FISMA and the Risk Management Framework

FISMA and the Risk Management Framework

The New Practice of Federal Cyber Security

1st Edition - November 27, 2012

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  • Authors: Stephen Gantz, Daniel Philpott
  • eBook ISBN: 9781597496421
  • Paperback ISBN: 9781597496414

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Description

FISMA and the Risk Management Framework: The New Practice of Federal Cyber Security deals with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), a law that provides the framework for securing information systems and managing risk associated with information resources in federal government agencies. Comprised of 17 chapters, the book explains the FISMA legislation and its provisions, strengths and limitations, as well as the expectations and obligations of federal agencies subject to FISMA. It also discusses the processes and activities necessary to implement effective information security management following the passage of FISMA, and it describes the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Risk Management Framework. The book looks at how information assurance, risk management, and information systems security is practiced in federal government agencies; the three primary documents that make up the security authorization package: system security plan, security assessment report, and plan of action and milestones; and federal information security-management requirements and initiatives not explicitly covered by FISMA. This book will be helpful to security officers, risk managers, system owners, IT managers, contractors, consultants, service providers, and others involved in securing, managing, or overseeing federal information systems, as well as the mission functions and business processes supported by those systems.

Key Features

  • Learn how to build a robust, near real-time risk management system and comply with FISMA
  • Discover the changes to FISMA compliance and beyond
  • Gain your systems the authorization they need

Readership

Information Security Auditors; Information Security Analysts, Penetration Testers, FISMA compliance staff, ST&E contractors, Information Security Engineers

Table of Contents

  • Dedication

    Trademarks

    Acknowledgements

    About the Author

    Chapter 1. Introduction

    Introduction

    FISMA Applicability and Implementation

    FISMA Provisions

    Strengths and Shortcomings of FISMA

    Structure and Content

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 2. Federal Information Security Fundamentals

    Information Security in the Federal Government

    Certification and Accreditation

    Organizational Responsibilities

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 3. Thinking About Risk

    Understanding Risk

    Trust, Assurance, and Security

    Risk Associated with Information Systems

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 4. Thinking About Systems

    Defining Systems in Different Contexts

    Perspectives on Information Systems

    Establishing Information System Boundaries

    Maintaining System Inventories

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 5. Success Factors

    Prerequisites for Organizational Risk Management

    Managing the Information Security Program

    Compliance and Reporting

    Organizational Success Factors

    Measuring Security Effectiveness

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 6. Risk Management Framework Planning and Initiation

    Planning

    Planning the RMF Project

    Prerequisites for RMF Initiation

    Establishing a Project Plan

    Roles and Responsibilities

    Getting the Project Underway

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 7. Risk Management Framework Steps 1 & 2

    Purpose and Objectives

    Standards and Guidance

    Step 1: Categorize Information System

    Step 2: Select Security Controls

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 8. Risk Management Framework Steps 3 & 4

    Working with Security Control Baselines

    Roles and Responsibilities

    Step 3: Implement Security Controls

    Step 4: Assess Security Controls

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 9. Risk Management Framework Steps 5 & 6

    Preparing for System Authorization

    Step 5: Authorize Information System

    Step 6: Monitor Security Controls

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 10. System Security Plan

    Purpose and Role of the System Security Plan

    Structure and Content of the System Security Plan

    Developing the System Security Plan

    Managing System Security Using the SSP

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 11. Security Assessment Report

    Security Assessment Fundamentals

    Performing Security Control Assessments

    The Security Assessment Report in Context

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 12. Plan of Action and Milestones

    Regulatory Background

    Structure and Content of the Plan of Action and Milestones

    Weaknesses and Deficiencies

    Producing the Plan of Action and Milestones

    Maintaining and Monitoring the Plan of Action and Milestones

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 13. Risk Management

    Risk Management

    Three-Tiered Approach

    Components of Risk Management

    Information System Risk Assessments

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 14. Continuous Monitoring

    The Role of Continuous Monitoring in the Risk Management Framework

    Continuous Monitoring Process

    Technical Solutions for Continuous Monitoring

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 15. Contingency Planning

    Introduction to Contingency Planning

    Contingency Planning and Continuity of Operations

    Information System Contingency Planning

    Developing the Information System Contingency Plan

    Operational Requirements for Contingency Planning

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 16. Privacy

    Privacy Requirements for Federal Agencies Under FISMA and the E-Government Act

    Federal Agency Requirements Under the Privacy Act

    Privacy Impact Assessments

    Protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

    Other Legal and Regulatory Sources of Privacy Requirements

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Chapter 17. Federal Initiatives

