China: Draft for Comment - Data Security Technology - Methods for Monitoring Security Risks of Data Interfaces
Published 15 August 2024
Sarah Xuan
On August 2, 2024, the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee of China released the draft for comments on Data Security Technology - Methods for Monitoring Security Risks of Data Interfaces (hereinafter referred to as the “Draft for Comments”). This document aims to standardize and guide organizations in monitoring security risks associated with data interfaces. The public consultation period will end on October 1, 2024. This article will introduce the main contents of the “Draft for Comments” and provide a brief comment.
I. Background and Significance
With the rapid development of information technology, data interfaces have become a critical mechanism for data transmission and exchange between information systems. The security of data interfaces directly affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. In response to this, the “Draft for Comments” proposes a comprehensive set of methods for monitoring data interface security risks, helping organizations better manage and control these risks and ensuring data security during transmission.
II. Main Contents of the “Draft for Comments”
1. Scope and Applicability
The “Draft for Comments” covers various aspects of monitoring data interface security risks, including monitoring methods, content, and processes. It clearly defines the key stages of monitoring, such as data collection, processing, risk identification, and response strategies. This document applies to all organizations involving data interfaces, including businesses, government agencies, and other entities that need to ensure data transmission security. It provides a standardized guide to help these organizations effectively identify and manage the security risks of their data interfaces.
2. Normative References
To ensure the authority and consistency of the monitoring methods, the “Draft for Comments” references several important national standards, such as “Information Security Technology - Terminology” (GB/T 25069-2022), “Information Security Technology - Personal Information Security Specification” (GB/T 35273-2020), and “Information Security Technology - Requirements for Critical Information Infrastructure Security Protection” (GB/T 39204-2022). These referenced documents lay the foundation for data interface security monitoring and ensure the standard’s compatibility with existing information security frameworks.
3. Terms and Definitions
The “Draft for Comments” provides clear definitions for key terms such as “data interface,” “monitoring requestor,” and “risk source”. These definitions not only help unify understanding but also offer clear guidance for practical operations to ensure consistent understanding and application during the monitoring process:
a. Data Interface: Refers to the mechanism for data transmission and exchange between information systems. It involves not only data formats and communication protocols but also the transmission structure and the responsibilities and obligations of both parties to the interface.b. Monitoring Requestor: Refers to any organization or entity that has a need for monitoring. This can include businesses, government agencies, and even individual users who need to ensure the security of data interfaces through monitoring.c. Risk Source: Defined as threats or vulnerabilities that may compromise the confidentiality, integrity, availability, and lawful processing of data. Risk sources include not only data breaches caused by security vulnerabilities but also legal or compliance issues arising from improper data handling.
4. Framework for Monitoring Data Interface Security Risks
The framework for monitoring data interface security risks is one of the core contents of the “Draft for Comments.” It includes three parts: monitoring content, monitoring methods, and monitoring processes, aiming to provide organizations with systematic means of risk monitoring.
a. Monitoring Content: Primarily focuses on monitoring the vulnerabilities of data interfaces, data leakage, abnormal calls, and provisioning. These aspects cover all dimensions of data interfaces, ensuring the comprehensiveness and depth of the monitoring process.b. Monitoring Methods: Proposes three main methods: traffic mirroring monitoring, log monitoring, and active probing. Each method has its specific application scenarios and technical advantages, such as real-time capture of data traffic in traffic mirroring monitoring or detailed historical data records in log monitoring.c. Monitoring Processes: Includes five steps: data collection, data processing, risk identification, monitoring alerts, and incident response. These steps allow organizations to systematically identify and manage security risks associated with data interfaces.
5. Monitoring Methods
The “Draft for Comments” proposes three main monitoring methods, each with its specific application scenarios and technical implementations:
a. Traffic Mirroring Monitoring: This method involves copying specific network traffic and transmitting it to monitoring devices to achieve real-time monitoring of data interfaces. It is suitable for scenarios requiring high real-time monitoring and accuracy. Traffic mirroring monitoring can be further divided into network device traffic mirroring, client traffic mirroring, and server traffic mirroring, each corresponding to different technical implementations and application scenarios.b. Log Monitoring: Involves analyzing logs generated by data interfaces to identify security risks. This method is suitable for long-term monitoring and historical analysis scenarios. Log monitoring includes log embedding during development and log synchronization to a monitoring system for analysis.c. Active Probing: Involves scanning and simulating data interface calls to proactively discover potential security issues. This method is suitable for identifying deeply hidden security risks, and it attempts to trigger various events without affecting normal interface usage to gather more monitoring information.
