Course Taxonomy: Security Governance & Posture

1. Introduction to Cybersecurity

1.1. Understanding Cybersecurity

o  Definition and importance of cybersecurity in today's business landscape

o  The role of cybersecurity in protecting company assets and reputation

1.2. Executive Responsibilities in Cybersecurity

o  The importance of leadership in cybersecurity

o  Legal and regulatory obligations for executives

2. The Current Threat Landscape

2.1. Overview of Cyber Threats

o  Types of cyber threats (malware, phishing, ransomware, insider threats)

o  Emerging threats and trends in cybercrime

2.2. Case Studies

o  High-profile cyberattacks and their impact on businesses

o  Lessons learned from recent breaches

3. Risk Management and Cybersecurity Strategy

3.1. Identifying and Assessing Cyber Risks

o  How to identify and assess risks to the organization

o  The role of risk management in cybersecurity

3.2. Developing a Cybersecurity Strategy

o  Key components of an effective cybersecurity strategy

o  Aligning your cybersecurity strategy with business objectives

4. Cybersecurity Governance and Compliance

4.1. Governance Frameworks

o  Implementing proven frameworks

o  Overview of governance frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, COBIT)

o  Executive-level support of the cybersecurity process

4.2. Regulatory Compliance

o  Overview of relevant regulations (GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, etc.)

o  Ensuring compliance and avoiding legal pitfalls

5. Building a Cybersecurity Culture

5.1. Fostering Cybersecurity Awareness

o  The importance of a security-conscious culture

o  Strategies for promoting cybersecurity awareness among employees and contractors

5.2. Training and Education

o  Executive role in ensuring ongoing cybersecurity education

o  Best practices for training programs and simulations

o  Training as a countermeasure for insider threats

6. Incident Response and Crisis Management

6.1. Incident Response Planning

o  Developing an incident response plan

o  Roles and responsibilities before and during a cybersecurity incident

6.2. Crisis Management

o  Communication strategies during a cyber crisis

o  Handling public relations and maintaining trust

7. Cybersecurity Investment and Budgeting

7.1. Evaluating Cybersecurity Investments

o  Overview of the cybersecurity tools landscape

o  Assessing ROI for cybersecurity tools and services

o  Prioritizing cybersecurity spending based on risk

7.2. Budgeting for Cybersecurity

o  Allocating resources effectively for cybersecurity

o  Justifying cybersecurity budgets to stakeholders

8. The Future of Cybersecurity

8.1. Emerging Technologies and Threats

o  The impact of AI, IoT, and quantum computing on cybersecurity

o  Preparing for future challenges

8.2. The Evolving Role of Executives

o  How the executive role in cybersecurity is changing

o  Continuous learning and adaptation in cybersecurity leadership

1. Introduction to Secure Development

1.1. The Importance of Secure Coding

• Overview of cybersecurity in software development
• The impact of insecure code on organizations and users

1.2. Developer Responsibilities in Cybersecurity

• Understanding the developer's role in maintaining security
• Security as a key part of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)

2. Understanding Common Vulnerabilities

2.1. OWASP Top Ten Vulnerabilities

• Definition and importance of OWASP
• Overview of the OWASP Top Ten (e.g., SQL injection, XSS, CSRF)
• Examples and impact of each vulnerability

2.2. Vulnerability Examples

• Real-world cases of security breaches due to poor coding practices
• Impact on companies and their employees from breaches
• Analysis of how these breaches could have been prevented

2.3. Secure Coding Standards

• Introduction to secure coding guidelines (e.g., CERT, SANS)
• How to apply these standards in everyday coding practices

3. Secure Development Practices

3.1. Input Validation and Sanitization

• Importance of validating and sanitizing user inputs
• Techniques for preventing injection attacks (SQL, command, etc.)