    Network Security

    Cloud Computing

    Application Security

    Identity and Access Management

    Other Federal Security Management Requirements

    Relevant Source Material

    Summary

    References

    Appendix A. References

    References

    Appendix B. Acronyms

    Acronyms and Abbreviations

    Appendix C. Glossary

    Glossary

    Index

Product details

  • No. of pages: 584
  • Language: English
  • Copyright: © Syngress 2012
  • Published: November 27, 2012
  • Imprint: Syngress
  • eBook ISBN: 9781597496421
  • Paperback ISBN: 9781597496414

About the Authors

Stephen Gantz

Stephen Gantz (CISSP-ISSAP, CEH, CGEIT, CRISC, CIPP/G, C|CISO) is an information security and IT consultant with over 20 years of experience in security and privacy management, enterprise architecture, systems development and integration, and strategic planning. He currently holds an executive position with a health information technology services firm primarily serving federal and state government customers. He is also an Associate Professor of Information Assurance in the Graduate School at University of Maryland University College. He maintains a security-focused website and blog at http://www.securityarchitecture.com.

Steve’s security and privacy expertise spans program management, security architecture, policy development and enforcement, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance with major legislation such as FISMA, HIPAA, and the Privacy Act. His industry experience includes health, financial services, higher education, consumer products, and manufacturing, but since 2000 his work has focused on security and other information resources management functions in federal government agencies. His prior work history includes completing projects for government clients including the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Health and Human Services, Office of Management and Budget, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, U.S. Postal Service, and U.S. Senate.

Steve holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and also earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard. He is nearing completion of the Doctor of Management program at UMUC, where his dissertation focuses on trust and distrust in networks and inter-organizational relationships. Steve currently resides in Arlington, Virginia with his wife Reneé and children Henry, Claire, and Gillian.

Affiliations and Expertise

CISSP-ISSAP, CEH, CGEIT, CRISC, CIPP/G, Founder and Principal Architect of SecurityArchitecture.com.

Daniel Philpott

Daniel Philpott is a Federal Information Security Architect with the Information Assurance Division of Tantus Technologies where he works with Federal agencies on FISMA compliance and Risk Management.

Dan is a respected information security practitioner specializing in Federal information security needs including FISMA, Cybersecurity, SCAP, FDCC, HSPD-12, risk management, governance, cloud computing, social media and web application security. He is founder of the FISMApedia.org wiki and FISMA Arts training project. You can find his comments and analysis at Guerilla-CISO.com and ArielSilverstone.com, where he is a guest blogger. As a sought after public speaker on Federal information security he is frequently featured in interviews and articles by a variety of security news sources and podcasts.

Dan started his career in IT at age 13, beta testing display terminals at ProType Corporation. Since that time he has held a variety of positions in the field. While often working on security issues (cryptography, host hardening, network hardening, resilient architectures and application security) he made information security his career in 1998 during his work at National Institute of Standards and Technology. In the Federal space he has worked with the National Institutes of Health, Department of Commerce Technology Administration, U.S. Agency for International Development and NIST. Having experienced Federal information security before and after FISMA he is a strong proponent of the changes FISMA has brought about.

Approaching information security with a strong focus on effective reduction of risk, Dan brings an technical and operational security perspective to the theory and practice of FISMA compliance. His long experience in the IT security field provides his Federal clients with depth of knowledge and a diverse skill set encompassing compliance, governance, practice, technology and risk management.

Affiliations and Expertise

Daniel Philpott, Federal Information Security Architect, Information Assurance Division of Tantus Technologies

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