Security & Compliance Documentation

This section contains security protocols, compliance requirements, and best practices for all Gray Bay Solutions systems and client projects.

Security Overview

Our security approach is built on multiple layers:

  • Preventive Controls - Stop threats before they occur
  • Detective Controls - Identify security incidents quickly
  • Corrective Controls - Respond to and recover from incidents
  • Compliance - Meet industry standards and regulations

Security Policies

🔒 Access Control Policy

User Account Management

  • Principle of Least Privilege - Users only get access they need
  • Regular Access Reviews - Quarterly review of user permissions
  • Strong Authentication - Multi-factor authentication required
  • Account Lifecycle - Proper onboarding and offboarding procedures

Password Requirements

  • Minimum Length: 12 characters
  • Complexity: Mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
  • Uniqueness: No reuse of last 12 passwords
  • Expiration: 90 days for privileged accounts
  • Password Manager: Required for all team members

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

  • Required for all accounts accessing sensitive systems
  • Approved methods: Authenticator apps, hardware tokens
  • Backup codes: Securely stored and accessible
  • Regular testing: Verify MFA is working properly

🛡️ Data Protection Policy

Data Classification

  • Public: No restrictions (marketing materials, public website)
  • Internal: Company use only (processes, documentation)
  • Confidential: Restricted access (client data, financials)
  • Restricted: Highly sensitive (credentials, legal documents)

Data Handling Requirements

  • Encryption at Rest: All confidential data encrypted
  • Encryption in Transit: TLS 1.2+ for all data transmission
  • Access Logging: All access to confidential data logged
  • Regular Backups: Automated backups with encryption
  • Secure Disposal: Proper deletion of sensitive data

🔐 Application Security Standards

Secure Development Practices

  • Code Reviews: All code changes reviewed by peers
  • Static Analysis: Automated security scanning
  • Dependency Management: Regular updates and vulnerability scanning
  • Input Validation: All user inputs properly validated
  • Output Encoding: Prevent XSS and injection attacks

Authentication & Authorization

  • Session Management: Secure session handling
  • Token Security: Proper JWT implementation
  • API Security: Rate limiting and authentication
  • RBAC: Role-based access control implementation

Compliance Requirements

🏛️ Regulatory Compliance

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

  • Data Minimization: Collect only necessary data
  • Consent Management: Clear consent for data processing
  • Right to Erasure: Ability to delete personal data
  • Data Breach Notification: 72-hour notification requirement
  • Privacy by Design: Build privacy into systems from start

CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)

  • Transparency: Clear privacy notices about data collection
  • Consumer Rights: Right to know, delete, and opt-out
  • Data Security: Reasonable security measures
  • Service Provider Agreements: Proper contracts with vendors

HIPAA (Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

  • For Healthcare Clients Only
  • PHI Protection: Secure handling of protected health information
  • Business Associate Agreements: Required contracts
  • Risk Assessments: Regular security evaluations
  • Incident Response: Proper breach notification procedures

📋 Industry Standards

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

  • Secure Network: Firewall configuration and security
  • Cardholder Data Protection: Encryption and access controls
  • Vulnerability Management: Regular security testing
  • Access Control: Restricted access to cardholder data
  • Monitoring: Network monitoring and logging

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2)

  • Security: Protection against unauthorized access
  • Availability: System availability and performance
  • Processing Integrity: Accurate and authorized processing
  • Confidentiality: Protection of confidential information
  • Privacy: Personal information handling

Security Implementation

🔧 Technical Security Controls

Network Security

# Firewall Configuration
# Allow only necessary ports
ufw allow 22/tcp   # SSH
ufw allow 80/tcp   # HTTP
ufw allow 443/tcp  # HTTPS
ufw deny everything else

# Fail2ban for intrusion prevention
fail2ban-client set sshd bantime 3600
fail2ban-client set sshd maxretry 3

Application Security

// Input Validation Example
const validator = require('validator');

function validateUserInput(input) {
  // Sanitize input
  const sanitized = validator.escape(input);
  
  // Validate format
  if (!validator.isLength(sanitized, { min: 1, max: 100 })) {
    throw new Error('Invalid input length');
  }
  
  return sanitized;
}

// Rate Limiting
const rateLimit = require('express-rate-limit');

const limiter = rateLimit({
  windowMs: 15 * 60 * 1000, // 15 minutes
  max: 100 // limit each IP to 100 requests per windowMs
});

app.use('/api/', limiter);

Database Security

-- Create dedicated database user
CREATE USER app_user WITH PASSWORD 'strong_random_password';

-- Grant minimal permissions
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE ON specific_tables TO app_user;

-- Enable row-level security
ALTER TABLE sensitive_table ENABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY;

-- Create security policy
CREATE POLICY user_data_policy ON sensitive_table
  FOR ALL TO app_user
  USING (user_id = current_user_id());

