1. Purpose:
The purpose of this Information Security Policy is to define the principles and guidelines necessary to ensure the protection, confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the company’s information and information systems. This policy aims to mitigate risks associated with information security threats
and to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards.
2. Scope:
This policy applies to all employees, contractors, consultants, vendors, and third parties who have access to the company’s information systems and data. It covers all digital and physical information assets, including data storage, transmission, processing, and handling practices.
3. Information Security Objectives:
– Protect company information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction.
– Maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all critical business information.
– Ensure that employees and third parties understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting information assets.
– Continuously monitor and improve the company’s information security posture.
4. Roles and Responsibilities:
– Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): The CISO is responsible for overall information security strategy, oversight, and compliance.
– IT Department: Responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining security controls and tools, including firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems.
– Employees and Users: Responsible for adhering to security guidelines, reporting potential security incidents, and ensuring the protection of their individual access credentials.
– Third-Party Vendors: Must comply with the company’s security requirements as stipulated in contracts or agreements to ensure the secure handling of information.
5. Information Classification and Handling:
– Confidential Information: Includes sensitive company data such as trade secrets, financial information, intellectual property, and employee records. Access to this information must be restricted and controlled.
– Internal Information: Includes company operational data that is not publicly available. Access should be provided only on a need-to-know basis.
– Public Information: Data that is intended for public access. Protection measures should still be in place to prevent tampering.
6. Access Control:
– Users must be assigned access rights based on the principle of least privilege, ensuring they only have access to the data necessary for their job functions.
– Multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be used for accessing critical systems.
– Passwords must be strong, regularly updated, and kept confidential. Password management tools may be used to assist with secure storage.
7. Data Protection and Encryption:
– All sensitive or confidential data should be encrypted both in transit and at rest to protect it from unauthorized access.
– Portable devices, including laptops and mobile phones, must be encrypted if they contain sensitive data.
– Backup data should be encrypted and stored securely to ensure integrity and prevent unauthorized access.
8. Incident Response and Reporting:
– All employees must report suspected or actual security incidents (e.g., data breaches, system compromises) to the designated incident response team immediately.
– The company will maintain an incident response plan that includes steps for containment, investigation, notification, and recovery.
– Incident investigations will be conducted promptly and documented, with corrective actions taken to prevent recurrence.
9. Security Awareness and Training:
– All employees must undergo regular information security training to understand risks and how to mitigate them. Training will include password policies, phishing awareness, and proper data handling techniques.
– Employees must acknowledge their understanding of the company’s information security policies and agree to adhere to them.
10. Monitoring and Auditing:
– Continuous monitoring of the company’s information systems will be conducted to detect and prevent security breaches.
– Regular audits will be performed to ensure compliance with the company’s information security policies and to identify vulnerabilities.
– Security logs must be maintained, and access will be restricted to authorized personnel only.
11. Third-Party Access and Vendor Management:
– All third-party vendors with access to company data must comply with the company’s information security standards, and contracts must include provisions for data protection and security requirements.
– Vendor risk assessments must be conducted periodically to evaluate the security practices of third parties.
12. Compliance:
– The company will comply with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards related to information security and data protection (e.g., GDPR etc).
– Regular reviews will be conducted to ensure the company’s information security policy remains aligned with changing regulations.
13. Policy Enforcement:
– Any violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, legal action, or termination of contracts.
– The company reserves the right to monitor and audit employee activity to ensure compliance with this policy.
14. Review and Updates:
– This policy will be reviewed and updated annually or as necessary to ensure it remains relevant and effective in addressing emerging threats and security challenges