Home > Articles > Software Development & Management

Like this article? We recommend

Like this article? We recommend

Identification, Authentication, and Access

The effective auditor should look at not only all physical routes into the system (hardware), but also the logical routes into the system—that is, from which networks can the system be accessed and how? Is there a VPN allowing access into the local area network from outside the physical building? Is access allowed from Web sites to any part of the system? Can staff members dial in directly to internal systems using their home phones?

For each logical access point, the auditor should check that there is an effective means of identifying and authenticating the user groups allowed access from that point.

Depending upon the level of security required of the system, this may involve simply using logins and passwords, issuing passwords with a very limited lifespan, issuing encrypted keys to users over Secure Socket Layer (SSL) stored on their PCs, or using SET with encrypted keys residing on a smart card read in by a smart card reader. SSL and SET have the added advantage of encrypting the whole message so that the contents of messages cannot easily be read by "spies."

Where it is not convenient to change passwords often (for example, in e-business applications or personal banking applications) but the data is very sensitive, passwords may be combined with other means of effectively authenticating the user—for example, an SSL/SET key held on the user's PC or IP address authentication.

Retail banks often provide customers of their personal banking services with a membership number (a fairly long number usually) and a pin number (issued in the same way as the pin number of a credit card, subject to tight security and sent via mail to the customer). In addition, they still require the customer to type in a surname or other identifying information to access the system. Customers are often not allowed to change their passwords online, but instead they have to phone a support number to have the password changed.

Other banks sometimes issue SET smart cards to customers along with smart readers.

These extra means of authentication can be employed to ensure "nonrepudiation," to make it difficult for either party in a transaction to pretend that it did not happen or to pretend that it was not one of the parties involved, that an imposter was using its login.

Even where such lavish security is not necessary, login/password control is something that should be carefully planned and monitored, and the auditor should look for evidence of this.

It is important to look at how well user sessions/accounts/logins are managed. Are user sessions logged out after inactivity of a set period of time? This can help ensure that someone cannot pretend to be the authorized user by using that person's PC while he is away from his desk.

Are old user accounts deleted on a regular basis? Is there tight control over who can create new user accounts and which data or functions are made accessible to them? It is all too easy to accidentally give users access to more than you plan to.

Are passwords changed regularly? Does the system force the user to choose a password that has not been used? Do passwords have to be difficult to guess? Left to their own devices, users will select easily guessed passwords (their surnames, the names of their spouse or pet) and will give their passwords to other users either intentionally or unintentionally. Hackers can exploit such vulnerabilities with terrifying ease.

One IT consultancy that I worked for was confident that all of its employees were so well informed about using passwords—ensuring they were not easily guessed, that passwords were not left lying around on post-its, that they were changed regularly, and so on—that it employed a hacker and asked him to try to break into the most sensitive systems. It took the hacker 24 hours to break 90% of the passwords used on the most sensitive systems within this IT-literate company! Needless to say, the consultancy kept that very quiet!

That same hacker let me into a little secret: He told me that the biggest mistake companies make is allowing users to change operating system passwords over the Web. NT-based systems are renowned for this, especially when companies want to take advantage of using the pass-through technology that enables the user to log in once and gain access to applications and data using the single login. Although allowing users to change their database or application passwords is usually not disastrous (because even if a hacker guesses the password correctly, all he can do is access or destroy a limited amount of data or an application), allowing access to change the operating system password can be disastrous. This is because hackers can manipulate holes in the operating system and Web server to gain complete control of the system—and, in some cases, of other systems accessible from the system.

When carrying out a security audit, it is important to note that security is a "hygiene" factor: When it exists and is effective, it is hardly noticeable. However, when it is not there, it can mean the end of a business overnight. Also, it is a never-ending task: Policies, procedures, and technologies should be constantly updated and reviewed in the light of new security threats—recent events in the United States have made this all too evident.

Here I have looked at the business aspects that should be examined in a security audit of an IT system. In the next article, I will examine the more technical issues involved—those pertaining to browser settings, Web server installation, firewalls, and so on.

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