Fluent Essays

Write at least 500 words analyzing a subject you find in this article related to a threat to confidentiality, integrity, or availability of data. Use an example from the news.Use at least three sources. Include at least 3 quotes from your sources enclosed in quotation marks and cited in-line by reference to your reference list. Example: words you copied (citation) These quotes should be one full sentence not altered or paraphrased. Cite your sources using APA format. Use the quotes in your paragaphs. oec_fact_sheet_cyber_risks_ng911.pdf Unformatted Attachment Preview Cyber Risks to Next Generation 911 The advent of Next Generation 911 (NG911) systems, which operate on an Internet Protocol (IP) platform, enables interconnection on with a wide range of public and private networks, such as wireless networks, the Internet, and regular phone networks. NG911 systems will enhance the current capabilities of today’s 911 networks, allowing compatibility with more types of Benefits Risks communication, providing greater situational NG911 will enhance NG911 is different from awareness to dispatchers and emergency response capabilities: traditional systems: responders, and establishing a level of  Enables receipt of data  Requires standardized (e.g., video, text) from identity management and resilience not previously possible. NG911 the public over a variety credentialing across will allow Public Safety Answering Points of networks systems  Enables data sharing  Allows for potential attacks (PSAPs) to accept and process a range of between PSAPs to quickly escalate or information from responders and the public  Improves location data proliferate across systems alike, including real-time text, images, video,  Allows for virtual  Introduces new attack PSAPs for survivability vectors and voice calls. In addition, NG911 will provide PSAPs with supplemental location Figure 1: NG911 Benefits and Risks data, which may enable more effective response. Traditional 911 services typically operate over standard voice-based telephone networks and use software, such as computer-aided dispatch systems, that operate on closed, internal networks with little to no interconnections with other systems. The limited means of entry into the traditional 911 network significantly limited potential attack vectors, and what little cyber risk existed could be easily managed. NG911’s interconnections enable new response capabilities, as shown in Figure 1. However, they also represent new vectors for attack that can disrupt or disable PSAP operations, broadening the concerns of―and complicating the mitigation and management of―cyber risks across all levels of government. The potential cyber risks to a NG911 system do not undermine its tremendous benefits. Nevertheless, cyber risks do present a new level of exposure that PSAPs must understand and actively manage as a part of a comprehensive risk management program. Past events have proven 911 systems are attractive targets for cyber-attacks. For example, attackers have disrupted availability of traditional 911 systems by using auto-dialers to overwhelm PSAP phone lines and cause congestion, preventing legitimate 911 calls from going through [commonly called Telephone Denial of Service (TDoS) attacks] and location-based records and databases that support NG911 are of interest to cyber criminals, data miners, and even nationstates wanting to access and exploit that information. As cyber threats grow in complexity and sophistication, attacks could be more severe against an NG911 system as attackers can launch multiple distributed attacks with greater automation from a broader geography against more targets. This issue paper provides an overview of NG911 cyber infrastructure, conveys the cyber risk landscape associated with NG911, offers an approach for assessing and managing risks, and provides additional NG911 resources. 1 Cyber Infrastructure The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) describes NG911 systems as an IP-based system comprised of hardware, software, data, and operational policies and procedures that: • • • • • • Provides standardized interfaces from emergency call and message services; Processes all types of emergency calls, including voice, data, and multimedia information; Acquires and integrates additional emergency call data useful to call routing and handling; Delivers emergency calls, messages, and data to the appropriate PSAP and other entities; Supports data and communications needs for coordinated incident response and management; and Provides broadband service to PSAPs or other first responder entities. 1 NENA defines several basic building blocks of NG911 systems, as described below: • Emergency Services IP Networks (ESInets). ESInets are at the center of NG911 systems. These broadband networks are engineered and managed to use Internet protocols and standards to carry voice and data traffic (e.g., text, pictures, videos) in support of local, regional, state, and national emergency management authorities. • Applications and Databases. NG911 Figure 2: Simplified ESInet Diagram uses a wide range of internal and external databases to support its services. Internal databases validate and route data, record call details, and enforce policy and business rules. External databases host many of the datasets that call takers and dispatchers rely on to provide improved accuracy and shortened response time, including location data, government records, law enforcement records, healthcare information, and infrastructure data. • Standards and Security. NG911 uses functions and protocols that are compliant with international IP standards, as well as standards developed within the emergency response community. NENA defines NG911 standards based on Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) IP standards. 2 In addition to NENA, there are a number of other entities that establish standards for NG911 systems, including the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), and the IETF. 3 1 “What is NG911?”.NENA. http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.nena.org/resource/resmgr/ng9-1-1_project/whatisng911.pdf. The full list of NG911 functions, called the “i3” architecture, are defined in NENA 08-003, “Detailed Functional and Interface Standards for NG911.” NENA has also defined security standard 75-001, “NENA Security for Next Generation 9-1-1 Standard (NG-SEC).” The i3 functions and standards, NG-SEC, and the full suite of other NG911 standards can be found at https://www.nena.org/?page=Standards. 