Cybersecurity Strategies for a Cloud-Based Online Retail Organization

by | Aug 22, 2024 | Computer science

Analyze scenarios related to wireless, mobile, and cloud infrastructures, as well as disruptive technologies, to determine cybersecurity strategies.

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is for you to engage in defining a mitigation strategy for a web server attack from within a cloud-based WAN. You will apply biometrics or cryptography as part of the solution.

Assignment Instructions

You are a cybersecurity specialist working for an online retail organization that houses their network and all servers and data in the cloud. The CEO is concerned about the web servers being hacked since they are public facing, and if they are hacked, possible access gained to sensitive customer and employee data. Assume the attack to be similar to the one performed in your lab. For this assignment, make the following assumptions:
The organization has an outward facing website that allows customers to view and purchase their products. The web server housing this website is in the organizations demilitarized zone (DMZ). The DMZ uses a single firewall system. Users place orders and pay using PayPal or a credit card.
Other servers on the cloud-based network house several databases. One holds all customer personal and sensitive information. The second database holds employee personal and sensitive information. There is some encryption of these databases for data at rest, but not for data in transit and data in use (while data is being processed).
Also, on the internal network are an email server, print servers, and application servers.
Discuss potential vulnerabilities in this system.
Discuss in more detail the following:
Biometric Authentication
Discuss biometric-based authentication types that are relevant in this cloud-based system
Select a type of biometric-based authentication you would recommend for this system and justify your recommendation
Addition of Encryption for data in transit and data in use (while processed)
Discuss why there is an emerging need for encrypting data in use in a cloud environment.
Provide a description of homomorphic encryption and provide a justification as to why it should be deployed in this scenario to protect data in use.
Conclusion Paragraph

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

 

 

Cybersecurity Strategies for a Cloud-Based Online Retail Organization

Potential Vulnerabilities in the System

In the scenario presented, the online retail organization faces several potential vulnerabilities due to its reliance on cloud infrastructure and public-facing web servers. Key vulnerabilities include:

1. Web Server Exposure: The web server is located in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and is publicly accessible, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in the software or configurations.

2. Single Firewall Dependency: Relying on a single firewall system for security may present weaknesses, especially if it is not properly configured or updated to defend against new threats.

3. Inadequate Data Protection: While the organization encrypts data at rest, the lack of encryption for data in transit and data in use increases the risk of interception or unauthorized access during transmission and processing.

4. Insufficient Authentication Mechanisms: If only traditional username and password authentication methods are employed, the system is vulnerable to brute force attacks and credential stuffing.

5. Social Engineering Risks: Employees may be susceptible to phishing attacks that could compromise sensitive information or access credentials.

Biometric Authentication

Relevant Biometric-Based Authentication Types

Biometric authentication uses unique biological traits for identity verification. In this cloud-based system, several types of biometric authentication could be implemented:

1. Fingerprint Recognition: Scanning fingerprints for access control can be effective for both employees and customers, particularly in mobile applications.

2. Facial Recognition: This technology can be integrated into the website for user authentication, providing a seamless experience for customers during login and transactions.

3. Iris Recognition: Iris recognition provides a high level of accuracy and security and can be utilized in administrative functions requiring enhanced security.

4. Voice Recognition: This method can authenticate users via voice commands, allowing for secure transactions without requiring physical interaction.

Recommended Biometric-Based Authentication

Given the nature of the online retail organization, I recommend implementing facial recognition technology as the primary biometric-based authentication method.

Justification:

– User Convenience: Facial recognition allows for quick and easy access without requiring users to remember passwords or PINs.
– Integration with Mobile Devices: Many customers use mobile devices equipped with cameras capable of facial recognition, making this method both widely accessible and user-friendly.
– Security Enhancement: It significantly reduces the risk posed by stolen passwords since biometric traits are much harder to replicate than traditional credentials.
– Fraud Prevention: Facial recognition can help validate user identities during transactions, thus reducing instances of fraudulent purchases.

Addition of Encryption for Data in Transit and Data in Use

Need for Encrypting Data in Use

As organizations increasingly rely on cloud services, there is a growing need to protect data not just at rest but also in transit and in use. Encrypting data in transit protects sensitive information during transmission over networks. However, encrypting data in use—while it is being processed—addresses vulnerabilities that arise when data is exposed to potential threats during computation or analysis.

With cyber threats becoming progressively sophisticated, protecting data in use mitigates risks associated with unauthorized access or data leakage during processing stages, thereby enhancing overall security posture.

Homomorphic Encryption

Homomorphic encryption is an advanced form of encryption that allows computations to be performed on encrypted data without requiring decryption. This means sensitive data can remain encrypted while still being processed, ensuring privacy and security.

Justification for Deployment:

1. Data Privacy: Homomorphic encryption ensures that sensitive customer and employee information remains confidential, even while being actively processed.
2. Compliance Requirements: Many regulatory frameworks mandate stringent protection of personal data. Using homomorphic encryption helps the organization comply with such regulations while maintaining operational efficiency.
3. Secure Data Sharing: In scenarios where third-party services may need to analyze data (e.g., analytics or reporting), homomorphic encryption allows sharing of encrypted data without exposing raw sensitive information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing the cybersecurity vulnerabilities inherent in a cloud-based online retail organization requires a multi-faceted approach that includes robust biometric authentication and comprehensive encryption strategies. By implementing facial recognition as a primary method of authentication and adopting homomorphic encryption for protecting data in use, the organization can significantly enhance its security infrastructure. These measures would not only safeguard sensitive customer and employee information but also foster trust and confidence among users, ultimately contributing to the organization’s long-term success.

 

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