The attached instructions

Part 1

Partnerships for Improving State and Local Government Cyber security

Prepare a one page briefing statement (3 to 5 paragraphs) for a group of state government employees and local government city managers who are interested in learning more about the benefits of working with the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). Their specific interest is in obtaining help in preventing data breaches since state agencies and city governments collect, process, transmit, and store large amounts of private information about individuals. This information includes

o    Student Records (K-12)

o    Online Reservation & Payment Systems for Parks & Recreation Facilities

o    Hospitals (Patient Records)

o    Vital Records (Birth / Death Certificates)

o    License Applications (Marriage, Business, Driver's Licenses)

o    Building Permits (including architectural drawings and property information)

Your briefing statement should provide an independent perspective on the services provided by MS-ISAC and address concerns about the affordability of the ISAC’s services. Answer the questions:

• Will working with MS-ISAC reduce the risks of data breaches in my organization?
• Why or why not?
• Who else could each city partner with to reduce the risks and impacts of data breaches?

Resource: https://msisac.cisecurity.org/about/services/

Provide in-text citations and references for 3 or more authoritative sources. Put the reference list at the end of your posting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2

Major Assignment due this week: Paper #3: Compare / Contrast IT Security Policies between two state governments.

2: Compare / Contrast Two State Government IT Security Policies (1200 words)

 

Volunteers have been recruited to help state governments improve their cybersecurity practices. The coordinating committee has decided that the first task these volunteers undertake will be a comparative analysis which examines the strengths and weaknesses of existing IT Security Policies for state governments (agencies and offices of the executive branch under the leadership of the state governors). Since you volunteered early, you have your pick of any two states’  IT Security Policies from the list published by the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MSISAC). (See item #1 under Research.) 

Research:

1.Select two state government IT Security Policies. Use the list at https://msisac.cisecurity.org/state/   (if you encounter a broken link, you may search for that state’s policy or choose a different state).

2.Download and review your selected state governments’ IT Security Policy documents. 

3.Develop five or more points which are common across the two documents. (Similarities)

4.Identify and review at least three unique items in each document. (Differences)

5.Research best practices for IT Security and/or IT Security Policies for state governments. Here are two  sources which you may find helpful:

a.http://www.nascio.org/Portals/0/Publications/Documents/Deloitte-NASCIOCybersecurityStudy_2014.pdf  

b.http://www.nascio.org/Portals/0/Publications/Documents/NASCIO-SecurityFrameworks.pdf  

6.Using your research and your comparison of the two policy documents, develop an answer to the question: Why should every state government have an IT security policy for state agencies and offices under the state’s executive branch?

Write:

Write 1200 words on a white paper in which you summarize your research and discuss the similarities and differences between the two IT security policy documents. You should focus upon clarity and conciseness more than length when determining what content to include in your paper. At a minimum, your white paper must include the following:

1.        .An introduction or overview of IT Security Policies for the executive branch of state governments (covering state agencies and offices in the executive branch including the governor’s office). Explain the purpose of an IT security policy and how it is used. Answer the question: why should every state in the nation have a comprehensive IT security policy for state agencies and offices? (Make sure that you address the importance of such strategies to small, resource-poor states as well as to large or wealthy states.) 

2.        .A separate section in which you discuss the common principles and policy sections / statements (similarities) found in both IT security policy documents.

3.        A separate section in which you discuss the unique aspects of the first state’s IT security policy document.

4.        A separate section in which you discuss the unique aspects of the second state’s IT security policy document.

5.        A section in which you discuss your evaluation of which state government has the better of the two IT security policy documents. You should also present best practice based recommendations for improvements for both IT security policy documents. (Note: you may have different recommendations for the individual policies depending upon the characteristics of each document.)

6.        Your white paper should use standard terms and definitions for cybersecurity concepts. The following sources are recommended in; ISACA Glossary http://www.isaca.org/pages/glossary.aspx 

Guidelines on Security and Privacy in Public Cloud Computing http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication800-144.pdf 

7. You are expected to credit your sources using in-text citations and reference list entries. Both your citations and your reference list entries must comply with APA 6th edition Style requirements. Failure to credit your sources will result in penalties as provided for under the university’s Academic Integrity policy. 

8. Use APA 6th edition style (formatting) for the organization and appearance of the MS Word document that you submit to your assignment folder.

For examples of online services and types of information held and processed by local governments, please see these websites for local governments near UMUC offices in Adelphi and Largo, Maryland:

• Town: http://uppermarlboromd.gov/
• City: http://www.collegeparkmd.gov/
• City: http://www.cityofbowie.org
• County: http://countyclick.princegeorgescountymd.gov/