Description

Book Synopsis

A comprehensive overview for directors aiming to meet their cybersecurity responsibilities

In Cyber Guardians: Empowering Board Members for Effective Cybersecurity, veteran cybersecurity advisor Bart McDonough delivers a comprehensive and hands-on roadmap to effective cybersecurity oversight for directors and board members at organizations of all sizes. The author includes real-world case studies, examples, frameworks, and blueprints that address relevant cybersecurity risks, including the industrialized ransomware attacks so commonly found in today's headlines.

In the book, you'll explore the modern cybersecurity landscape, legal and regulatory requirements, risk management and assessment techniques, and the specific role played by board members in developing and promoting a culture of cybersecurity. You'll also find:

  • Examples of cases in which board members failed to adhere to regulatory and legal requirements to notify the victims of data breaches abo

    Table of Contents

    Preface: What to Expect from This Book xv

    Chapter 1 Introduction 1

    Summary of a Board’s Incident Response 5

    Checklist for a Board’s Incident Response 8

    Chapter 2 Cybersecurity Basics 11

    CIA Framework 13

    Key Cybersecurity Concepts and Terminology for Board Members 19

    Threats and Risks 19

    Vulnerabilities and Exploits 20

    Malware 21

    Social Engineering 22

    Encryption and Data Protection 23

    Authentication and Access Control 24

    Common Cyber Threats and Risks Faced by Companies 26

    Phishing 26

    Malware 27

    Ransomware 28

    Business Email Compromise 29

    Insider Threats 30

    Third-Party Risk 31

    Mistakes/Errors 32

    Emerging Threats 33

    Advanced Persistent Threats 34

    Supply Chain Attacks 35

    Data Destruction 36

    Zero-Day Exploits 37

    Internet of Things Attacks 38

    Cloud Security 39

    Mobile Device Security 40

    Key Technologies and Defense Strategies 42

    Firewall Technology 42

    Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems 43

    Encryption 44

    Multifactor Authentication 45

    Virtual Private Network 46

    Antivirus and Anti-malware Software 47

    Endpoint Detection and Response 48

    Patch Management 49

    Cloud Technology 49

    Identity and Access Management 50

    Mobile Device Management 51

    Data Backup and Recovery 52

    Zero-Trust Architecture 54

    Micro-segmentation 55

    Secure Access Service Edge 56

    Containerization 56

    Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 57

    Blockchain 59

    Quantum Computing 61

    Threat Intelligence 64

    What Is Threat Intelligence? 65

    How Can Threat Intelligence Help Organizations? 65

    What Should Board Members Know About Threat Intelligence? 66

    Threat Actors 67

    External Threat Actors 68

    State-Sponsored Attackers 68

    Hacktivists 70

    Cybercriminals 70

    Competitors 72

    Terrorists 72

    Internal Actors 73

    Employees 73

    Contractors 75

    Third-Party Vendors 76

    Motivations of Threat Actors 77

    Financial Gain 77

    Political and Strategic Objectives 78

    Ideological Beliefs 79

    Personal Motivations 80

    Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures 81

    Examples of TTPs Used by Different Threat Actors 81

    MITRE ATT&CK Framework 83

    Chapter 2 Summary 85

    Chapter 3 Legal and Regulatory Landscape 87

    Overview of Relevant Cybersecurity Regulations and Laws 90

    Federal Regulations in the United States 90

    The Federal Trade Commission Act 90

    The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act 92

    The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 94

    State Regulations in the United States 97

    Data Breach Notification Laws 97

    California Consumer Privacy Act 99

    European Union Regulations 101

    General Data Protection Regulation 101

    Network and Information Security Directive 102

    ePrivacy Directive 104

    Industry Standards 105

    Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard 105

    National Institute of Standards and Technology 107

    Securities Exchange Commission 108

    2011 Cybersecurity Disclosure Guidance 108

    2018 Cybersecurity Disclosure Guidance 108

    2023 Proposal for New Cybersecurity Requirements 109

    Discussion of Compliance Requirements and Industry Standards 112

    Compliance Requirements 112