6. Monitoring Processes
The “Draft for Comments” designs a rigorous monitoring process to ensure that monitoring activities are conducted in an orderly manner and achieve the expected goals. These monitoring process includes:
a. Data Collection: Involves collecting basic information related to data interfaces through different monitoring methods. This includes information from the server, client, interface, and exchanged data, ensuring the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the monitoring data.b. Data Processing: Involves data cleansing and extraction of key information during processing, addressing issues such as data redundancy and erroneous values, and extracting useful information to support subsequent analysis.c. Risk Identification: Involves analyzing interface vulnerabilities and data leakage to identify potential security risks and create a risk source list. This process relies on automated tools and manual intervention to ensure the accuracy of the identification results.d. Monitoring Alerts and Incident Response: Involves categorizing and alerting identified risks and initiating appropriate risk response procedures. Alert information includes detailed descriptions of risk events, with alert levels determined based on factors such as the affected objects and the likelihood of occurrence.
7. Monitoring Process Control
The “Draft for Comments” emphasizes the importance of security and compliance in the monitoring process and proposes a series of control measures. For example, it requires auditing monitoring activities and recording operation logs to ensure transparency and traceability. Additionally, the document mandates encrypting, backing up, and controlling access to data generated during monitoring to prevent data breaches and tampering.
III. Comments
The “Draft for Comments” constructs a comprehensive framework for monitoring data interface security risks from multiple perspectives. The monitoring methods cover technologies such as traffic, logs, and active probing, offering high coverage and practicality, meeting the security needs of data interfaces in various scenarios.
Besides, the monitoring methods and process designs in the “Draft for Comments” take into full account the development of current mainstream technologies, proposing solutions with strong operability that can effectively guide organizations in conducting data interface security monitoring. However, in practice, different organizations may need to make appropriate adjustments to these solutions based on their circumstances to ensure adaptability and effectiveness.
Moreover, the “Draft for Comments” presents detailed requirements for data security and privacy protection, such as data encryption, access control, and log auditing. These measures not only help prevent data breaches but also ensure the legality and compliance of monitoring activities.
Conclusion
Overall, the Draft for Comments on “Data Security Technology - Methods for Monitoring Security Risks of Data Interfaces” provides a scientific and systematic approach to monitoring data interface security risks, offering significant guidance to organizations. As technology continues to advance and practical experience accumulates, this standard will provide strong support for the construction of China’s data security protection system.
I. Background and Significance
With the rapid development of information technology, data interfaces have become a critical mechanism for data transmission and exchange between information systems. The security of data interfaces directly affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. In response to this, the “Draft for Comments” proposes a comprehensive set of methods for monitoring data interface security risks, helping organizations better manage and control these risks and ensuring data security during transmission.
II. Main Contents of the “Draft for Comments”
1. Scope and Applicability
The “Draft for Comments” covers various aspects of monitoring data interface security risks, including monitoring methods, content, and processes. It clearly defines the key stages of monitoring, such as data collection, processing, risk identification, and response strategies. This document applies to all organizations involving data interfaces, including businesses, government agencies, and other entities that need to ensure data transmission security. It provides a standardized guide to help these organizations effectively identify and manage the security risks of their data interfaces.
2. Normative References
To ensure the authority and consistency of the monitoring methods, the “Draft for Comments” references several important national standards, such as “Information Security Technology - Terminology” (GB/T 25069-2022), “Information Security Technology - Personal Information Security Specification” (GB/T 35273-2020), and “Information Security Technology - Requirements for Critical Information Infrastructure Security Protection” (GB/T 39204-2022). These referenced documents lay the foundation for data interface security monitoring and ensure the standard’s compatibility with existing information security frameworks.
3. Terms and Definitions
The “Draft for Comments” provides clear definitions for key terms such as “data interface,” “monitoring requestor,” and “risk source”. These definitions not only help unify understanding but also offer clear guidance for practical operations to ensure consistent understanding and application during the monitoring process:
a. Data Interface: Refers to the mechanism for data transmission and exchange between information systems. It involves not only data formats and communication protocols but also the transmission structure and the responsibilities and obligations of both parties to the interface.b. Monitoring Requestor: Refers to any organization or entity that has a need for monitoring. This can include businesses, government agencies, and even individual users who need to ensure the security of data interfaces through monitoring.c. Risk Source: Defined as threats or vulnerabilities that may compromise the confidentiality, integrity, availability, and lawful processing of data. Risk sources include not only data breaches caused by security vulnerabilities but also legal or compliance issues arising from improper data handling.
4. Framework for Monitoring Data Interface Security Risks
The framework for monitoring data interface security risks is one of the core contents of the “Draft for Comments.” It includes three parts: monitoring content, monitoring methods, and monitoring processes, aiming to provide organizations with systematic means of risk monitoring.
a. Monitoring Content: Primarily focuses on monitoring the vulnerabilities of data interfaces, data leakage, abnormal calls, and provisioning. These aspects cover all dimensions of data interfaces, ensuring the comprehensiveness and depth of the monitoring process.b. Monitoring Methods: Proposes three main methods: traffic mirroring monitoring, log monitoring, and active probing. Each method has its specific application scenarios and technical advantages, such as real-time capture of data traffic in traffic mirroring monitoring or detailed historical data records in log monitoring.c. Monitoring Processes: Includes five steps: data collection, data processing, risk identification, monitoring alerts, and incident response. These steps allow organizations to systematically identify and manage security risks associated with data interfaces.
5. Monitoring Methods
The “Draft for Comments” proposes three main monitoring methods, each with its specific application scenarios and technical implementations:
a. Traffic Mirroring Monitoring: This method involves copying specific network traffic and transmitting it to monitoring devices to achieve real-time monitoring of data interfaces. It is suitable for scenarios requiring high real-time monitoring and accuracy. Traffic mirroring monitoring can be further divided into network device traffic mirroring, client traffic mirroring, and server traffic mirroring, each corresponding to different technical implementations and application scenarios.b. Log Monitoring: Involves analyzing logs generated by data interfaces to identify security risks. This method is suitable for long-term monitoring and historical analysis scenarios. Log monitoring includes log embedding during development and log synchronization to a monitoring system for analysis.c. Active Probing: Involves scanning and simulating data interface calls to proactively discover potential security issues. This method is suitable for identifying deeply hidden security risks, and it attempts to trigger various events without affecting normal interface usage to gather more monitoring information.
6. Monitoring Processes
The “Draft for Comments” designs a rigorous monitoring process to ensure that monitoring activities are conducted in an orderly manner and achieve the expected goals. These monitoring process includes:
a. Data Collection: Involves collecting basic information related to data interfaces through different monitoring methods. This includes information from the server, client, interface, and exchanged data, ensuring the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the monitoring data.b. Data Processing: Involves data cleansing and extraction of key information during processing, addressing issues such as data redundancy and erroneous values, and extracting useful information to support subsequent analysis.c. Risk Identification: Involves analyzing interface vulnerabilities and data leakage to identify potential security risks and create a risk source list. This process relies on automated tools and manual intervention to ensure the accuracy of the identification results.d. Monitoring Alerts and Incident Response: Involves categorizing and alerting identified risks and initiating appropriate risk response procedures. Alert information includes detailed descriptions of risk events, with alert levels determined based on factors such as the affected objects and the likelihood of occurrence.
7. Monitoring Process Control
The “Draft for Comments” emphasizes the importance of security and compliance in the monitoring process and proposes a series of control measures. For example, it requires auditing monitoring activities and recording operation logs to ensure transparency and traceability. Additionally, the document mandates encrypting, backing up, and controlling access to data generated during monitoring to prevent data breaches and tampering.
III. Comments
The “Draft for Comments” constructs a comprehensive framework for monitoring data interface security risks from multiple perspectives. The monitoring methods cover technologies such as traffic, logs, and active probing, offering high coverage and practicality, meeting the security needs of data interfaces in various scenarios.
Besides, the monitoring methods and process designs in the “Draft for Comments” take into full account the development of current mainstream technologies, proposing solutions with strong operability that can effectively guide organizations in conducting data interface security monitoring. However, in practice, different organizations may need to make appropriate adjustments to these solutions based on their circumstances to ensure adaptability and effectiveness.
Moreover, the “Draft for Comments” presents detailed requirements for data security and privacy protection, such as data encryption, access control, and log auditing. These measures not only help prevent data breaches but also ensure the legality and compliance of monitoring activities.
Conclusion
Overall, the Draft for Comments on “Data Security Technology - Methods for Monitoring Security Risks of Data Interfaces” provides a scientific and systematic approach to monitoring data interface security risks, offering significant guidance to organizations. As technology continues to advance and practical experience accumulates, this standard will provide strong support for the construction of China’s data security protection system.