Information security policies are high-level statements or rules that define the goals and objectives of information security in an organization, and provide the framework and direction for implementing and enforcing security controls and processes1. Information security policies should be aligned with the organization’s business goals and objectives, and reflect the organization’s risk appetite and tolerance2. Therefore, the most helpful activity for determining which information security policies should be implemented by an organization is a risk assessment.
A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the risks that an organization faces, and determining the appropriate risk responses3. A risk assessment helps to determine the following aspects of information security policies:
The scope and applicability of the policies, based on the assets, threats, and vulnerabilities that affect the organization’s security objectives and requirements.
The level and type of security controls and processes that are needed to mitigate the risks, based on the likelihood and impact of the risk scenarios and the cost-benefit analysis of the risk responses.
The roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders involved in the implementation and enforcement of the policies, based on the risk ownership and accountability.
The metrics and indicators that are used to measure and monitor the effectiveness and compliance of the policies, based on the risk appetite and tolerance.
The other options, such as a business impact analysis (BIA), a vulnerability assessment, or industry best practices, are not as helpful as a risk assessment for determining which information security policies should be implemented by an organization, because they have the following limitations:
A business impact analysis (BIA) is a process of identifying and evaluating the potential effects of disruptions or incidents on the organization’s critical business functions and processes, and determining the recovery priorities and objectives. A BIA can help to support the risk assessment by providing information on the impact and criticality of the assets and processes, but it cannot identify or analyze the threats and vulnerabilities that pose risks to the organization, or determine the appropriate risk responses or controls.
A vulnerability assessment is a process of identifying and measuring the weaknesses or flaws in the organization’s systems, networks, or applications that could be exploited by threat actors. A vulnerability assessment can help to support the risk assessment by providing information on the vulnerabilities and exposures that affect the organization’s security posture, but it cannot identify or analyze the threats or likelihood that could exploit the vulnerabilities, or determine the appropriate risk responses or controls.
Industry best practices are the standards or guidelines that are widely accepted and followed by the information security community or the organization’s industry sector, based on the experience and knowledge of the experts and practitioners. Industry best practices can help to inform and guide the development and implementation of information security policies, but they cannot replace or substitute the risk assessment, as they may not reflect the organization’s specific context, needs, and objectives, or address the organization’s unique risks and challenges.
References = 1: CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 29 2: CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 30 3: CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 121 : CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 122 : CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 123 : CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 124 : CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 125 : CISM Review Manual 15th Edition, page 126
