Information security policy (PSI): how important it is and how to develop it in the company
To help you understand a little more about the subject, we have prepared this article with the most important points. Here you will understand the concept of this work, the types of information security, how to prepare a PSI, what is its importance for companies, in addition to some examples of information security. Good reading!
What is an information security policy (PSI)?
The information security policy, or PSI, is nothing more than the implementation of standards and guidelines that are used to protect data, information, resources and assets of a company. It is a document prepared by the company’s Information Technology area, with guidelines regarding the confidentiality of elements that, if exposed, could compromise the business as a whole.
These guidelines are presented to all company employees and act as a booklet of good practices that must be followed on a daily basis. After all, employees play a key role in this process, as it is through their actions that information will be handled in the work routine.
What is the purpose of PSI and what is it for?
One of the main objectives of an information security policy is to avoid any type of loss that could compromise the company, mainly financial. Despite this mentality being one of the premises of the IT area, employees from other sectors of the company may not be as careful with the use of data. Therefore, establishing norms so that this does not happen is essential.
In addition, this implementation manages to standardize some day-to-day procedures, whether to avoid problems in a simple financial transaction or in possible cyber crimes . Information security standards serve as a corporate policy to establish standards that ensure the prevention of problems.
What are the basic principles of information security policy?
To develop an information security policy, the professional must pay attention to three basic principles. They integrate the entire strategy behind the implementation and are essential for the process to work. Below we will discuss what they are and the role played by each of these criteria. Check out:
reliability
This criterion has the main objective of limiting the access of professionals to data and information considered sensitive within the company. In this case, it is necessary to develop an access policy that limits the functions of each user. With this, only essential people will be able to view some information. Sensitive data is considered, for example: biometric issues, racial, ethnic origin, among others.
Integrity
The logic behind this criterion concerns the changes that may eventually happen to the information. With this, it is necessary to limit the type of changes that the data manager can make, such as, for example, duplicate information or information that may invalidate the system. In many cases, only the owner of a piece of information can request or execute the change, thus guaranteeing the integrity of the data.
Availability
Investment in information security cannot, however, make it difficult to access materials. Above all, it is necessary to guarantee the proper functioning of the system, that is, to allow users — duly authorized — to be able to work in a practical way. Availability is as important a principle as the others, although it has to be carefully worked on.
Types of information security policy
Used to limit access by users or unauthorized persons, control tools are essential for information security. In this topic we will discuss the two ways used to further improve access management and increase, above all, data confidentiality. Check out:
logic controls
When we talk about logical controls, we are referring to everything that is used to increase the security of the data that are in the system. Unanimously, this form of control is directly linked to accesses that are on devices such as computers and cell phones. An example of logical control is the username and password you enter when entering your email, which is protected by data encryption .
When to use them?
Essentially, logic control must be used on a digital platform. The objective is to prevent the user from having their data invaded and suffering consequences, such as exposure of personal or banking information or any other type of threat. In addition to the example of the e-mail that we gave earlier, we can mention as logical control: antivirus, firewalls, passwords in general and data encryption.
physical controls
With regard to physical controls, it is everything that manages people’s access to a certain space. They are responsible for limiting the entry and exit of those who circulate through a specific area. This limitation can occur in several ways. We can cite as an example an authorization badge for opening a door, or a tag on a car to enter a parking lot.
When to use them?
Most of the time, physical control is directly linked to asset security. That is, it works as a barrier process to identify who is or is not authorized to pass through a location. Despite this, the IT area is still able to use it even in logical controls, adding another security step in certain systems.
How to make an information security policy
Here we will explain how to make an information security policy. There are three basic steps that must be observed in any beginning of a project. It is worth noting that they all need to be performed in conjunction with the basic principles we explored earlier in the text. Check out these steps below:
Planning
In the planning part, it is essential that the professional understands the needs of the company. It is necessary to identify the main points of vulnerability and what may (or may not) become a threat to the protection of information. Also, think about different levels of access and set up different categories to separate them. Finally, the sensitivity rating is another item to keep an eye on at this step.
Implementation
Having defined the plan and elaborated the policy, now it’s time to implement it in the company. Start with good internal communication informing employees of this news. In addition, do training that can explain and remove all doubts from employees. Here, an important tip is to remember that not all people are familiar with the topic, so try to be as didactic as possible.
Monitoring
After disclosing and training all the teams that need to be involved, it’s time to monitor them. The management of this work is super important, as it ensures that everything that was thought of is being implemented in practice. It doesn’t hurt to remember that this project never ends. After all, to know if everything is within the norms, it is necessary to inspect and correct any flaws.
How important is the information security policy?
As we said, implementing an information security policy is essential to protect company data. This avoids exposing information that could cause financial and image damage to the corporation. In addition, it is a way of ensuring that both customers, employees and suppliers are secure in relation to the data they share in the company’s daily routine.
How does PSI relate to LGPD Compliance?
The information security policy is directly related to both compliance and LGPD (General Data Protection Law). After all, it is important to follow the norms established in legal terms, whether in the preparation of contracts, in the transparency of information and in the security of customer data. Therefore, PSI must ensure that all these guidelines are adhered to and handled correctly.
Tips on how to implement a good information security policy
To help, here are some tips on how to implement the information security policy in your company. Check out:
- Understand the needs of your company;
- Involve all areas that deal with data in the company;
- Set up a plan and validate it with the teams;
- Look for software that can help with implementation and management;
- Set clear standards;
- Seek to implement less bureaucratic processes;
- Have a password policy;
- Implement an audit routine;
- Use modern security technologies such as encryption;
- Train the teams;
- Clearly establish penalties for non-compliance;
- Form a committee with periodic meetings for route corrections;