10 steps to
prepare for cyberwar
Security experts say CIOs should
take the following steps to prepare for politically motivated network attacks:
1. Conduct
a network inventory. You need to know what is on your network and what are
the key network resources you must have available at all times to keep your
business running. Make sure these key resources are geographically and
logically dispersed.
2.
Keep your private network logically and physically separated from the public
Internet. This way it can’t be shut down by a denial-of-service attack. Have
your network audited to ensure that you understand your dependence on the
public Internet.
3.
Be vigilant. You need to have an around-the-clock, seven-day-a-week operational
team monitoring your networks. They need to have network cognizance. They need
to know what your infrastructure is and be able to monitor it.
4.
Educate your work force about IT security practices. Train and educate your
work force. They need to be educated to know when something is not right, and
they need to know whom to call to report it.
5. Have
security policies and plans in place and test them regularly. Empower your information
security officers and their teams to be able to defend your networks.
6.
Know whom to call at your ISP in
case of an emergency. Get in contact with your ISP’s technical staff before you
have a problem. Make sure your
7.
Have a backup plan. CIOs need a disaster recovery plan in case their Internet
connectivity is affected. The plan should take into consideration long-term
outages.
8.
Reduce your profile. Use physical defenses such as fences and security cameras,
not just cyberdefenses. Don’t
publicize where your corporate headquarters are located.
9.
Beware of insiders. The recent car bombings in
10.
Have an emergency response plan. If you don’t have a response manual worked out
and you fall under attack, you’re going to have a problem. You should develop
the plan in conjunction with your service providers. You should also know whom
to contact in law enforcement.
