book

The Code of Honor

by Paul J. Maurer, Ed Skoudis

June 2024

Intermediate to advanced

224 pages

3h 55m

English

Wiley

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How Should You Read This Book?Why Are There Two Authors but Only One Voice?How Should You Approach the Critical Applications Case Studies?How Should You Use the Cybersecurity Code of Honor?A Challenge to Make the World a Better Place
In Case You Are Wondering Why You Should CareDo We Need Ethics in Cybersecurity?Long-Standing Models for the CodeWhy the Need for the Code Is UrgentNotes
Cybersecurity Is a Human BusinessHumans Have Inherent ValueHumans Over TechnologyThe Solution to the Problem of Cybersecurity Is Principally a Human SolutionCharacter Costs and Character PaysCase Study: When Security Is on the Chopping BlockNote
We Need You on That WallKnow Your Why—Purpose and PeopleService Means Sharing: Sharing Starts with Good CommunicationSharing with the Broader Cyber Community: We Are All on the Same WallChecking InA Final ExampleCase Study: Responsible Disclosure of a Security FlawNotes
Bad Decisions and MultiplicationHumans Are FlawedTurning Vulnerability into Strength: It Begins with HumilityBeing a Lifelong LearnerHandling the Mistakes of OthersLet's Try to Avoid “Breaking Bad”How to Develop a Reflective PracticeCase Study: To Pay or Not to Pay—A Ransomware QuandaryNote
The Secret of SuccessTrust Is the Currency of CybersecurityHow Trust Is BuiltWhen Things Go BadBuilding Trust Requires CourageThe Role of Leadership in Building a Culture of TrustA Checklist for Building TrustCase Study: A Matter of Trust and Data BreachesNote
No Room for Know-it-AllsMaking Informed Ethical Decisions with InputWhy Teamwork Really Does Make the Dream WorkWhen Collaboration Breaks Down—Seeking Allies in Your OrganizationThe Power of MentorsBeware of RattlesnakesCase Study: Graded on a Curve? The Security Audit Checkmark

Essential to Success: Patience, Wisdom, and Self-ControlRemember the TitanicA Few Principles for Emergency PlanningStay Calm, Cool, and CollectedOur Job Is Not RevengeDevelop Your Cyber Kung FuCase Study: An Open Door: Vigilante JusticeNote
If It's Free, It's for Me?Avoid a “Robin Hood” NarrativeA Tragedy of “Free Information”Intellectual Property Is PropertyTo Catch a Thief, We Must Train Like OneChoices Have ConsequencesAll I Really Need to Know I Learned in KindergartenCase Study: Something Borrowed and Something NewNotes
Curiosity Can Kill the CatThe Golden Rule Applied to CybersecurityStay in Your LaneFour Questions to Help Avoid ImproprietyEach Time You Cross the Line, It Becomes EasierWe Hurt Real Human BeingsAn Outrageous Example of the ProblemRemember: We Are the ShieldCase Study: To Share or Not to Share? Investigating the CFO's SystemNotes

Overview

A comprehensive and practical framework for ethical practices in contemporary cybersecurity

While some professions – including medicine, law, and engineering – have wholeheartedly embraced wide-ranging codes of ethics and conduct, the field of cybersecurity continues to lack an overarching ethical standard. This vacuum constitutes a significant threat to the safety of consumers and businesses around the world, slows commerce, and delays innovation.

The Code of Honor: Embracing Ethics in Cybersecurity delivers a first of its kind comprehensive discussion of the ethical challenges that face contemporary information security workers, managers, and executives. Authors Ed Skoudis, President of the SANS Technology Institute College and founder of the Counter Hack team, and Dr. Paul Maurer, President of Montreat College, explain how timeless ethical wisdom gives birth to the Cybersecurity Code which is currently being adopted by security practitioners and leaders around the world.

This practical book tells numerous engaging stories that highlight ethically complex situations many cybersecurity and tech professionals commonly encounter. It also contains compelling real-world case studies – called Critical Applications – at the end of each chapter that help the reader determine how to apply the hands-on skills described in the book.

You'll also find:

A complete system of cybersecurity ethics relevant to C-suite leaders and executives, front-line cybersecurity practitioners, and students preparing for careers in cybersecurity.
Carefully crafted frameworks for ethical decision-making in cybersecurity.
Timeless principles based on those adopted in countless professions, creeds, and civilizations.

Perfect for security leaders, operations center analysts, incident responders, threat hunters, forensics personnel, and penetration testers, The Code of Honor is an up-to-date and engaging read about the ethically challenging world of modern cybersecurity that will earn a place in the libraries of aspiring and practicing professionals and leaders who deal with tech every day.