When you're planning a cybersecurity plan for your organization, you may want to think about your information security objectives. Listed below are a few topics to consider: Data integrity, Re-use, and Cost models. Each of these goals is essential to the success of your security program. Defining each objective will help you determine how to measure your organization's progress. Regardless of your business size, you should have some kind of plan in place to determine how to best achieve each of them.
Business continuity planning
A business continuity plan can prevent interruptions from causing a significant loss to an organization, while disaster recovery plans are used to recover from such disruptions. During a disaster, these plans will ensure that the organization can continue operations until it regains all services and assets. These plans should include risk assessment, risk management, oversight, and planning. To develop a business continuity plan, an organization must initiate a planning project. Business impact analysis (BIA) is a critical first step in collecting information for a disaster plan. This analysis reveals weaknesses in the business and the impact of a disaster on various departments. Using a BIA report, the organization can determine which functions and systems are most vital to the operation of the business.
Data integrity
While most people think only of confidentiality and privacy, these two are closely connected. Data integrity is an important goal of information security, as it ensures that data isn't altered, degraded, or changed without the sender's permission. Improper processing of information, hardware failure, and human error are all ways that data can become compromised. Therefore, it's important for organizations to have a recovery plan for their data, and this often falls under the control of the security department.
Re-use
Re-use of information security objectives (RIS) is a way to meet the requirements of TC$EC, or Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria. These objectives are designed to ensure the proper allocation of system resources and the proper reassignment of storage media. These objectives are not the same as implementing all information security measures, however. Re-use of information security objectives must be based on the highest level of assurance.
Cost models
While cost models for information security are still evolving, some assumptions have been confirmed. Many security consulting firms place an emphasis on operational costs and potential events, understating other important security objectives. Security costs are a combination of planned expenses and risks associated with security incidents. Several types of security objectives can be accounted for, including the reduction of security incidents, maintaining reputation, and reducing litigation. To determine which security objectives are most important for your organization, create a cost model that includes all relevant security objectives.
Timeframes for implementation
There is a balance between risk and investment when it comes to implementing information security objectives. Each objective can be addressed in a different way. The first step in determining the best security plan for your organization is to define the business objectives you are trying to meet. Then, you can identify the business goals and how these goals impact your security capabilities. This process can also help you define your security objectives. Then, you can define the various initiatives that will be required to reach them.
