Evaluation Of The Big 4 Accounting Firms

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is a series of processes used to identify risk, implement strategies to address risk, and monitor impact on the organization. Indeed, an effective ERM will consist of a corporate profile, which is a record of key risks that would hinder the organization in achieving their key objectives (Fraser & Simkins, 2010). Ideally, the risk profile is created as a tool to communicate with the Board of Directors, but may be used as a means of communication with all levels of management (Bethel, 2016). Typically, there are variations of the risk profile based upon the level of management, such as duration, types of risk, and purpose (Fraser & Simkins, 2010).

internal and external users to whom access to the organization’s network, data or other sensitive

Another step involves security checks upon implementation and describes agency-level threat to the business scenario or the mission. It similarly entails sanctioning the information system for processing and lastly constant monitoring of the security controls. FISMA and NIST's standards are aimed at offering the ways for agencies to achieve their identified missions with safety commensurate with the threat (United States Department of Agriculture, 2015). Together with guidelines from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FISMA and NIST create a framework for advancing and growing an information security scheme (SecureIT, 2008). Such framework includes control descriptions and evaluation, program development, and system certification and accreditation. The final objective involves conducting daily functioning of the agency and achieving the agency's articulated objectives with sufficient security commensurate with risk.

“The Federal Information Processing Standards Publication Series of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the official series of publications relating to standards and guidelines adopted and promulgated under the provisions of Section 5131 of the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-106) and the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-347)” ("FIPS PUB 199," 2004). In this paper, FIPS PUB 199 has been chosen as the security standard used by State of Maryland Department of information technology. This standard addresses to develop standards for categorizing information and information systems. On the other hand, ISO/IEC 27001 is the other standard not used by State of Maryland which has been discussed as a contrast standard.

Harris, S. (2006, November 5). Developing an information security program using SABSA, ISO 17799. Retrieved September 19th, 2015, from

Cybersecurity is very important today for every company, business, enterprise, agency, and even the government. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a cybersecurity framework to help companies to comply with standards, measurements, and technology to enhance economic security (NIST.gov). NIST 's cybersecurity framework is made of thee basic elements such as Framework core, framework

Risk management is a process for identifying, assessing and prioritizing risks of different kinds. Once the risks are identified, the risk manager will create a plan to minimize or eliminate the impact of negative events. A variety of strategies is available, depending on the type of risk and the type of business. There are a number of risk management standards including those developed by the Project Management Institute the International Organization for Standardization the National Institute of Science and Technology and actuarial societies. Organizations uses different strategies in proper management of future events such as risk assumption, risk avoidance,

A sound information security policy begins with an understanding of what is the current climate, which can consist of policies, regulations, and laws. It is imperative to understand what legislation your line of business must comply with as well any applicable governance requirements. Beginning with defining what is a policy, a guideline and a standard: a policy provides specific requirements or rules to abide by, which can be either at the governmental level, meaning a statute and/or organization-specific directive; also known as administrative law. According to the SANS Institute (n/d), a leading cooperative research and education organization, a standard can be an amalgam of requirements that is applicable to the user body; and a guideline can be considered akin to a recommendation for a best practice (SANS Institute, n/d). Current government policies can be issued by federal, state, local and/or tribal

The procedures can be established for the security program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures.

Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2010). Management of information security (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Course Technology.

The security plan is formulated to protect the information and important resources from a wide variety of potential threats. This will promote business continuity, reduce business risks and increase the return on investment together with business opportunities. The security of information technology is attained by executing a suitable set of control, efficient policies, processes, organization structures, software and the hardware. These given controls ought to be formulated, put into action, assessed, analyzed and developed for productivity, where necessary. This will allow the explicit security and business objectives of the United States Department of health and Human Services to be accomplished (Easttom, 2006, p.32).

“Security programs are aimed at creating an appreciation and understanding of the Security Department’s objectives as they relate to the specific industry they serve” (Sennewald, 2013). Businesses come in all different sizes, some big some small. Businesses need a plan to ensure assets, personnel, and facilities are protected and this plan must be actively in place. Security programs provide businesses with the framework needed to keep a business or company at the security level needed to operate. This can be done in numerous ways. Assessing the risks involved, lessening the gravity of those risks, and keeping the security program and the security practices updated are just to name a few. In this core assessment paper, I will identify an actual organizational security program, conduct

Today’s risk management environment is more dynamic than ever. More often, companies are embracing risk management’s undeniable opportunity to improve business results. The emergence of this “true business partner” relationship requires that risk management decisions and processes rely more on strategic planning, rigorous analytical processes, and collaborative internal and external partnerships. Knowing which actions and relationships will drive down your costs of risk demands a deep and comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence it.

Good security management requires risk management to mitigate or reduce risk to an acceptable level within an organization. Security management’s objective is to protect the company and its assets. A proper risk analysis will identify the company’s major assets, threats that put those assets at risk, and estimate the possible damage and loss a company may endure if any of the threats were to become real. With a good risk analysis, management can determine the type of budget they want to set to mitigate threats. Risk analysis justifies the cost of the countermeasures against the threats and determines the benefit or worth of security

A security administrator can look to the Information Technology- Code of Practice for Information Security Management, ISO 17799/BS 7799 as well as ISO 17799/BS 7799, the NIST Security Models including the SP 800-12, 14, 18, 26, and 30, and the VISA International Security Model are just a few of the established security frameworks available.