INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT

It is important to involve key stakeholders, including IT teams, security professionals, legal and compliance teams and business leaders during the risk identification process. Their insights and expertise can help identify risks specific to the organisation's industry, operations and technology environment.

Identify potential weaknesses that could exploit vulnerabilities in the assets. This includes external weaknesses which have an influence on the information security performance, as well as internal weaknesses.

Identify potential threats that could exploit vulnerabilities in the assets. This includes external threats like hackers, malware and social engineering, as well as internal threats like unauthorised access or human error.

After identifying potential threats, evaluate the impact they have on your business and relevant stakeholders.

For successful Information Security Management, it is required to develop and implement Information Security Policies and Controls. As we are in an ever-changing environment, you need to do iterations of risk analysis, defining measures, implementing them and checking the effectiveness of the implemented measures by doing a risk analysis. Employee Training and Awareness Programs are also crucial to minimise risks. Lastly, regularly monitoring, assessments and improvements are needed to maintain information security for your business.

How to get the ISO/IEC 27001 certification, the leading international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

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Learn more about the Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX) for information security in the automotive industry.

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Get more insights about the ISO/IEC 20000-1, the leading international IT service management system standard.

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How to minimise risk and inspire trust with CSA STAR certification.

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Assists organisations to comply with privacy laws around the world.

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Builds effective controls to mitigate risks in cloud-based environment.

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Assists organisations to comply with regulatory requirements on PII.

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Builds resilient organisation by creating effective backup systems and processes against possible disruptions.

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TÜV SÜD supported the Singapore Fintech Company Cube Pay through the process of certification for their IT Infrastructure to prepare them against cyber security threats.

Voith Digital Solutions, a global provider of IT Consulting & IT Services, was seeking to demonstrate its commitment to the highest security level for customer data by getting an ISO/IEC 27001 certification from TÜV SÜD.

Through the jungle of norms, standards and processes: TÜV SÜD managed the process of information security certification for Honda Motorcycles & Scooters India.

Information security refers to the practice of protecting information from unauthorised access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. It involves the implementation of various measures to ensure the Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA) of data and information systems.

This includes:

• personal data
• financial information
• intellectual property
• trade secrets
• other valuable or confidential data

Information security aims to maintain the privacy of individuals, safeguard organisational assets and preserve the trustworthiness of systems and data.

It is a continuous process that requires ongoing monitoring, updating and improvement to adapt to evolving threats and vulnerabilities. Organisations need to carry out a combination of technical controls, policies, procedures and employee awareness to establish a robust information security risk profile and risk appetite.

Information security and cybersecurity are closely related but have slightly different scopes. While information security encompasses the protection of all forms of information, including physical and analog data, cybersecurity specifically focuses on securing digital information and systems from cyber threats.

Both are essential components of a comprehensive security strategy for organisations. However, Information security has a broader scope in comparison to cyber security.

Information Security not only includes digital information, but also physical documents, personnel and other assets related to information management.

Cybersecurity deals with protecting information and systems from cyberattacks, which are malicious activities carried out over digital networks or computer systems. Therefore, cybersecurity involves protection of computers, servers, networks and electronic data from unauthorised access, damage, theft, or disruption caused by cybercriminals, hackers, or other malicious actors.

Information security certification is not mandatory for all organisations, but it can provide significant benefits.

Organisations can use a cyber security certificate to provide proof that a product or a service is compliant with a set of defined security requirements. An independent cyber security audit provides evidence of Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA) and helps organisations demonstrate their commitment to security best practices.

Whether certification is necessary for an organisation depends on several factors, including industry requirements, regulatory compliance, customer expectations and the organisation's specific goals and risk tolerance.

The recertification process for information security involves re-evaluation & compliance assessment of individuals, systems, or processes with established security standards, policies and controls.

It is a periodic review conducted to ensure that security measures remain effective and that the organisation's information assets are adequately protected.

Our expert staff can provide more comprehensive information on certification and recertifications in information security.

An information security policy is a set of policies, regulations, rules and practices.

It provides a framework for establishing consistent security practices, mitigating risks, distributing information and protecting the organisation's valuable assets.

The information security policy therefore serves as guideline for employees and stakeholders to understand their responsibilities and obligations regarding information security.

The responsibility for information security is distributed among multiple stakeholders within an organisation.

The exact roles and responsibilities can differ depending on the organisation's size, structure and industry.

Here is an overview of stakeholders who are involved in information security.

• Senior Management: Senior executives, including the CEO, CIO/ CISO, have a critical role in establishing the organisation's information security strategy, providing leadership and setting the overall direction for information security initiatives. They are responsible for allocating resources and ensuring that information security is integrated into the organisation's overall business strategy.

• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): The CISO is responsible for overseeing the organisation's information security program. They develop and implement security policies, standards and procedures, ensure compliance with applicable regulations and standards, manage security incidents and provide guidance on security best practices. The CISO collaborates with other departments and stakeholders to ensure the organisation's information assets are protected.

• IT Department: The IT department plays a key role in implementing and maintaining technical security controls and measures. This includes managing networks, systems, and infrastructure, applying security patches and updates, implementing access controls, monitoring and responding to security incidents, and conducting vulnerability assessments. IT personnel are responsible for ensuring the day-to-day security of technology resources.
• Employees: Every employee within an organisation has a responsibility to contribute to information security. This includes following security policies and procedures, adhering to best practices, using secure passwords, being vigilant about phishing attempts and reporting security incidents or concerns. Security awareness training and education programs are often provided to employees to promote a culture of security.
• Third-party Vendors and Partners: If the organisation engages third-party vendors or partners who have access to its systems or data, there is a shared responsibility to ensure the security of the shared information. Clear contractual agreements and security requirements should be established and regular assessments should be conducted to ensure compliance with security standards.
• Many others...

The three main objectives of information security, are:

• Confidentiality: Confidentiality means that only authorised persons, facilities, or systems have access to the information. It aims to protect sensitive or classified information from unauthorised disclosure or access.
• Integrity: Integrity ensures that information remains accurate, complete and unaltered. It focuses on preventing unauthorised modification, deletion, or destruction of data. Maintaining data integrity is crucial to ensure the reliability and trustworthiness of information.
• Availability: Availability guarantees the accessibility and usability of information when requested by authorised users. This objective is concerned with preventing or minimising disruptions or outages that could impact the availability of information or systems.

They are also often referred to as the CIA triangle.

These three pillars work together to establish a comprehensive framework for protecting information and supporting the organisation's operations. Organisations need to prioritise amongst the 3 pillars according to the nature of their business/processes at hand and risk appetite. By achieving confidentiality, integrity and availability, organizations can safeguard their information assets, maintain trust with stakeholders, comply with regulatory requirements and mitigate the risks associated with unauthorized access, data manipulation, or service disruptions.

The information security program lifecycle typically consists of several key steps that organisations follow to establish, implement and maintain an effective information security program.

These are the following steps:

• Step 1: Risk assessment
• Step 2: Identification of weaknesses
• Step 3: Identification of threats
• Step 4: Threat assessment
• Step 5: Take action - Information Security Management

The information security program lifecycle is iterative, meaning that steps are repeated and refined over time to adapt to evolving risks and technologies. The lifecycle ensures that security measures are continually assessed, implemented, monitored and improved to maintain an effective information security posture within the organisation.