Summarizing Writing and Handling Reports
Writing Reports with the Target Audience in Mind
When composing a report, it’s crucial to consider the target audience. Tailor the content to meet their expectations and address their specific needs. Ensure the language and terminology align with the audience’s level of expertise.
Recommended Sections in a Report
Consider including the following sections to structure your report effectively:
- Executive Summary
- Scope Details
- Methodology
- Attack Narrative
- Findings
- Risk Rating
- Risk Prioritization
- Metrics and Measures
- Remediation
- Conclusion
- Appendix or Supporting Evidence
Aligning with the Client’s Risk Appetite
Collaborate with the client to understand their risk appetite. Craft the report to reflect this understanding, emphasizing areas that align with their risk tolerance and business priorities.
Report Format and Secure Handling
- File Format: Determine the appropriate file format (e.g., Microsoft Word, OpenOffice, HTML) based on the client’s preferences and compatibility requirements.
- Secure Storage: Establish a secure storage solution for the report, adhering to best practices for data security and confidentiality.
- Formal Hand-off: Plan the secure transmission of the report to the client, ensuring confidentiality during the hand-off process.
Developing Recommendations for Mitigation Strategies
When formulating mitigation strategies, consider the interplay of people, processes, and technology.
Strategies for Common Findings
- Shared Local Administrator Credentials: Implement randomized credentials or utilize the Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS).
- Weak Password Complexity: Enforce minimum password requirements and deploy password filters.
- Plaintext Passwords: Adopt protocols that hash or encrypt passwords to prevent exposure.
- Absence of Multi-Factor Authentication: Implement multi-factor authentication for access to critical systems.
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks: Sanitize user input by encoding or escaping special HTML characters.
- SQL Injection: Protect against SQL injection by parameterizing queries and validating user input.
- Unnecessary Open Services: Conduct system hardening to disable or remove unnecessary services.
- Physical Intrusion Risks: Enhance physical security with guards, surveillance cameras, motion detectors, and controlled access systems.
Additional Recommendations
- End-User Training: Promote security awareness training to mitigate social engineering threats.
- System Hardening Techniques: Apply regular patch management and configure firewalls to secure host systems.
- Mobile Infrastructure Security: Recommend Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to manage and secure mobile devices.
- Secure Software Development: Encourage the adoption of Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC) practices and coding best practices to enhance software security.
Tags
WritingReportsRiskManagementMitigationStrategiesCybersecuritySystemHardeningSecureDevelopmentPenetrationTesting