In the context of information security and cybersecurity standards like NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and ISO 27001 (International Organization for Standardization), a policy is a formal document that outlines an organization's high-level principles, guidelines, and objectives related to the protection and management of information and information systems. These policies serve as a foundation for an organization's Information Security Management System (ISMS) and help ensure that information assets are handled securely and in compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
Here's how policies are typically defined and used in these standards:
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology):
NIST Special Publication 800-12, "An Introduction to Information Security," defines a security policy as "a set of laws, rules, and practices that regulate how an organization manages, protects, and distributes sensitive information."
NIST Special Publication 800-53, "Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations," describes security policies as foundational documents that provide the strategic direction for an organization's security program.
In NIST's cybersecurity framework (NIST CSF), policies are categorized under the "Govern" function, where they are used to define an organization's governance structure, objectives, and priorities.
ISO 27001 (International Organization for Standardization):
In the ISO/IEC 27001 standard, information security policies are a central component of an organization's ISMS. These policies are documented in line with Clause 5 (Leadership) and set the framework for the entire information security management system.
ISO 27001 requires organizations to define a policy for information security that outlines the organization's commitment to protecting its information assets, defines the scope of the ISMS, and assigns responsibilities for managing information security.
Overall, the purpose of these policies is to establish a strategic framework for information security and provide a high-level roadmap for how an organization intends to protect its sensitive information. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, setting objectives, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards. Policies are typically supported by more detailed procedures and guidelines that specify how to implement and maintain the security controls necessary to achieve the objectives set in the policies.
How to Write a policy :
Writing an effective information security policy, whether following NIST, ISO 27001, or other cybersecurity standards, involves careful planning and consideration of your organization's unique needs. Here's a general guide on how to write one:
Understand Your Organization:
Start by understanding your organization's structure, objectives, and the information assets it needs to protect. Identify key stakeholders, departments, and their roles in information security.
Gather Legal and Regulatory Requirements:
Identify relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards that pertain to your organization. Ensure your policy addresses compliance with these requirements.
Define the Scope:
Clearly specify the scope of the policy. What information assets are covered? Which departments or functions does it apply to? This defines the boundaries of your policy.
Set Objectives:
State the high-level objectives of your information security policy. What are you trying to achieve? Objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Identify Responsibilities:
Clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of individuals and departments responsible for implementing and maintaining the policy. This may include the Information Security Officer (ISO), data owners, and system administrators.
Define Key Principles:
Establish the fundamental principles and values that guide information security within your organization. These principles may include confidentiality, integrity, availability, accountability, and compliance.
Risk Assessment and Management:
Describe how the organization will assess and manage information security risks. This should include risk assessment methodologies and risk treatment strategies.
Access Control:
Specify how access to information assets should be controlled. Include details on user authentication, authorization, and accountability.
Data Classification:
Define a data classification scheme to categorize information based on its sensitivity. Specify how each classification level should be handled.
Incident Response:
Describe how the organization should respond to and report security incidents and breaches. Include procedures for incident identification, containment, eradication, and recovery.
Training and Awareness:
Explain how employees will be trained and made aware of their information security responsibilities.
Monitoring and Audit:
Detail how information security controls will be monitored and audited. Include procedures for regular security assessments and reviews.
Documentation and Record Keeping:
Specify requirements for maintaining records related to information security activities, including policies, procedures, incident reports, and risk assessments.
Review and Revision:
Establish a process for reviewing and updating the policy at regular intervals to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.
Approval and Communication:
Ensure that the policy is reviewed and approved by senior management. Once approved, communicate it to all relevant employees and stakeholders.
Implementation Support:
Provide guidance on how the policy should be implemented, including the creation of detailed procedures and guidelines.
Enforcement and Consequences:
Clearly state the consequences of policy violations and how they will be enforced, which may include disciplinary actions.
Document Your Policy:
Organize all of the above information into a well-structured and accessible document. Use clear language and make it easily understandable.
Seek Legal and Compliance Input:
Consult with legal and compliance experts to ensure your policy aligns with applicable laws and regulations.
Training and Awareness:
Train employees on the policy and create awareness campaigns to ensure its successful implementation.
Remember that an information security policy should be a living document that evolves as the threat landscape and organizational needs change. Regular reviews and updates are essential to maintaining its relevance and effectiveness.
Example
Please note that this is a simplified example, and in a real-world context, policies can be much more detailed and specific to an organization's needs:
[Your Organization's Name] Information Security Policy
1. Introduction:
This Information Security Policy establishes the principles and guidelines for safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our organization's information assets.
2. Objectives:
The primary objectives of this policy are to protect sensitive information, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain a secure computing environment.
3. Scope:
This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and third-party users who have access to our information assets. It covers all electronic and physical information, regardless of location.
4. Responsibilities:
Senior Management: Responsible for overall policy adherence.
Information Security Officer (ISO): Oversees implementation and compliance.
Data Owners: Responsible for data classification and access control.
System Administrators: Implement and manage security controls.
5. Key Principles:
Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, Accountability, and Compliance are fundamental principles of our information security approach.
6. Risk Assessment and Management:
Regular risk assessments will be conducted using the XYZ risk assessment methodology. Risks will be treated according to the organization's risk treatment strategy.
7. Access Control:
Access to information assets will be controlled through user authentication, authorization, and accountability mechanisms.
8. Data Classification:
Data will be classified as Public, Internal, Confidential, or Highly Confidential. Each classification level has associated protection measures.
9. Incident Response:
Procedures for incident identification, containment, eradication, and recovery are detailed in the Incident Response Plan.
10. Training and Awareness:
All employees will undergo mandatory security awareness training, and regular reminders will be issued to reinforce security practices.
11. Monitoring and Audit:
Security controls will be continuously monitored and subject to periodic audits and assessments to ensure effectiveness.
12. Documentation and Record Keeping:
Records related to information security activities will be maintained for a minimum of [X years], including policies, procedures, incident reports, and risk assessments.
13. Review and Revision:
This policy will be reviewed and updated at least annually or as needed to adapt to changing security threats and organizational needs.
14. Approval and Communication:
Senior management's approval is required for this policy. Once approved, it will be communicated to all employees and stakeholders via the company intranet and email.
15. Implementation Support:
Detailed procedures and guidelines for implementing this policy can be found in the XYZ Information Security Manual.
16. Enforcement and Consequences:
Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, as well as potential legal action.
This is a simplified example to illustrate the 20 parameters, and in practice, an information security policy would be more detailed and specific to the organization's needs. It should be customized to reflect the organization's industry, risk profile, and regulatory requirements.