INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY

ISP000-00:  INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY

ISO27002/17799 (2005): 5.1 Information security policy. Objective:  To provide management direction and support for information security in accordance with business requirements and relevant laws and regulations. Management should set a clear policy direction in line with business objectives and demonstrate support for, and commitment to, information security through the issue and maintenance of an information security policy across the organization.  

The Security Policy is intended to define what is expected of an organization with respect to Information Security.  The overall objective is to control or guide human behavior in an attempt to reduce the risk to information assets by accidental or deliberate actions.  This policy - as well as all policies, standards, and guidelines in this web site - is designed to help you understand the company's expectations for access to and use of information assets owned, operated, or provided by the company.
As-of-date:  24 April 2008
isp000-01 Scope
This policy applies to all company operating units and entities with direct, indirect, or implied access to information assets owned by or entrusted to the company.
isp000-10 Responsibility
isp000-11
Business Unit Manager
  • The identification and protection of information assets within their sphere of influence
  • Insure employee awareness of this policy and supporting procedures, guidelines, and standards
  • Review and reinforce compliance with established security controls

isp000-12 Information Security Manager

  • Oversee the protection of company assets
  • Develop and implement security policies and standards
  • Serve as consultant and assist management in all matters relating to information security for the protection of company assets
  • Ensure that system, network, and application security requirements are in compliance with this policy

Note:  In the absence of an Information Security Professional, some of these duties should be divided between systems, operations, and business management.

isp000-20 Requirements
All employees are responsible for becoming familiar and compliant with this policy and related standards, guidelines, and procedures.  Additionally, internal audit personnel are responsible for reporting any known or observed deficiencies in this policy's control mechanisms.  Such deficiencies must be documented and reported to the cognizant supervisor, manager, or other officer of the company for improvement.

isp000-30 POLICY/STANDARD
Information Assets are vital company resources that require protection commensurate with their value.  Mechanisms shall be in place to protect these assets from accidental or deliberate modification, destruction, unauthorized disclosure, or other malfeasance to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability.             

ISO 17799 Section 5.1.1 Information security policy document
A policy document should be approved by management, published and communicated, as appropriate, to all employees. It should state management commitment and set out the organization’s approach to managing information security.  This policy should be communicated throughout the organization to users in a form that is relevant, accessible and understandable to the intended reader.

isp000-40 Compliance
This policy - and all pertinent standards, guidelines, and procedures that reinforce this policy - shall serve as criteria to be employed by management for compliance review processes.
        

ISO 17799 Section 5.1.2 Review and evaluation
The policy should have an owner who is responsible for its maintenance and review according to a de fined review process. That process should ensure that a review takes place in response to any changes affecting the basis of the original risk assessment, e.g. significant security incidents, new vulnerabilities or changes to the organizational or technical infrastructure.  There should also be scheduled, periodic reviews of the following:

a) the policy’s effectiveness, demonstrated by the nature, number and impact of recorded security incidents;
b) cost and impact of controls on business efficiency;
c) effects of changes to technology.

isp000-50 Enforcement
A breach of standards, procedures, and/or guidelines established in support of this policy shall be directed to the appropriate manager for action that could result in employee termination and/or legal action.
isp000-60 Special Conditions or Exceptions
isp000-70 Additional Statements or Comments
Note:  The terms asset, resource, system, application, and network used in this policy should be broadly interpreted.  Systems and assets may include computers, networks, software, peripherals, and applications.  At a minimum, the Information Security Policies (ISP) in this product meet the following ISO 17799 Standards:

ISO 17799 Applicable Security Controls (ISO 2005)
15.1.4 Data protection and privacy of personal information 
15.1.3 Protection of organizational records 
15.1.2 Intellectual property rights 
5.1 Information security policy document 
6.1.3 Allocation of information security responsibilities
8.2.2 Information security awareness, education, and training 
13.1.1 Reporting security incidents 
14.1 Information Security Aspect of Business Continuity Management