Designing FERPA Technical Safeguards Due Week 2 and worth 50 ✓ Solved

Imagine you are an Information Security consultant for a small college registrar’s office consisting of the registrar and two assistant registrars, two student workers, and one receptionist. The office is physically located near several other office spaces. The assistant registrars utilize mobile devices over a wireless network to access student records, with the electronic student records being stored on a server located in the building.

Additionally, each registrar’s office has a desktop computer that utilizes a wired network to access the server and electronic student records. The receptionist station has a desktop computer that is used to schedule appointments, but cannot access student records. In 1974, Congress enacted the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to help protect the integrity of student records. The college has hired you to ensure technical safeguards are appropriately designed to preserve the integrity of the student records maintained in the registrar’s office.

Write a three to five page paper in which you: 1. Analyze proper physical access control safeguards and provide sound recommendations to be employed in the registrar’s office. 2. Recommend the proper audit controls to be employed in the registrar’s office. 3. Suggest three logical access control methods to restrict unauthorized entities from accessing sensitive information, and explain why you suggested each method. 4. Analyze the means in which data moves within the organization and identify techniques that may be used to provide transmission security safeguards. 5. Use at least three quality resources in this assignment.

Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: · This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details. · Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: · Describe the role of information systems security (ISS) compliance and its relationship to U.S. compliance laws. · Use technology and information resources to research issues in security strategy and policy formation. · Write clearly and concisely about topics related to information technology audit and control using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.

Paper For Above Instructions

Designing FERPA Technical Safeguards

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) plays a crucial role in protecting the confidentiality and integrity of student records in educational institutions. As an Information Security consultant for a small college registrar's office, it is important to implement robust technical safeguards that will ensure compliance with FERPA and protect sensitive student data. This paper outlines the necessary physical access control safeguards, audit controls, logical access control methods, and transmission security safeguards appropriate for maintaining the security of student records.

Physical Access Control Safeguards

To protect the integrity of student records in the registrar's office, proper physical access control safeguards must be established. This includes the use of strategically placed locks on office doors to prevent unauthorized access. The registrar's office should implement keycard entry systems that restrict access to authorized personnel only. Additionally, the use of surveillance cameras throughout the office will not only act as a deterrent to unauthorized access but also help in monitoring and recording activities within the office.

Another essential component of physical security is the management of office space. Ensuring that the registrar's office is located in a secure area within the building, away from common areas where student workers and others may gather, will further decrease the risk of unauthorized access. It is also vital to provide training for all employees on the importance of safeguarding sensitive information and recognizing potential threats to the office's physical security.

Audit Controls

To ensure that appropriate access controls are maintained, implementing audit controls is critical. Regular audits of access logs should be conducted to determine who has accessed student records and when. Access control management systems should be in place to track and log all access to the server where student records are stored.

Additionally, an incident response plan should be established in case any data breaches are detected. This plan should outline the steps to be taken and responsibilities assigned to personnel in the event of a breach. Periodic training on this incident response plan will ensure that staff are prepared to act swiftly should a security incident arise.

Logical Access Control Methods

Three logical access control methods can be employed to restrict unauthorized entities from accessing sensitive information:

  1. Role-based Access Control (RBAC): Implementing RBAC will restrict access based on the user's role within the organization. For instance, only registrars and designated assistant registrars would have access to sensitive student records, while student workers and the receptionist would have limited access based on their responsibilities.

  2. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access to sensitive data is a reliable way to prevent unauthorized access. Implementing MFA, which may include passwords combined with biometric verification or security tokens, adds an extra layer of security.

  3. Encryption of Data: Encrypted data ensures that even if unauthorized entities access the information, it remains unreadable without the proper decryption key. This method is vital for protecting data in transit as well as on storage devices.

Transmission Security Safeguards

Data transmission security is pivotal in maintaining the security of student records, especially given that assistant registrars use mobile devices over wireless networks. To safeguard data in transit, it is essential to implement Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections for mobile device access to the server. This encrypts data during transmission, making it difficult for unauthorized individuals to intercept or access the information.

Additionally, utilizing secure protocols such as HTTPS for web-based applications provides an extra layer of protection. Lastly, routine checks and updates to the security software on both mobile devices and desktop computers will further secure the communication channels.

Conclusion

In summary, the protection of student records in the registrar's office is paramount in ensuring compliance with FERPA. By implementing comprehensive physical access control safeguards, robust audit controls, logical access controls, and secure transmission techniques, the college can ensure that student records remain secure from unauthorized access and potential breaches. Continuous education and training of staff regarding these safeguards will further strengthen the overall security posture of the institution.

References

  • U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Retrieved from https://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

  • Al, M. A. (2022). Cybersecurity compliance: A review of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and its implications on information security. Journal of Information Security, 13(2), 92-103.

  • Calabrese, N. (2021). Implementing physical security controls in educational institutions. International Journal of Education and Management, 35(3), 456-464.

  • Gordon, L. A., & Loeb, M. P. (2020). The importance of information security audits in compliance. Journal of Business Strategy, 41(4), 23-30.

  • Jones, A., & Ashurst, C. (2019). Access control mechanisms in information security: Best practices and guidelines. Security Journal, 32(5), 1-18.

  • Parker, D. B. (2022). Multi-factor authentication best practices: Ensuring student data is protected. Information Systems Security, 31(1), 27-39.

  • Rouse, M. (2023). What is encryption? Definition and meaning. TechTarget. Retrieved from https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/encryption

  • Savage, M. (2021). The role of VPNs in enhancing network security for educational institutions. Educational Technology & Society, 24(1), 88-95.

  • Taylor, J. (2023). Role-Based Access Control: Understanding the theory and practice. Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, 38(1), 56-62.

  • Wilkinson, K. (2020). Data theft: Understanding the threat landscape in higher education. Journal of Cybersecurity Education, 1(1), 33-47.