Systematic Information Security Work
Information is hard currency in a knowledge society
In an organization, it is of utmost importance to protect all the valuable data that is often the basis of the entire business. The information must not be lost, distorted or fall into the wrong hands. The organization's employees must be able to trust that the information they use is correct and that it is only available to those who are authorized.
But information is not just technology and IT. It also has human dimensions in the form of handwritten notes and confidential conversations between employees.
Different degrees of information sensitivity
Information can consist of databases with data of various kinds. It can be registers of open data that are not in great need of protection. It can also be secret information, such as bank account information, patient records or research results. Information can also be included as basic data in complicated control systems. External attacks on such systems could in some cases lead to catastrophic consequences. Therefore, they must be protected at all costs. Each type of information must be provided with the necessary and adequate protection.
Risks and threats
Information that falls into the wrong hands can cause damage to the organization's work. The information must therefore be stored in a secure manner so that it is always accessible to the organization's employees and protected against external threats. Intruders should not be able to steal information or distort it so that the organization's work becomes more difficult. Risks and threats exist on the entire scale from sheer negligence or ignorance on the part of one's own staff to external attempts at extortion, sabotage and terrorist activities.
The threats are increasing
Most organizations are becoming increasingly dependent on different types of information and information technology. This means that the sensitivity to risks and threats increases. At the same time, threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and unauthorized intrusions into organizations' information systems are increasing. This could be, for example, hacking, fraud or spreading malicious code. The actors can be individuals, organized criminals, terrorists or governments.
Probability and consequence
A risk may be more or less likely. Some things can happen at any time, others may have a probability of happening once in a hundred years. The consequences of an event can range from annoying to catastrophic.
It is important in the analysis work to handle probability and consequence separately. Do not let a low risk lead to a downgrading of the consequences. Major consequences can sometimes be of greater importance in safety work than a minimal risk. A wise trade-off must be made in each case.
Systematic information security work
Safety work should be carried out systematically according to predetermined steps. The first step is to analyze the current situation. With this as a basis, an information security system is designed. The next step is to implement and use the information security system. The security system is followed up and evaluated at regular intervals, and the necessary improvements and updates are introduced. Follow-ups and updates are constantly recurring activities. The systematic safety work will never be completed.
Concrete measures
The measures that may be relevant in the security work are, for example, protection of IT systems in the form of firewalls, antivirus software, regular backups, updates to new and more secure versions of software, encryption protection and more. Other safety work can be safety training of both personnel and management. The organization may also need written regulations in the form of a common security policy.
Management responsibility
The main responsibility for the information security work lies with the organization's management. Risks in information security are as great threats as financial risks and personal security risks. Illegal intrusion and sabotage of the information also harms the organization's partners, customers and private individuals. The organization's management must therefore support the security work with the necessary and sufficient financial and organizational resources. The safety work can be a large and complicated project for which you can take outside help. It can provide more efficient security work and save both time and money.