Developing Policies and Procedures That Are Actually Followed: How a vCISO Can Help

Policies and procedures are the backbone of any effective information security program. They establish guidelines for employees to follow, outline best practices, and ensure compliance with regulations and standards. However, simply creating policies and procedures is not enough. They must also be implemented and followed consistently. In this post, we'll explore how a virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) can help develop policies and procedures that are actually followed.

Identifying Policy and Procedure Gaps

The first step in developing policies and procedures that are actually followed is identifying gaps in the existing policies and procedures. This can be a time-consuming process, especially for businesses without a dedicated cybersecurity team. A vCISO can help by conducting a comprehensive review of the existing policies and procedures, identifying any gaps, and recommending changes or additions to ensure that all areas are covered.

Customizing Policies and Procedures

One of the most common reasons why policies and procedures fail to be followed is because they are too generic or not applicable to the specific business. A vCISO can help customize policies and procedures to the specific needs of the business. This includes taking into account the industry, size of the business, and specific regulations and standards that apply.

Ensuring Consistent Implementation

Once policies and procedures have been customized to the specific needs of the business, it's important to ensure that they are consistently implemented across the organization. This can be a challenge, especially for businesses with a large and diverse workforce. A vCISO can help by providing training and education to employees on the policies and procedures and ensuring that they are properly implemented.

Monitoring and Measuring Effectiveness

Even with customized policies and procedures in place and consistent implementation, it's important to monitor and measure their effectiveness. This can include conducting periodic audits and assessments to ensure compliance, identifying areas for improvement, and addressing any issues that arise. A vCISO can help by conducting these audits and assessments and providing recommendations for improvements.

Developing policies and procedures that are actually followed is a critical aspect of any effective information security program. A vCISO can help identify gaps in existing policies and procedures, customize them to the specific needs of the business, ensure consistent implementation, and monitor and measure their effectiveness. If you're interested in learning more about how a vCISO can help develop policies and procedures that are actually followed, reach out to a trusted cybersecurity firm today.