Why Information Security Is Important for All Organizations

When considering information security, you will probably hear the words “integrity” and “safety”. Often times people make these two terms interdependent; however, it is simply not true. While both aspects are crucial for an organization’s success, they do not exist independently. In fact, information security and cyber-security go hand-in-hand.

Information security and cyber-security are often confused. Cybersecurity is actually a broader term which includes InfoSec as well. So, what exactly is an information security management plan (ISMD)? An ISMD is an outline of procedures and objectives designed to aid companies in a data security threat scenario.

What is so important about having an ISMD? An ISMD helps to inform the organizations which must implement the plan, what to look for during an incident, when to take corrective measures, and when to take preventative measures. Also, it serves as a basis for organizations considering implementing a plan. For instance, if a vulnerability is found,  the appropriate ISMD should be used to determine the impact to the company’s information security infrastructure, how it will be affected, and whether or not it poses a risk to the company’s external customers. The isms may include implementing new controls, creating a procedure for incident response, obtaining third party assistance, and engaging a cyber attacks defense specialist.

An information security plan, like the overall mission of the company, is only effective if it is implemented in the correct manner. The proper implementation means defining what objectives to protect, developing a plan to achieve those objectives, implementing the plan, monitoring and analyzing whether the objectives are achieved, and changing or implementing the plan if need be. All of this needs to be done in an effective manner to ensure that the company protects its confidential information properly and maintains integrity of its information security infrastructure.

One of the most significant goals of information security is the prevention of unauthorized access to information. Cyber criminals use the internet to carry out their nefarious activities and companies need to employ measures to protect themselves from such malicious intruders. One way to prevent the entry of unauthorized users into a network is by blocking senders and receivers on an internal network, including public and private networks. This includes servers, routers, and IP addresses. It may also include computer software that blocks the ports of entry, such as anti-virus software, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. In some cases, companies resort to physically blocking the ports, but this often causes system downtime which may result in users’ loss of confidential information.

Another important step in information security management is ensuring that networks are always in a state of security. Often this requires conducting vulnerability assessment scans and updating the management and updating the information security management system. In addition, companies should implement patch management and can do so using the Microsoft Patch Management System (MSPS) 2.0. Software that monitors for security vulnerabilities is also recommended.

With regard to e-commerce websites, the cyber criminals use hacking techniques to gain access to the corporate information security management system and gain access to the databases of websites belonging to the companies in order to gather information that can be used to hack into the companies’ network and steal information. To combat this, information security management system application must be designed to implement data security through the use of encryption

and authentication. Furthermore, organizations must regularly update the security features of the website to make sure that no changes in the database can affect the security of the website. Regular monitoring of websites and firewall protection of the system should also be carried out to ensure that the security of the system remains intact.

Lastly, organizations need to take strong actions to protect their intellectual property. The theft of intellectual property by cyber criminals is becoming more common. It can lead to a loss of prestige and customers as well as decrease in revenue. Therefore, organizations need to implement information security in the workplace as it can help them prevent the occurrence of cyber attacks.