    Sarbanes-Oxley Act 112

    New York State Department of Financial Services Cybersecurity Regulation 114

    Industry Standards 117

    Center for Internet Security Controls 117

    International Organization for Standardization 27001 118

    Individual Director Liability 120

    Chapter 3 Summary 124

    Chapter 4 Board Oversight of Cybersecurity 127

    The Board’s Role in Overseeing Cybersecurity Strategy 129

    Legal Responsibilities 130

    Developing an Effective Cybersecurity Governance Framework 131

    Best Practices for Board Engagement and Reporting 133

    Regular Reporting 133

    Use of Metrics 134

    Executive Briefings 136

    Cybersecurity Drills 137

    Independent Assessments 138

    Overcoming Objections to Effective Cybersecurity Oversight 139

    Promoting a Cybersecurity Culture 141

    Chapter 4 Summary 143

    Chapter 5 Board Oversight of Cybersecurity: Ensuring Effective Governance 145

    The Role of the Board in Overseeing Cybersecurity 147

    Developing an Effective Cybersecurity Governance Framework 150

    Conduct a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment 150

    Implement a Threat Intelligence Program 150

    Develop a Risk Management Framework 150

    Prioritize High-Impact Risks 151

    Regularly Review and Update Risk Management Strategies 151

    Strategies for Identifying, Assessing, and Prioritizing Cyber Risks 152

    Conducting Cybersecurity Risk Assessments 154

    How to Develop and Promote a Culture of Cybersecurity 156

    Chapter 5 Summary 158

    Chapter 6 Incident Response and Business Continuity Planning 161

    Implementing Cybersecurity Policies and Procedures 164

    Incident Response and Business Continuity Planning 165

    Incident Response Plan 166

    Business Continuity Planning 166

    Incident Response Planning 167

    Defining the Types of Assessments 170

    Penetration Testing 170

    Vulnerability Scanning 171

    Security Risk Assessments 173

    Threat Modeling 174

    Social Engineering Assessments 175

    Compliance Assessments 176

    Red Team/Blue Team Exercise 177

    Chapter 6 Summary 178

    Chapter 7 Vendor Management and Third-Party Risk 181

    The Importance of Third-Party Risk Management for Board Members 183

    Best Practices for Managing Third-Party Cyber Risk 184

    Legal and Regulatory Considerations in Third-Party Risk Management 185

    Sample Questions to ask Third-Party Vendors 187

    Chapter 7 Summary 189

    Chapter 8 Cybersecurity Training and Awareness 191

    Importance of Cybersecurity Awareness for All Employees 193

    Strategies for Providing Effective Training and Awareness Programs 195

    More Detail on Effective Training Strategies 198

    Chapter 8 Summary 200

    Chapter 9 Cyber Insurance 201

    Understanding Cyber Insurance 202

    What Is Cyber Insurance? 202

    Why Is Cyber Insurance Important? 203

    Evolution of Cyber Insurance 204

    The Role of the Board in Cyber Insurance 204

    Key Components of Cyber Insurance 205

    Types of Coverage 205

    Policy Limits and Deductibles 206

    Exclusions 207

    Retroactive Dates 207

    Policy Periods 208

    Cyber Risk Assessments 208

    Evaluating and Purchasing Cyber Insurance 209

    Assessing the Organization’s Risk Profile 209

    Determining the Appropriate Level of Coverage 210

    Selecting an Insurer 211

    Negotiating Terms and Conditions 211

    Implementing the Policy 212

    Managing and Reviewing the Cyber Insurance Policy 213

    Filing a Claim 213

    Managing a Claim Dispute 214

    Reviewing and Renewing the Policy 214

    Chapter 9 Summary 215

    Chapter 10 Conclusion: Moving Forward with Cybersecurity Governance 219

    The Board’s Role in Cybersecurity Governance 222

    Key Takeaways and Action Items for Board Members 225

    Chapter 10 Summary 226

    Appendix A Checklist of Key Considerations for Board Members 229

    Appendix B Sample Questions 231

    Appendix C Sample Board Meeting Agenda 233

    Appendix D List of Key Vendors 235

    Appendix E Cybersecurity Resources 237

    Appendix F Cybersecurity Books 239

    Appendix G Cybersecurity Podcasts 241

    Appendix H Cybersecurity Websites and Blogs 243

    Appendix I Tabletop Exercise: Cybersecurity Incident Response 245

    Appendix J Articles 249

    About the Author 253

    Acknowledgments 255

    Index 257

Cyber Guardians

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Wed 15 Jul 2026.

