Preparing the Final Report
Although the hands-on portion of the assessment is complete, you still have a report to write. You also have data to analyze. This chapter discusses one method you can use to accomplish this. This step of the assessment is just as important as the scoping and the hands-on activities. Before you start thinking that you're going to take on this work by yourself, remember that your team can be as big an asset here as they were during the previous assessment activities.
Maybe you're thinking, "Hey, people aren't fired for being poor report writers." Maybe not, but don't expect to be promoted or praised for your technical findings if the report doesn't communicate your findings clearly. The post-assessment report should present the results of the assessment in an easily understandable and fully traceable way. The report should be comprehensive and self-contained. Because this is such an important topic, we'll spend time in this chapter discussing what should be in the final report and how you can format this document. Let's get started!
Introduction to Assessing Network Vulnerabilities
- Introduction to Assessing Network Vulnerabilities
- What Security Is and Isnt
- Process for Assessing Risk
- Four Ways in Which You Can Respond to Risk
- Network Vulnerability Assessment
Foundations and Principles of Security
- Foundations and Principles of Security
- Basic Security Principles
- Security Requires Information Classification
- The Policy Framework
- The Role Authentication, Authorization, and Accountability Play in a Secure Organization
- Encryption
- Security and the Employee (Social Engineering)
Why Risk Assessment
- Why Risk Assessment
- Risk Terminology
- Laws, Mandates, and Regulations
- Risk Assessment Best Practices
- Understanding the IT Security Process
- The Goals and Objectives of a Risk Assessment
Risk-Assessment Methodologies
- Risk-Assessment Methodologies
- Risk-Assessment Terminology
- Quantitative and Qualitative Risk-Assessment Approaches
- Best Practices for Quantitative and Qualitative Risk Assessment
- Choosing the Best Risk-Assessment Approach
- Common Risk-Assessment Methodologies and Templates
Scoping the Project
- Scoping the Project
- Defining the Scope of the Assessment
- Reviewing Critical Systems and Information
- Compiling the Needed Documentation
- Making Sure You Are Ready to Begin
Understanding the Attacker
- Understanding the Attacker
- Who Are the Attackers?
- What Do Attackers Do?
- Reducing the Risk of an Attack
- How to Respond to an Attack
Performing the Assessment
- Performing the Assessment
- Introducing the Assessment Process
- Level I Assessments
- Level II Assessments
- Level III Assessments
Tools Used for Assessments and Evaluations
- Tools Used for Assessments and Evaluations
- A Brief History of Security Tools
- Putting Together a Toolkit
- Determining What Tools to Use
Preparing the Final Report
- Preparing the Final Report
- Preparing for Analysis
- Ranking Your Findings
- Building the Final Report
- Contents of a Good Report
- Determining the Next Step
- Audit and Compliance
Post-Assessment Activities
- Post-Assessment Activities
- IT Security Architecture and Framework
- Roles, Responsibilities, and Accountabilities
- Security Incident Response Team (SIRT)
- Vulnerability Management
- Training IT Staff and End Users
Appendix A. Security Assessment Resources
Appendix B. Security Assessment Forms
- Information Request Form
- Document Tracking Form
- Critical Systems and Information Forms
- Level II Assessment Forms
Appendix C. Security Assessment Sample Report
- Appendix C. Security Assessment Sample Report
- Notice
- Executive Summary
- Statement of Work
- Analysis
- Recommendations
- Conclusions
Appendix D. Dealing with Consultants and Outside Vendors
- Appendix D. Dealing with Consultants and Outside Vendors
- Procurement Terminology
- Typical RFP Procurement Steps
- Procurement Best Practices
Appendix E. SIRT Team Report Format Template
EAN: 2147483647
Pages: 138
