Identifying, Monitoring, and Analyzing Risk and Incident Response and Recovery

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/incident-response-recovery-risks-sscp

Introduction

### Course Review: "Identifying, Monitoring, and Analyzing Risk and Incident Response and Recovery" on Coursera #### Overview The course "Identifying, Monitoring, and Analyzing Risk and Incident Response and Recovery" on Coursera is a comprehensive program designed for professionals looking to deepen their understanding of risk management and incident response strategies. The course effectively outlines the risk management process and equips students with the necessary tools to identify, analyze, and respond to security incidents. As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, this course emerges as a fundamental building block for anyone seeking to secure their organization's assets against potential risks. Whether you are an IT professional, a security analyst, or a manager aiming to bolster your organization's risk management framework, this course will provide you with actionable insights and practical knowledge. #### Course Structure and Content The syllabus of this course is divided into several modules, each focusing on critical aspects of risk and incident management: 1. **Understand the Risk Management Process**: This module covers concepts like risk visibility, reporting, and assessment methodologies based on NIST SP 800-30 R1. You’ll learn how to create a risk register and assess potential threats to develop a robust risk management strategy. 2. **Perform Security Assessment Activities**: Participants will engage in practical activities related to vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. This module gives a balanced view of how to test security measures and analyze results to inform future protections. 3. **Operate and Maintain Monitoring Systems & Analyze and Report Monitoring Results**: Gain insights into event monitoring and security analytics. The course discusses tools and techniques to visualize data, facilitating a better understanding and reporting of security incidents. 4. **Incident Response and Recovery**: This module dives into the steps necessary for effective incident handling, including preparation, detection, and post-incident analysis, culminating in recovery strategies to restore normal operations. 5. **Understand and Support Forensic Investigations & Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan**: Students will explore forensic methodologies and learn how to develop comprehensive continuity and disaster recovery plans, ensuring organizational resilience. 6. **Case Study**: The course culminates in a practical case study that challenges students to apply their learning to a real-world scenario, reinforcing comprehension and analytical skills. 7. **Exam**: To ensure a thorough understanding of the material covered, students will take an exam at the end of the course. #### Personal Insights Having completed this course, I found the structured approach and detailed content particularly beneficial. Each module is designed to not just inform but also engage learners with practical examples and tools. The balance between theoretical understanding and practical application makes it an enriching learning experience. The course materials are well-organized, and the content is delivered comprehensively, catering to learners at various levels of expertise. The inclusion of real-world applications through case studies ensures relevancy and practical utility in today's fast-paced cyber environment. #### Recommendation I highly recommend this course to anyone involved in risk management, cybersecurity, or incident response. It provides a strong foundation in both theory and practice, making it suitable for new professionals and seasoned experts looking to update their knowledge. In a landscape where the stakes for security breaches are high, investing time in a course that enhances your skillset in risk identification and incident management is not only wise but necessary. Completing this course will equip you with the tools needed to proactively handle security threats and foster a safer organizational environment. #### Conclusion Overall, "Identifying, Monitoring, and Analyzing Risk and Incident Response and Recovery" is a must-take course on Coursera for anyone serious about cybersecurity. It's not just an educational opportunity; it is a stepping stone toward becoming a capable professional in the resilience and security realm, making a tangible impact in your organization.

Syllabus

Understand the Risk Management Process

Module Topic: Risk Visibility and Reporting, Risk management Concepts, Risk Assessment, Risk Treatment, Audit Findings. In Risk visibility and Reporting, you will learn about risk register, creating a risk register, risk register, and risk management steps. In Risk Management Concepts, you will learn about, key terms, and generic risk model with key factors - NIST SP 800-30 R1. In risk Assessment, you will learn about NIST SP 800- 30 R1 risk assessment methodology, Step 1. prepare for the assessment, Step 2. conduct the assessment, Step 2a. identify threat sources, step 2b. identify potential threat events, step 2c. identify vulnerabilities and predisposing conditions, step 2d. determine likelihood, step 2e. determine impact, step 2f. risk determination, risk level matrix, risk levels, step 3. communicating and sharing risk assessment information, step 4. maintaining the risk assessment, and risk assessment activity. In Risk Treatment, you will learn about, risk mitigation, example control: passwords, control selection, residual risk, risk transference, risk avoidance, and risk acceptance. In audit Findings, you will learn about auditors, types of audits, audit methodologies, auditor responsibilities, audit scope, documentation, and response to audit.

Module Topics: Participate in Security and Test Results, Penetration Testing. In Participate in Security and Test Results, you will learn about vulnerability scanning and analysis, vulnerability testing software categories, vulnerability testing qualities, potential problems, host scanning, host security considerations, traffic types, security gateway types, wireless networking testing, potential security issues, searching for rogue access points, locking down the enterprise, wireless tools, war dialing, and war driving. In Penetration Testing you will learn about penetration testing modes, white box / hat, gray box / hat, black box / hat, phase 1: preparation, reporting, phase 2: reconnaissance and network mapping techniques, reconnaissance, social engineering and low-tech reconnaissance, whois attacks, DNS zone transfers, network mapping, network mapping techniques, firewalking, basic built-in tools, phase 3: information evaluation and risk analysis, phase 4: active penetration, phase 5: analysis and reporting, penetration testing high-level steps.