    A Hardback by Bart R. McDonough

    10 in stock

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      Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc
      Publication Date: 23/11/2023
      ISBN13: 9781394226221, 978-1394226221
      ISBN10: 1394226225
      Also in:
      Computer science

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      A comprehensive overview for directors aiming to meet their cybersecurity responsibilities

      In Cyber Guardians: Empowering Board Members for Effective Cybersecurity, veteran cybersecurity advisor Bart McDonough delivers a comprehensive and hands-on roadmap to effective cybersecurity oversight for directors and board members at organizations of all sizes. The author includes real-world case studies, examples, frameworks, and blueprints that address relevant cybersecurity risks, including the industrialized ransomware attacks so commonly found in today's headlines.

      In the book, you'll explore the modern cybersecurity landscape, legal and regulatory requirements, risk management and assessment techniques, and the specific role played by board members in developing and promoting a culture of cybersecurity. You'll also find:

      • Examples of cases in which board members failed to adhere to regulatory and legal requirements to notify the victims of data breaches abo

        Table of Contents

        Preface: What to Expect from This Book xv

        Chapter 1 Introduction 1

        Summary of a Board’s Incident Response 5

        Checklist for a Board’s Incident Response 8

        Chapter 2 Cybersecurity Basics 11

        CIA Framework 13

        Key Cybersecurity Concepts and Terminology for Board Members 19

        Threats and Risks 19

        Vulnerabilities and Exploits 20

        Malware 21

        Social Engineering 22

        Encryption and Data Protection 23

        Authentication and Access Control 24

        Common Cyber Threats and Risks Faced by Companies 26

        Phishing 26

        Malware 27

        Ransomware 28

        Business Email Compromise 29

        Insider Threats 30

        Third-Party Risk 31

        Mistakes/Errors 32

        Emerging Threats 33

        Advanced Persistent Threats 34

        Supply Chain Attacks 35

        Data Destruction 36

        Zero-Day Exploits 37

        Internet of Things Attacks 38

        Cloud Security 39

        Mobile Device Security 40

        Key Technologies and Defense Strategies 42

        Firewall Technology 42

        Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems 43

        Encryption 44

        Multifactor Authentication 45

        Virtual Private Network 46

        Antivirus and Anti-malware Software 47

        Endpoint Detection and Response 48

        Patch Management 49

        Cloud Technology 49

        Identity and Access Management 50

        Mobile Device Management 51

        Data Backup and Recovery 52

        Zero-Trust Architecture 54

        Micro-segmentation 55

        Secure Access Service Edge 56

        Containerization 56

        Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 57

        Blockchain 59

        Quantum Computing 61

        Threat Intelligence 64

        What Is Threat Intelligence? 65

        How Can Threat Intelligence Help Organizations? 65

        What Should Board Members Know About Threat Intelligence? 66

        Threat Actors 67

        External Threat Actors 68

        State-Sponsored Attackers 68

        Hacktivists 70

        Cybercriminals 70

        Competitors 72

        Terrorists 72

        Internal Actors 73

        Employees 73

        Contractors 75

        Third-Party Vendors 76

        Motivations of Threat Actors 77

        Financial Gain 77

        Political and Strategic Objectives 78

        Ideological Beliefs 79

        Personal Motivations 80

        Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures 81

        Examples of TTPs Used by Different Threat Actors 81

        MITRE ATT&CK Framework 83

        Chapter 2 Summary 85

        Chapter 3 Legal and Regulatory Landscape 87

        Overview of Relevant Cybersecurity Regulations and Laws 90

        Federal Regulations in the United States 90

        The Federal Trade Commission Act 90

        The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act 92

        The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 94

        State Regulations in the United States 97

        Data Breach Notification Laws 97

        California Consumer Privacy Act 99

        European Union Regulations 101

        General Data Protection Regulation 101

        Network and Information Security Directive 102

        ePrivacy Directive 104

        Industry Standards 105

        Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard 105

        National Institute of Standards and Technology 107

        Securities Exchange Commission 108

        2011 Cybersecurity Disclosure Guidance 108

        2018 Cybersecurity Disclosure Guidance 108

