It’s no secret that business landscapes in 2023 are one thing consistently: fast-evolving. Given the state of business evolution and the pace at which we see growth, information security, and continuity have never been a more pronounced priority for business owners and senior leadership. With continual cyber threats, stringent regulatory compliance requirements, and the criticality of business resilience being key considerations for C-level leadership and beyond, leaders across all industries must be equipped with the most essential information on information security and continuity best practices. In this blog, we give you context on why information security and continuity have become non-negotiable imperatives for modern entrepreneurs and organizations and exclusive access to our Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity.
The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity
The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity describes how the OCEG GRC Capability Model may be applied as you develop, implement, and continually improve an information security program to build its effectiveness, efficiency, agility, and resiliency.
The guide takes the guesswork out of developing, managing, and improving an information security program. In addition, for investors, underwriters, and other external stakeholders, the guide provides a tool to help evaluate information security programs and reward organizations that excel.
Download OCEG & Riskonnect’s Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity today: Sponsored by Riskonnect and created by OCEG, The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity presents the fundamental components of an information security program, outlines best practices, and provides a comprehensive list of references to leading global sources of guidance.
What is Information Security and Continuity?
Information security, or Infosec for short, is the toolbox and processes by which organizations keep their information secure. Information security is often discussed in conjunction with continuity, which refers to a business's ability to maintain its core daily functions during a crisis or other interruption. Events that can be considered a crisis or other interruption include cybersecurity incidents, pandemics and health crises, natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, national security threats, power outages, and infrastructure failures or other onsite accidents.
Why Information Security and Continuity Matter
Recognizing the contribution of information security to an organization's success and reputation and other protection efforts is important. Improving information security and resilience efforts has become urgent with the increasing magnitude and frequency of information security incidents.
The growing importance of information security has led regulators to publish additional guidance and new requirements, further expanding the already extensive regulatory ecosystem related to information security and continuity. National regulators consistently issue new regulations covering various topics, defining roles and responsibilities, and emphasizing incident event disclosure. Industry-specific regulatory efforts are also substantial, with more being developed, addressing sectors such as financial services, critical infrastructure, healthcare, and transportation.
Beyond regulatory compliance and corporate reputation protection, there is a growing recognition that information security is vital for the success and continuity of business operations, particularly during cyber-attacks, natural disasters, or system failures. Robust security controls minimize the impact of such incidents, reduce downtime, and enable quick recovery to resume normal operations. This contributes to overall business resilience planning and risk mitigation. Considering all these factors together, the criticality of implementing adequate information security and continuity capability has never been more apparent.
Download OCEG & Riskonnect’s Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity today: Sponsored by Riskonnect and created by OCEG, The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity presents the fundamental components of an information security program, outlines best practices, and provides a comprehensive list of references to leading global sources of guidance.
Why Information Security and Continuity, and Why Now?
To further break down the importance of information security and continuity, we’ve summarized the top 3 most compelling reasons for business professionals to prioritize information security and continuity. Information Security and Continuity is fundamentally important to businesses because of 3 main reasons:
- Cyber Threats: The prevalence of cyber threats is relentless, debilitating, and at an all-time high. The digital landscape has become a battleground where hackers, malware, and cybercriminals continuously seek to exploit vulnerabilities. A single successful cyberattack can wreak havoc, leading to data breaches, financial losses, reputation damage, and legal liabilities. Therefore, implementing a robust information security and continuity strategy has become a top priority. A strong understanding of information security and continuity paired with a comprehensive strategy ensures that sensitive data, proprietary information, and customer trust remain untarnished. Furthermore, continuity planning stands as a bulwark against the fallout of cyber incidents, reducing downtime and mitigating financial losses when the unexpected occurs.
- Evolving Regulatory Landscape: The regulatory landscape has never been more complex, with governments and regulatory bodies worldwide enacting stringent data protection and privacy regulations. In this environment, compliance is not optional; it's imperative. Business owners are keenly aware that failing to meet these regulatory requirements can lead to substantial fines and legal repercussions. Hence, maintaining strong information security practices and ensuring data continuity are not just best practices but also legal obligations, ensuring businesses stay on the right side of their customers and global regulatory bodies.
- Stakeholder Trust: In an age where trust and reputation are paramount, information security and continuity directly impact a company's resilience and standing with key stakeholders. Businesses are expected to be reliable and secure stewards of sensitive data. A data breach or other information security-related event can severely tarnish the resilience and reputation of companies.
