RE: Sample Risk Assessment Report

From: Cure, Samuel J (scure_at_kpmg.com)
Date: 01/14/05

  • Next message: Kevin Willock (IGSN Security): "Re: DoS/DDoS Attack"
    To: "'Tyler Markowsky'" <tyler.markowsky@seccuris.com>, "Cure, Samuel J" <scure@kpmg.com>, "'Mambo'" <mamboz@gmail.com>, pen-test@securityfocus.com
    Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2005 13:38:25 -0500
    
    

    Tyler, In the context of assets = devices on a network, the question I am
    raising here is what assets are you scanning? Some random IP range a
    customer provides? All IPs including print servers? My point is simply this;
    If you work from the technical systems (assets) and move up to the business
    level risks, you are potentially missing appropriate assets in the first
    place, and/or focusing on the wrong devices on the network. If you have
    preliminary definition or perform interviews and process analysis to
    understand the business and intellectual property as a first phase, this
    could eliminate the "back pedaling" needed to map asset vulnerabilities to
    business functions/IP/etc. As you mentioned, nothing is set in stone. :)

    Just wanted some thoughts.. . thanks for the feedback,

    -scure

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Tyler Markowsky [mailto:tyler.markowsky@seccuris.com]
    Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 1:29 PM
    To: 'Cure, Samuel J'; 'Mambo'; pen-test@securityfocus.com
    Subject: RE: Sample Risk Assessment Report

    I am confused by your definition of assets scure. Can you please clarify?

    On assets:
    Are network devices not assets? Does it not follow that if you have
    scanned, identified and analyzed technical vulnerabilities, then you could
    have also identified a risk to an asset? (assuming your technical analysis
    phase involves some form of quantitative / qualitative classification)

    I agree that business risks differ from technical risks; however doesn't the
    failure of an asset (potentially) lead to the failure a business
    process(es), which can (potentially) upset a critical business function(s)?

    On methodology:
    I cannot discuss methodology in detail, but I can say that threat risk
    assessments are not set in stone. Each and every client has specific needs
    and concerns which require you to adapt your internal and external
    processes. This in turn affects your analysis and therefore your
    deliverables. (This is why scure and I have more questions than answers
    mambo) Having said this, you would not be able to identify those specific
    client needs without preliminary definition of need from a business
    threat-risk perspective.

    Best,

    Tyler Markowsky
    Information Risk Analyst
    Seccuris

    http://www.seccuris.com

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Cure, Samuel J [mailto:scure@kpmg.com]
    Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 11:38 AM
    To: 'Tyler Markowsky'; 'Mambo'; pen-test@securityfocus.com
    Subject: RE: Sample Risk Assessment Report

    This raises a question. Is this a top down approach or bottom up approach
    based on the OSI model with business layer being on top? The challenge with
    mapping assets to vulnerabilities using a bottom up approach is the ability
    to identify business risk associated with findings. If a bottom up approach
    is being used, then the technical assessments are performed first.
    Therefore, trying to identify the assets or business risk after the
    technical assessment is performed increases the chance of missing something
    with business impact.

    As Tyler mentioned, target audience is key and I concur with the report
    content he listed.

    Others? Thoughts?

    -scure

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Tyler Markowsky [mailto:tyler.markowsky@seccuris.com]
    Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:10 PM
    To: 'Mambo'; pen-test@securityfocus.com
    Subject: RE: Sample Risk Assessment Report

    Hello Mambo-

    Who will be the audience of this report? Board-level? Executive management?
    IT Security professionals?

    Depending on who will be reading it, try to apply your knowledge of the
    organizations assets and critical business functions to the discovered
    vulnerabilities. This will provide value to not only those who are highly
    technical, but also those who are not.

    Best,

    Tyler Markowsky
    Information Risk Analyst
    Seccuris

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Mambo [mailto:mamboz@gmail.com]
    Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:04 AM
    To: pen-test@securityfocus.com
    Subject: Sample Risk Assessment Report

    Hi All,

            Any idea about any sample Risk Assessment Report's available
    on the net. Was searching but got very few which are not worth
    mentioning.

    Cheers
    Mambo

    """Security-- Someone gave birth...But i Own it..now..."""

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