Disabling Direct Administrator Access: A Security Solution Analysis

Primary Concerns with an Intermediate Server for Administrator Access

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Question

A security regulation requires the disabling of direct administrator access.

Such access must occur through an intermediate server that holds administrator passwords for all systems and records all actions.

An IS auditor's PRIMARY concern with this solution would be that:

Answers

Explanations

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A. B. C. D.

B.

The security regulation that requires disabling direct administrator access and implementing an intermediate server that holds administrator passwords for all systems and records all actions is a common practice to ensure accountability and traceability. However, as an IS auditor, the primary concern with this solution would be the risk of a single point of failure, which is option B.

A single point of failure refers to a situation where the failure of a single component or process can cause the entire system to fail. In this case, if the intermediate server fails, all administrator access to systems would be disabled, which could result in significant disruptions to the organization's operations.

Moreover, the intermediate server holding administrator passwords for all systems is a high-value target for attackers. If it is compromised, the attackers would have access to all systems in the organization, which could result in data breaches and other security incidents.

While segregation of duties is an important control, it is not the primary concern in this case since the intermediate server is designed to record all actions, providing an audit trail for monitoring and review.

The feasibility of implementing the solution is also not a primary concern since it is a security regulation requirement. Still, it would be a valid consideration when assessing the organization's resource constraints and technical capabilities.

Finally, access logs may not be maintained if the intermediate server fails or if an attacker successfully deletes or alters them. However, this risk can be mitigated by implementing backup and recovery processes, monitoring and alerting, and access controls to prevent unauthorized modifications.

In summary, as an IS auditor, the primary concern with the intermediate server solution is the risk of a single point of failure, which could result in significant disruptions and compromise the security of all systems in the organization.

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