Ultimately, developing a strong information security and continuity strategy is an investment made to protect against disruptions, strengthen trust with stakeholders, attract and retain customers, and foster B2B partnerships.
The Evolution of Information Security and Continuity
Information security has been critical to most large organizations for decades. Over the years, information security practices and technologies have continuously evolved. Information security was viewed as primarily important for certain industries and select public sector organizations, e.g., financial services, organizations managing and delivering critical infrastructure, and federal departments and agencies, particularly in the military and intelligence fields.
How Information Security Has Evolved
The risks associated with security incidents and operational disruptions have significantly increased in today’s interconnected environment. This trend is driven by growing connectivity and increased involvement of third-party organizations in delivering core business strategies. Consequently, the importance of information security and continuity has expanded to encompass organizations of all sizes, including small and medium-sized businesses.
The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the urgency for a well-thought-out and effectively implemented information security program.
Some of the drivers that have accelerated this need include:
- Tremendous demand for remote access capabilities to facilitate extensive work-from-home requirements
- Urgent and immediate changes to business models to deliver goods and services with minimal direct customer interaction
- The emergence of new services to support and operate in the post-COVID business environment
- It is important for risk professionals to recognize the universal significance of information security and continuity and to ensure the implementation of effective practices and resilient systems tailored to their organization’s specific needs. Management should continually improve its information security program and continuity capabilities. This will enable it to beer prevent, detect, and respond in an increasingly challenging business environment.
What are the Fundamental Objectives of Information Security and Continuity?
In the current corporate landscape, businesses acknowledge the necessity for more structured and all-encompassing information security initiatives. Whether they are in the process of launching new programs or reviewing existing ones, organizations are committed to harmonizing their aims and objectives with the complexities of ever-evolving business needs.
To guarantee the efficacy of the organization's security strategy, allocating resources to a range of information security capabilities is crucial. These encompass policies, standards, security services, and technical and administrative controls. That said, it’s important to recognize that there is no universally applicable information security and continuity solution. Every business is different, with diverse challenges to overcome and priorities to establish. Before developing an information security and continuity plan, ensure that you know the fundamental objectives of information security and continuity.
The fundamental objectives of information security and continuity are defined by The Ultimate Guide to Security and Continuity as follows:
- Ensuring that information security is integrated into essential business processes and ensuring its alignment with core activities
- Delivering value and meeting business requirements by enabling information security to contribute positively to the organization's goals and objectives
- Meeting statutory obligations, managing stakeholder expectations, and minimizing the risk of civil or criminal penalties
- Supporting business requirements and effectively managing cyber and other risks to safeguard critical assets and operations
- Analyzing and assessing emerging cyber threats to take informed and timely actions to mitigate risks
- Reducing costs, improving efficiency and effectiveness, and fostering a culture of continual improvement within the organization, finding the right balance between investments in capabilities and the operational costs to deliver these capabilities
- Treating information security risks consistently and efficiently to ensure comprehensive protection
- Prioritizing scarce resources by focusing on protecting the business services that would have the most significant impact in the event of a cyber incident
- Providing a positive influence on users' cybersecurity behavior, reducing the likelihood of cyber incidents, and minimizing their potential impact on the organization
- Enabling information security structures and processes that support operational resilience, ensuring the organization can effectively respond to and recover from security incidents
Download OCEG & Riskonnect’s Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity today: Sponsored by Riskonnect and created by OCEG, The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity presents the fundamental components of an information security program, outlines best practices, and provides a comprehensive list of references to leading global sources of guidance.
What are the Critical Success Factors of Information Security and Continuity?
Once you and your team understand the fundamental objective of developing an information security and continuity program, it’s important to outline the essential elements that underpin the success of information security and continuity.
The critical success factors of an information security and continuity program are defined by The Ultimate Guide to Security and Continuity as follows:
- Keeping up with the ever-evolving landscape and staying ahead of emerging threats rather than constantly addressing past challenges, which can be particularly challenging when a technical deficit exists, such as a significant backlog of work or outdated infrastructure
- The AI landscape is broad and rapidly impacting many organizations; determining the implications for your organization as well as the opportunities is recommended
- Cultivating an organizational culture that values and prioritizes effective security and continuity practices as part of its core mission
- Allocating sufficient resources to the information security program and continuity, both in terms of funding and personnel, ensuring an appropriate number of skilled individuals are involved
- Having engaged senior leadership who actively contributes to the program's success by providing support and guidance
- Establishing a long-term strategy that guides security investments and implementing relevant security services and controls
- Increasing focus on automation and technological solutions that offer 24x7 coverage and real-time protection
- Clarifying and satisfying business objectives in this area (e.g., ensuring that the business gains the value of information despite access and other controls that restrict its availability)
- Staying abreast of things, constantly looking for emerging risks and opportunities in/for your clients/business unit
- Dynamically responding to ever-changing information risks VUCA!], ideally being ahead of the game, e.g., by implementing good practice frameworks, providing the governance arrangements and leadership that facilitate appropriate changes
- Making the best use of available resources, in other words, constantly prioritizing efforts in the areas promising the greatest returns
What are the Biggest Challenges for Information Security and Continuity?
Now that you understand the fundamental objectives and key success factors of information security and continuity, you and your team must understand the hurdles associated with tackling information security and continuity in the modern business landscape.
The biggest challenges for information security and continuity are defined by The Ultimate Guide to Security and Continuity as follows:
- Limited Resources: Improving work practices and enhancing staff competence to meet the complex demands of today's security landscape
- Evolving Threat Landscape: The rapid evolution of cyber threats makes it challenging for CISOs and security teams to keep pace with emerging risks and vulnerabilities
- Sophisticated Aack Techniques: Cybercriminals are constantly innovating their attack techniques. CISOs and security teams must stay one step ahead to detect and mitigate these sophisticated attacks effectively
- Evolving Threat Landscape: Dealing with the significant operational issues, substantial financial costs, and severe impacts on reputation and brand that result from ransomware and other security incidents
- Regulatory and Customer Contractual Obligations: Managing the increased requirements imposed by regulatory bodies and other authorities
- Complexity of IT Infrastructure: Addressing the need for adequate risk and intelligence management, which requires organizations to be nimble and proactive in response to emerging issues and the identification of new good practices
- Regulatory and Customer Contractual Obligations: Adapting to various initiatives that directly or indirectly affect the organization, such as the U.S. Federal Government Cybersecurity Strategy, which sets higher standards for technology firms in delivering security software and entails other significant requirements
- Balancing Security and Usability: Involving the entire organization in protection and other security-related efforts
- Third-Party Risks: CISOs and security teams must diligently assess and manage third-party risks to maintain the integrity of their ecosystems
Information Security and Continuity Best Practices
The prioritization of Information Security and Continuity as a key business objective is unfolding on a global scale. Numerous effective practices and frameworks have emerged globally as the digital landscape has pressured organizations to enhance their security stance.
Some of the most notable best practices and frameworks for information security and continuity are defined by The Ultimate Guide to Security and Continuity as follows:
Global Frameworks and Best Practices
- NIST Risk Management Framework RMF and Cybersecurity Framework CSF: Developed by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, provide comprehensive processes for implementing cybersecurity controls and good practices across the globe.
- FAIR (Factor Analysis of Information Risk): The FAIR Institute's methodology offers a quantitative model for understanding, analyzing, and quantifying information risk in financial terms.
- ISO 27000 Series: This international standard, regularly updated by the International Organization for Standardization, defines structured, systematic approaches and offers guidelines for information security management.
- CIS Security Control Good Practice Guides: The Center for Internet Security regularly issues these guides to help organizations improve their security posture worldwide.
Regional Frameworks and Best Practices
European Union
- General Data Protection Regulation GDPR: A data protection and privacy regulation applicable to all EU (European Union) members and any entities dealing with EU citizens' data
- Network and Information Security NIS Directive: The first EU-wide law on cybersecurity, providing legal measures to boost overall cybersecurity in the EU
- EU Cybersecurity Act: This act introduces an EU-wide cybersecurity certification framework for digital products, services, and processes
- ENISA's Good Practice Guides: The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity ENISA offers several guides for threat landscapes, risk management, and incident reporting
- EU Digital Operational Resilience Act: A new regulation that goes into effect in 2025.
ASEAN
- ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy: This regional strategy aims to foster a peaceful, secure, resilient, and productive environment in ASEAN cyberspace.
United States
- OCTAVE (Operationally Critical Threat, Asset, and Vulnerability Evaluation): Developed by Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute, OCTAVE provides a comprehensive framework for identifying and managing information security risks.
China
- GB/T 222392008 Information security technology: This Chinese national standard provides baseline enterprise information security risk management requirements.
Saudi Arabia
- SAMA Cyber Security Framework: Published by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, this framework assists financial institutions in identifying and addressing their cybersecurity risks.
- UAE Information Assurance Regulation: Published by UAE and includes a mix of ISO 27001 and NIST requirements
Japan
- IPA/ISEC's Security Standards: The Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan, offers a variety of resources and standards relating to information security.
Indonesia
- Indonesia National Cyber and Crypto Agency BSSN: BSSN is the primary government agency in Indonesia responsible for managing and coordinating cybersecurity eorts.
Singapore
- Cybersecurity Act 2018: This act provides a legislative framework for the oversight and maintenance of national cybersecurity in Singapore.
- Technology Risk Management Guidelines: The Monetary Authority of Singapore provides these guidelines to promote sound practices and standards for managing technology risk.
United Kingdom
- Cyber Essentials Scheme: This government information assurance scheme encourages organizations to adopt good practices in information security.
Germany
- BSI ITGrundschutz: Published by Germany’s Federal Oice for Information Security BSI, ITGrundschutz oers a methodology for achieving an adequate and appropriate level of information security.
France
- ANSSI Guide for a healthy information system: The National Agency for the Security of Information Systems ANSSI in France provides this guide as Good practice for information systems security.
Australia
- ASD Essential Eight: The Australian Signals Directorate provides a set of cyber security good practices, known as the Essential Eight, which provides organizations with a baseline cybersecurity posture.
Brazil
- Digital Governance Policy PGD: Brazil’s PGD is a policy for managing and monitoring public administration, with the aim of the best use of information and communication technologies ICTs).
India
- Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011: These rules, outlined by the Indian government, set data protection requirements that businesses must follow.
Canada
- ITSG-33, IT Security Risk Management: A Lifecycle Approach: Published by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, this framework provides guidelines for managing information technology security risks.
A note from The Ultimate Guide to Security and Continuity: This extensive list of global and regional good practices and frameworks forms the foundation of effective information security today. Organizations should carefully consider the relevance and applicability of these resources, tailoring their implementation based on their unique needs and the specific regulatory environment in which they operate. Always remember that the availability and comprehensiveness of non-English resources may vary.
Integrating Information Security and Continuity into the Business
Modern business demands organizations implement a contemporary approach to information security and continuity. Curating a unique and functional information security and continuity plan is key to fulfilling business objectives. A functional information security and continuity program needs to be:
- Tailored to the organization’s specific needs
- Operational within the context of the business’s target market
- Comprehensive: Consider the strategic objectives across the organization at all levels
Implementing an Information Security and Continuity Plan
To implement an information security and continuity plan into the business successfully, team leaders must enact the following steps:
- Complete a baseline assessment
- Outline organizational scale and scope
- Consider current and upcoming portfolios, programs, and projects
- Define success factors
- Tailor strategies, roadmaps, and plans
- Complete the architecture and design
- Outline continuity and operational resilience efforts
- Consult OCEG’s checklist of other, often overlooked, business continuity considerations
Information Security and Continuity for Your Teams
To achieve effective information security and continuity, it's essential to assemble a comprehensive team. While leadership is pivotal, sustained success hinges on collaborative efforts across the organization. The Information Security team should encompass board members, operational executives, GRC professionals, and IT experts. This team can be structured into distinct areas of responsibility, further reinforced by enterprise service centers. Key considerations for setting up your information security and continuity team to succeed are defined by The Ultimate Guide to Security and Continuity as follows:
- Program Team Structure: The structure of an information security program team will vary depending on the organization's size, industry, and specific needs. When planning your team structure, consider Enterprise Security, Security Operations, Security Architecture and Design, and Information Risk Management (Security Risk and Compliance) as your key areas.
- The Digital Workforce: Managing a digital workforce in today’s world poses unique challenges for IT leaders. The workforce encompasses individuals from different generations, spanning recent graduates to seasoned professionals with decades of experience. To effectively manage the digital workforce, IT leaders need to understand the specific issues related to each generation and implement appropriate HR practices that foster collaboration, productivity, and information security.
- Relationship Management: Effective relationship management is essential for security leaders and their staff to collaborate with all areas of the organization, from the boardroom to the front-line staff. Building strong relationships with these different communities supports program success. Many security programs also assign specific security leaders and managers to different business areas to facilitate personalized interactions and provide a single point of contact.
- Change & Release Management: Change management aims to minimize risks and disruptions due to changes in IT environments. It typically involves assessing the impact of proposed changes, obtaining approvals, communicating changes to relevant stakeholders, and monitoring the implementation to ensure successful outcomes. Release management ensures that software or system changes are deployed smoothly and efficiently, minimizing any negative impact on the production environment. It includes activities such as version control, release scheduling, release testing, and coordination with other IT teams or stakeholders.
- Asset, Patch, Access, and other Security Services: These security services are essential for maintaining a secure and controlled IT environment, protecting valuable assets, and mitigating potential security risks. Security leaders and their staff must work closely with IT and other business areas to support the effective implementation of these security services. Long-term success requires a consistent team effort.
With the implementation of your information security and continuity plan, your team should understand that:
- Information security success relies on a well-rounded team structure and collaborative effort across the enterprise.
- Organizing work into service areas, such as enterprise security, architecture and design, security operations, and risk and compliance, promotes efficiency and timely delivery.
- Plans and blueprints reduce chaos and support decision-making
- Managing the digital workforce involves addressing generational differences and implementing appropriate HR practices.
- Integrating security throughout organizational practices creates a comprehensive security and continuity plan for the organization.
Measuring Information Security and Continuity Success
Periodic performance reporting allows executives to review and maintain oversight of progress, issues, and challenges. It serves as an accounting of progress and encourages a better mutual understanding of strategies, plans, roadmaps, and their execution through the provision and discussion of information.
Metrics play an important part in information risk and security management, enabling organizations to quantify, direct, control, and improve information security in a rational and systematic manner and for sound business reasons.
Determining the appropriate measures and metrics for the specific organization is difficult. Defining, tailoring, and then implementing performance measures that address the organization's particular needs can be a significant effort. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as selecting from a list of suggested metrics since every organization is unique in various ways.
The first step typically involves defining the scope of progress reporting and the goals to be achieved. Reporting should cover the status of investment initiatives, program and project progress reporting, outcomes, and other relevant metrics. Developing a reporting prototype
and gradually improving it over time is recommended, starting with small steps and expanding the perspectives to include management and strategic topics.
Define your organization’s needs.
To define your organization's needs, go back to basics. Determine the business imperatives for information security and systematically address a set of rhetorical questions to develop a coherent suite of information security metrics:
- What is the organization’s true purpose?
- What are the organization’s objectives?
- What are the organization’s business strategies?
- What are the organization’s risks and opportunities?
- What is the organization trying to achieve through information security?
- What security metrics are needed?
Most organizations should consider three distinct types of metrics: strategic, management, and operations levels. Additionally, tracking metrics related to risk and compliance is important.
Recommended Study Resource: “PRAGMATIC Security Metrics - Applying Metametrics to Information Security” by Gary Hinson and W. Krag Brotby. They have also created an informational website called SecurityMetametrics.com, which offers numerous ideas, concepts, and good practices for reporting. Douglas Hubbard's “How to Measure Anything in Cybersecurity” is also a recent contribution to the effort.
Download OCEG & Riskonnect’s Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity today: Sponsored by Riskonnect and created by OCEG, The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity presents the fundamental components of an information security program, outlines best practices, and provides a comprehensive list of references to leading global sources of guidance.
Information Security and Continuity and GRC
GRC (governance, risk management, and compliance) is the integrated set of capabilities that enables the achievement of Principled Performance. While GRC is an acronym for governance, risk management, and compliance, it requires the involvement of many other roles and Critical Disciplines. Information security is one of the defined Critical Disciplines that contribute to GRC.
Information security and continuity capabilities play a crucial role within GRC by establishing measures, controls, and practices to protect data assets, information systems, and infrastructure. Integrating information security into the broader GRC capability enables a cohesive and proactive approach to achieving Principled Performance.
The key focus areas that GRC strategy informs in the context of information security and continuity are:
- Risk Management: Information security is a core component of risk management within GRC. It identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks related to cybersecurity threats, technological vulnerabilities, and data breaches. Proactively managing information security risks protects critical assets, reduces security incidents, and ensures business continuity.
- Data Protection and Privacy: Information security safeguards sensitive data, including customer information, intellectual property, financial records, and employee data. Robust security controls mitigate the risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, unavailability, compromised integrity, and regulatory non-compliance, preserving customer trust and avoiding financial and reputational damage.
- Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Following laws, regulations, and industry standards is vital in GRC. Information security practices and controls establish and maintain security measures to meet compliance requirements. Compliance with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, GLBA, and others is critical to avoiding legal consequences and maintaining a solid reputation.
- Business Continuity and Operational Resiliency: Information security is essential for the continuity of business operations, especially during cyber-attacks, natural disasters, or system failures. Robust security controls help minimize the probability and impact of such incidents, reduce downtime, and facilitate quick recovery to resume normal operations. This contributes to overall business resilience planning and risk mitigation.
- Reputation and Trust: Information security practices influence an organization's reputation and stakeholder trust, including customers, partners, and investors. Committing to protecting sensitive information instills confidence in risk management and regulatory compliance. Conversely, security incidents and data breaches can damage an organization's reputation, erode trust, and result in significant financial losses.
To succeed, organizations today must go beyond designing information security programs solely to meet regulatory requirements. They must align these efforts with the organization’s goals and design capabilities and programs that enable Principled Performance. Considering the role of information security within the organization's overall GRC efforts is a key step in this process.
By focusing on the critical areas of data protection and privacy, risk management, compliance, regulatory requirements, business continuity, resiliency, reputation, and trust, organizations can strengthen their information security practices and contribute to the achievement of Principled Performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions OCEG has curated in the creation of The Ultimate Guide to Security and Continuity.
What does the Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity Contain?
The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity contains 70 pages of custom-developed information and hand-picked resources related to information security and continuity. The guide is complete with eight chapters and six appendixes.
What are the information security and continuity frameworks and practice guidelines worldwide?
You can view a comprehensive list of information security and continuity frameworks and practice guidelines worldwide by downloading the guide. The information security and continuity frameworks and practice guidelines are available in chapter 2 (page 12) of the guide.
What companies wrote the Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity?
Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG) developed The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity under the generous sponsorship of Riskonnect in 2023.
What is Riskonnect?
Riskonnect is the leading integrated risk management software solution provider. Riskonnect’s technology empowers organizations with the ability to anticipate, manage, and respond in real-time to strategic and operational risks across the extended enterprise.
What is OCEG?
OCEG is a global nonprofit organization and community. As the originators of GRC (governance, risk management, and compliance) and Principled Performance, OCEG informs, empowers, and helps advance the careers of 120,000+ members who work in governance, strategy, risk, compliance, security, and audit.
Where can I go to hear more about The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity?
You can hear more about the guide in our webinar, The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity: Five Key Actions to Build Resilience.
Who would benefit from reading The Ultimate Guide to Information Security and Continuity?
We believe that all business professionals can find useful information from the guide we’ve created. Namely, Infosec professionals, GRC professionals, and those aspiring to have careers in either field can benefit from downloading the FREE guide.
How can I build an effective team and security function?
Build an effective team and security function by focusing on the comprehensive nature of modern business. The Information Security team should encompass board members, operational executives, GRC professionals, and IT experts to set a strong foundation for effective information security and continuity planning.
How can I best use technology for security and continuity?
Focus on using the most current technologies known industry-wide, which include Information Security Management (ISM), Threat Intelligence Management (e.g. SEC OPS and MSSPs), Risk Assessment, and Risk Management Platforms. View roadmaps provided by space leaders like Gartner, Forrester, and InfoTech to further inform your technological decisions.
How do I make the business case for organizational change around information security and continuity?
Developing and presenting a business case that helps leadership and key executives understand that your information security initiative supports and furthers core business objectives is critical. This will help to change the misconception that such initiatives are only cost centers. Like any investment endeavor, the business case should include the strategic themes, services, investments, and envisioned timelines. It should articulate the benefits to the organization, including improved asset protection and operational resiliency. Often, investments in IT infrastructure or application/platform upgrades also result in improved security, making close collaboration between the CISO, security investment planning, and IT capital planning specialists crucial. A well-defined business case will enable these crucial conversations. A well-developed business case includes:
- Sponsorship
- Overview of the governance plans
- Linkage with business strategies and priorities
- Linkage with legal and other regulatory requirements
- Risk assessment and mitigation plans
- Information security program organization structure
- Initiatives and other major investment themes
- Both implementation (capital) and operational (maintenance) aspects
- Defined outcomes goals
- Other relevant information
How Can I Kickstart my Education in GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) for Information Security and Compliance?
With the help of a panel of 100+ experts, OCEG studied 250+ organizations to document best practices in the GRC Capability Model (commonly called the OCEG Red Book). Download the newest version of our Red Book (The GRC Capability Model 3.5), and sign up for an All Access Pass to get exclusive access to training materials, as well as your first GRC Professional (GRCP) Certification.
With a GRCP Certification, you can:
- Unify vocabulary across disciplines
- Define common components and elements
- Define common information requirements
- Standardize practices for things like policies and training
- Identify communication for everyone involved, including strategic decision-makers
