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I am not a security professional now, but I kind of used to be (at least one aspect of it). I'll take a run at giving answers. Caveat with these answers is that
by Communitivity 6y ago
I am not a security professional now, but I kind of used to be (at least one aspect of it). I'll take a run at giving answers. Caveat with these answers is that it assumes security > usability > cost, and the budget is high enough to afford the answer implementations. It also assumes the organization is extremely paranoid and security-conscious, both good things in this area. None of this information is Classified or FOUO. All of it is pulled from publicly available best practices, or my own thoughts.
1. Computer stations use two types of fingerprinting at all times, facial recognition and typing biometrics. Also, login to the system requires password or pin entered after a card is inserted, followed by a fingerprint authentication, followed by the password of the day. Critical software/data must be accessed at an air-gapped machine inside a Faraday cage.
2. Employees only access based on what they need for their job that week, access controls are fine grained, employee access is logged, and that log goes via data diode to an otherwise air-gapped computer inside a Faraday cage.
3. Users can't download and install. Only trusted professionals can, and then only after the software is vigorously tested and approved.
4. Hot site goes fully active, personnel are immediately transitioned there, and a root cause analysis is performed to figure out just who screwed the pooch to allow the server room to burn. Repairs are made as quickly as possible by vetted personnel, then checked for security by different employees, and then checked by a third team.
5. Physically disassemble the computer to the point where you can unsolder the USB ports (some come with support on board for USB ports but none in the case, enterprising bad actors could open the case and install their own USB port). Also, have anti-tamper cases with anti-tampering turned on after that. Have OS protections preventing media not whitelisted.
6. Step 1: Phone home and wipe procedure on drive activates if the computer boots up and authorized use does not log in with X minutes. Disk has full disk encryption and is reencrypted with new password each month. Step 2:Fire the CEO unless they were mugged, or a K&R family situation.
The above steps are extremely expensive though, and only very large organizations will be able to afford them. For startups, I have no idea..some of them are implementable, but most aren't. Also, you have to accept that 5m-10m of every hour is taken up by security measures.
None of the above prevents a computer that a bad actor has physical access to being compromised, but it makes it hard enough that generally it's only going to be state-level actors that will take the trouble, and you'll likely know it's happened so you can take steps.
- ownagefool 6y agoI've also worked on similar systems but only ever seen them fail to replace the system that's under someones desk, and it's almost always because the guy coming up with the solutions is far removed from building them, using them, or from comparing them with the previous solution. Nice way to filter $$$$$$$ through consultancies though.
- npongratz 6y agoJust trying to understand how this would work: >1. Computer stations use two types of fingerprinting at all times, facial recognition and typing biometrics. Also, login to the system requires password or pin entered after a card is inserted, followed by a fingerprint authentication, followed by the password of the day. Critical software/data must be accessed at an air-gapped machine inside a Faraday cage. Is the air-gapped machine machine seeded with all future passwords of the day, as well as trained for all potential operators' biometrics (facial, typing, fingerprint) before being put into service?
- Communitivity 6y agoThe air-gapped machine might get passwords provided for the days in the coming week, or might get changed every day. Usually the first.
- WalterBright 6y ago> Fire the CEO unless they were mugged People don't learn from mistakes if that's the response. They'll also hide their mistakes, making things worse. You want a CEO to report the loss ASAP, not cover it up. Having a "no fault" culture encourages people to quickly report mistakes.