It isn’t uncommon to view information security procedures as set in stone. After all, following them to the letter is a must to ensure that company assets are protected.

However, information security procedures should really be viewed as living documents. They need to grow and evolve over time, ensuring they meet the needs of an ever-changing technology landscape. If you want to know how often you should review and update your information security procedures, here is an overview of various best practices that will keep you on track.

Conduct an Annual Information Security Procedures Review

First, companies should review their information security procedures annually at a minimum to ensure it remains comprehensive and effective. Consider any security-related events that occurred during the year to see if updates might be necessary. Along with reflecting on new developments, use any failures as guides. That way, you can tackle the updates from two crucial fronts.

If you are part of a high-risk industry – such as healthcare or finance – then more frequent reviews could be wise. By conducting one every six months, you can make improvements to protect the highly sensitive data that comes with operating in your industry, reducing the odds of a catastrophic incident.

Complete Ad Hoc Reviews to Correspond with Critical Incidents

Along with pre-scheduled information security procedure reviews, be open to ad hoc reviews after certain developments. For example, if a new cyberattack vector emerges, reviewing your processes as soon as you’re aware of the issue gives you a chance to act proactively. You can find ways to shore up your procedures against that specific kind of threat, creating opportunities to address vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

Similarly, if there is an information security failure at some point during the year, an ad hoc review could be a wise decision. It lets you access your procedures to ensure they weren’t responsible for the outcome. If you find an issue, you can address it, reducing the odds that another event of that kind occurs again.

Initiate a Procedure Review When There’s a Chance in Your Environment

Introducing technology or systems to your environment creates new risks. Since your information security procedures might not cover the implemented tech effectively, conducting a procedure review is essential. That way, you can determine how the new technology needs to be explicitly handled, as well as how it impacts other parts of your broader environment.

Ultimately, all three of the situations above make an information security procedure review a necessity. When any of those events happen, review all associated policies to determine if they’re outdated or difficult to follow. Additionally, make sure they address any new implementations or threats, ensuring the procedures are comprehensive.

While information security procedure reviews take time and energy, they’re worth doing. They allow you to reduce risk and ensure compliance, keeping your assets safe and secure.

If you’d like to learn more, the team at VB wants to hear from you. Contact us today.