NIST 800-53 Assessment for TD SYNNEX

Assessment Methodology

Adapted NIST 800-53 Framework

The assessment was structured following the five core NIST Framework functions, adapted to TD SYNNEX’s specific enterprise context:

Identify: Complete inventory of assets, data and critical systems. Protect: Assessment of existing protection controls. Detect: Analysis of detection and monitoring capabilities. Respond: Review of incident response procedures. Recover: Evaluation of continuity and recovery plans.

Structured Assessment Process

Phase 1: Discovery and Mapping (Weeks 1-2)

• Automated network scanning with Nmap for asset discovery
• Correlation with CMDB and Azure AD records
• Critical data flow and dependency mapping
• Identification of crown jewels and high-value assets

Phase 2: Control Assessment (Weeks 3-8)

• Automated technical assessment using custom Python scripts
• Manual review of critical configurations
• Structured interviews with process owners
• Testing of implemented security controls

Phase 3: Gap Analysis (Weeks 9-12)

• Quantitative compliance gap analysis
• Risk scoring calculation based on CVSS and organizational context
• Prioritization using impact vs effort methodology
• Executive risk matrix development

Key Findings

Compliance Status by Categories

Access Control (AC): 78% implemented

• Strengths: Robust identity management, MFA deployment
• Gaps: Privileged access management, regular access reviews

System and Communications Protection (SC): 65% implemented

• Strengths: Network segmentation, encryption in transit
• Gaps: Data loss prevention, advanced threat protection

Incident Response (IR): 71% implemented

• Strengths: SOC operations, SIEM deployment
• Gaps: Automated response, threat hunting capabilities

Risk Assessment (RA): 52% implemented

• Strengths: Vulnerability management program
• Gaps: Continuous risk monitoring, third-party risk

Critical Risk Analysis

Top 5 Critical Findings

1. Privileged Account Management

   • Risk Score: 9.2/10
   • 340+ privileged accounts without regular credential rotation
   • Lack of centralized PAM solution

2. Data Classification and Protection

   • Risk Score: 8.7/10
   • 67% of sensitive data without formal classification
   • Absence of DLP on critical endpoints

3. Third-Party Risk Management

   • Risk Score: 8.4/10
   • 180+ vendors without security assessment
   • Contracts lacking cybersecurity clauses

4. Continuous Monitoring

   • Risk Score: 8.1/10
   • Reactive vs. proactive monitoring
   • Lack of threat intelligence integration

5. Backup and Recovery Testing

   • Risk Score: 7.9/10
   • 23% of critical backups never tested
   • RTO/RPO not formally documented

Remediation Roadmap

Phase 1: Quick Wins (0-3 months)

Priority: Critical | Investment: €180k

• Azure Privileged Identity Management implementation
• Microsoft Purview deployment for data classification
• Critical alert configuration in Splunk
• Executive cybersecurity awareness training

Phase 2: Foundation Building (3-9 months)

Priority: High | Investment: €420k

• CyberArk PAM solution rollout
• Microsoft Defender ATP implementation
• Third-party risk assessment program
• Security configuration baselines deployment

Phase 3: Advanced Capabilities (9-18 months)

Priority: Medium | Investment: €680k

• SOAR platform implementation (Phantom)
• Advanced threat hunting capabilities
• Zero Trust architecture pilot
• Continuous compliance monitoring

Metrics and KPIs

Implemented Progress Indicators

Compliance Score: Executive dashboard with real-time metrics

compliance_score = (
    (controls_implemented / total_applicable_controls) * 0.6 +
    (risk_reduction_percentage) * 0.3 +
    (audit_readiness_score) * 0.1
)

Risk Velocity: Critical vulnerability remediation rate

• Target: <30 days for critical, <90 days for high
• Tracking: Automated reporting via PowerBI

Security Maturity Index: Capability evolution by category

• Baseline: Initial assessment scores
• Progress: Monthly re-evaluation of key controls

Investment ROI

Avoided Costs:

• Potential regulatory fine: €2.3M
• Downtime avoided through better IR: €890k/year
• Cyber insurance premium reduction: €120k/year

Quantifiable Benefits:

• Accelerated SOC 2 certification: 6 months vs. 12 months standard
• 67% reduction in SOC false positives
• 89% improvement in mean time to detection

Lessons Learned

Critical Success Factors

1. Executive Sponsorship: C-level commitment essential for organizational changes
2. Cross-functional Teams: Collaboration between IT, Legal, Risk and Business units
3. Phased Implementation: Avoid “big bang” approach, prioritize by risk and impact
4. Continuous Communication: Weekly stakeholder updates and transparent progress reporting

Overcome Challenges

Legacy System Integration: 23% of legacy systems without modern APIs

• Solution: Custom scripts and documented manual procedures

Resource Constraints: Limited cybersecurity team during implementation

• Solution: Hybrid model with specialized consultants and knowledge transfer

Change Management: Resistance to new security processes

• Solution: Training programs and incentive alignment

Awards and Certifications

SOC 2 Type II: Obtained 6 months after initial assessment ISO 27001: Preparation completed, audit scheduled Q2 2024 CMMC Level 3: Preparatory assessment completed

The NIST 800-53 assessment for TD SYNNEX established a new industry standard for large-scale assessments, demonstrating that it’s possible to combine technical rigor with business pragmatism to achieve exceptional results.