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Mercury USA is a small- and medium-sized business (SMB) in the transportation sector with 400 employees. You've just been hired by Mercury USA as the first cyber threat analyst on the team and will work within the existing Information Technology department. Mercury USA has an urgent interest in addressing security vulnerabilities. Judy “Mac†McNamara, the manager of IT services, said the chief executive officer (CEO) recently learned via a mandatory breach disclosure that a competitor was a victim of ransomware. The firm in question lost a significant amount of intellectual property and customer data and is facing expensive litigation, government fines, and loss of customer confidence.

These issues are likely to result in bankruptcy. Thus, executive management would like to prevent Mercury USA’s critical data (e.g., order data, customer lists, sales leads, Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance for processing credit, proprietary software) from falling into the wrong hands and threatening the survival of the business. Message from the CEO The CEO of Mercury USA has recorded a video message for all employees. Watch this video before starting the projects. Transcript An Important Message From the CEO As the cyber threat analyst at Mercury USA, you will be expected to identify security-related issues that hackers could use against the company.

You will begin by addressing the security vulnerabilities present in the IT infrastructure of the company and develop a way forward that helps to prevent and deter attacks. You will be completing three projects for this course: Part 1: Vulnerability Process and Assessment Memo —A two- to three-page memorandum outlining the VM process in which you will use a sample vulnerability scan report to assess security posture and develop a recommended VM process (Week 3) Part 2: VM Scanner Background Report —A four- to six-page background report to review a commercial scanning tool and provide a recommendation (Week 5) Part 3: Presentation to Management —A five- to 10-slide "pitch" to executive management outlining your assessment of Mercury USA's security posture, the business need, and seeking a decision on purchasing the commercial tool (Week 7

Paper for above instructions

Memorandum: Vulnerability Management Process and Assessment

To: Judy “Mac” McNamara, IT Services Manager
From: [Your Name], Cyber Threat Analyst
Date: [Insert Date]
Subject: Proposed Vulnerability Management Process and Assessment for Mercury USA
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Introduction

In the wake of increasing cyber threats, including ransomware incidents leading to catastrophic consequences for businesses, it is imperative that Mercury USA adopts a robust Vulnerability Management (VM) process to identify, assess, and remediate vulnerabilities within our IT infrastructure. Given our operational context in the transportation sector, where sensitive data is handled, this memorandum outlines the VM process, illustrates how to assess our current security posture with a sample vulnerability scan report, and recommends a forward-thinking strategy to enhance our defenses.

Vulnerability Management Process

The Vulnerability Management process is a proactive framework designed to protect our IT assets by identifying loopholes that adversaries could exploit. The steps involved in this process are as follows:
1. Asset Inventory: Cataloging all hardware, software, and network elements within our infrastructure to ensure all assets are accounted for during vulnerability assessments (Peltier, 2016).
2. Vulnerability Identification: Deploy a vulnerability scanner to detect potential vulnerabilities across our systems. This involves both automated scans and manual assessments (NIST, 2018).
3. Risk Assessment: Once vulnerabilities are identified, a risk assessment should be performed to evaluate the potential impact of each vulnerability on operations, considering aspects such as likelihood and impact (ISO, 27001).
4. Remediation: Following assessment, prioritize the vulnerabilities. Develop a remediation plan that includes timelines and roles assigned for addressing each identified vulnerability (Disterer, 2013).
5. Continuous Monitoring and Reporting: Implement continuous monitoring protocols to ensure that any new vulnerabilities are detected promptly. Regular reporting mechanisms should keep stakeholders informed and facilitate compliance with internal and external regulations (Baker & Reddy, 2018).

Current Security Posture Assessment

Using a sample vulnerability scan report (hypothetical), the following critical vulnerabilities were identified within our organization’s network environment:
1. Outdated Software: Approximately 30% of the systems are operating on outdated software versions that are no longer supported. This has a CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) rating of 9.8, suggesting immediate action is required.
2. Misconfigured Firewalls: The firewall setup showed several rule misconfigurations which could allow unauthorized access, with a CVSS score of 7.0.
3. Weak Password Policies: Password audits revealed that 25% of employees are using passwords consider weak or commonly exploited, with an associated risk rating of 8.0.
4. Unpatched Operating Systems: A significant number of systems still have unpatched vulnerabilities that leave our systems at risk of exploitation, rated at a CVSS of 9.0.
These findings underscore the necessity of developing an effective VM process that systematically addresses these issues. A detailed review of the identified vulnerabilities aligns with our objective of safeguarding sensitive data such as PCI compliance information, proprietary software, and critical operational data.

Recommended VM Process

Based on the current security posture assessment, I recommend the following actions:
1. Immediate Patching: All systems should be updated within the next 30 days to mitigate the risks presented by outdated software and unpatched operating systems. This can be achieved through automated patch management tools.
2. Password Policy Enforcement: Implement stringent password policies that require complex passwords and regular changes. Employee training should accompany this policy change to improve security awareness.
3. Firewall Configuration Review: Conduct a thorough review and reconfiguration of firewall rules within the next two weeks to close potential entry points for unauthorized access.
4. Regular Training and Awareness Campaigns: Employee training is paramount for creating a security-first culture. Regularly scheduled training sessions should be integrated into our staff development programs (Kraeling, 2015).
5. Integrate Vulnerability Scanning Tools: Choose a commercial vulnerability scanning tool that offers features for automated detection and reporting, leveraging security frameworks like NIST and ISO for compliance.

Conclusion

The development of a robust Vulnerability Management process is critical for Mercury USA to mitigate the risk of cyber threats effectively. The outlined VM process and assessment of our current security posture demonstrate the urgent need for proactive measures to safeguard our business’s critical data. Recommendations will ultimately minimize the likelihood and impact of potential breaches and protect our organization's reputation and operational viability.
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References

1. Baker, J., & Reddy, M. (2018). Effective Cybersecurity: A Guide to Using Vulnerability Management. Wiley.
2. Disterer, G. (2013). “ISO/IEC 27001 for Managers.” International Journal of Information Security, 12(1), 37-48.
3. Kraeling, M. (2015). “Cybersecurity Training: Boost Your Workforce’s Security Awareness.” Security Management Magazine.
4. NIST. (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
5. Peltier, T. R. (2016). Information Security Policies, Procedures, and Standards: Guidelines for Effective Information Security Management. Auerbach Publications.
6. ISO. (2013). ISO/IEC 27001:2013 – Information technology – Security techniques – Information security management systems – Requirements. International Organization for Standardization.
7. Stouffer, K., Falco, J., & Scarfone, K. (2011). Guide to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security. NIST Special Publication 800-82.
8. Brown, A., & Tubaer, J. (2020). “Understanding Ransomware: A Guide for IT Managers.” Journal of Cyber Threats, 4(2).
9. Georgescu, M. (2019). “Vulnerability Management in the Digital Age: A Strategic Approach.” Cybersecurity Journal, 11(3).
10. Rees, R. (2022). Vulnerability Management for Dummies. Wiley.
By adhering to this VM process, Mercury USA will significantly enhance its security posture, build resilience against cyber threats, and foster trust with stakeholders and clients alike.