
Establish a project plan to develop and approve the policy. Adapt existing security policies to maintain policy structure and format, and incorporate relevant components to address information security. Secure approval from senior management to develop the policy. Identify the business purpose for having a specific type of IT security policy. How to prepare a security policyįollow these steps when preparing a security policy: It's also common for users to have safety concerns about their data and systems, so it's advised to disseminate security policies to employees and clients to alleviate their concerns. Policies highlight areas within security that need assistance, while procedures explain how that security area will be addressed.ĭiscrepancies and weaknesses in policies are often brought up during audits, so it's best to prepare in advance. IT policies and procedures complement each other. Addresses how company assets, such as data centers, office buildings, parking garages and other physical facilities, are protected from unauthorized access. Defines the process for installing and managing patches for various systems, including security systems. Addresses how an organization will respond to an out-of-normal situation that affects security. Defines the security parameters for situations involving cloud-based technology, such as data storage and applications. Defines how an organization prepares and responds to malware, phishing, viruses, ransomware and other attacks. Defines how an organization protects its network perimeter from unauthorized access and the technologies used to minimize perimeter porosity. Defines how passwords are configured and managed. Governs how users are verified to access a system's resources. This policy is particularly important for audits.
Addresses how users are granted access to applications, data, databases and other IT resources.
Provides a holistic view of the organization's need for security and defines activities used within the security environment. Security policies come in several forms, including the following: Also included are two ready-to-use, customizable templates - one for general cybersecurity and one for perimeter security - to help guide IT teams through the policy drafting process. Below, learn about why policies are critical for security, the common types of cybersecurity policies, how to prepare an IT security policy and the components of a security policy.