Application
This unit applies to web developers who are required to confirm the security of dynamic websites.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Undertake risk assessment | 1.1 Identify functionality and features of the website and confirm with client 1.2 Identify security threats with reference to functionality of the site and organisational security policy, legislation and standards 1.3 Complete a risk analysis to prioritise security threats and identify system vulnerabilities 1.4 Identify resource and budget constraints and validate with client as required 1.5 Source appropriate products, security services and equipment according to enterprise purchasing policies |
2. Secure operating systems (OS) | 2.1 Identify OS and cross-platform vulnerabilities 2.2 Make appropriate scripting or configuration adjustments with reference to functionality of the site and the security policy 2.3 Identify and rectify weaknesses specific to the OS |
3. Secure site server | 3.1 Configure the web server securely with reference to required functionality and the security policy 3.2 Review and analyse server-side scripting with reference to required functionality and the security policy 3.3 Install firewalls as required 3.4 Establish access control permissions to server and database |
4. Secure data transactions | 4.1 Identify data transactions with reference to functionality and features of website 4.2 Identify and apply channel protocols related to requirements 4.3 Install and configure payment systems |
5. Monitor and document security framework | 5.1 Develop a program of selective independent audits and penetration tests 5.2 Determine performance benchmarks 5.3 Implement audit and test programs, and record, analyse and report results 5.4 Make security framework changes based on test results 5.5 Develop the site-security plan with reference to security policy and requirements 5.6 Develop and distribute related policy and procedures to client |
Required Skills
Required skills
communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical, operational and business-related matters
literacy skills to:
collate, analyse and assess importance and relevance of product information
summarise and document information
write procedures
numeracy skills to take test measurements, interpret results and evaluate performance
planning and organisational skills to:
develop enterprise policy and procedures
plan, prioritise and monitor own work
research skills to interrogate vendor databases and websites
technical skills to:
configure a web server
identify key sources of information
see conflicts and integration capabilities between diverse equipment
understand specification sheets
use auditing and penetration testing techniques.
Required knowledge
Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics
client business domain, structure, function and organisation, including organisational issues surrounding security
copyright and intellectual property as related to website information
commonwealth Privacy Act 2000
current industry-accepted hardware and software products
desktop applications and OS as required
technical knowledge of functions and features of:
automated intrusion detection software
network address translation (NAT) related to securing internal IP addresses, buffer overruns and stack smashing with reference to operating system deficiencies
authentication and access control
common stored account payment systems
cryptography
CGI scripts
generic secure protocols
stored value payment systems
advantages and disadvantages of using the range of security features
protocol stack for internet communications
physical web server security, particularly remote host security threats.
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: identify potential security threats to a website develop strategies to secure a dynamic website implement such strategies. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: dynamic website security plan user requirements relevant legislation, standards and organisational requirements appropriate learning and assessment support when required modified equipment for people with special needs. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: verbal or written questioning to assess candidate’s knowledge of: client domain website security techniques current website security threats review of candidate’s documented: risk assessment performance benchmarks evaluation of candidate’s security framework. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support. In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Client may include: | external organisation individual internal department internal employee. |
Security threats may include: | denial of service and by-pass eavesdropping hackers manipulation and impersonation penetration viruses using logging. |
Security policy may include: | audits and alerts privacy standards, including archival, backup and network theft viruses. |
Legislation may include: | copyright liability statements privacy legislation. |
Standards may include: | International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Australian Standards (AS) standards organisational standards project standards. |
Security services may include: | application proxies authentication and access control digital certificates digital signatures encryption file access permissions multi-platform directory services supporting relevant standards network points and mainframes packet filters personnel security screening routers servers secure hypertext transfer protocol (SHTTP) single stage and dual stage firewalls smart cards secure socket layer (SSL) stored account payment systems stored value payment systems support for generalised security services interfaces trusted hardware and operating systems at selective desktops trusted systems with C and B assurance levels virtual private network (VPN) technology. |
Equipment may include: | hard drives hubs modems and other connectivity devices, including digital subscriber line (DSL) modems monitors other peripheral devices personal computers (PCs) personal digital assistants (PDAs) printers switches workstations. |
OS may include: | Mac OS 8 or above Linux 6.0 or above Windows XP or above. |
Firewalls may include: | hardware appliances individual PC solution; varying functionality, including network address translator (NAT) and IP masquerading, routing to specific machines proxy servers. |
Server may include: | application or web servers BEA Weblogic servers email servers file and print servers file transfer protocol (FTP) servers firewall servers IBM VisualAge and WebSphere Novell Directory Services (NDS) servers proxy or cache servers. |
Database may include: | commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) database packages object-relational databases proprietary databases relational databases. |
Requirements may refer to: | business network people in the organisation system. |
Sectors
Web
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.