Read the following case scenario:
The 9-Iron Country Club, commonly referred to as 9, is located in the suburbs of St. George City (a fictional city). It offers the amenities of a 9-hole golf course, a swimming pool, the clubhouse, and other recreational facilities to more than 1,200 members. 9 employs around 75 staff who cater to private functions such as weddings, meetings, and banquets.
9 is a seasonal club that closes its outdoor operations between November and February. These four months are critical to plan new venues and coordinate member activities for the upcoming season. The management operations and the catering tasks of 9 are normally executed through the local network. Therefore, the management and staff face many problems, especially during the winter. An incident occurred when Rob Domore, 9’s food and beverage director and head chef, had to drive to the club in bad weather conditions. Rob stated, “We put in a lot of effort to provide impeccable services to members and maintain a competitive position. I think about how much more efficient we could be if we could work from home in the off-season. If we had remote access, all senior management and executive staff could be reaching out to members, helping them plan upcoming events and preparing for next season without coming into the office.”
Mr. Domore also wanted to provide more flexibility in his daily schedule. He stated, “In the season, I can’t get all my office work done when we are in full swing because much of my time is spent in the kitchen and with the members. So, I desperately wanted the freedom to catch up at home, rather than stay additional hours on premises.”
Using the information provided in the case scenario, you are to design a potential remote access solution for 9. You also must prepare a report describing the remote access solution. The report should include the following considerations:
Needs and desires of customers and club members—available services, time availability, and network design
Risk management or assessment—protection of confidential and personally identifiable information (PII)
Data classification and security requirements—what measures will be implemented to protect the three states of data
Full Answer Section
- Members: No disruption to current services or member experience. Continued access to information and booking capabilities through existing channels.
Solution
- Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): Implement RDP software on designated club computers allowing staff secure access to their office desktops from home or approved devices. This provides a familiar work environment and access to necessary applications.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN): Establish a secure VPN connection that encrypts data traffic between remote devices and the club's network. This ensures secure communication and protects sensitive member data.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA for all remote access logins. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification factor beyond a username and password.
- Cloud-Based Applications: Consider migrating non-critical applications (e.g., scheduling, member communication) to cloud-based platforms. This allows for access from any internet-connected device without needing RDP or VPN for basic tasks.
Network Design
- A secure network segmentation will be implemented. This separates the member-facing network from the internal network staff accesses remotely.
- Firewalls will be configured to restrict access only to authorized personnel and applications.
- Remote access will be limited to specific staff accounts and devices with pre-approved security configurations.
Risk Management and Assessment
- Data Security Training: Regular training for staff on data security best practices, including password hygiene and phishing awareness.
- Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data (e.g., member PII, financial records) at rest and in transit.
- Access Controls: Implement granular access controls that limit staff access to only the data they need to perform their job functions.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Consider implementing DLP software to monitor and prevent unauthorized data transfers through email, USB drives, or cloud storage.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct periodic security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in the remote access system.
Data Classification and Security Requirements
Data will be classified based on its sensitivity:
- Public Data: Information publicly available on the club website (e.g., course information, events calendar) requires minimal security measures.
- Internal Data: Non-sensitive internal data (e.g., staff schedules, meeting minutes) will be protected with access controls and encryption at rest.
- Confidential Data: Highly sensitive data (e.g., member PII, financial records) will be subject to the most stringent security measures including encryption at rest and in transit, access controls, and DLP monitoring.
Conclusion
This proposed remote access solution provides 9 with the flexibility and efficiency benefits desired by staff while prioritizing member privacy and data security. By implementing the recommended measures, 9 can create a secure and productive remote work environment for the off-season and beyond.
Additional Considerations
- Cost Analysis: Evaluate the costs associated with software licenses, hardware upgrades (if needed), and ongoing maintenance of the remote access system.
- User Support: Develop a clear user policy and provide adequate technical support for staff using the remote access system.
- Performance Monitoring: Monitor the performance of the remote access system to ensure a smooth user experience and identify any potential bottlenecks.
By addressing these additional factors, 9 can ensure a successful and sustainable implementation of their remote access solution.