Asset management

• Asset management is foundational in information security. 

• Identifying what you need to protect is the first step before determining how to protect it. 

• asset management is a continuous process and serves as the foundation for a robust cybersecurity program. By knowing what you have and what's most critical, you can allocate resources more effectively and design security measures tailored to protect your most valuable assets in the cyberspace.

Let's dive into the basics of starting with asset management, especially focusing on core assets in the cyber space.

1. Define: define What an 'Asset' Is

In the context of information security, an asset is any data, device, or other component of the environment that supports information-related activities. Assets can be tangible (e.g., servers, laptops) or intangible (e.g., data, intellectual property, reputation).

2. List : Inventory and Categorization

1. Physical Assets: Start by cataloging all the physical devices. This includes servers, workstations, mobile devices, network equipment, and any other tangible tech components.

2. Software Assets: List all the software applications, operating systems, databases, and any other software tools.

3. Data Assets: Identify where your organization's critical data resides. This includes customer data, intellectual property, financial information, employee data, etc.

4. Services: Identify all the services, including both in-house and third-party (e.g., cloud services, SaaS tools).

3. categorize: 

Once listed, categorize assets based on their importance and sensitivity. This is often done using a classification scheme (e.g., public, internal, confidential, restricted).

3. Prioritize Critical Assets

While every asset is important, some are more critical than others. By assessing the value and impact of each asset to your organization, you can prioritize which assets require more robust protective measures. For example, a database containing sensitive customer information is more critical than a marketing webpage.

4. Determine Ownership

Every asset should have a designated owner, someone responsible for its maintenance and protection. This ensures accountability.

5. Continuously Update and Review

The asset inventory should not be a one-time activity. New assets are continually added, and old ones are retired. Regularly update the inventory to reflect the current environment.

6. Integrate Asset Management with Risk Management

Understanding your assets and their importance is key to risk assessment. If you know what you have and how valuable it is, you can better determine what threats and vulnerabilities are most critical.

7. Utilize Asset Management Tools

There are several tools, from simple spreadsheets to sophisticated IT asset management solutions, that can help keep track of assets, their status, and their associated risks.

8. Asset Lifecycle Management

• Recognize that every asset has a lifecycle: procurement, deployment, maintenance, and disposal. 

• Each stage has its own set of security considerations.

9. Regular Audits

Conduct regular audits to ensure that the listed assets match the actual assets in the organization. This helps in identifying any unauthorized or rogue devices.

10. Secure Disposal

When an asset reaches the end of its lifecycle, ensure it is disposed of securely. For example, data should be wiped or shredded, and physical devices should be destroyed or recycled securely.