Protection needs are informally expressed stakeholder security requirements focused on safeguarding information, systems, and services associated with mission and business functions throughout the system life cycle. Essentially, they outline what needs to be protected and why.
These needs form the foundation for more detailed security requirements and controls. They bridge the gap between high-level organizational goals and specific technical implementations.
Key Aspects of Protection Needs:
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Focus on Assets: Protection needs are centered around identifying and prioritizing assets that require protection. These assets can be data, hardware, software, personnel, facilities, and even reputation.
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Stakeholder Driven: They reflect the concerns and priorities of various stakeholders, including business owners, system users, legal and compliance teams, and IT security professionals.
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Contextual Understanding: They are derived from an understanding of the specific mission or business function supported by the system or service.
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Throughout System Lifecycle: They apply to all phases of the system lifecycle – from initial design and development to deployment, operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning.
Examples of Protection Needs:
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Example 1 (Data): "Customer financial data must be protected from unauthorized access to comply with regulatory requirements and maintain customer trust."
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Example 2 (System): "The online transaction processing system must be available 24/7 to ensure continuous business operations."
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Example 3 (Service): "The email service must be protected from spam and phishing attacks to maintain user productivity and prevent malware infections."
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Example 4 (Infrastructure): "Critical network infrastructure must be protected from physical damage due to environmental factors (e.g., fire, flood) to ensure business continuity."
How Protection Needs are Used:
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Requirements Elicitation: Protection needs serve as input to the requirements elicitation process, guiding the identification of specific security requirements.
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Risk Assessment: They inform risk assessments by highlighting the potential impact of security breaches or failures.
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Security Control Selection: They guide the selection of appropriate security controls (e.g., access controls, encryption, intrusion detection systems) to mitigate identified risks.
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Security Architecture Design: They influence the design of the security architecture, ensuring that security controls are implemented in a cohesive and effective manner.
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Testing and Validation: They are used to develop test cases and validation criteria to verify that security controls are functioning as intended.
In summary, protection needs are the foundational statements articulating what needs securing to support crucial business and mission functions, driving subsequent security analysis, design, and implementation efforts.
