What Is An IT Security Policy?

Essentials to Know Regarding an IT Security Policy

Centerpoint IT consultants can lead the process of formulating an IT security policy that meshes with your company’s culture, standards and obligations. Contact us today to discuss your IT security policy needs and any other IT infrastructure needs.  

IT Security Policies For Atlanta Organizations

An IT security policy documents the procedures and rules for anyone using your company’s IT resources. This policy should reflect your organization’s culture, driven by how employees approach their work. Effective IT policies are unique to each organization. Be sure to include risk tolerance, an official perspective on your sensitive data, and how information is stored. Even if you start with a boilerplate IT security policy, make sure the final version accurately reflects the acceptable practices at your company.

“Small businesses usually ignore this important aspect of business until something terrible happens. Setting up security guidelines and having a policy should be something every business should think about right from the beginning; otherwise, you can become an easy target for intruders,” according to Entrepreneur.

What Is Included in an IT Security Policy?

The IT security policy for your organization preserves the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information systems to your organization’s members.

This is known as the CIA:

• Confidentiality protects assets from unauthorized users and systems
• Integrity safeguards how assets are modified — in a specified, authorized way
• Availability ensures authorized users can continuously use the assets

An IT Security Policy is continuously changing as your organization evolves. The International Organization of Standardization (ISO) has an entire family of standards (27000) that can help you modify your policies. You can also refer to t U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines for security policies.

Why Is Security Policy Important?

A written IT security policy includes the boundaries of your company’s cybersecurity measures. It details how your IT partners protect you from threats. This detailed, formatted procedure clarifies the rules and expectations of using company assets. Additionally, it notes the consequences of misusing them.

If you are just beginning to write your information security values and principals, it’s essential to include a plan for distributing the completed policy that includes the consequences of not following the rules — which puts the whole organization at risk.

Because anyone who takes action when there’s an information risk faces a personal risk too, an effective IT security policy protects people as well as IT assets. It should let employees take action without reprisal.

What Are the Legal Requirements?

Check with your legal team to ensure that your IT security policy adheres to state and federal laws, such as those regarding data breaches, which have been adopted by most states. Find out more about the requirements in your state here. The California Consumer Privacy Act is the most comprehensive state law regarding data breaches and reviewing it may give you a holistic view of expectations to consider in your organization’s proactive IT security policy.

“Depending on your data holdings, jurisdiction and location, you may be required to conform to certain minimum standards to ensure the privacy and integrity of your data, especially if your company holds personal information. Having a viable security policy documented and in place is one way of mitigating any liabilities you might incur in the event of a security breach,” according to ComputerWorld.

How Can Centerpoint IT Help?

At Centerpoint IT, we believe that technology should always be evolving. It’s a full-time job to keep up with the regulations and standards that apply to your industry, and formulating an IT security policy takes time and commitment that your organization may not have the bandwidth to give. Centerpoint IT consultants can lead the process of formulating an IT security policy that meshes with your company’s culture, standards and obligations. Contact us today to discuss your IT security policy needs and any other IT infrastructure needs.