Information security management systems (ISMS) help safeguard the personal data of your business by providing both technical safeguards and policies which set guidelines for employees who handle sensitive data. This includes implementing best practices for cybersecurity as well as conducting training sessions on infosec and encouraging a culture of responsibility for data security.
An ISMS also provides a framework that could be customized to your specific organisation’s needs and industry regulations and is audited and certified for compliance. ISO 27001 is the best-known standard for ISMS, but there are other standards that could be more suitable for your particular industry and business such as the NIST framework for federal agencies.
Who is responsible for Information Security?
As opposed to being an IT-only initiative, ISMS involves a wide variety of departments and staff that include the C-suite, sales and marketing, and customer service. This ensures that everyone is aware with regards to information security and the appropriate protocols are in place.
An ISMS requires an extensive risk assessment. This can be done with a tool such as vsRisk, which enables you to conduct assessments quickly, present the results for simple analysis and prioritization and maintain consistency every year. An ISMS can also help reduce costs since it lets you prioritize the assets that are most at risk. This will prevent you from spending on defense technologies in a haphazard manner and also reduces the time it takes to shut down because of cybersecurity incidents. This results in lower OPEX and CAPEX.