Security Patterns: Integrating Security and Systems Engineering (Wiley Software Patterns Series) (Hardcover)

~ Markus Schumacher (Author), Eduardo Fernandez-Buglioni (Author), Duane Hybertson (Author), Frank Buschmann (Author), Peter Sommerlad (Author) "Developer enthusiasm for patterns has been almost unquenchable since the release of the seminal work by the Gang-of-Four [GoF95] just a decade ago..." (more)
Key Phrases: Known Uses, Solution Specify, Duane Hybertson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Most security books are targeted at security engineers and specialists. Few show how build security into software. None breakdown the different concerns facing security at different levels of the system: the enterprise, architectural and operational layers. Security Patterns addresses the full spectrum of security in systems design, using best practice solutions to show how to integrate security in the broader engineering process.

• Essential for designers building large-scale systems who want best practice solutions to typical security problems
• Real world case studies illustrate how to use the patterns in specific domains

For more information visit www.securitypatterns.org

From the Back Cover

International security experts explain the full spectrum of security in systems design

Security can be an intimidating subject area, but this need not be the case. Although time constraints may prevent systems engineers from becoming security specialists, guarding systems against attack is essential. With the growing success of the Internet, computer and software systems have become more and more networked. Written from the heart of the patterns community, the authors address key questions and present corresponding proven solutions, clearly showing you how to build secure systems.

In a time where systems are constantly at risk, it is essential that you arm yourself with the knowledge of different security measures. This pioneering title breaks down security at various levels of the system: the enterprise, architectural and operational layers. It acts as an extension to the larger enterprise contexts and shows you how to integrate security in the broader engineering process.

Essential security topics include:

Enterprise level security – security management, principles, institutional policies (such as need-to-know) and enterprise needs (including confidentiality, integrity, availability, accountability, I&A, access control and audit). 

Architectural level security – system level solutions responding to enterprise level policies – and the most important level for facilitating building security into a system.

User level security – concerned with achieving security in operational contexts

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 600 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470858842
• ISBN-13: 978-0470858844
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #682,928 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting application of a software development technique to the security space, November 2, 2006

By	Richard Bejtlich "TaoSecurity.com" (Metro Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I read six books on software security recently, namely "Writing Secure Code, 2nd Ed" by Michael Howard and David LeBlanc; "19 Deadly Sins of Software Security" by Michael Howard, David LeBlanc, and John Viega; "Software Security" by Gary McGraw; "The Security Development Lifecycle" by Michael Howard and Steve Lipner; "High-Assurance Design" by Cliff Berg; and "Security Patterns" by Markus Schumacher, et al. Each book takes a different approach to the software security problem, although the first two focus on coding bugs and flaws; the second two examine development processes; and the last two discuss practices or patterns for improved design and implementation. My favorite of the six is Gary McGraw's, thanks to his clear thinking and logical analysis. The other five are still noteworthy books. All six will contribute to the production of more security software.

It's important to recognize that "Security Patterns" (SP) is not as narrowly focused as a similar book, Cliff Berg's "High-Assurance Design." SP applies to code, but also to enterprise architecture, and even non-IT scenarios. A case study involving protecting a museum runs throughout much of the text, for example. SP introduces several helpful concepts as well, such as security "properties" (CIA), "services" (authentication, authorization, accounting, auditing, non-repudiation), "approaches" (planning, prevention, detection, response), and "mechanisms" (access control, etc.).

The first part of SP explains the important of patterns, which I found useful as a non-professional programmer. I realized that patterns are significant not just because they help define a solution, but also because they can assist in properly scoping the problem (p 35). However, these patterns do not provide code samples. It's more conceptual than actionable.

Similar to Microsoft's books on secure software development, I thought SP suffered from confusing terminology. For example, SP decides to include "accountability" as a security "property". I am not sure this qualifies as a property, since it's really only needed to know who violated one of the CIA properties. CIA violations should be labeled disclosure, corruption, and denial of service.

SP stumbles when it discusses "threat assessment," defining terms like "threat source" (which should be just "threat"), "threat action" (i.e., "attack"), and "threat consequence" (really an "incident" or "violation"). In several places (pp 116. 118) SP ignores the fact that threats and vulnerabilities are independent aspects of security; they are not synonyms.

Although SP's pattern approach is interesting, sometimes the execution is weak or incorrect. I found the hand-drawn stick figures in ch 9 to be laughable. I cringed when I read about "today's more popular remote shell, /usr/bin/rsh". The authors didn't know what they were talking about when discussing firewalls, either. Packet-filtering firewalls don't just work by inspecting "addresses," and the BSD Packet Filter is a stateful packet filter, not an address-inspecting packet filter. I thought the architecture diagrams were far too simplistic and in some cases poor, such as showing a mainframe and a public Web server in the same network segment.

Overall, I think the idea of using security patterns to provide tools for developers and architects is powerful. Perhaps a second edition or later books will better execute on this idea. I still think SP deserves four stars for breaking fairly new ground with this approach, and using non-digital examples to emphasize concepts applicable to information security problems.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid reference material on security engineering..., February 26, 2006

By	Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sometimes the subject of IT security can be a bit overwhelming with too many (or too few) options. But if you can break it down to specific items or patterns, it starts to become much easier to work with. I am impressed with the book Security Patterns: Integrating Security and Systems Engineering by Markus Schumacher, Eduardo Fernandez-Buglioni, Duane Hybertson, Frank Buschmann, and Peter Sommerlad. They have produced a nice reference volume that does just that.

Contents: The Pattern Approach; Security Foundations; Security Patterns; Patterns Scope and Enterprise Security; The Security Pattern Landscape; Enterprise Security and Risk Management; Identification and Authentication (I&A); Access Control Models; System Access Control Architecture; Operating System Access Control; Accounting; Firewall Architectures; Secure Internet Applications; Case Study - IP Telephony; Supplementary Concepts; Closing Remarks; References; Index

Following a common format, the authors outline 46 different security patterns that apply to systems and architectures. The format includes the Name (name of the pattern), Also Known As (alternative names in common use), Example (a real world example of the pattern's use), Context (when it may apply), Problem (what problem the pattern addresses), Solution (the solution principle), Structure (a detailed examination of the pattern), Dynamics (typical run-time behavior), Implementation (how the pattern is commonly implemented), Example Resolved (aspects not touched in prior sections), Variants (any customizations of the pattern), Known Uses (examples from real implementations), Consequences (benefits and liabilities), and See Also (references to other patterns that may apply). This consistent structure of each pattern makes it very easy to find the information you need in order to determine whether you should be considering the pattern for your own use. They also do a good job in laying the groundwork for why security is important, as well as what various factors come into play when building systems in today's internet-based environment.

While this isn't a book you'd sit down and read from cover to cover, it is one that should stay close at hand. After reading the first five chapters, you'll have the foundation you need in order to start focusing on specific chapters that address your particular needs. But even an occasional browse through less-visited chapters could spur ideas that may address new problems that weren't present when you first read the material. Definitely a solid book with ample opportunities for benefits on the job...

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good concepts but no implementation advice, May 2, 2007

By	Prasad Reddy "Prasad" (Sanjose, CA) - See all my reviews

I'm now just more than half way through with this book. So far I find the book with good concepts and patterns that addresses a list of issues for security development. I find the patterns described lack implementation advice and how to verify them in real-world deployment. The authors might know when it comes to security development the devil is in the details and this book lacks those details - just how to implement them. From my experience so far I liked the following books - Gary McGraw's "Software Security: Building Security In", for Microsoft security - Mike Howard's "Writing Secure code" and for Java/J2EE Security - "Core Security Patterns".
Overall this book aims at people of academic interests than software projects.