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Information Security Management System to Protect Information Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability

Bineesh Mathew | June 18, 2021 | 1826 views

Information Security Management
In this modern world of technology, ensuring information security is very important for the smooth running of any organization. Unfortunately, there are many information/cyber security threats, including malware, ransom ware, emotet, denial of service, man in the middle, phishing, SQL injection, and password attacks. Whatever your business is, no doubt, it can collapse your business and your dreams. However, the severity of its after-effects depends upon the type of business you do.

As information security threat has become a hurdle for all organizations, companies must implement an effective information security management system. In 2019 alone, the total number of breaches was 1473. It is increasing every year as businesses are doing digital transformation widely. Phishing is the most damaging and widespread threat to businesses, accounting for 90% of organizations' breaches.

This article lets you understand what ISMS is and how it can be effectively implemented in your organization.

Information Security Management System (ISMS)

According to ISO/IEC 27001, Information Security Management System (ISMS) refers to various procedures, policies, and guidelines to manage and protect organizations' information assets. In addition, the system also comprises various other associated resources and activities frameworks for information security management.

Organizations are jointly responsible for maintaining information security. People responsible for security in an organization ensure that all employees diligently meet all policies, guidelines, and other objectives regarding protecting information. Also, they safeguard all assets of the organization from external cyber threats and attacks.

The goal and objective of the system are to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of assets from all threats and vulnerabilities. Effectively implementing an information security management system in your organization avoids the possibility of leaking personal, sensitive, and confidential data and getting exposed to harmful hands. The step-by-step implementation of ISMS includes the process of designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining it.

Implementing ISMS in Organizations

The standard for establishing and maintaining an information security management system in any organization is ISO 27001. However, as the standard has broad building blocks in designing and implementing ISMS, organizations can shape it according to their requirements.

Effectively implementing ISMS in organizations in compliance with ISO 27001 lets you enjoy significant benefits. However, an in-depth implementation and training process has to be ensured to realize these benefits comprehensively. Therefore, let us look into how an information security management system can be successfully implemented in your organization.

Identification

The first step in implementing ISMS is identifying the assets vulnerable to security threats and determining their value to your organization. In this process, devices and various types of data are listed according to their relative importance. Assets can be divided across three dimensions: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It will allow you to give a rating to your assets according to their sensitivity and importance to the company.

  • Confidentiality is ensuring that the assets are accessed by authorized persons only.
  • Integrity means ensuring that the data and information to be secured are complete, correct, and safeguarded thoroughly.
  • Availability is ensuring that the protected information is available to the authorized persons when they require it.


Policies and Procedures and Approval from the Management

In this step, you will have to create policies and procedures based on the insights you got from the first step. It is said to be the riskiest step as it will enforce new behaviors in your organization. Rules and regulations will be set for all the employees in this step. Therefore, it becomes the riskiest step as people always resist accepting and following the changes. You also should get the management approval once the policies are written.


Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is an integral part of implementing an Information Security Management System. Risk assessment allows you to provide values to your assets and realize which asset needs utmost care. For example, a competitor, an insider, or a cybercriminal group may want to compromise your information and steal your information. With a simple brainstorming session, you can realize and identify various potential sources of risk and potential damage. A well-documented risk assessment plan and methodology will make the process error-free.


Risk Treatment

In this step, you will have to implement the risk assessment plan you defined in the previous step. It is a time-consuming process, especially for larger organizations. This process is to get a clear picture of both internal and external dangers that can happen to the information in your organization.

The process of risk treatment also will help you to reduce the risks, which are not acceptable. Additionally, you may have to create a detailed report comprising all the steps you took during the risk assessment and treatment phase in this step.


Training

If you want effectively implement all the policies and procedures, providing training to employees is necessary. To make people perform as expected, educating your personnel about the necessity of implementing an information security management system is crucial. The most common reason for the failure of security management failure is the absence of this program.


Implementing ISMS

Once policies and procedures are written, and necessary training is provided to all employees, you can get into the actual process of implementing it in your organization. Then, as all the employees follow the new set of rules and regulations, you can start evaluating the system's effectiveness.


Monitoring and Auditing

Here you check whether the objectives set were being met or not. If not, you may take corrective and preventive actions. In addition, as part of auditing, you also ensure all employees are following what was being implemented in the information security management system. This is because people may likely follow wrong things without the awareness that they are doing something wrong. In that case, disciplinary actions have to be taken to prevent and correct it. Here you make sure and ensure all the controls are working as you expected.


Management Review

The final step in the process of implementing an information security management system is management review. In this step, you work with the senior management to understand your ISMS is achieving the goals. You also utilize this step to set future goals in terms of your security strategy.

Once the implementation and review are completed successfully, the organization can apply for certification to ensure the best information security management practices.


Summing UP

Organizations benefit from implementing and certifying their information security management system. The organization has defined and implemented a management system by building awareness, training employees, applying the proper security measures, and executing a systematic approach to information security management. Thus implementation has the following benefits:

  • Minimized risk of information loss.
  • The increased trust of customers in the company as the company is ISO/IEC 27001 certified.
  • Developed competencies and awareness about information security among all employees
  • The organization meets various regulatory requirements.

Frequently Asked questions


What are the three principles of information security?

Confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) are the three main principles and objectives of information security. These are the fundamental principles and the heart of information security.


How does information security management work?

Information security management works on five pillars. The five pillars are assessment, detection, reaction, documentation, and prevention. Effective implementation of these pillars determines the success of the information security management in your company.


What are the challenges in information security management?

Challenges in information security management in your company can be the following:

  • You can’t identify your most critical data
  • Policies aren’t in place for protecting sensitive information.
  • Employees aren’t trained in company policies.
  • Technology isn’t implemented for your policies.
  • You can’t limit vendor access to sensitive information.