2 A full review of NG911 standards can be found on the National 911 Program’s website at http://www.911.gov/pdf/NG911-Standards-Identification-and-Analysis-March2015.pdf. 3 2 “Cyber infrastructure includes electronic information and communication systems, and the information contained in these systems. …Information and communications systems are composed of hardware and software that process, store, and communicate data of all types. Processing includes the creation, access, modification, and destruction of information. Storage includes paper, magnetic, electronic, and all other media types. Communications include sharing and distribution of information. National Infrastructure Protection Plan (2009, Revised and Updated 2013) Per the definition above, cyber infrastructure for NG911 systems includes the IP-based networks, assets, databases, and services, as they are involved in the processing, storage, and transport of data. Specifically, an NG911 system’s cyber infrastructure includes: • Assets that are part of, or interconnect with, ESInets • Service provider networks and applications that interconnect with ESInets • Government applications and services that connect to ESInets • Dispatch systems and components that connect to ESInets Traditionally, the term “cyber” has been applied to only information technology (IT) systems and assets, while communications infrastructure was considered separate. However, defining cyber infrastructure as including both IT and communications systems accounts for the many ways in which these systems have converged. NG911 administrators should recognize this convergence in order to more effectively counter risks. Risks to any component of these systems could threaten an entire NG911 system or its data, so it is important to consider systems holistically. The NG911 Cybersecurity Risk Landscape Cybersecurity4 risks occur when a threat exploits a vulnerability, leading to an undesired event that has a negative consequence on the desired state of the network. The three attributes most necessary for a secure system are often referred to as the C-I-A Triad: • • • Confidentiality: Ensures that data is only accessed by those authorized to see it. Integrity: Ensures that data is trustworthy and is not altered through transmittal, storage, or retrieval. Availability: Ensures that the infrastructure—either components of the network or the network as a whole—is operational and committable to its intended purpose. The CIA Triad is used as a benchmark for evaluating information system security by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and others. Loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability has especially severe impacts in the emergency response domain. For example, loss of confidentiality within NG911 systems could expose information to identity thefts or disrupt ongoing investigations; loss of integrity could disrupt response to 911 calls; and loss of availability could prevent urgent requests from reaching a PSAP. 4 Cybersecurity is “the prevention of damage to, unauthorized use of, exploitation of, and, if needed, the restoration of electronic information and communications systems and services (and the information contained therein) to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability”, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Infrastructure Protection Plan, 2009. http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdf. 3 Cybersecurity risks to NG911 systems, such as those shown in Figure 3, have severe potential impacts, including loss of life or property because of hampered response operations; job disruption for affected network users; substantial financial costs from the unauthorized use of data and subsequent resolution; and potential lawsuits from those whose data is breached or whose lives are adversely affected. To understand the significance of different risks to the confidentiality, integrity, or availabity of a NG911 system, the terms threat, vulnerability, likelihood, and consequence must be understood. Figure 3: Potential Risks to NG911 System Components Threats. Threats are anything that has the potential to harm the system and are produced by “threat actors.” There are a variety of potential actors, each with different intent and capabilities to carry out an attack. By understanding the motivations and capabilities of those responsible for launching attacks, system administrators can better anticipate the types of attacks they might face and better protect data and assets that are likely targets. Threat actors who have caused real-world damage include, but are not limited to, those in Figure 4:       Figure 4:  Threat Actors   Anarchist………………..Someone who rejects all forms of structure, private or public, and acts with few constraints Cyber Criminal/Crime Ring……………………….Manager of organized crime organization with significant resources Cyber Vandal…………………………………..Derives thrills from intrusion or destruction of property, without agenda Data Miner……………………………..Professional data gatherer external to the company (includes cyber methods) Government Agent/Spy ……Foreign state-sponsored spy or agent as a trusted insider, supporting idealistic goals Government Cyberwarrior…...Foreign state-sponsored attacker with significant resources to affect major disruption Nation-state……………………………………………….A sovereign territory with significant resources to cause harm Radical Activist……………………………………………...Highly motivated, potentially destructive supporter of cause Terrorist………………………….Person who relies on the use of violence to support personal socio-political agenda In addition to attacks, unintentional threats can disrupt the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of NG911 systems. Unintentional threat actors include employees, vendors, contractors, or subcontractors. For example, one of these actors could: • Improperly safeguard data when sending or storing (for example, not using proper encryption, sending data to unauthorized individuals, putting weak protection on databases) • Enter typing mistakes that result in loss of data integrity • Accidentally make a data resource unavailable when performing maintenance or upgrade operations • Not follow physical or cyber protection procedures • Improperly test or maintain back-up systems and power sources 4 Vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities are weaknesses Example Vulnerabilities in a system, network, or asset that could enable an Old Systems: Systems that are out of date or past their undesired outcome, such as a network outage or lifecycle that lack modern security measures security breach. Vulnerabilities take two forms, Shared Systems: Shared systems/databases with other those that are vulnerable to external threats and entities that have not employed security measures those that are vulnerable to internal threats. One Lack of Diversity and Redundancy: Lack of diverse