Integrating Top-down and Bottom-up Cybersecurity Guidance using XML

Published

August 1, 2016

Author(s)

Joshua Lubell

Abstract

This paper describes a markup-based approach for synthesizing disparate information sources, and then discusses a software implementation of the approach. The implementation, developed using XForms and Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT), makes it easier for people to use two complementary, but differently structured, guidance specifications together: the (top- down) Cybersecurity Framework and the (bottom-up) National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53 security control catalog. An example scenario demonstrates how the software implementation can help a security professional select the appropriate safeguards for restricting unauthorized access to an Industrial Control System. The implementation and example show the benefits of this approach and suggest its potential application to disciplines other than cybersecurity.

Proceedings Title

Balisage Series on Markup Technologies

Conference Dates

August 2-5, 2016

Conference Location

Washington, DC

Conference Title

Balisage: The Markup Conference

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.4242/BalisageVol17.Lubell01

Keywords

risk management, mission/business objectives, cybersecurity framework, XForms, XSLT, security control, tailored baseline, Industrial Control System, NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-82

Citation

Lubell, J. (2016), Integrating Top-down and Bottom-up Cybersecurity Guidance using XML, Balisage Series on Markup Technologies, Washington, DC, [online], https://doi.org/10.4242/BalisageVol17.Lubell01 (Accessed July 4, 2025)