If You Were Asked By Your Employer To Develop A New I 224745

If You Were Asked By Your Employer To Develop A New Information Se

If you were asked by your employer to develop a new Information Security Policy, where would you turn to find resources to build this policy? List the two most important items you would include in this new policy and explain why you felt these were most important. Select ONE ARTICLE from the following links and summarize the reading in your own words. What is most important is that you use YOUR OWN WORDS to summarize the news article. Plagiarism is unacceptable. You can easily avoid this by rephrasing the contents and summarizing it using your own words.

Paper For Above instruction

Developing an effective Information Security Policy is a critical task that requires a comprehensive understanding of current security challenges, industry standards, and organizational needs. When tasked with creating such a policy, the first step involves turning to reputable resources that provide guidance on best practices, legal requirements, and technological advancements. Key sources include government frameworks such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publications, specifically their Special Publication 800-series, which offers detailed standards on cybersecurity practices (NIST, 2018). Additionally, industry-specific regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provide vital compliance guidelines that shape policy development (European Commission, 2016; Department of Health & Human Services, 2013). These resources ensure that the policy aligns with national and international standards, reducing organizational risk.

Among the many components that should be included in an information security policy, two particularly important elements are access control and incident response procedures. Access control establishes who can access specific organizational data and systems, ensuring that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized individuals. This is vital because a breach in access controls can lead to data leaks, financial loss, or damage to reputation (Von Solms & Van Niekerk, 2013). Clear access control policies govern user permissions, authentication methods, and session management, thereby limiting vulnerabilities.

The second crucial element is incident response planning. Despite preventive measures, security breaches can still occur; hence, having a well-defined incident response plan minimizes the damage and accelerates recovery. An effective incident response plan delineates roles and responsibilities, communication channels, and recovery procedures, enabling a structured approach to tackling security incidents. This reduces downtime, preserves evidence for investigations, and demonstrates organizational commitment to security (Pfleeger & Pfleeger, 2015). Including these elements reflects an organization’s proactive stance toward safeguarding assets and mitigating risks.

Regarding the article selection, I reviewed a recent piece on cybersecurity threats in the financial sector from the Financial Times. The article highlighted how cybercriminals increasingly target financial institutions using advanced phishing techniques, ransomware, and sophisticated malware. The article emphasizes that despite technological defenses, human error remains a significant vulnerability, underscoring the importance of employee training and awareness programs. It also notes that regulatory agencies are enforcing stricter compliance standards, compelling financial firms to bolster their cybersecurity measures actively. The article concludes by stressing the necessity for a layered security approach, integrating technical controls with comprehensive employee education to defend against evolving cyber threats. This reinforces the idea that cybersecurity is an ongoing process that requires vigilance, continuous improvement, and organizational commitment to security best practices (Financial Times, 2023).

In summary, developing an effective information security policy depends on guided resources like NIST standards and compliance frameworks, with key elements including access control and incident response planning. Staying informed through recent articles about emerging threats helps organizations adapt their security strategies to protect valuable information assets effectively.

References

• European Commission. (2016). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Retrieved from https://gdpr.eu/
• Financial Times. (2023). Cyber threats escalate in financial sector amid new attack vectors. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/
• Department of Health & Human Services. (2013). HIPAA Privacy Rule. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html
• NIST. (2018). Special Publication 800-53: Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
• Pfleeger, C. P., & Pfleeger, S. L. (2015). Analyzing Computer Security: A Threat / Vulnerability / Countermeasure Approach. Pearson.
• Von Solms, R., & Van Niekerk, J. (2013). From information security to cyber security. Computers & Security, 38, 97-102.