Tasks and Duties
Objective: In this task, you are required to perform a detailed analysis of the current cyber threat landscape and develop a strategic plan aimed at mitigating identified risks. You will simulate the role of a Cyber Security Analyst by researching current threats, vulnerabilities, and emerging trends that impact organizations globally.
Expected Deliverables: A formatted DOC file containing a comprehensive analysis report. The report should include an introduction to the threat landscape, detailed descriptions of at least five major cyber threats, risk assessment criteria, and strategic recommendations for prevention and mitigation.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Conduct extensive research using publicly available resources (e.g., security publications, academic articles, governmental advisories) to gather information on current and emerging cyber threats.
- Create a structured report that outlines each cyber threat with its potential impact, likelihood, and associated vulnerabilities.
- Develop a strategic plan that includes risk management and threat prevention measures. Break down complex strategies into actionable steps.
- Design visual aids (charts, graphs) to help illustrate your findings and strategies.
- Ensure your DOC file is well-organized, with a table of contents, headings, and proper formatting.
Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be evaluated on accuracy, depth of analysis, creativity in strategy formation, clarity of expression, and adherence to document formatting norms. Attention to detail and the ability to present complex data in an understandable manner are critical aspects of this task.
This assignment is structured to take approximately 30 to 35 hours of work, offering you a real-world challenge in strategizing against cyber threats. It will enhance your research, analytical, and strategic planning skills which are vital for a Cyber Security Analyst.
Objective: This week, you will focus on the execution phase by developing a comprehensive plan for network security configuration and conducting a vulnerability assessment. The aim of this task is for you to demonstrate your ability to identify network vulnerabilities, propose solutions, and establish robust security configurations.
Expected Deliverables: A DOC file report that details the network security configuration plan and the results of your vulnerability assessment simulation. Your report should include an introduction, methodology, detailed assessment findings, recommended security enhancements, and a conclusion that summarizes best practices.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Begin by reviewing publicly available network security frameworks and best practices from trusted sources.
- Identify and describe potential vulnerabilities in a hypothetical network scenario using logical assumptions based on public data.
- Develop a security configuration plan that addresses each highlighted vulnerability, including recommendations for system hardening, access control, and monitoring.
- Simulate a vulnerability assessment process, documenting techniques (e.g., scanning, penetration testing methodologies) that could be employed to identify risks in a real network.
- Provide visual illustrations such as diagrams or flowcharts to represent the network architecture and assessment process.
Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be assessed based on clarity of the proposed security configuration, depth and justification of the vulnerability assessment methods, alignment with best practices, and overall cohesiveness of the presentation. The report should be well-organized and professional, demonstrating your proficiency in developing network security strategies.
This task is designed to require roughly 30 to 35 hours of effort and is intended to bolster your practical skills in network security management and risk assessment.
Objective: For this task, you are required to simulate a cyber security incident and document the necessary response processes. The emphasis is on developing a well-structured incident response plan that includes detection, analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery phases.
Expected Deliverables: Submit a DOC file containing your Incident Response Plan (IRP). The document should detail the incident scenario, your step-by-step response action plan, necessary resources, communication protocols, and post-incident analysis techniques.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Select or design a realistic cyber incident scenario (e.g., a malware outbreak, data breach, or denial of service attack) that could realistically affect an organization.
- Divide your plan into clear sections covering preparation, detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.
- Outline tools, protocols, and personnel roles that would be involved in each phase of the incident response process.
- Include a communication plan that describes how your organization would inform stakeholders and manage external communications during a crisis.
- Produce a section on post-incident review that discusses how to prevent future occurrences with process improvements and policy updates.
Evaluation Criteria: Evaluation will focus on the comprehensiveness of your incident response plan, clarity in delineating roles and responsibilities, practical application of incident management principles, and overall quality of the written report. Creativity in scenario development and realism in the proposed solutions are highly valued.
This assignment, estimated to require 30 to 35 hours of work, is structured to sharpen your crisis management and technical response skills, which are essential for an effective Cyber Security Analyst.
Objective: The final task of this internship involves a critical review of an existing security policy framework and the formulation of recommendations for improvement. Your objective is to evaluate current security policies against industry standards and propose enhancements that could bolster an organization’s overall security posture.
Expected Deliverables: Provide a DOC file containing a detailed report that reviews an existing generic security policy. Your document should include an assessment of its strengths and weaknesses, a comparison with contemporary best practices, and a set of actionable recommendations for improvement.
Key Steps to Complete the Task:
- Research publicly available security policy frameworks and standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST, or other recognized security guidelines.
- Select or create a hypothetical generic security policy for evaluation, ensuring it encompasses areas like access control, data protection, incident response, and user behavior.
- Perform a critical analysis of each section of the policy, highlighting areas of compliance as well as gaps or outdated practices.
- Develop a set of recommendations that address identified shortcomings and incorporate modern best practices. Justify each enhancement with clear reasoning and potential impacts.
- Utilize tables, charts, or diagrams where necessary to compare the existing policy with industry standards.
Evaluation Criteria: Your report will be evaluated on the depth of your policy analysis, clarity and logic of your improvement recommendations, and your ability to benchmark against established industry standards. The organization, formatting, and overall presentation of your DOC file are also critical components of the assessment.
This comprehensive task is estimated to require around 30 to 35 hours of focused work, enabling you to synthesize your learning from previous tasks and apply strategic thinking to the critical area of security policy management. It will further develop your evaluative skills, a key aspect required for a successful career in cyber security.