Why you need a security program and how to get started…
Would you remodel your kitchen without a plan? No.
Would you spending your limited resources without direction or planning hoping that somehow you will get your dream kitchen? No.
Yet over 65% of small, medium, and large organizations undertake security initiatives without a security program. Organizations are haphazardly implementing security practices in the hope that the practices will be adequate to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their riskiest assets - client and customer information. While there is no perfect security, information cannot be adequately safeguarded until organizations effectively and fully develop and implement an information security program. Not having one could be detrimental to the organization - wasted resources, fines and penalties, security breaches.
A security program serves as a GPS for assessing and managing information security within the organization. This is a living document with strategies that include retaining the right resources, streamlining current processes, and implementing necessary technology.
Three main elements of a good security program:
Vision: Supported by senior leadership with a clear vision and understanding.
Skills and Resources: Employs adequate internal and external resources with experience in information security governance and risk management to help develop and grow a sustainable strategy.
Action Plan: Contains an action plan that includes:
Risk analysis - establishes which data and systems have the greatest potential for damage that affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability;
Scope boundaries - defines the systems and data boundaries including data shared with external parties;
Policies - sets the tone and guides desired behavior;
Procedures - documents execution steps to ensure consistency, enable training of your growing staff, meet compliance requirements;
Continuous monitoring - monitors controls and practices to ensure they produce the desired outcome;
Independent assessments and evaluations - provides an objective view of the status of the program;
Corrective action plans - guides prioritization and implementation of remedial actions as appropriate; and
Incident management plans - prepares the organization to respond and recover from security incidents and breaches.
Getting it right:
There is no one-size-fits-all security program. What matters is that you have a security program that helps you maintain your focus on security, meet your regulatory and contractual obligations, and adopts to an ever-changing IT environment.
Not sure how to get started? NIST Cybersecurity Framework, COBIT Framework, ISO/IEC 27000:2018 and HITRUST CSF provide guidance to assist organizations establish and implement an information security program, or let Secliance help you design and implement a practical security program tailored to your organization.
Contact us at support@secliance.com or email me directly at stella.bridges@secliance.com.