Information Assurance: Counting On Countermeasures
Research one countermeasure or information security service that is available today for information assurance. Evaluate it based on the specifications and reviews. Identify who would use this particular countermeasure or service and why it would be appropriate for their needs. Illustrate this using an example of an online activity (e.g., banking, shopping) that could use this countermeasure. Create a visual representation in MS Visio of the activity to include in your short paper. Provide a short description of the visual representation, identifying the various information assets and the information states that pose vulnerability. How would the countermeasure that you identified apply? What vulnerability would it mitigate? What are its limitations?
Guidelines for Submission: Short paper assignments must follow these formatting guidelines: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and APA style citations. Page length requirements: Short papers are expected to be two to four pages in length, not including title pages, abstracts, or references.
Countermeasure: Two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is a security feature that provides an additional layer of protection beyond a password. It requires users to provide two forms of identification before accessing an account or system. This could include something the user knows (such as a password) and something the user has (such as a physical token or mobile device).
The use of two-factor authentication is appropriate for individuals or organizations that want to protect their sensitive information from unauthorized access. It can be especially useful for online activities that involve financial transactions, such as banking or shopping.
For example, consider a scenario where a user wants to access their online banking account. The user would first enter their username and password, and then the bank would send a one-time code to the user’s mobile device. The user would then enter the code to complete the authentication process and gain access to their account.
The following visual representation illustrates the potential vulnerabilities and assets involved in online banking:
As shown in the diagram, the vulnerability in this scenario is unauthorized access to the user’s account, which could result in the theft of their money or sensitive information. The assets involved include the user’s login credentials, their bank account information, and any financial transactions they make online.
Two-factor authentication can mitigate this vulnerability by requiring the user to provide additional identification beyond their login credentials. This ensures that only authorized users are able to access the account or perform financial transactions.
One limitation of two-factor authentication is that it may require additional time and effort for users to complete the authentication process. Additionally, some forms of two-factor authentication (such as physical tokens) can be lost or stolen, which could potentially compromise the security of the account.
Overall, two-factor authentication is a useful countermeasure for individuals and organizations looking to improve their information security posture and protect against unauthorized access to their sensitive information.