Due care is a legal standard that establishes a duty for people or any organization to act in a reasonable manner based upon the circumstances of a particular situation. This means that a person or organization’s conduct must not cause unreasonable harm to anyone else. It refers to the level of judgment, care; prudence, determination, and activity that a person would reasonably be expected to do under particular circumstances. The precise definition is usually made on a case-by-case basis, judged upon the law and circumstances in each case.
Administrative controls consist of policy, technique, clear codes, guidance, and instructions that are put into place to regulate the actions of individuals. Administrative controls demonstrate due care by placing the essential policies, procedures, and practices to reinforce policies of the organization. These controls are allocated into various features from access list to control spaces, password and user id for employees and separation of duties to ensure you reduce the risk of data security.
The administrative controls that we will look at provide assurance of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information through guidelines and standards. Administrative controls fall into two categories either preventive and detective, these controls illustrate the CIA triad of protection of integrity of resources, availability of assets (computer uptime), or confidentiality employee controlled access.
The absence of administrative control does impact corporate liability, mainly during a compliance review it is determined that the organization has not regulated any steps to successfully decrease the occurrences of protection issues and not dividing responsibilities in main positions. If such administrative controls, policies and procedures are lacking, the organization suffers from reliability concerns, and/or be accountable to shareholders as well as penalizes for non-compliance; either in financial or information security issues.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Title IV section 404 that “requires all publicly traded companies to confirm that they have effective internal controls.” In any legal complications, an absence of Administrative controls reveals the company’s awareness and carefulness against the security and competency to retain private information.
Administrative Controls influence the choice of Technical and Physical Controls by selecting the appropriate security processes and procedures to efficiently handle critical events in an organization. Without such guidance and control measures, there would be no foundation on which that controls can be built upon. Security policies are key to the establishment of a comprehensive information security program that includes technical and physical controls and are usually the first step in IT security.
Policies should define all controls; administrative, technical, and physical and how these controls are implemented and maintained. Security policies can cover access control, audits, roles and responsibilities, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus, passwords, smart cards, locks and keys, and biometric access controls.
Physical security is the use of locks, security guards, badges, alarms, and similar measures to control access to computers, related equipment (including utilities), and the processing facility itself. In addition, measures are required for protecting computers, related equipment, and their contents from espionage, theft, and destruction or damage by accident, fire, or natural disaster (e.g., floods and earthquakes).
Policies play a crucial role in establishing a comprehensive framework for security controls within an organization. These controls encompass administrative, technical, and physical aspects, ensuring that all areas of security are addressed and maintained effectively.
Administrative controls refer to the policies and procedures that govern the management of security within an organization. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, establishing access control mechanisms, conducting audits to assess compliance, and implementing intrusion detection systems to detect and respond to potential threats.
Technical controls, on the other hand, involve the use of technology to protect information and systems. This can include the deployment of anti-virus software to detect and mitigate malware, the implementation of strong password policies to prevent unauthorized access, and the use of smart cards or biometric access controls to authenticate users.
While administrative and technical controls primarily focus on safeguarding digital assets, physical security measures are equally important. Physical security aims to control access to computers, related equipment, and the processing facility itself. This involves the use of physical barriers such as locks, security guards, badges, and alarms to prevent unauthorized entry.
Moreover, physical security measures are also essential for protecting computers, related equipment, and their contents from various risks. These risks can range from espionage, where unauthorized individuals seek to gain access to sensitive information, to theft and destruction caused by accidents, fires, or natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.
By implementing a combination of administrative, technical, and physical security controls, organizations can establish a robust security posture. This not only helps to safeguard sensitive information and systems but also ensures the continuity of operations in the face of potential threats and risks.
Physical security measures play a crucial role in protecting computers, related equipment, and their contents from a wide range of risks. While cybersecurity measures focus on defending against digital threats, physical security measures address the vulnerabilities that exist in the physical environment.
One of the primary risks that physical security measures aim to mitigate is espionage. Unauthorized individuals may attempt to gain access to sensitive information by physically infiltrating a facility. This can include stealing physical documents or tampering with computer equipment to gain unauthorized access to data. By implementing physical security controls such as access controls, surveillance systems, and secure storage areas, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of espionage.
In addition to espionage, physical security measures also protect against theft and destruction caused by accidents, fires, or natural disasters. Accidents, such as spills or mishandling of equipment, can result in damage to computers and data loss. Fires pose a significant threat to both the physical infrastructure and the data stored within. Natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, can cause severe damage and disrupt operations if proper physical security measures are not in place.
To establish a robust security posture, organizations should implement a combination of administrative, technical, and physical security controls. Administrative controls involve policies, procedures, and training programs that guide employees on security best practices. Technical controls include the use of firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems to protect against digital threats. Physical security controls encompass measures such as access control systems, video surveillance, alarm systems, and secure storage areas.
By integrating these different types of security controls, organizations can achieve a comprehensive and layered security approach. This helps to safeguard sensitive information and systems, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. Furthermore, a robust physical security posture also contributes to the continuity of operations, allowing organizations to withstand potential threats and risks without significant disruptions.
In conclusion, physical security measures are essential for protecting computers, related equipment, and their contents from various risks. These measures not only address the risk of espionage but also protect against theft, accidents, fires, and natural disasters. By implementing a combination of administrative, technical, and physical security controls, organizations can establish a robust security posture that safeguards sensitive information and systems while ensuring the continuity of operations.