routing of the key tactics of an attacker is to gain credentials for communications or redundancy for electric power decreases resilience and access to a network, and then exploit Lack of Security Policies: Ad hoc or non-existent security vulnerabilities within the network as a seemingly policies enable insiders to accidently or intentionally disrupt “trusted entity.” Vulnerabilities can also be within operations and/or security a network and available to malicious threat actors who gain access to the internal system, either improperly (through hacking) or by misusing their current position (insider threats). These actors typically take advantage of databases or system applications with bad encryption, poor authorization and access control measures or policies, and interconnections or interfaces with an external network or entity. With vast interconnection possibilities, PSAPs may suffer from vulnerabilities associated with systems for which they have not contributed funds, hold no direct authority, or provide other resources to support beyond network access and perhaps mutual-aid agreements—even if they share redundancies, databases, or other resources. In addition, different vendor implementations using proprietary technologies can lead to varying degrees of protection and interoperability, even when addressing the same standards and system requirements. NG911 developments have focused primarily on deployment or modernization projects, but rarely on the governance and oversight of cyber risk management that are critical to cybersecurity. Likelihood. Likelihood refers to the possibility that a risk scenario could occur. Determining the likelihood of a risk depends on the level of both the threat and the vulnerability and is the probability that a given threat type will exploit a set of vulnerabilities, resulting in the occurrence of a risk. For example, if a system has no vulnerabilities, the likelihood of risk is low even if there is a significant threat because the threat would have nothing to exploit. On the other hand, if the system contains a significant vulnerability but there is no threat to exploit it, the likelihood of a risk will be equally low. A risk with both a greater threat and greater vulnerability level is much more likely to occur than one with a low threat and low vulnerability level. Consequences. While the potential consequences of cybersecurity breaches depend in large part on the type of breach, the severity of the breach is determined by its ability to impact and degrade NG911 systems and PSAP operations, or its ability to harm the citizens they serve and the public’s confidence in 911 systems. Additional consequences include loss of sensitive records, including personal information about citizens, law enforcement data, critical infrastructure information, healthcare data, dispatch information, and possible legal liability for parties responsible for protecting the systems. When evaluating potential consequences, it is important for administrators to assume the worst possible outcome. For example, a particular type of data breach could be small and insignificant, but 5 administrators should account for the greatest reasonable consequence if that data breach were to occur. Because it is impossible to address every risk, it is helpful to look at which risks are more likely to occur to make more informed decisions about where to best allocate resources to ensure the most risk reduction. However, likelihood is only one part of the equation—the consequences of risks must also be assessed. Risk = the likelihood of a threat exploiting a vulnerability and the potential consequence or impact of that event Improving NG911 Cybersecurity Posture Given the dynamic nature of technology and the evolving cyber risk landscape, organizations should adopt a cybersecurity framework. An effective framework enables response organizations to: • • • • • Identify new and evolving risks Assess and prioritize risks Develop and prioritize mitigation stategies based on cost-benefit analysis and other factors Evaluate the impacts of mitigation implementation Develop an approach to detection and effective response and recovery procedures The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) strongly recommends adopting the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which is a flexible, riskbased approach to improving the security of critical infrastructure.5 Collaboratively developed between government and the private sector, the framework is Figure 5: NIST Framework Core Structure based on industry standards and best practices and can be used for NG911 systems. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is designed to complement an existing cybersecurity risk management process or to develop a credible program if one does not exist. Figure 5 demonstrates the five core tenets of the NIST Framework: identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. More information, including informative reference for addressing each tenet can be found in the Framework. 5 The most recent NIST Cybersecurity Framework and related newsletters are available at http://www.nist.gov/cyberframework/. 6 Identifying and Assessing Risks Regardless of the cybersecurity framework chosen, administrators will need to identify, evaluate and prioritize risks for their organization. Figure 6 provides a sample risk assessment process. Figure 6: Sample Risk Assessment Plan (to be followed with mitigation and response/recovery) 7 Mitigating Risks: Protect and Detect While no single mitigation strategy can comprehensively address all the risk scenarios identified, the individual evaluation of mitigation techniques may identify complementary mitigation strategies for creation of a broad-reaching, holistic approach. In general, mitigation strategies aim to either prevent and protect against an identified risk being exploited, or seek to ensure timely awareness of a cybersecurity breach or occurrence. Mitigation strategies should employ safeguards that decrease the impact of a risk, if exploited, on the organization and its ability to deliver critical services. Table 1 describes sample mitigation strategies for NG911 cybersecurity. This list is not exhaustive and should not replace a comprehensive requirements analysis; however, it is intended to provide a starting point for requirements, planning, and implementation. Some elements may be addressed through nationwide standards, industry best practices, or policy guidance, while others may be developed and practiced by PSAP administrators. Table 1: Sample NG911 Security Mitigation Strategies (non-comprehensive) SAMPLE Strategy Protect Detect Description Ensure access privi ... Purchase answer to see full attachment