Data and Cyber Security Strategy

Executive Summary

• Objective: Outline the primary goals and objectives of the security strategy.
• Scope: Define the scope of the strategy, including all relevant business units, processes, and information systems.
• Alignment: Ensure the strategy aligns with the organization’s overall business objectives and regulatory requirements.

Governance and Leadership

• Executive Sponsorship – Secure commitment and support from top management to provide necessary resources and enforce the security strategy.
• Information Security Policy – Develop and document an overarching information security policy that sets the direction and principles for the security program.
• Security Governance Structure – Establish a governance framework that includes a steering committee and defines roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures.

Risk Management

• Risk Assessment – Conduct regular risk assessments to identify, analyze, and evaluate information security risks.
• Risk Treatment – Develop and implement risk treatment plans, selecting appropriate controls to mitigate identified risks.

Asset Management

• Asset Inventory – Create and maintain an inventory of information assets, including hardware, software, data, and personnel.
• Asset Classification – Classify information assets based on their sensitivity and criticality to the organization.

Access Control

• Access Management Policies – Develop policies for managing access to information and systems, ensuring that access is granted based on the principle of least privilege.
• User Access Management – Implement processes for user account provisioning, deprovisioning, and access reviews.

Physical and Environmental Security

• Physical Security Controls – Implement physical security measures to protect information assets, including access controls, surveillance, and security personnel.
• Environmental Controls – Ensure proper environmental controls are in place to protect against natural and man-made threats, such as fire, water damage, and power outages.

Operations Security

• Operational Procedures – Develop and maintain documented operating procedures for all critical processes.
• Change Management – Implement change management processes to ensure security during changes to systems and applications.
• Patch Management – Establish a patch management process to ensure timely updates of all systems and applications to protect against vulnerabilities.

Network Security

• Network Design – Design and implement a secure network architecture that includes segmentation, firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and secure remote access.
• Network Monitoring – Deploy network monitoring tools to detect and respond to suspicious activities in real-time.

Data Protection

• Data Encryption – Implement encryption for data at rest and in transit to protect sensitive information.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP) – Deploy DLP solutions to prevent unauthorized access and transfer of sensitive data.

Incident Management

• Incident Response Plan – Develop and implement an incident response plan to effectively handle security incidents and breaches.
• Incident Detection and Reporting – Establish procedures for detecting and reporting security incidents promptly.

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

• Business Continuity Plan (BCP) – Develop a BCP to ensure the organization can continue operations during a disruption.
• Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) – Create a DRP to restore critical systems and data in the event of a disaster.

Compliance and Legal

• Regulatory Compliance – Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.
• Audit and Review – Conduct regular audits and reviews to ensure compliance and identify areas for improvement.

Training and Awareness

• Security Awareness Programs – Develop and implement security awareness programs to educate employees on security best practices and policies.
• Role-Based Training – Provide specialized training for employees based on their roles and responsibilities.

Third-Party Management

• Supplier Risk Management – Assess and manage risks associated with third-party suppliers and service providers.
• Third-Party Contracts – Include security requirements in contracts with third parties to ensure they comply with the organization’s security policies.

Continuous Improvement

• Performance Metrics – Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of the security program.
• Continuous Improvement Process – Establish a process for continuous improvement based on feedback, audit results, and incident reports