Access Controls and Security Mechanisms – Alpha Solutions
Alpha Solutions, a consultancy firm in banking, healthcare, and technology, struggles to manage employee access to information systems. As the organization grows and adds new initiatives like the consultant network, robust access control is essential. This section will outline Alpha Solutions’ system access control methods and tactics for protecting the new consultant network and sensitive data.
Access Control Mechanisms for Various Systems
Financial Systems
Alpha Solutions handles sensitive financial data. Hence, robust security measures must be used. Role-Based Access Control is a simple technique to limit access to finance systems by applying authorizations depending on the job category (Samarati & de Vimercati, 2017). Every authorized person, from finance directors to accountants, should have access to these financial systems to execute their tasks successfully. Others should not interact with such sensitive financial information. Two-factor authentication (2FA) prevents unauthorized login even if credentials are stolen by requiring two forms of authentication before access.
CRM Customer Relations Management
CRM systems need efficient and secure access control procedures to prevent data leaks and misuse. Only sales and support staff who need this technology to work more efficiently should have Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) permission to use it. Instead, Attribute-based Access control (ABAC) can authorize users based on user role, location, or time of day. This technique is incredibly granular, allowing Alpha Solutions to clearly express users’ access privileges while protecting customer data.
ERP Enterprise Resource Planning
Alpha Solutions relies on its integrated resource planning (ERP) system to manage company processes and workflows. Access control for ERP systems needs to carefully balance data security against departmental collaboration. One option is to implement an RBAC architecture that allows ERP module access based on job roles and functions. In this case, HR might access personnel data while purchasing can view supply chain details. An alternative is role-based encryption, which encodes classified ERP material so that only authorized users are permitted to decrypt it. The idea here is to protect vital commercial information within the corporation that could be leaked through unauthorized sources, thus breaching regulatory guidelines.
Protecting the New Consultant Network through Access Control
Securing this new consultant network will be more difficult because external consultants need access to corporate resources, but at the same time, they must avoid exposing sensitive data to them. Alpha Solutions may also use access control and network security as mitigation measures for this.
Network Segmentation
To minimize exposure to the corporate network or prevent any cases of a security breach, network segmentation isolates the consultant’s network from the rest of the company’s computers or systems. Alpha Solutions could split its network and use Access Control Lists (ACLs) to manage traffic flows between segment networks, thus limiting unauthorized passage and protecting essential information (Tourani et al., 2017).
Secure Remote Access
Consultants’ remote connections can be secured using VPN technology for data transmission encryption purposes in order to authenticate secure communication transmissions over public networks with limited authorized user accessibility rights only through robust enabler mechanisms put in place by Alpha Solution IT team members. Notably, multi-factor authentication tools can help reduce losses attributed to thefts involving confidential client records.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)
Alpha Solutions IDPS implementations detect consultant intrusions/malicious activities within their networks. This ensures a more secure environment for everyone involved, whether it is an individual computer or a whole consulting service provider system being attacked by online criminals who have managed to break into victimized parties’ accounts. The goal is to have a network that can be monitored in real time and be able to respond automatically to security threats before they escalate, leading to potential dangers (Tourani et al., 2017).
Single Sign-On (SSO) and Virtual Private Network (VPN) Technology
Single-Sign-On
Single sign-on (SSO) allows clients to use the same login credentials for multiple applications/systems, hence simplifying the authentication process, reducing password fatigue, and minimizing weak password problems (Cakir, 2013). Therefore, integrating SSO with Identity and Access Management (IAM) makes vendor access control contracts more efficient while allowing Alpha Solution users to work faster even though there are security issues, such as reliance on single points of failure.
VPN Technology
VPNs encrypt and secure crucial data as they travel across public networks. When a user’s device and the company’s network are encrypted by VPN, unauthorized parties cannot intercept or listen to sensitive data (Tourani et al., 2017). Since VPN technology allows secure remote access for employees and consultants’ Alpha Solutions, it might be useful when remote workers need to access internal resources. For VPN vulnerabilities and data breaches to be reduced, VPN infrastructure must be properly configured and maintained.
Conclusion
Each information system needs a customized access control approach to secure sensitive data, comply with regulations, and prevent security threats. Alpha Solutions could improve its security by using access control mechanisms like RBACs, ABACs, VPNs, and SSOs to protect the privacy of new consultant network stakeholders, especially customers who need their personal information kept private. Alpha Solutions also protects critical company assets from growing cyber threats by using network security solutions like network segmentation and IDPS.
References
Cakir, E. (2013). Single sign-on: Risks and opportunities of using SSO (Single Sign-On) in a complex system environment with focus on overall security aspects.
Tourani, R., Misra, S., Mick, T., & Panwar, G. (2017). Security, privacy, and access control in information-centric networking: A survey. IEEE communications surveys & tutorials, 20(1), 566–600.
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Question 
Description
The case study company has provided you with the flexibility to identify many different information systems that are used by the employees. Some systems need strict access control, whereas others should be available to everyone. What access control methods need to be employed for the various systems? How can the company protect the new consultant network while providing the protection of data that the stakeholders and customers require?
Access Controls and Security Mechanisms – Alpha Solutions
In addition, you have been asked to describe 2 access control mechanisms and consider whether they can be used in the organization. Describe single sign-on (SSO) and virtual private network (VPN) technology and whether they can be used in the company.
Complete the following section for Week 3:
Week 3: Access Controls and Security Mechanisms
For each of the applications and systems that were described in Individual Project 2, describe the access control mechanisms that are needed for each.
Describe how the newly expanded network can be protected through access control.
Describe SSO and VPN technology and discuss whether they can be used in the company.
Name the document “CS651_FirstnameLastname_IP3.doc.”