3.2. Authentication and Authorization

• Best practices for implementing secure authentication mechanisms
• Managing authorization, authentication, user roles, and permissions securely

3.3. Data Encryption and Protection

• How and when to use encryption to protect sensitive data
• Secure storage and transmission of data at rest, in transit, and in use (e.g., HTTPS, SSL/TLS)

3.4. Error Handling and Logging

• Importance of secure error handling to avoid information leakage
• Best practices for logging without exposing sensitive information

4. Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)

4.1. Integrating Security into the SDLC

• Overview of secure SDLC frameworks (e.g., Microsoft SDL, BSIMM)
• Key stages where security should be integrated (planning, design, coding, testing)

4.2. Threat Modeling

• Introduction to threat modeling and its importance
• Tools and techniques for identifying potential threats early in the development process

4.3. Code Reviews and Static Analysis

• Conducting secure code reviews and peer assessments
• Using static analysis tools to identify vulnerabilities in code

5. Secure Development Tools and Resources

5.1. Security Testing Tools

• Overview of tools for security testing (e.g., OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite)
• How to integrate these tools into the development process

5.2. Dependency Management and Software Composition Analysis (SCA)

• Importance of managing third-party libraries and dependencies
• Tools for identifying vulnerabilities in open-source components

5.3. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

• Securing the CI/CD pipeline
• Best practices for automated security testing in CI/CD environments

6. Web Application Security

6.1. Securing Web Applications

• Best practices for securing web applications (e.g., secure session management, CSRF protection)
• Importance of HTTPS and secure cookie handling

6.2. API Security

• Best practices for designing secure APIs (e.g., authentication, rate limiting)
• Common API vulnerabilities and how to prevent them

6.3. Mobile Application Security

• Overview of security considerations for mobile apps
• Techniques for securing data on mobile devices

7. Incident Response and Handling Vulnerabilities

7.1. Security Incident Response for Developers

• How developers should respond to security incidents
• Role of developers in post-incident analysis and patching

7.2. Reporting and Managing Vulnerabilities

• Best practices for reporting security vulnerabilities in code
• Coordinating with security teams to address and remediate vulnerabilities

8. Continuous Learning and Staying Updated

8.1. Keeping Up with Security Trends

• Importance of staying informed about the latest security threats and trends
• Resources for continuous learning (blogs, forums, security conferences)

8.2. Community Involvement

• Participating in security communities (e.g., OWASP, local meetups)
• Contributing to open-source security projects

1. Introduction to Cybersecurity

1.1. Why Cybersecurity Matters

o  Importance of cybersecurity in protecting company data and assets

o  The role every employee plays in maintaining security

1.2. Understanding Cyber Threats

o  Overview of common threats (malware, phishing, ransomware, and insider threats)

o  The impact of cyberattacks on individuals and the organization

2. The Role of Employees in Cybersecurity

2.1. Collective Responsibility

o  How every employee contributes to the organization’s cybersecurity

o  The impact of individual actions on overall security

2.2. Encouraging a Proactive Approach

o  Taking initiative in identifying and addressing potential security risks

o  Supporting a team-based approach to cybersecurity

3. Recognizing Cyber Threats

3.1. Phishing and Social Engineering

o  How to identify phishing emails and social engineering attacks

o  Examples of common phishing tactics

3.2. Malware and Ransomware

o  What is malware, and how it spreads

o  Signs of a potential malware infection

3.3. Insider Threats

o  Understanding the risk of insider threats

o  How to report suspicious behavior

4. Best Practices for Cyber Hygiene

4.1. Password Security

o  The importance of strong, unique passwords

o  How password attacks happen

o  How to manage passwords securely (e.g., password managers)

4.2. Safe Internet and Email Use

o  Best practices for browsing the web and handling email

o  Avoiding risky downloads and websites

4.3. Device and Network Security

o  Keeping work devices secure (updating software, antivirus)

o  Safe use of public Wi-Fi and remote access

5. Data Protection and Privacy

5.1. Handling Sensitive Company Information

o  Guidelines for handling and sharing sensitive company data

o  Avoiding accidental data leaks

5.2. Protecting Personal Information

o  Understanding the importance of personal data privacy

o  Steps to protect your personal information at work and online

6. Incident Reporting and Response

6.1. Recognizing a Security Incident

o  What constitutes a security incident (e.g., suspicious emails, unauthorized access)

o  Signs that your device or account may be compromised

6.2. What to Do in Case of an Incident

o  The importance of timely reporting in minimizing damage

o  Immediate actions to take if you suspect a security breach

o  How to report potential security incidents promptly

o  Who to contact and how to document the incident

7. Safe Use of Technology and Social Media

7.1. Social Media Risks

o  Understanding the risks of sharing work-related information on social media

o  Best practices for safe social media use

7.2. Personal Device Security (BYOD)

o  Guidelines for securing personal devices used for work

o  Risks associated with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies