: Employees may make mistakes due to negligence, misunderstanding, or lack of security awareness, resulting in data leaks, system crashes, or other security incidents. For example, they may send sensitive information through insecure channels or click on links containing malicious software.
    3. Internal fraud: Some employees may intentionally disclose sensitive information of the organization or engage in fraudulent activities such as retaliation, greed, or dissatisfaction. These behaviors may bring significant financial and legal risks to the organization.
    4. Improper permission management: If the organization does not properly manage the access rights of employees, some employees may access them

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  24. Yuqing Yin says

    May 29, 2024 at 2:50 am

    Yes,employees can pose information security risks to organizations due to a lack of awareness about digital threats and vulnerabilities. They may unintentionally expose the organization to risks like phishing attacks, malware infections, and data breaches by making mistakes such as mishandling sensitive data or failing to follow security protocols. However, employees are not inherently security risks; they become risks due to insufficient training and security measures. Organizations can mitigate these risks through comprehensive security awareness programs, regular training, clear policies, and fostering a culture of security.

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  25. Ao Zhou says

    May 29, 2024 at 8:34 am

    Here are the main reasons why employee information security is a risk to your organization.
    Security paralysis: if employees do not fully understand basic information security, an organization’s security policies and procedures may not be followed, which increases the risk for the organization.
    Human error: carelessness, misunderstandings, and security flaws can cause a person to cause data breaches, system errors, and other security events. For example, sensitive information may be sent in insecure ways or clicked on a link to a malicious program.
    Internal fraud: employees intentionally leak sensitive information about the organization or commit fraud for personal gain. Revenge, greed, dissatisfaction, etc. This poses enormous financial and legal risks to the organization.
    Untrusted permission management: if an organization cannot properly manage access to its employees, some employees may have access to unnecessary data or perform tasks that they cannot perform. In this case, data can be leaked or exploited.
    Therefore, ensuring the information security of employees is an important part of an organization’s risk management. Organizations should increase employee safety awareness through training, training and appropriate safety measures, and reduce the risks that employees may face.

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  26. Kang Shao says

    May 29, 2024 at 10:57 am

    Yes, employees are an organization’s information security risk. Here are some main reasons. First, many hackers will target employees with phishing electronic files, thus achieving primary penetration of corporate information. Secondly, the employee base is often large, which means that some employees who are dissatisfied with the company or motivated by profit will leak relevant information to criminals or disclose information security vulnerabilities that they know to hackers. Moreover, employees, as the grassroots group of the enterprise, have relatively shallow stakes with the enterprise, and the cost required to pay is relatively low in the face of risks, so employees usually ignore information.

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  27. Yifan Yang says

    May 30, 2024 at 3:21 am

    Yes.
    Employees are a risk to organizational security. Improper rights management can lead to employee abuse of access rights and threaten the security of organizational data, including data theft, unauthorized access, or tampering. Internal fraud risk: Employees may intentionally leak or misuse sensitive organizational data, posing a serious threat to organizational data security. Weak security awareness: Many employees may lack awareness of the importance of data security, leading to neglect of basic security practices and increasing the risk of data breaches in the organization. Frequent human errors: Employees may make mistakes due to negligence, misunderstanding, or lack of security awareness, such as sending sensitive information by mistake, deleting data by mistake, or using storage media by mistake, which may pose a threat to data security. Mobile devices and remote working challenges: With the proliferation of mobile devices and remote working, organizations face new challenges, such as employees using personal devices to access sensitive data and data security in remote working environments. The reasons that employees pose risks to organizational information security include: 1. Employees lack of security awareness; 2. Employee negligence; 3. Failure to comply with the policy; 4. Social media disclosure; 5. Employees can’t keep up.

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  28. Baowei Guo says

    May 30, 2024 at 11:41 am

    Employees are indeed information security risks to organizations. This is due to several reasons which can be categorized broadly into insider threats, human error, and lack of awareness.
    1.Insider Threats:
    Employees with access to sensitive information can misuse their privileges to steal, leak, or sabotage data. This is especially concerning for disgruntled employees or those with malicious intent. Insider threats can be difficult to detect and prevent because they come from trusted individuals within the organization​​.
    2.Human Error:
    Employees may inadvertently misconfigure systems, leading to vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. This is particularly common in complex IT environments where small errors can have significant consequences​.
    3.Lack of Security Awareness:
    Employees who are not adequately trained in security best practices are more likely to make errors that compromise security. Regular training and awareness programs are essential to educate employees about potential threats and how to avoid them​​.

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  29. Yimo Wu says

    May 31, 2024 at 1:42 am

    Employees are often considered the weakest link in the information security chain, creating both unintentional and intentional security threats for their employers and their employers’ partners and customers.2However, research on why employees cause these security issues is still in its infancy. What is known is that an employee’s personality and their relationships with their employer and fellow employees contribute to both intentional and unintentional information security incidents. Therefore, it is crucial for managers to understand the role personality can play in security threats so they can identify potential problems early and develop a culture of information security compliance for all employees.

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  30. Yahan Dai says

    May 31, 2024 at 10:02 am

    Employees can be significant information security risks to organizations due to various reasons. They might lack awareness about security policies, making them vulnerable to phishing attacks or prone to using weak passwords. Mishandling sensitive data, neglecting physical security measures, or misconfiguring systems can also lead to security breaches. Moreover, some employees might intentionally act against the organization’s interests. Therefore, proper training, awareness, and compliance with security policies are crucial to minimize these risks. Additionally, implementing strong access controls, regular security audits, and incident response plans can further help in mitigating risks associated with employee behavior.

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Questions about the Readings and Case Studies

  • 0a: Course Introduction & Webinar (1)
  • 0b: Understanding an Organization's Risk Environment (4)
  • 1a: Case Study 1 Snowfall and a stolen laptop (4)
  • 1b: Data Classification Process and Models (4)
  • 2a: Risk Evaluation (4)
  • 2b: Case Study 2 Autopsy of a Data Breach: The Target Case (4)
  • 3a: Creating a Security Aware Organization (4)
  • 3b: Physical and Environmental Security (3)
  • 4b Case Study 3 A Hospital catches the Millennium Bug (4)
  • 5a: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (4)
  • 5b: Team Project Instructions (1)
  • 6a: Network Security (4)
  • 6b – Cryptography Public Key Encryption and Digital Signatures (4)
  • 7a: Identity Management and Access Control (4)
  • 7b: Computer Application Development Security (4)

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