Why Use a Bike Lock

Cyber Bob | August 14, 2019
Twitter: @MeetCyberBob
Have you ever watched a video on lock picking? I’ve recently found the “Lock Picking Lawyer” on YouTube. He has the most professional speaking tone and great knowledge of the esoteric art of lock picking. Each time he confidently picks a lock, he points out that the chain or link is always the weakest point. It’s not just about opening the lock, but also knowing how to read the security signs that it provides. Examples:
This all came to mind as I was exchanging emails with one of our stellar Directors of Systems Engineering. He said he was working with a health care organization and they wanted to focus on visibility. Trust me, visibility is the foundation of any great security program. It is also crucial when evaluating risk in asset management. It cannot be the only security measure.
There are lots of insurance companies out there evaluating risk. Webster’s defines “risk” as the possibility that something bad or unpleasant (such as an injury or a loss) will happen.
Think about that…the possibility. You can even put it into an equation:
RISK = (Probability) x (Impact)
What is the Probability in asset management:
This makes it easier to understand the possibility of risk. And there goes the Impact:
This leads to a better understanding of not just knowing the asset but understanding its risk to determine the proper set of security measures. In the case of the healthcare provider who only wanted visibility into their assets – that’s a great start, but then you need to limit access to reduce the probability.
It also correlates to a recent infusion pump manufacturer who identified two new vulnerabilities with their hardware in the field. This is life-saving equipment, vital for proper patient care. If the system is compromised, it may cost lives.
Knowing how many devices exist on your network is important but making sure they’re properly protected is key in holistic asset management. Ensuring access control with proper segmentation will dramatically improve your corporate risk profile.
Visibility needs to lead into actions taken, or probability turns into fact.
And maybe do more to protect your bike than just using a lock.
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