Write a detailed overview and analysis of the fundamentals of risk management in cybersecurity for your organization that you described in your discussion post. You may choose one of the following two options for formatting your response (see details below):
• Option A: A 4- to 6-page paper OR
• Option B: A matrix (sample provided below) and a 2- to 3-page narrative
Regardless of which format you choose, be sure to address all the following elements:
1. Write a substantive executive summary that includes the following:
a. A brief statement on the purpose and scope of the RA
b. Your focus on the current organizational assessment
c. Your risk-mitigation and management strategy
d. Cited references to authorities that show the organization’s compliance with government requirements, industry best practices (NIST), or other standards
2. Assess the cybersecurity posture of your chosen organization. Be sure to include the following:
a. Describe your organization's business goals, mission, objectives, and how the requirements would support them.
b. Use the implementation tiers in NIST to assess your organization’s current situation.
c. List vulnerabilities, countermeasures, and recommendations for improvement.
Sample Answer
This document provides a foundational cybersecurity risk assessment (RA) for the community health clinic, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible primary care to an underserved urban population. The purpose of this assessment is to identify, analyze, and evaluate the current cybersecurity posture of the organization, with the ultimate goal of protecting patient data, preserving operational integrity, and ensuring mission continuity. The scope of this analysis encompasses all information technology assets that handle or store Protected Health Information (PHI), financial data, and other sensitive operational information.
The current organizational assessment reveals a reactive rather than proactive cybersecurity stance, primarily due to resource constraints and a lack of dedicated security personnel. While some security measures are in place, they are often ad-hoc and not part of a cohesive, organization-wide strategy. The risk-mitigation and management strategy proposed herein is built on a framework of continuous improvement, beginning with a focus on implementing a formal risk management program. The strategy will prioritize the most critical vulnerabilities, such as phishing and unpatched systems, before moving to a more comprehensive defense-in-depth model. The goal is to move the organization from a "partial" to a "risk-informed" state, as defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework.