What is a Security Policy?
A security policy is a written statement of how an organization protects its IT assets. The purpose of a security policy is to keep everyone in the organization working towards a common goal, as security threats evolve and the business changes. Security policies often spell out the protocol for connecting to the network with personal devices, defines how data is classified, outlines security controls, and so much more. If an organization doesn’t have a security policy in place or it isn't up to date, it may open the organization up to legal liability. An effective security policy provides guidelines for how employees should interact with technology, includes regulatory requirements for data protection, and helps avoid security misconfigurations.
Mitigate Risks by Managing Your Security Policy Effectively
Frequently, businesses find themselves with extensive security policies or even multiple policies, which are nearly impossible to maintain and enforce manually. Organizations that are very complex or operate in a heavily regulated industry feel this pain most acutely, but even smaller businesses struggle to find the time and resources to verify policy compliance.
But the purpose of a security policy is to provide more control and visibility into system settings and user activity, and that purpose is only achieved if you have an effective way to manage your security policy. Solutions that automate your security policy management are the most efficient way to ensure your policy stays up to date and that policy exceptions are identified and corrected quickly.
Make It Easier to Correct Policy Exceptions
New technologies, from mobile devices to cloud storage, are forcing IT professionals around the world to raise the bar with cybersecurity. A security policy must be tailored to meet your organization’s needs and flexible enough to address the new ways users want to access and transfer data. Maintaining this balance requires regular policy reviews to monitor adherence and enforce security policy compliance.
Automating security policy management saves time and enhances your security posture by enabling you to identify and then correct policy exceptions. Manual solutions introduce the possibility of human error, in addition to being slower. While manual policy management is better than defining a security policy and ignoring it until audit time, an automated solution provides a level of visibility and control that enables you to maximize your cybersecurity investment.
Protect Your Data with Effective Security Policy Management
Get visibility into out-of-compliance settings and activity.
Creating a Well-Defined Security Policy
Protecting sensitive corporate information and meeting compliance requirements aren’t the only reasons your organization needs a security policy.
A well-defined policy can make the difference between maintaining the trust of customers, vendors, and employees—or facing the damaging consequences of a data breach.
Compare Security Policy Management Solutions
Powertech Compliance Monitor for IBM i
Platforms: IBM i
Key Features:
- Report on system configurations for multiple servers at once
- Use preloaded compliance reports for SOX, PCI, and HIPAA
- Retain all the data auditors need while saving disk space
Policy Minder for IBM i
Platforms: IBM i
Key Features:
- Define your security policy
- Check that the system is compliant with your security policy
- Remedy out-of-compliance configuration settings automatically
Tripwire Enterprise
Platforms: All
Key Features:
- Control configurations across operating systems, applications, servers, and devices from a centralized console
- Audit for multiple systems via a single solution
- Monitor system integrity in both on-premises and cloud environments with a single solution