Home > Articles > Certification > Other IT

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Management Responsibility

Know what management's responsibility is in the information security environment.

Management's responsibility goes beyond the basics of support. It is not enough just to bless the information security program; management must own up to the program by becoming a part of the process. Becoming part of the process involves showing leadership in the same manner that managers show leadership in other aspects of the organization.

Management has specific goals for the organization, and most security and information system professionals are not in the position to understand or appreciate these nuances. Because security is not something that can be wrapped into a package and bought off the shelf, management must drive the attitudes for creating a good security program. This can only come after the analysis of risks, costs, and the requirements to ensure that information is not too secure to access. Management is responsible for doing the analysis and conveying this to the technical people responsible for implementing these policies.

User Information Security Responsibilities

One way to ensure that every current and future employee or user knows that security is part of his job function is to make it part of each job description. Spelling out the security function or expectations within the job description demonstrates the commitment to information security, as well as emphasizes that it is part of the job. After it is made part of the job description, it becomes something that can be considered in performance evaluations.

Outside contractors, vendors, or other people who provide external services directly on the company's network should include similar language within their statements of work. As with employees, this reinforces the company's commitment as well as makes the contractors' or vendors' adherence to the organization's security requirements a factor in their quality-of-service evaluations.

Socializing the Acceptable Usage Policy

One common method to ensure compliance is to have anyone who accesses the network read and sign the Acceptable Usage Policy before being given access to the systems and networks. This way, users are given the opportunity to understand the policies and ask questions so they know what their expectations are.

IT Roles and Responsibilities

The information technology (IT) staff is responsible for implementing and maintaining organization-wide information security policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures. They should provide input into security awareness education programs and ensure that everyone knows her role in maintaining security. Simply, IT provides the mechanisms that support the security program outlined by the policy.

This department must be able to strike a balance between education and enforcement, although that can be difficult. They should be viewed as a partner in the business process. If implemented as an enforcement-only group, the IT group will be feared. Fear can elicit adverse reactions to their real purpose, which can undermine the purpose of these policies. Additional training can help the technology people understand their place in the environment.

Other Roles and Responsibilities

For any information security program to be successful, it must be integrated into every aspect of the environment. Integration must include statements of work and responsibilities within the business environment, job descriptions, and how these will be audited and monitored.

A primary task in assigning roles in the information security process is how information security integrates into the business environment. As part of that integration, jobs that support security through the processes should be defined. For example, one way to do this is to define a separation of duties and control over company assets by coordinating efforts with everyone, including owners of data and facilities. By having these defined as part of the business process, there is no ambiguity as to who is responsible and when.

Another role to consider is how security is administered throughout the organization. A typical environment should have a central information security management group. The central group is in charge of the monitoring and enforcement of the policy and procedures whose membership would come from the organization's stakeholders. The closer placement of security enforcement with the stakeholders can help with the control of real-time connections with third parties. These liaisons can be responsible for educating these outsiders as well as monitoring and providing enforcement.

This, however, is not a perfect solution. Some people who work in this environment for an extended period might find ways to abuse the system and exploit it, for whatever reason. One way to combat this is to not allow a person to be the security liaison for more than a short period of time—one or two years, for example. At the end of the term, they pass the job to someone else.

The final area that should have a role in the information security process is the software development cycle. Whether software is developed internally or by contractors, or if the organization purchases commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, the goal should be to build secure systems wherein errors or manipulations can be trapped. Policy for coding and testing standards also can assist in the quality assurance process.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020