A solid system for managing information is an essential element of any business. It protects both organizational and customer data as well as ensures compliance with laws and reduces risks to a manageable level. It gives employees detailed policies, training materials, and clear instructions on how to detect and deal with cyber-attacks.
A company may develop an ISMS for various reasons, including to enhance security and compliance with regulatory requirements, or to pursue ISO 27001 certification. The process includes conducting an analysis of risks, identifying the possibility of vulnerabilities, and then selecting and implementing controls to mitigate the risk. It also defines the duties and responsibilities of committees and owners of specific information security processes and activities. It creates policy documentation and records it, then implements an improvement program.
The scope of an ISMS is dependent on the information systems that a business deems most important. It also takes into consideration any applicable standards or regulations such as HIPAA in the case of a healthcare organization and PCI DSS in the case of an e-commerce platform. An ISMS typically has procedures for detecting and responding to attacks, for example, identifying the source of the security threat and monitoring data access to determine who has access to which information.
The process of establishing an ISMS requires the participation of all employees and other stakeholders. It is recommended to start with an PDCA (plan do, think, check, act) model. This enables the ISMS to evolve in response to changing cybersecurity threats and regulations.