Organizational security: How to keep your data safe?

Online business risks are ever-increasing as we move further into the digital age. Cyber threats are becoming increasingly common, so taking proactive steps to reduce attacks is important. One way to do this is by implementing a robust organizational security policy that covers all possible vulnerabilities.

Data security is essential for businesses that deal with sensitive information regularly. Even though businesses are encouraged to promote a culture of security within their offices and to educate employees about the threats and what they can do to avoid them, some employees might still make mistakes.

‍What is organizational security policy?

The organizational security policy is a key document for defining the scope of a business or organization's cybersecurity efforts. It should include information on goals, responsibilities, the structure of the security program, compliance, and the approach to risk management.

This document is essential for ensuring that everyone knows their role in protecting the organization from cyber threats in the age of digital collaboration. Adopting the right data security model is critical for organizational security.

The 3 classic security models

Security models can be used to maintain security goals, i.e., Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. 

1. Bell-LaPadula security model

This model was invented by scientists David Elliot Bell and Leonard J. LaPadula to help maintain security and confidentiality. It classifies subjects (users) and objects (files) in a non-discretionary way, organizing different layers of secrecy. This makes it easier to track who should have access to what, preventing unauthorized people from viewing sensitive information.

Bell-LaPadula has three main rules:

1. Simple confidentiality rule: The simple confidentiality rule states that the subject can only read files on the same or lower layer of secrecy.

2. Star confidentiality rule: This rule dictates that the subject can only write files on the same or upper layer of secrecy.

3. Strong star confidentiality rule: The strong star confidentiality rule is highly secure, allowing subjects to read and write files on the same level of secrecy. 

2. Biba security model

The Biba Model, invented by scientist Kenneth J. Biba, is a security model used to maintain data integrity. In this model, subjects (users) and objects (files) are classified in a non-discretionary fashion according to different levels of secrecy. 

Biba classic security model has three main rules:

1. Simple integrity rule: The simple integrity rule states that a subject can only read files on the same or higher level of secrecy. 

2. Star integrity rule: The star integrity rule states that the subject can only write files on the same or lower layer of secrecy.

3. Strong star integrity rule: This rule is highly secure and states that the subject can only read and write the files on the same layer of secrecy. 

3. Clarke-Wilson security model

The Clark-Wilson model was developed after the Biba model and focused on preventing unauthorized users from modifying data or committing fraud and errors within commercial applications.

This model requires users to go through programs to modify objects, prevents unauthorized users from making improper modifications by enforcing separation of duties, and maintains an audit log for external transactions.

Bonus: Zero Trust model

The Zero Trust security model is based on the philosophy that no person or device, inside or outside an organization's network, should have access to IT systems or services until they have authenticated their identity.

Under the Zero Trust model, all devices and people must be strongly authenticated and authorized before access to private networks or data transfers occur. The process combines analytics, filtering, and logging to verify behavior and monitor compromised signals. If a user or device behaves differently than before, it is monitored as a possible threat. This can ensure optimal data security.

The Zero Trust model has five basic principles:

1. Every user on a network is always assumed to be hostile

2. External and internal threats exist on the network at all times

3. Network locality is not sufficient for deciding trust in a network

4. Every device, user, and network flow is authenticated and authorized

5. Policies must be dynamic and calculated from as many sources of data as possible

Who is responsible for making an organization secure?

The short answer is: everybody! Unintentional human errors and accidents cause 90% of data breaches. Every employee, partner, contractor, customer, or app user is susceptible to social engineering methods (baiting, phishing, spear phishing, vishing, etc.) that cybercriminals use to trick people into divulging sensitive information. They then use this information to access the organization’s systems and data.

7 ways to increase organizational security

1. Regular audits and testing

Security audits are important to identify potential loopholes or issues in a company's workflow and collaboration process. It is also necessary to audit third-party integrations and apps. By having such audits and reviews, potential problems can be fixed before they become actual issues.

2. Employee training

It's important to prioritize reducing human error as a potential entry point for data breaches by regularly conducting security awareness training. It's beneficial for everyone to be aware of security protocols, especially with all the information being shared between employees and across different tools. 

3. On-premise deployment

On-premise deployment is an additional method for deploying and enhancing data security that benefits highly regulated industries. With on-premise deployment, the organization has complete control over the data exchange within the workplace. This is important to organizational security as it guarantees that the data will be secure and unauthorized people cannot access it.