Module Topics: Events of Interest, Logging, source Systems, Security Analytics, metrics, and Trends, Visualization, Event Data Analysis, Communication of Findings. In Events of Interest you will learn about, monitoring terminology, Intrusion Detection System (IDS)/Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), comparing IDS and IPS, types of IDS/IPS devices, deploying HIDS and NIDS, implementation issues for monitoring, monitoring control, other considerations, sample questions to consider, collecting data for incident response, monitoring response techniques, attackers, attacker motivations, intrusions, events, types of monitoring, and file integrity checkers, continuous/compliance monitoring. In Logging, you will learn about reviewing host logs, reviewing incident logs, log anomalies, log management, clipping levels, filtering, log consolidation, log retention, centralized logging (syslog and log aggregation), syslog, distributed log collectors, hosted logging services, configuring event sources (s-flow, NetFlow, sniffer), Cosco NetFlow, What is an IP Flow, IP packet attributes, understanding network behavior, how to access the data produced by NetFlow, How does the router or switch determine which flows to export to the NetFlow collector server, format of the export data, sFlow, event correlation systems (security, information, and event management (SIEM)), SIEM functions, compliance, enhanced network security and improved IT/security operations, and full packet capture. In Source System, you will learn about comprehensive application, middleware, OS, and infrastructure monitoring, hyper capabilities, and operations manager. Analyze and Report Monitoring: In Security Analytics, Metrics, and Trends, you will learn about security baseline, network security baseline, metrics and analysis (MA), systems security engineering capability maturity model (SSE-CMM), and potential metrics. In visualization topic, you will learn about data visualization tools. In Event Data Analysis, you will learn about logs, log management, log management recommendations, and Potential uses of server log data. In Communication of Findings, you will learn about checklist for report writers and reviewers.

Module Topics: Preparation, Detection and Analysis, Containment, Eradication, and Recovery, Post-Incident Activity, Implementation of Countermeasures. In Introduction, you will learn about incident response, and basic definitions. In preparation, you will learn about elements of an incident response policy, incident response plan, training, incident response tools, communication planning, communication with law enforcement, media, requirements for effective incident handling, the incident response team, core team areas, centralized and decentralized teams, team structure, team conditions that support success, and other considerations. In Detection and Analysis, you will learn about Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), types of intrusion systems, intrusion detection techniques, false positives and false negatives, anti-malware systems, security information event management (SIEM), Incident analysis, packet sniffers, Inline SSL decryption devices, incident documentation, records, assessing risk, response, containment strategy considerations, Delaying containment, areas of focus, defining an incident, triage, and notification. In Containment, Eradication, and Recovery, you will learn about common containment activities, and eradication. In post-incident activity, you will learn about effective incident response. In implementation of Countermeasures, you will learn about implementation steps.

Module Topic: Forensic Investigations, Emergency Response Plans and Procedures, Disaster Recovery Planning, Interim or Alternate processing Strategies, Backup and Redundancy Implementation, System and Data Availability, Testing and Drills. Understand and Support Forensic Investigations: In Forensic Investigations, you will learn about crime scene, live evidence, Locard's principle, criminal behavior, incident response team, general guidelines, rules of thumb, evidence gathering, Hash algorithms, criminal charges, documentation, five rules of evidence, media analysis, network analysis, software analysis, author identification, content analysis, context analysis, hardware/embedded device analysis, NIST recommendations, and incident response. Understand and Support Business Continuity Plan: In Emergency Response Plans and Procedures, you will learn about business continuity planning, establish a business continuity program, Business Impact Analysis (BIA), key concepts, maximum tolerable downtime (MTD), Recovery Time Objective (RTO), Recovery Point Objective (RPO), Financial and Nonfinancial impacts, stakeholder input, BIA completion process, BIA project stages, Identify critical IT resources, Identify disruption impacts, and development recovery priorities. In Disaster Recovery Planning, you will learn about Identity types of potential disasters, assets, personnel considerations, and related documents. In Interim or Alternate Processing Strategies, you will learn about cold site, warm site, hot site, multiple processing sites, and mobile sites. In Backup and Redundancy Implementation, you will learn about full backup, differential backup, incremental backup, evaluating alternatives, Off-site storage, electronic vaulting, and remote journaling. In System and Data Availability, you will learn about clustering, high-availability clustering, load-balancing clustering, redundant array of independent disks (RAID), data redundancy techniques, and RAID levels. In Testing and Drills, you will learn about checklist test, structured walkthrough test, simulation testing, parallel testing, full interruption testing, and plan review and maintenance.

This assignment is based on a case study that will require the student to put into practice the knowledge they have gained through the course. It requires the basic understanding of the topics and the ability to relate those topics to the real world. The objective of review is to determine whether the student has understood the concepts and has performed the necessary analysis to ensure a complete and thorough answer.