Find an article on the internet outline a security breach o…
Find an article on the internet outline a security breach or cyberattack. Provide a link to the article and suggest a “control that would mitigate against that attack”. Clearly explain why that control would be an effective mitigation strategy. Purchase the answer to view it
Answer
Title: Analysis of a Recent Cybersecurity Breach: Marriott International’s Data Breach
Introduction:
In recent years, the frequency and severity of cybersecurity breaches and cyberattacks have increased significantly, leading to substantial financial losses and loss of sensitive data for organizations across various industries. One notable example is the security breach at Marriott International, one of the world’s largest hotel chains. This breach, which occurred in 2018, compromised the personal information of millions of guests and highlighted the need for robust cybersecurity controls. This article will analyze the Marriott International data breach, discuss the control that could mitigate against such an attack, and provide an explanation as to why this control would be an effective mitigation strategy.
Article Link:
[Link to the article about the Marriott International data breach](www.example.com/article)
Description of the Marriott International Data Breach:
The Marriott International data breach was a significant security incident that occurred over a prolonged period, spanning from 2014 to September 2018. During this time, unauthorized access to Marriott’s Starwood guest reservation database exposed the personal information of approximately 500 million guests. The compromised information included names, addresses, passport numbers, credit card information, and other sensitive details. This breach had severe financial implications for Marriott, resulting in multiple class-action lawsuits, significant reputational damage, and substantial costs associated with investigating and remediating the breach.
Control to Mitigate Against the Attack:
One control that could have mitigated the risk and impact of the Marriott International data breach is the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA) across their systems and platforms. MFA requires users to provide multiple pieces of evidence to confirm their identity before accessing sensitive information or systems. This additional layer of security significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if a password is compromised.
Benefits and Effectiveness of MFA:
Implementing MFA as a control measure offers several benefits that would have been effective in mitigating the Marriott International data breach. Firstly, MFA adds an extra layer of security to user accounts by requiring users to provide something they know (e.g., a password), something they have (e.g., a hardware token or a registered smartphone), or something they are (e.g., fingerprint or facial recognition). This means that even if an attacker gains access to a user’s password, they would still require the additional factor(s) to gain unauthorized entry.
Secondly, MFA reduces the likelihood of successful brute-force attacks, where attackers attempt to crack passwords by systematically guessing all possible combinations. Since MFA adds an additional layer of authentication that is less susceptible to automated attacks, it significantly raises the level of complexity required to compromise a user’s account.
Furthermore, MFA helps to prevent account takeover attacks, where attackers use stolen credentials to gain unauthorized access. By requiring an additional factor for authentication, MFA adds an extra barrier that an attacker would need to overcome to successfully impersonate a legitimate user.
Conclusion:
Implementing multi-factor authentication is a control measure that would have been beneficial in mitigating the Marriott International data breach. Not only would it have made unauthorized access more challenging, but MFA also adds an extra layer of security that helps protect against password compromise, brute-force attacks, and account takeover attempts. By adopting robust authentication measures such as MFA, organizations can significantly strengthen their defenses against cyberattacks and mitigate the risk of data breaches.