Article
How security governance can help protect you from cyberthreats
Aug. 4, 2021 · Authored by Troy Hawes
Protecting the life cycle of data is critical to your organization’s success. Hackers, malicious insiders, vendors, and employees are all threats to data security.
As such, organizations are getting asked by regulators, auditors, customers, and consumers how data is processed, stored, transmitted, secured, and protected. Organizations often rely on their IT department to have proper controls in place, but information security isn’t just an IT issue — it’s an issue that needs to be addressed across the entire organization.
As your executive management explores the need for stronger effective controls, information security governance should be part of the conversation.
What is information security governance?
Information security governance is defined as “a subset of enterprise governance that provides strategic direction, ensures that objectives are achieved, manages risk appropriately, uses organizational resources responsibly, and monitors the success or failure of the enterprise security program,” according to the Information systems audit and control association.
Why do you need an information security governance framework?
While the definition sounds complex, it can be simplified. An information security governance framework helps you prepare for risks or events before they occur by forcing you to continually reevaluate critical IT and business functions through:
- Integrated risk management functions
- Threat and vulnerability analysis
- Data governance and threat protection
- Aligning business strategy with IT strategy
