Security procedures are a set of steps that implement and enable the standards laid out in an organization’s security policies. They help to prevent internal and external threats by reducing the risks of uncontrolled data access.
This step involves identifying third parties that have access to an organization’s systems or data and then selecting and assessing security and privacy controls accordingly.
1. Know Your Role
A security procedure is a step-by-step set of instructions that translates an information security control into a business process that people in an organization must follow according to their roles. For example, a badge system is a security procedure that ensures physical access to company property is restricted by requiring employees and visitors to swipe their credentials to gain entry.
Security procedures are often overlooked, but effective ones can be key in keeping cyber threats at bay. They can also give your staff and customers a sense of safety and trust that they might not otherwise feel.
To create the best security procedures, your team should work together to understand the issues impacting how people use your services or systems. For example, if it is common for people to find workarounds to your policies because they don’t fit their working needs, it’s time to reconsider your approach.
Remember that while security procedures may not change frequently, their tools must be updated regularly. This is because cyber threats are constantly evolving, and new tools and solutions are developed all the time. So, your staff must be aware of the latest cybersecurity products and updates.
A good way to ensure that your team knows their role is to facilitate cross-functional teams comprising people from all departments. This allows for an increase in institutional knowledge and helps to reinforce the fact that security is everyone’s responsibility. It also encourages people to talk openly about their ideas, which is crucial to the security process. This way, your security team can make the most informed decisions and be proactive against emerging threats.
2. Know Your Components
Security procedures help protect an organization from the damage that cyberattacks can cause. They also provide employees and clients with a sense of safety and confidence. For example, if an organization has policies in place that require workers to log out of their computers at the end of each workday, they can prevent someone from using stolen login credentials at other sites or services. These security measures are known as operational security (OPSEC).
Security policies and standards define the “what” and the “who.” However, the information security procedures clarify the “how.” These are step-by-step instructions that people will follow to implement policies. For instance, a procedure might instruct how to destroy different types of media to implement an information security policy.
When it comes to information security, the “how” is just as important as the “what.” The best way to master security procedures is to understand how they translate into business processes and assign tasks. For example, a project manager might decide to prioritize security risks based on threat level. This might result in fewer vulnerabilities to address and less risk to the company.
Another example is a cybersecurity process called “data protection by design.” It encourages managers to think about their operations from an adversary’s perspective. This makes it easier to detect malicious activity and improves the chance of detecting breaches before they occur.
3. Know Your Tools
When it comes to data security, having the right tools at your disposal is key. From detection and verification tools to enabling a Zero Trust policy, finding security solutions that integrate into your existing infrastructure will save time and effort while helping you thwart threats.
With the rise of cybersecurity attacks, protecting data in usage and storage remains a top priority for many organizations. However, tackling such an immense task can be challenging without the help of specialists. As a result, many organizations are opting for cybersecurity as a service model that allows them to delegate these crucial tasks to third parties.
While “I have nothing to hide” was once a common response to surveillance programs, border checks, and questioning by law enforcement, the truth is that protecting our informational assets 24/7 remains job one. To do that, keeping up with the latest security-focused strategies and tools is important. This includes utilizing Operational Security (OPSEC), a risk management process that encourages managers to view operations from an adversary’s perspective in order to protect information from falling into the wrong hands.
4. Know Your Goals
Defining your goals can seem overwhelming, but the task is much more manageable once you break it down into 3-5 steps. First, you need to account for your assets – people and systems – and their current security level. This is unique to each organization and requires a thorough risk assessment, vulnerability testing, and closing of any gaps.
It is also good to consult your compliance officer and read the company’s risk analysis and security management plan. This will help you understand the risks that affect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and how secure behaviors could mitigate those risks.
5. Know Your Mistakes
Data security is essential to modern business. Discover five crucial steps to mastering security procedures and keeping your informational assets safe from cyber threats.
Mistakes are the map to mastery – every goof-up is a step towards proficiency. It is important to recognize and reflect on mistakes made in order to minimize their impact. Punishing a mistake for its consequences is not the prime motive; instead, focus on identifying what led to that outcome and how the situation could be avoided. This is one of the best ways to learn from mistakes and improve data security.