Cyber Security Risk Assessment & Management Training

Risk Assessment and Management Course Outline

• Introduction to Risk Assessment and Management

  • Ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory drivers
  • Protecting the organization from unacceptable losses
  • Describing the Risk Management Framework (RMF)
  • Applying NIST/ISO risk management processes

• Characterizing System Security Requirements

  Defining the system

  • Outlining the system security boundary
  • Pinpointing system interconnections
  • Incorporating the unique characteristics of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and cloud-based systems

  Identifying security risk components

  • Estimating the impact of compromises to confidentiality, integrity and availability
  • Adopting the appropriate model for categorizing system risk

  Setting the stage for successful risk management

  • Documenting critical risk assessment and management decisions in the System Security Plan (SSP)
  • Appointing qualified individuals to risk governance roles

• Selecting Appropriate Security Controls

  Assigning a security control baseline

  • Investigating security control families
  • Determining the baseline from system security risk

  Tailoring the baseline to fit the system

  • Examining the structure of security controls, enhancements and parameters
  • Binding control overlays to the selected baseline
  • Gauging the need for enhanced assurance
  • Distinguishing system-specific, compensating and non-applicable controls

• Reducing Risk Through Effective Control Implementation

  Specifying the implementation approach

  • Maximizing security effectiveness by "building in" security
  • Reducing residual risk in legacy systems via "bolt-on" security elements

  Applying NIST/ISO controls

  • Enhancing system robustness through selection of evaluated and validated components
  • Coordinating implementation approaches to administrative, operational and technical controls
  • Providing evidence of compliance through supporting artifacts

• Assessing Compliance Scope and Depth

  Developing an assessment plan

  • Prioritizing depth of control assessment
  • Optimizing validation through sequencing and consolidation
  • Verifying compliance through tests, interviews and examinations

  Formulating an authorization recommendation

  • Evaluating overall system security risk
  • Mitigating residual risks
  • Publishing the Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M), the risk assessment and recommendation

• Authorizing System Operation

  Aligning authority and responsibility

  • Quantifying organizational risk tolerance
  • Elevating authorization decisions in high-risk scenarios

  Forming a risk-based decision

  • Appraising system operational impact
  • Weighing residual risk against operational utility
  • Issuing Authority to Operate (ATO)

• Maintaining Continued Compliance

  Justifying continuous reauthorization

  • Measuring impact of changes on system security posture
  • Executing effective configuration management
  • Performing periodic control reassessment

  Preserving an acceptable security posture

  • Delivering initial and routine follow-up security awareness training
  • Collecting on-going security metrics
  • Implementing vulnerability management, incident response and business continuity processes