Information security management systems (ISMS) assist in protecting the data of your organisation by providing both technical security and policies that provide guidelines for employees who handle sensitive data. This includes implementing cybersecurity procedures in the form of infosec training sessions and promoting an environment where employees are accountable for protecting data.
An ISMS also provides a framework that can be adapted to meet your specific company’s requirements and the regulations of your industry and also be verified and audited to ensure compliance. ISO 27001 may be the most well-known ISMS standard but other standards, such as NIST for federal agencies, might be more suitable to your business.
Who is responsible for Information Security?
ISMS is not just an IT initiative. It encompasses a broad spectrum of departments, staff and offices, such as the C-suite and human resources and marketing and sales, as well as customer service. This ensures that everyone is on the same page when it comes to regards to information security, and that all protocols are in place.
An ISMS requires a thorough risk assessment. This is best completed using a tool like vsRisk. It allows you to conduct assessments quickly and present the results for simple analysis and prioritization and ensure consistency every year. An ISMS can also help in reducing costs by allowing you to prioritize the assets with the highest risk and prevents the indiscriminate expenditure on defence technology and cuts down on downtime triggered by cybersecurity incidents. This results in lower OPEX, and CAPEX.