What Should We Do About Security Ethics?

An anonymous reader writes "I am a senior security xxx in a Fortune 300 company and I am very frustrated at what I see. I see our customers turn a blind eye to blatant security issues, in the name of the application or business requirements. I see our own senior officers reduce the risk ratings of internal findings, and even strong-arm 3rd party auditors/testers to reduce their risk ratings on the threat of losing our business. It's truly sad that the fear of losing our jobs and the necessity of supporting our families comes first before the security of highly confidential information. All so executives can look good and make their bonuses? How should people start blowing the whistle on companies like this?"

Comments

Three Words:

[canUbeleiveIT]

Cover your ass.

Re:Three Words:

[NeverVotedBush]

Actually this is probably better advice than most realize. I don't know if it was tongue in cheek or not, but it is damned good advice.

Where I work, security is a really big issue and I have to deal with people all the time that don't realize that security is something they should consider with every decision they make during the day. Needless to say, many don't feel the same way. They are about to get raked over the coals by management.

Unfortunately for some, they are in the crosshairs for their lax stance on security. I don't know what management is going to do with them, but management knows who they are and they stand a good chance of at least repremands and loss of pay increases, and at the worst for them, pink slips.

Anyone in IT who thinks data security isn't their job is fooling themselves and setting themselves up for a new career. If you read the SANS Newsbites, you see breach after breach and people getting sacked or worse.

People need to tighten up their systems, audit their systems, run configuration management, and even penetration test their systems. If you can show you are at least trying to cover your ass, you stand a better chance of being seen as proactive and trying to protect the company even if it does get breached.

But if something happens and it comes time to pick up the pieces, and all you can say is well, we shoulda done that but we didn't, you might want to have a plan B in terms of a career because you will probably need it.

There are very few ethical companies.

[EmbeddedJanitor]

Most are only limited by what the law allows. Although a company might speak of ethics, don't expect them to actually practice it.

And why bother about security ethics when there are much more important ethical considerations like how they treat staff? Again, most companies screw most of their staff to the limit of the law.

In short: If you're looking for ethics you got off on the wrong planet.

Fraudulent Security Audit practices

[Anonymous Coward]

I have had to make a similar choice twice now and both times, I had to leave the company to feel good about the situation. In one case, I also insisted that my name be removed from all company communications and government vendor documents. I do not regret my decision, although it has cost me.

You say you are an uber security drone with a Fortune 300 company and that you *know* of fraudulent business practices to help the company earn better ratings on its security policies. I'm guessing that some of these impact SOX/404, SAS-70, and probably ALL would be of concern to the company's shareholders and business trading partners. Like it or not, you are now either complicit or you are obligated to inform oversight authorities. Your first duty
should be to your own profession's standard of behavior, your second to the company shareholders, your third to the public's interest, and last to your management chain.

You seem to be entertaining the idea of moving management's priorities to the head of the list and that would be to make yourself complicit. The fact that it would be difficult to prosecute you does not make that considered behavior any less criminal. You will have to live with that knowledge for a long time. I have friends who worked at Enron who to this day have valid concerns about the resume stain they have earned from their time there. Are you willing to bear that also?

How you go about protecting yourself from reprisals is up to you and the reporting authority, but surely anonymous 'tip' reporting is possible. Given senior management is the problem, that is a strong candidate for your response. I would also recommend you document your allegations as best you may and make them to the SEC and your local branch of the FBI. Either agency might request you remain with the company while they investigate your allegations. Otherwise, it may be time to vote with your feet and find employment elsewhere.

You more than anyone should know what will be the eventual outcome of improperly securing vital systems. Do you want it to happen on your watch or to have to answer difficult questions later
about why you did not strongly resist or report events which will lead to that security breach? Do you want the stigma to attach itself to your resume? Do you want to sleep on the knowledge that you passively participated in criminal conspiracy by voluntarily remaining silent?

You cannot fault the ethics of your superiors if you fail to execute upon your own. What are you made of? Decide,and then live with the decision. It only appears to be a difficult decision if you have an off-switch upon your professional ethics.