🛡️ Security Monitoring

Log Management

# Log aggregation configuration
# /etc/rsyslog.d/50-security.conf

# Log authentication attempts
auth,authpriv.*    /var/log/auth.log

# Log application errors
local0.*    /var/log/app.log

# Send logs to centralized server
*.* @@log-server.internal:514

Intrusion Detection

# AIDE (Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment)
aide --init
aide --check

# Tripwire for file integrity monitoring
tripwire --init
tripwire --check

Security Metrics

  • Failed Login Attempts: Monitor for brute force attacks
  • Unusual Access Patterns: Detect anomalous behavior
  • Vulnerability Scans: Regular security assessments
  • Patch Management: Track security updates

Incident Response

🚨 Incident Response Plan

Preparation Phase

  1. Incident Response Team - Designated team members
  2. Contact Information - Updated contact lists
  3. Response Procedures - Documented step-by-step processes
  4. Tools and Resources - Pre-configured security tools

Detection and Analysis

  1. Incident Detection - Monitoring systems and alerts
  2. Initial Assessment - Determine severity and impact
  3. Evidence Collection - Preserve evidence for analysis
  4. Incident Classification - Categorize the incident type

Containment and Eradication

  1. Immediate Containment - Stop the incident from spreading
  2. System Analysis - Identify the root cause
  3. Evidence Preservation - Maintain chain of custody
  4. Threat Removal - Eliminate the security threat

Recovery and Lessons Learned

  1. System Restoration - Return to normal operations
  2. Monitoring - Enhanced monitoring post-incident
  3. Documentation - Complete incident report
  4. Process Improvement - Update procedures based on lessons learned

📞 Emergency Contacts

Internal Contacts

  • Security Team Lead: [Contact Information]
  • IT Manager: [Contact Information]
  • CEO/Management: [Contact Information]
  • Legal Counsel: [Contact Information]

External Contacts

  • Cyber Insurance Provider: [Contact Information]
  • Law Enforcement: Local FBI Cyber Crime Unit
  • Forensics Team: [External Security Firm]
  • Regulatory Bodies: Relevant authorities for compliance

Security Training

👨‍💻 Developer Security Training

Secure Coding Practices

  • OWASP Top 10 - Understanding common vulnerabilities
  • Input Validation - Proper sanitization techniques
  • Authentication - Secure implementation patterns
  • Cryptography - Proper use of encryption
  • Error Handling - Secure error messages

Security Testing

  • Static Analysis - Code scanning tools
  • Dynamic Analysis - Runtime security testing
  • Penetration Testing - Ethical hacking techniques
  • Vulnerability Assessment - Identifying security weaknesses

🏢 General Security Awareness

Phishing Prevention

  • Email Security - Identifying suspicious emails
  • Link Verification - Checking URLs before clicking
  • Attachment Safety - Handling email attachments
  • Reporting Procedures - How to report suspicious emails

Social Engineering

  • Phone Security - Verifying caller identity
  • Physical Security - Tailgating and badge sharing
  • Information Sharing - What not to share publicly
  • Pretexting - Recognizing manipulation attempts

Security Assessments

🔍 Regular Security Reviews

Quarterly Assessments

  • Access Reviews - Verify user permissions
  • Vulnerability Scans - Automated security scanning
  • Policy Reviews - Update security policies
  • Training Updates - Refresh security awareness

Annual Assessments

  • Penetration Testing - External security assessment
  • Risk Assessment - Comprehensive risk analysis
  • Compliance Audit - Verify regulatory compliance
  • Business Continuity - Test disaster recovery plans

📊 Security Metrics

Key Performance Indicators

  • Mean Time to Detection (MTTD) - How quickly threats are identified
  • Mean Time to Response (MTTR) - How quickly incidents are resolved
  • Vulnerability Remediation Time - Speed of security fixes
  • Security Training Completion - Team training compliance

Client Security

🤝 Client Data Protection

Data Handling Procedures

  1. Data Collection - Minimize data collection
  2. Data Storage - Encrypted storage systems
  3. Data Processing - Secure processing environments
  4. Data Transmission - Encrypted data transfer
  5. Data Retention - Proper retention policies
  6. Data Disposal - Secure data destruction

Client Security Requirements

  • Confidentiality Agreements - Signed NDAs
  • Data Processing Agreements - GDPR compliance
  • Security Questionnaires - Client security assessments
  • Incident Notification - Prompt breach notification

🛡️ Secure Client Communications

Communication Channels

  • Encrypted Email - Use of secure email services
  • Secure File Transfer - SFTP or encrypted file sharing
  • Video Conferencing - Encrypted meeting platforms
  • Document Sharing - Secure collaboration tools

Vendor Security

🔒 Third-Party Risk Management

Vendor Assessment

  • Security Questionnaires - Evaluate vendor security
  • Certifications - Verify security certifications
  • Penetration Testing - Review vendor security testing
  • Incident History - Check vendor breach history

Ongoing Monitoring

  • Regular Reviews - Periodic security assessments
  • Contract Updates - Update security requirements
  • Incident Reporting - Vendor breach notification
  • Performance Monitoring - Track security metrics

Security is everyone's responsibility. Stay vigilant and report any security concerns immediately.

Last updated: 12/13/2025