What Is an Information Security Management System?
An information security management system (ISMS) assists in protecting your organization’s data through both technological security measures and policies that establish guidelines for employees who handle sensitive data. This includes implementing cybersecurity best practices and conducting infosec-related training sessions and promoting a sense of responsibility for data security.
An ISMS also offers a framework that can be adapted to meet your specific business’s needs and regulations as well as being verified and audited to ensure compliance. ISO 27001 may be the most well-known ISMS standard, but other standards, like NIST for federal agencies, may be more suitable for your company’s needs.
Who Manages Information Security?
As opposed to being a strictly IT-focused 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 in line with security of information and that the necessary protocols are followed.
An ISMS requires a thorough risk assessment. This is best done with a tool such as vsRisk. It allows you to complete assessments quickly, present the results for easy prioritization and analysis, and ensure that the results are consistent year after year. An ISMS also helps to reduce costs by allowing you to prioritize assets that are most at risk and prevents the indiscriminate expenditure on defence technologies and cut time lost due to cybersecurity incidents. This translates to lower OPEX, and CAPEX.