What Is an Information Security Management System?
Information security management systems (ISMS) aid in protecting the data of your organisation by providing both technical safeguards and policies that provide guidelines for employees handling sensitive data. This involves implementing cybersecurity practices in the form of infosec training sessions as well as promoting an environment that is accountable for protecting data.
An ISMS also provides a framework that could be adapted to meet your specific business’s needs and regulations and is certified and audited for compliance. ISO 27001 is the best-known standard for ISMS however there are other standards that could be more suitable for your particular industry and business like the NIST framework for federal agencies.
Who Manages Information Security?
Instead of being a solely IT-based initiative, ISMS involves a wide variety of departments and staff that include the C-suite, human resources, marketing and sales, and customer service. This ensures that everyone is on the same page in regards to security of information and that all necessary procedures are followed.
An ISMS requires an extensive risk assessment. This is best done with a tool such as vsRisk, which allows you to complete assessments quickly and then present the results for easy prioritization and analysis, and ensure consistency every year. An ISMS can also help reduce costs since it lets you prioritize your highest-risk assets. This will prevent you from spending indiscriminately on defence technologies and also reduces the time it takes to shut down caused by cybersecurity incidents. This translates to lower OPEX and CAPEX.