Creating effective security policies for your business can seem like a daunting task. Between figuring out what areas to cover, writing comprehensive policy language, getting stakeholder buy-in, training employees, and actually enforcing the rules – it’s a lot to take on. And the policy landscape is constantly shifting as technologies, regulations, and threats evolve. Many organizations find themselves in over their heads when trying to develop and manage security policies entirely on their own.

That’s why outside expertise has become so crucial. Partnering with experienced security consultants, managed service providers, and legal counsel takes policies to the next level. By tapping into their knowledge and resources, companies can implement living security programs that reduce risk, aid compliance, and adapt over time.

In this post, we’ll explore why solid policies are a must-have, how to create effective policies for your unique environment, options for getting outside support, and how to measure policy success. Let’s dive in!

Why Well-Defined Security Policies are Non-Negotiable

It’s no secret that cyber threats are growing more sophisticated and dangerous. Hardly a week goes by without headlines of another high-profile data breach. State-sponsored hacking, ransomware, phishing – attackers have many vectors to choose from. And they know that employees often provide the weakest link.

That’s why every organization needs security policies – to translate broader security objectives into specific requirements that guide employee behaviors and reduce those risky gray areas. Think of policies as your instruction manual for maintaining defenses.

While some may view security policies as an annoyance or hindrance, the benefits make the effort worthwhile:

– Risk reduction – Policies require security best practices and help eliminate behaviors that could lead to breaches.

– Regulatory compliance – Regulations like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR often require documented security policies.

– Employee guidance – Policies provide clear direction for security-related responsibilities and activities.

– Incident response – Policies aid forensic investigation and help determine liability if a breach occurs.

– Vendor expectations – Policies help establish security standards when working with third parties. 

Given the importance of security policies, allocating sufficient time and resources to the process is a wise investment. However, organizations should not hesitate to seek outside expertise when needed.

Creating a Security Policy 

When creating new security policies or updating existing ones, there are several steps to take for an organized, comprehensive approach:

– Get stakeholder input – Gather perspectives from leadership, IT, security leaders, legal/compliance teams, and other groups.

– Perform risk assessment – Identify your greatest risks to address through security policies.

– Research industry best practices – Review guidance from expert groups like the SANS Institute, ISO, and NIST.  

– Catalog existing policies – Take inventory of current policies and determine areas with gaps.

– Draft policy content – Outline each policy and the specific requirements and controls. 

– Determine communication strategy – Plan how you will make employees aware of policies.

– Develop training strategy – Consider what training is needed to reinforce policies.

– Review and approve – Have stakeholders and legal counsel review policies before finalizing them.

By following an organized process and getting input from various teams, you can draft cohesive security policies tailored to your organization’s specific needs and environment.

Key Areas to Cover in a Security Policy

While the specifics will vary for each organization, these are some of the key topics to address with security policies:

Access Control

– Authentication methods and password policies 

– Access privileges – minimum necessary access

– Remote access requirements and restrictions

– Account management – adding/modifying/terminating access

Password Management

– Password length, complexity, update frequency 

– Multi-factor authentication where required

– Password storage and transmission policies

– Shared account management  

Data Protection

– Classification levels – public, internal, confidential etc.

– Handling requirements for each classification level

– Data retention and disposal guidelines

Email and Internet Use

– Acceptable vs prohibited online activities

– Guidelines for opening attachments and links

– Expectations for email security and storage

– Encryption requirements for sensitive data

Mobile Devices 

– Device security configurations 

– Allowed connections to corporate networks and resources

– Guidelines for public WiFi and hotspots

– Encryption requirements for devices and removable media

Incident Response 

– Reporting responsibilities and procedures

– Response team roles and responsibilities

– Breach notification policies

– Post-incident analysis procedures

Compliance

– Policies required to meet regulatory compliance standards

– Data Privacy – GDPR, CCPA etc.  

– Industry regulations – HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX etc.

Covering these areas provides a strong foundation for securing critical systems and data. Additional topics like cloud security, backup procedures, and vendor management may be relevant as well.

Managing and Enforcing Security Policies

Simply defining security policies is not enough – organizations must also commit to managing and enforcing them over time. This involves communication, training, monitoring, and upholding consequences for violations. Key aspects include:

Communicate Policies

– Share policies via employee handbooks and internal communications platforms. Have employees acknowledge receipt.

– Post reminders regarding policies and changes on intranets and bulletin boards.  

Provide Training 

– Include policy overviews and specifics during new hire orientation.

– Conduct annual security training with refreshers on relevant policies.

– Use simulated phishing emails to test employee compliance.

