Tag: hr

What is the goal behind calculating assets in ISO-27000?

My friend and colleague Gary Hinson said about asset valuation in ISO-27000

So, for instance, it’s hard to say exactly how much the HR database
is worth, but it’s a fair bet that it is less valuable to the
organization than the Sales and Marketing database containing
commercial details on customers and prospects. Therefore, it
probably makes commercial sense to put more effort and resources into
securing the S&M database against disclosure incidents, than for the
HR database.

While Gary is ‘classically’ right, there’s a hidden gotcha in all that.

It is *YOU* that are assigning value, it is the value to YOU.
As Donn Parker points out, this may be quite different from the the value system of the attackers. You don’t know their values, motivations, tools etc etc etc. Continue reading What is the goal behind calculating assets in ISO-27000?

How to build an asset inventory for 27001

How do you know WHAT assets are  to be included in the ISO-27K Asset Inventory?

SOMF Asset Patterns

This question and variants of the “What are assets [for ISO27K]?” comes up often and has seen much discussion on the various InfoSec forums I subscribe to.

Perhaps some ITIL influence is need.  Or perhaps not since that might be too reductionist.

The important thing to note here is that the POV of the accountants/book-keepers is not the same as the ISO27K one. To them, an asset is something that was purchased and either depreciates in value, according to the rules of the tax authority you operate under, or appreciates in value (perhaps) according to the market, such as land and buildings.

Here in Canada, computer hardware and software depreciates PDQ under this scheme, so that the essential software on which you company depends is deemed worthless by the accountants. Their view is that depreciable assets should be replaced when they reach the end of their accounting-life. Your departmental budget may say different.

Many of the ISO27K Assets are things the accountants don’t see: data, processes, relationships, know-how, documentation. Continue reading How to build an asset inventory for 27001

Why don’t companies apply more risk analysis?

http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/business-brains/why-dont-companies-apply-more-risk-analysis-to-layoff-decisions/3447/

So, here we are, all trained up in Risk Analysis, knowing about the risks of hiring and firing, disgruntled employees, various litigations, and more. We’re often considered pests for asking the “Why Are We Doing This” questions about new technology and initiatives that bring security risks.
Continue reading Why don’t companies apply more risk analysis?