What is IT Security Policy?
An IT security policy is designed to provide guidelines and standards for accessing information and applications systems within an organization. As IT infrastructures become more complex and organizations have more resources, so has the need for better information security.
A written IT security policy facilitates communication of security procedures to users. It also makes them more aware about potential security threats and business risks. A written IT security policy helps to improve the performance of the organization’s IT security systems as well as the e-business systems they support.
All surveys regarding IT security tend to show similar trends.
An IT security breach can have a negative impact on an organization. A security breach can lead to many costs.
A policy on IT security helps to reduce the organisation’s legal exposure. This policy governs the behavior of employees. If an organisation wants to hold employees responsible for their actions, it is important to have a written IT security policy.
An IT security policy requires an organization to evaluate the return on investment. While developing an IT security strategy, the company will need to make intelligent business decisions about whether it is cost-effective to reduce or eliminate business risks.
IT Security Policy Development
A task force is needed to develop an IT security policy. The task force will need the following steps:
IT Security PolicyIT Security Policy Contents
The IT security policy should address security threats to information assets of the organisation in the following areas:
Simple password-only user identification schemes are not sufficient in some countries. Two-factor authentication is now the norm. It involves something you know (a pin or password) and something you have (smartcard with digital certificates).
Sections should be included in the IT security policy that address the following issues:
Implementing the IT Security Policy
Once the IT security policy has been written, it must be implemented within the organization. It must be communicated to all employees, contractors, and other personnel to ensure they understand the security policy.
The IT security policy will then have to be implemented. It will be implemented by IT and security personnel. They will be responsible for managing user accounts, passwords, group members, two-factor authentication devices like smartcards, digital certificates, and other relevant information.
New security threats are constantly emerging due to the rapid pace of technological advancement and the use of the Internet. It is therefore necessary to update the IT security policy on a regular basis.
IT Security Policy Summary
An IT security policy is a formal declaration of the rules employees and others must follow when using the IT infrastructure of an organisation. It is designed to establish procedures to protect the organisation’s information assets.
Below is a list of IT security policies that detail a variety of security procedures to minimize business risk.
isoiec-27001-information-security.html
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