        2023 Proposal for New Cybersecurity Requirements 109

        Discussion of Compliance Requirements and Industry Standards 112

        Compliance Requirements 112

        Sarbanes-Oxley Act 112

        New York State Department of Financial Services Cybersecurity Regulation 114

        Industry Standards 117

        Center for Internet Security Controls 117

        International Organization for Standardization 27001 118

        Individual Director Liability 120

        Chapter 3 Summary 124

        Chapter 4 Board Oversight of Cybersecurity 127

        The Board’s Role in Overseeing Cybersecurity Strategy 129

        Legal Responsibilities 130

        Developing an Effective Cybersecurity Governance Framework 131

        Best Practices for Board Engagement and Reporting 133

        Regular Reporting 133

        Use of Metrics 134

        Executive Briefings 136

        Cybersecurity Drills 137

        Independent Assessments 138

        Overcoming Objections to Effective Cybersecurity Oversight 139

        Promoting a Cybersecurity Culture 141

        Chapter 4 Summary 143

        Chapter 5 Board Oversight of Cybersecurity: Ensuring Effective Governance 145

        The Role of the Board in Overseeing Cybersecurity 147

        Developing an Effective Cybersecurity Governance Framework 150

        Conduct a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment 150

        Implement a Threat Intelligence Program 150

        Develop a Risk Management Framework 150

        Prioritize High-Impact Risks 151

        Regularly Review and Update Risk Management Strategies 151

        Strategies for Identifying, Assessing, and Prioritizing Cyber Risks 152

        Conducting Cybersecurity Risk Assessments 154

        How to Develop and Promote a Culture of Cybersecurity 156

        Chapter 5 Summary 158

        Chapter 6 Incident Response and Business Continuity Planning 161

        Implementing Cybersecurity Policies and Procedures 164

        Incident Response and Business Continuity Planning 165

        Incident Response Plan 166

        Business Continuity Planning 166

        Incident Response Planning 167

        Defining the Types of Assessments 170

        Penetration Testing 170

        Vulnerability Scanning 171

        Security Risk Assessments 173

        Threat Modeling 174

        Social Engineering Assessments 175

        Compliance Assessments 176

        Red Team/Blue Team Exercise 177

        Chapter 6 Summary 178

        Chapter 7 Vendor Management and Third-Party Risk 181

        The Importance of Third-Party Risk Management for Board Members 183

        Best Practices for Managing Third-Party Cyber Risk 184

        Legal and Regulatory Considerations in Third-Party Risk Management 185

        Sample Questions to ask Third-Party Vendors 187

        Chapter 7 Summary 189

        Chapter 8 Cybersecurity Training and Awareness 191

        Importance of Cybersecurity Awareness for All Employees 193

        Strategies for Providing Effective Training and Awareness Programs 195

        More Detail on Effective Training Strategies 198

        Chapter 8 Summary 200

        Chapter 9 Cyber Insurance 201

        Understanding Cyber Insurance 202

        What Is Cyber Insurance? 202

        Why Is Cyber Insurance Important? 203

        Evolution of Cyber Insurance 204

        The Role of the Board in Cyber Insurance 204

        Key Components of Cyber Insurance 205

        Types of Coverage 205

        Policy Limits and Deductibles 206

        Exclusions 207

        Retroactive Dates 207

        Policy Periods 208

        Cyber Risk Assessments 208

        Evaluating and Purchasing Cyber Insurance 209

        Assessing the Organization’s Risk Profile 209

        Determining the Appropriate Level of Coverage 210

        Selecting an Insurer 211

        Negotiating Terms and Conditions 211

        Implementing the Policy 212

        Managing and Reviewing the Cyber Insurance Policy 213

        Filing a Claim 213

        Managing a Claim Dispute 214

        Reviewing and Renewing the Policy 214

        Chapter 9 Summary 215

        Chapter 10 Conclusion: Moving Forward with Cybersecurity Governance 219

        The Board’s Role in Cybersecurity Governance 222

        Key Takeaways and Action Items for Board Members 225

        Chapter 10 Summary 226

        Appendix A Checklist of Key Considerations for Board Members 229

        Appendix B Sample Questions 231

        Appendix C Sample Board Meeting Agenda 233

        Appendix D List of Key Vendors 235

        Appendix E Cybersecurity Resources 237

        Appendix F Cybersecurity Books 239

        Appendix G Cybersecurity Podcasts 241

        Appendix H Cybersecurity Websites and Blogs 243

        Appendix I Tabletop Exercise: Cybersecurity Incident Response 245

        Appendix J Articles 249

        About the Author 253

        Acknowledgments 255

        Index 257

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