Use Technical Controls

– Leverage tools like Data Loss Prevention to detect and block policy violations.

– Install firewalls and web filtering to prevent improper internet usage.

– Implement Multi-Factor Authentication to strengthen access controls.

Monitor and Audit

– Routinely audit networks, systems, and procedures for adherence to policies.

– Monitor user behavior and activity for security events and potential breaches.

Review Regularly

– Set reminders to revisit policies annually or biannually.  

– Assess policies against current technologies, risks, and business practices.

– Revise policies as necessary to keep them updated.

Enforce Consistently 

– Follow formal processes for violations with consequences such as termination.

– Ensure rules are applied uniformly regardless of employee seniority or tenure.

A proactive approach across each of these areas provides the oversight needed to transform written policies into organizational realities. This helps sustain a strong security posture over time.

Getting Outside Support

For many companies, developing and implementing security policies requires expertise and resources that may be lacking internally. Seeking outside support can help overcome these challenges. There are a few options to consider:

Security Consultants

Specialized security consulting firms can provide guidance throughout the policy lifecycle. Consultants can assess your specific risks, research regulatory requirements, draft custom policy content, train employees, and regularly review and update policies. They provide deep security knowledge without the need to hire permanent staff.

Managed Security Providers  

Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) manage security operations on your behalf. In addition to real-time threat monitoring and response, many MSSPs also offer assistance with policy development based on best practices and their experience serving clients.

Legal Expertise

For policies that intersect with regulations and contractual obligations, seeking legal review is advisable. Law firms and attorneys can help craft policies that meet legal standards in areas like data privacy and industry compliance.

Combining internal teams with outside experts creates a well-rounded group to develop policies tailored to your environment and needs. The next section explores this in more detail.

Benefits of Outside Support

Here are some of the biggest advantages of collaborating with security consultants, MSSPs, lawyers, and compliance experts when creating and managing policies:

Knowledge and Expertise

Outside providers specialize in security and deal with a wide range of clients and situations. This equips them with extensive knowledge to craft effective policies across the key domains like access control, mobile security, incident response, and compliance.

Resources and Technology 

The right consultants have the tools and systems to streamline and enhance the policy process, including:

– Policy management platforms – Centralize storage, version control, and automated distribution of policies 

– Training content libraries – Ready-made security awareness training materials  

– Audit tools – Solutions that scan and identify policy gaps and areas of non-compliance

Credibility and Validation

Policies developed with input from respected security firms carry more weight and authority with employees. It also shows leadership’s commitment to best practices.

In addition to making the policies themselves more robust, providers can lend expertise in the execution of policies through activities like training delivery and compliance monitoring. This ensures policies are enforced properly.

Working Effectively with Outside Providers

To gain maximum advantage from outside expertise, organizations should:

– Clearly communicate business objectives – Clarify your goals, priorities, and desired outcomes.

– Provide necessary context – Supply information about your industry, technologies, and unique risks. 

– Designate internal coordinators – Have point people from IT, security, compliance, legal etc. collaborate with providers.

– Solicit ongoing feedback – Encourage open communication and input during policy drafting and implementation.  

– Share results – Provide access to reports, audit results, and policy effectiveness metrics.  

– Strategize improvements – Meet regularly to discuss enhancements to close any policy gaps.

By maintaining open dialogue and tapping into providers’ experience, you can craft living policies that adapt as your needs evolve.

Measuring the Effectiveness of Security Policies

Continually gauging the effectiveness of security policies is crucial for identifying issues and improving protections. Some key metrics to track include:

– Policy comprehension – Percentage of employees that understand specific policies based on testing

– Policy violations – Instances of non-compliance uncovered during audits

– Phishing success – Percentage of users that fail simulated phishing exercises  

– Security incidents – Policy-related breaches that occur, based on incident reports

– Mitigated attacks – Times policies successfully prevented potential breaches  

– Training completion – Percentage of required trainings finished by employees  

– Policy certifications – Number of systems and processes formally certified as compliant 

Analyzing these measures on a dashboard gives visibility into policy gaps. Drops in compliance can trigger additional training and potential policy modifications.

Conclusion

Well-planned security policies aligned to business objectives are foundational for managing risk. Yet many organizations struggle to develop and implement policies effectively on their own. Tapping into outside expertise provides knowledge, resources, and support needed to overcome these hurdles.

With help from experienced security consultants, MSSPs, and legal counsel, companies can create living policies that adapt to evolving threats and business practices. Partners can provide guidance for policy development, training, compliance monitoring, and continuous enhancement. A collaborative process results in policies that reduce risk, enable compliance, and protect the business with greater confidence.