Policy and IT Security Awareness Amy Ginther Policy Develoment Coordinator University of Maryland Information Technology Security Workshop April 2, 2004

Agenda Discussion throughout session on: Model policy development process Influences on security policy Security policy taxonomy Model security policies Awareness programs

Model Policy Development Process Predevelopment –Identify Issues –Conduct Analysis Development –Draft Language –Get Approvals –Determine Distribution/Education Maintenance –Solicit Evaluation and Review –Plan Measurement and Compliance

Policy Development Process ACUPA

Traits of Sound Policy Processes Setting the Stage WritingApprovingDistributingEducatingEnforcingReviewing Consistency with University values and mission Identification and involvement of stakeholders Informed participants Assess cost- benefit Preventing reinvention of the wheel Use a common format Agree on common definitions & terms Allow for user feedback Discussion and consensus building Wide review and input Approval from senior administrative levels Ease of access to resources Online Accessible from one location Allow for text and other searches Send to official distribution lists Include contacts to answer questions Hold a policy day Have traveling road shows! Have signed user agreements Require policies to be read before services granted Create policy enforcement office Assess liability/ feasibility Respond to complaints Identify an owner for each policy Develop a plan for active maintenance Archive, date, and notify constituencies of major changes

Identifying Policy Stakeholders

Higher Education Values Higher Education environment…tends to be more open than corporate or gov’t environments; reality of student residential environments Measures taken to improve security must protect and not impede the expression of these values. Balance need for security with important aspects of higher education environment.

Core Academic Values Oblinger, In Computer and Network Security in Higher Education, Luker & Petersen, editors. Community: shared decision making; outreach to connected communities (access to affiliates or other patrons) Autonomy: academic and intellectual freedom; distributed computing Privacy: “the right to open inquiry without having the subject of one’s interest examined or scrutinized by others” (American Library Association, 2002) Fairness: due process

Influences on Security Policy EDUCAUSE/Internet2 six principles to guide policy development: Civility and Community Academic and Intellectual Freedom Privacy and Confidentiality Equity, Diversity and Access Fairness and Process Ethics, Integrity and Responsibility

What to Include? Security Policy Taxonomy Security Architecture Security Awareness Security Implementation Security Management Data Security Identity Theft Incident Handling/Incident Response Information Assurance Network Vulnerability Assessment Physical Security Privacy Security Planning Security Policies Security Risk Assessment and Analysis

Writing Policy: Elements of Institutional Policies Policy Name Scope Purpose Policy Statement Roles/Responsibilities Definitions References Supporting Procedures? Consequences/Sanctions for Non-Compliance

Model security policies EDUCAUSE/Cornell Institute for Computer Policy and Law, includes security policy primer, sample policies and templateshttp://

Awareness Programs Target Audiences: faculty, staff, students, IT professionals Delivery Methods: presentations, ads, articles, quizzes, handouts, videos Message Framework –Knowledge: what to do –Skills: how to do –Attitudes: want to do National Initiatives: –EDUCAUSE Security Education and Awareness –

Awareness Programs Communication tips (Payne, In Luker/Petersen.) –Take the message to the people –Be consistent in the message –Write to short attention spans –Make the message real to each target audience –Make it fun –Repeat, repeat, repeat Some examples:

Resources Computer and Network Security in Higher Education, Mark Luker and Rodney Petersen, editors. Collection of policies and policy development resources:

Contact Information Office of Information Technology University of Maryland, College Park Amy Ginther, Policy Development Coordinator, phone: Gerry Sneeringer, Security Officer, phone: