information security management system
An information security management system (ISMS) helps to safeguard your company’s data by providing both technological safeguards and policies that set guidelines for employees who handle sensitive data. This includes implementing cybersecurity practices and conducting information security training sessions and encouraging an environment where employees are accountable for data protection.
An ISMS also offers a framework that can be adapted to meet your specific company’s requirements and the regulations of your industry and is certified and audited for conformity. ISO 27001 is the best-known standard for ISMS, but there are other standards that may be more suitable for your particular industry and business for example, the NIST framework for federal agencies.
Who is responsible for Information Security?
ISMS is not just an IT initiative. It encompasses a broad range of staff, departments and offices, which includes the C-suite, human resources as well as marketing and sales, as well as customer service. This ensures that everyone is on the same page with regards to information security, and that all protocols are in place.
Creating an ISMS requires a thorough risk assessment, which is best carried out using a risk management tool like vsRisk. It lets you quickly complete assessments, then present the results to make it easy to analyze and prioritize and ensure they are consistent year after year. An ISMS can also help reduce expenses by allowing you to prioritize the assets with the highest risk, which prevents indiscriminate spending on defense technologies and cuts down on the downtime caused by cybersecurity incidents. This means lower OPEX, and CAPEX.