When it comes to technology, one thing is certain for anyone entering the discussion; so many terms are confusing and sometimes confused with one another. The terms are sometimes difficult to comprehend and accurately recall when you throw in the aspects of continually expanding and changing technology and systems. Cybersecurity is one of those topics that has the web buzzing. Two topics that are often confused with one another are OPSEC and SecOps.
Tech organizations are implementing either the one or the other or even a hybrid to secure their data assets from hardened malicious actors. Others have seen enormous value in partnering with industry specialists like Personetics.com. They are industry leaders in the realm of financial institutions for spearheading digital innovation.
Defining SecOps
IT security and operations teams are generally two separate divisions that work independently and focus on their respective responsibilities and priorities. SecOps combines these two entities into a single team, injecting critical security into each layer of operations and production while automating security duties to the greatest extent possible. This methodology combines the security and operations teams’ tools, methods, and technology, resulting in more secure applications.
Defining OPSEC
Operations security (OPSEC) is an analytical technique for assessing and protecting public enterprise data from attackers. In the internet age, OPSEC has become crucial for both commercial companies and government agencies, guaranteeing that all sensitive and secret data is safeguarded from cyber-attackers attempting to steal and exploit it.
Processes involved in OPSEC
Critical Data Identification
The first step in OPSEC is to figure out what data or information, if any, would be devastating if it fell into the hands of a malicious actor. Allowing this information to slip into the wrong hands could harm your organization, harm clients, or destroy the company’s reputation. This would typically be information like intellectual property, confidential information like financial records, or personally identifiable information.
Threat Analysis
The next stage is to figure out who poses a threat to the company’s sensitive data. There could be a slew of opponents pursuing various types of data, and businesses must consider competitors or hackers who might be after the information. Different enemies will target different data types, so it’s critical to know who your enemies are and what they’re looking for. These enemies might be anyone from malicious actors or even industry competitors.
Vulnerability Analysis
The organization needs to analyze potential gaps among the measures in place to protect sensitive information during the vulnerability analysis stage. This step entails identifying any potential flaws in physical and electronic processes intended to protect against predetermined threats and locations where a lack of security awareness training exposes data to attack. Organizations also need to plan and decide their approach in terms of vulnerability patching, software, and data encryption.
Broad risk assessment
The next stage in OPSEC is establishing the specific risk levels posed by the probable vulnerabilities in your system. It’s critical to determine the potential for damage from the exploited flaw and how likely it is to be discovered in the first place. After assessing these threats, the organization will have a clear list of priorities to work on first.
Countermeasure deployment
The final step is to implement an OPSEC plan to mitigate the risks. The best place to start is to start with the hazards that pose the greatest threat to operations. Implementing extra hardware and training and building new information governance are all possible security upgrades. The tasks listed below could be included in such a countermeasure deployment.
- Hardware upgrades.
- Creating new policies for employees regarding personal and private information.
- Adding to your software arsenal.
- Providing additional security training for all employees and contractors.
- Partner with a third-party security vendor who can aid with vulnerability identification.
Conclusion
SecOps and OPSEC, in whatever form you choose to implement them, will provide far more than just peace of mind; they will improve visibility, productivity, and security. Involving a specialist third-party vendor to partner with you will allow your organization to maximize your security and reduce your risk.
