Control #4

By cliangNo Comments
The "Exit" has demonstrated various types of control to secure the physical perimeter while enable a "kill switch" to emergency situation. The door lock acts as preventive control in normal circumstance. Inbound entry to the hall is prohibited by civilians (not stopping armed force). The lock bar can be pushed out to evacuate people in case emergency inside. It must be easily activated. To guard against abuse by malicious actor, CCTV camera is monitoring the scene. However, detective control must be supported by administrative control or else it won't be enforceable. Let's say, putting another notice there to indicate improper use will be subject to fine or imprisonment per bylaw clause so and so. Furthermore, security system is the first target to attack for disabling its surveillance function such that "improper" activities can be conducted without being caught. Altogether, this are the typical people, process, technologies, policies aspects that should be considered in formulating the use case, security and safety. ...
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In The Cloud

By cliangNo Comments
We always hear people telling everything is now in the Cloud. Precisely, this is somehow incorrect. Even though there are IaaS, PaaS, SaaS etc., there are physical equipment on SOMEBODY's premise to serve the client. It is just the client has only a very slim footprint - likely a physical device with web browser connecting to the Internet for all the services (infrastructure, platform, software) required in the Cloud. When we develop written directives, don't be influenced by jargons. We need to have a holistic view to stipulate precise generic while certain situation precise specific rather than putting a case-by-case assessment. This will end up no policy at all. ...
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Ice Road

By cliangNo Comments
This is seasonal - only happened a short while during winter time when lake or river is frozen with thickness that can support vehicles riding on it. What is the insight? We face a lot of changes in business environment, make adoption to stay competitiveness while deploying cost-effective protection measures against new threats. Examples are continuous digitization or disruptive technologies that business cannot escape from except cope with these. As standard practice, conduct a comprehensive risk assessment with the right Subject Matter Expert to guide thru the stakeholders to reimagine the new targeting operating model to understand threats and consequence and this decide level of risk acceptance. As always, we have to take risks. Here in the ice road, the risk contributors are the load of the vehicle, vehicle fitness, weather condition at time of crossing and the skillset of the vehicle driver. The prime objective (business outcome) is to stay alive crossing the ice road with the load to reach the destination. ...
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Design & Build #3

By cliangNo Comments
Earlier, I talked about similar. When conducting a comprehensive assessment of a facility, we should not just look at the cyber aspects but also the reliability and safety of the facility. Those exposed pipelines could be essential supply of human nessasities or dischargs of waste. If they are physically damaged (intentionally or unintentionally), these facilities will be disrupted therefore affecting normal live or even life. Physical security is also importantly in protecting the cyber components of facilities. ...
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Policies #11

By cliangNo Comments
Policies are rules. They stipulate what are allowed and what not. Good policies must be practically achievable and enforceable, not too strict and not too loose - this is the hard part. Too strict will incur policy exception and too loose will make the policy a decorative statement in the sign board. Writing good cybersecurity policies will require these as foundation: The policy maker must understand the business model, what outcomes to be delivered What are the risk appetite the organization willing to take, after all, there won't be 100% secure business in the world How the requirement shall enable the business securely but not prohibit innovations, we are living in digital transformation era and everything is going inside cyber What are peers or the industry doing, is the bar setting too high or too low That said, don't just apply textbook knowledge but listen to business units what will work and what not. Strike the right balance with 80/20 rule. ...
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Bag Tag

By cliangNo Comments
It is common practice to tag your checked bag or even hand carried bag with a tag. How are you going to fill the info there? In old days, mobile communication device is rare. If you cannot find the bag at baggage claim area, you rely on transportation service provider to contact you and deliver the bag per the stated address even though you report them about lost bag. Therefore, you have to provide the accurate address and contact information. Now, the scenario is reversed. If you cannot find your checked bag, you contact the transportation service provider to locate the lost bag with ticket number assigned at check in and tell them where to send to and how to reach you. Therefore, the bag tag shall only serve an identification means and avoid putting too much privacy information (address, contact number, email) there. In addition, the tag attached to the checked bag has RFiD to track its routing through out the entire...
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Renewable Energy

By cliangNo Comments
It is one of the decarbonization means. Investment involves initial plant setup and then recurring operating cost. There is no need for fuel except resources to manage the plant properly. The entire ecosystem will need site survey, i.e. how many days with sufficient wind are there in a year and the strength, physical security from sabotage of the plant and then digital security against cyber attack - bring down the grid, damage the equipment, scheduled plant maintenance. This shall best have a Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) exercise that include everything that most cybersecurity practitioners are only focusing on cybersecurity, or technical controls. If they do, they are incompetent for the job. ...
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Administrative Control #2

By cliangNo Comments
SSSS (or 4S) is Smart Site Safety System. It consists of server, workstation, mobile network, end point devices (CCTV, smart watch, RFiD helmet, other sensors) to monitor construction site and workforce situation for safety hazards alert. For client project involving civil works, equipment installation etc, contractor will bring their own 4S to ensure and compliance with safety rules and regulations. 4S is not a project deliverable but a tool during construction. I see some cybersecurity practitioners have incorrect understanding. They demand contractor 4S compliance with own organization cybersecurity policies. No doubt 4S might capture client site specific condition, coincidental inclusion of personnel other than contractor workforce causing privacy concerns. We must not forget there are administrative controls in the contractual obligation to comply with laws & regulation plus non-disclosure agreement. We shall not bother the how's in technical aspects. Otherwise, this is overkilled. This something like you walk into a mall, using the ATM - there are CCTV everywhere but you won't question...
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The Forgotten Place #5

By cliangNo Comments
It is self-explanatory. There are similar faults posted previously. Risk of consequence must be understood before deploying information automation tool. If the display is for information of the mall, failure does not matter much and at most the reputation of the management office. But if the display shows real time high value trading, failure will cause substantial direct and indirect financial impacts. Direct is the loss of opportunity to conduct transaction by the users of the display. Indirect could be claims thru litigation by users of the display causing their direct loss due to this failure. Technically, multi-displays are deployed for resilience. From policy perspective, users must sign usage agreement to undertake consequence due to machine failure and disclaim the service provide for any direct or indirect losses. ...
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