Personnel & Third-Party Security

University of California, Irvine via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/internal-risk-mitigation

Introduction

**Course Review: Personnel & Third-Party Security on Coursera** In an age where cyber threats are on the rise and organizational assets are under constant scrutiny, the course "Personnel & Third-Party Security" available on Coursera stands out as an essential learning experience for anyone interested in enhancing their knowledge of security protocols. This course, designed with an eye towards practical application, equips participants with the tools necessary to implement effective security measures related to personnel and third-party vendors. ### Course Overview The course fosters an understanding of how education, training, and awareness initiatives can protect an organization’s critical assets, including intellectual property and physical resources. Throughout the program, learners are introduced to key components of Vendor Risk Management (VRM), which includes essential activities such as due diligence, effective contracting, ongoing monitoring, and managing the termination process. ### Syllabus Highlights 1. **Education, Training, & Awareness**: The first module emphasizes the importance of instilling a security-conscious culture within organizations. It addresses how all personnel—users, administrators, IT staff, and security personnel—are integral to an organization’s overall security posture. By designing and implementing tailored education and training programs, companies can minimize security risks significantly. 2. **Personnel Security**: In the second module, participants will delve into the unique aspects of personnel security and its vital role in safeguarding an organization’s assets. The discussions in this module shed light on how strategic controls designed around personnel behavior can mitigate risks associated with theft, fraud, and unauthorized access. 3. **Vendor Risk Management (VRM)**: The third module is a deep dive into Vendor Risk Management, navigating through the various stages from due diligence to contract negotiation and monitoring. The course acknowledges that while completely eliminating risk is unrealistic, employing effective strategy can significantly mitigate "unacceptable" risks associated with vendors. 4. **Acquisition Strategy**: The final module addresses the complexities involved in integrating cybersecurity considerations during organizational changes such as hardware purchases or mergers. Learners are introduced to strategies that ensure acquisition efforts do not unknowingly expose an organization to increased cyber threats. ### Course Engagement and Case Studies One of the most commendable aspects of this course is its incorporation of current case studies, which provide real-world context to theoretical concepts. These case studies stimulate critical thinking and provoke discussions around best practices and lessons learned from industry failures. ### Recommendations I highly recommend the "Personnel & Third-Party Security" course for professionals seeking to bolster their understanding of security frameworks within their organizations. Whether you are an entry-level employee, a manager, or a security professional, the course content is applicable and adaptable to various roles in any industry. ### Final Thoughts As organizations navigate an increasingly complex security landscape, the knowledge and skills acquired from this course will empower participants to make informed decisions regarding personnel and third-party security. Invest in your security expertise today by enrolling in "Personnel & Third-Party Security" on Coursera. This course is an invaluable resource that lays the groundwork for building a robust security culture and implementing effective risk management strategies within your organization.

Syllabus

Education, Training, & Awareness

Welcome to the first module of Personnel & Third Party Security! Education, training, and awareness of security threats are important for many actors within an organization. It’s not only your users who make bad decisions, it’s also administrators, IT staff, security staff, and risk assessors. In this module we will dive into the process of implementing effective education, training, and awareness programs.

Personnel Security

Welcome to Module 2! Personnel security plays a critical role in protecting an organization’s assets, for example intellectual property, such as customer data or physical assets. Organizations define their security requirements around personnel’s use of organizational assets and then use technical and physical controls to implement them. Through personnel security controls, we work towards a reduction in the misuse, theft, or fraud related to our assets.

Vendor Risk Management

Welcome to Module 3! In this module we will introduce the steps required for effective Vendor Risk Management (VRM), including: due diligence, contracting, monitoring and accessing, as well as termination. When it comes to VRM, we cannot completely eliminate all risk, however, we may be able to reduce risk. The key is to ensure there is no "unacceptable" risk.

Acquisition Strategy

Welcome to the fourth and final module of Personnel & Third-Party Security! Imagine you just bought new hardware, software, or merged with another company. How do you ensure that these actions do not reduce your cyber security posture and increase your risk to external and internal threats? Introducing cyber security risk considerations into acquisition strategy can help deal with these concerns.