Spotlight

Pitney Bowes

"Pitney Bowes is a global technology company crafting innovative products and solutions that help clients “get it right” in the complex world of commerce in the areas of customer information management, location intelligence, customer engagement, shipping and mailing, and global ecommerce. Founded in 1920, Pitney Bowes operates around the world, delivering accuracy and precision to more than 1.5 million clients. Helping clients achieve their greatest digital and physical commerce potential are Pitney Bowes' 15,000+ passionate employees around the world who craft commerce solutions with pride, maintain a relentless pursuit of innovation with over 2,300 active patents, and focus on clients, who are at the center of all that we do - from 90% of the Fortune 500, more than 200 retailers and 1.5 million small businesses."

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Organizations are increasingly looking for vendors to provide vulnerability management tools that can reduce false positives, differentiate between low-priority issues and severe security threats, and offer actionable insights to mitigate them. Moving Forward with Application Security Applications security has become more critical than ever before for businesses in the current digital scape. With the attack surface constantly expanding and the frequency of threats on the rise, organizations must remain agile and employ the best effective strategies to protect their applications from potential cyberattacks. The significance of application security has not gone unnoticed. As organizations continue to invest in security measures, they are increasingly upgrading themselves as per emerging security trends to protect themselves against evolving cyber threats. This includes adopting the ‘shift left’ approach, tightening controls, and having a clear definition of remediation processes.

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ActZero Teams with UScellular to Secure Mobile Devices from Ransomware Attacks

Prnewswire | May 18, 2023

ActZero®, a leading cybersecurity provider for small and mid-sized enterprises, announced it is teaming with UScellular, making it the first and only wireless carrier to offer the ActZero Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service. Together the two organizations make it easier for businesses to secure mobile devices from ransomware and phishing attacks. UScellular Business Ultimate and Business Premium unlimited handset plans now include ActZero MDR for Mobile. "UScellular and ActZero share a common goal: to bring better performance and better security to businesses at a fair price," said Sameer Bhalotra, chief executive officer for ActZero. "With ActZero's on-device cyberdefense technology plus 24x7 security operations staff, UScellular business customers can stop mobile threats quickly, before they spread into the corporate network." With 24/7 threat coverage, ActZero stops breaches on mobile devices and networks, with a 90% block rate and response time of 15 minutes for critical alerts. Customers can easily deploy ActZero MDR for Mobile within minutes to their employees' iOS, Android, or Chrome mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. On-device protection and real-time notifications eliminate delays if a mobile device is compromised. ActZero's patent-pending AI means better cyberdefense and fewer false alarms. "ActZero delivers a powerful and affordable cybersecurity service businesses need to prioritize threat and vulnerability management," said Kim Kerr, senior vice president, enterprise sales and operations for UScellular. "Our customers often don't have the IT resources to ensure they are protecting their network and devices from malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. The unique artificial intelligence and machine learning from ActZero intelligently pinpoints threats so less time is spent filtering noise and more time is focused on the action that should be taken, when it's truly important." About ActZero ActZero is a Gartner-recognized provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services that delivers a powerful and affordable cybersecurity service to protect small and mid-sized enterprises against ransomware attacks. By continuously testing defenses against the latest attack techniques and variants, ActZero ensures AI detections and human threat hunters quickly stop threats. The company brings deep roots and expertise in cybersecurity to deliver measurable ransomware defense, reducing false alerts and responding quickly on a customer's behalf. Combined with exceptional service, ActZero empowers businesses with confidence that the company and customers are protected. For more information, please visit actzero.com. About UScellular Business UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and plays a critical role in helping businesses of all sizes navigate the wireless ecosystem, delivering advanced technology, increased network security and reliability. To learn more about UScellular's business solutions, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com/business.

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ENTERPRISE SECURITY, PLATFORM SECURITY, SOFTWARE SECURITY

Check Point Software Technologies Bolsters Endpoint Security with Enhanced Posture Management to Tackle Escalating Vulnerability Exploits

Globenewswire | May 15, 2023

Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally announced today the expansion of its Check Point Harmony Endpoint protections solution by incorporating vulnerability and automated patch management capabilities. This enhancement addresses the mounting number of cyberattacks that exploit unpatched system vulnerabilities for unauthorized access. To deliver this advanced feature, Check Point has joined forces with Ivanti, integrating Ivanti Patch Management to assess and remediate software vulnerabilities from cloud to edge, into Check Point's Harmony Endpoint protection solution. The National Vulnerability Database reported over 25,000 vulnerabilities in 2022, with this figure expected to rise. Furthermore, a recent Dark Reading report revealed that 57% of ransomware attacks capitalize on unpatched vulnerabilities, highlighting the necessity of addressing this issue to defend against such threats. However, vulnerability patching is often a complex and time-consuming process. Many organizations lack insight into their environment's vulnerability status, and even when they do, patching takes an average of 97 days, according a report of the Ponemon Institute. This delay provides ample opportunities for attackers to exploit these weaknesses. To tackle this challenge, Check Point is enhancing its endpoint security solution, Harmony Endpoint, with vulnerability assessment and automated patch management capabilities. This will equip Harmony Endpoint users with an intelligent, automated process that minimizes the attack surface and boosts operational efficiency by: Automatically scanning organizational endpoints with minimal performance impact Providing comprehensive visibility into the status of all devices, saving valuable time for IT and security teams Auto-patching vulnerabilities and implementing security policies to ensure a secure and uninterrupted workflow. "We are excited to enhance our endpoint security solution with vulnerability assessment and automated patch management capabilities," says Ofir Israel, VP of Threat Prevention at Check Point, "This added value complements Harmony Endpoint's existing offerings of Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and other advanced security features. Our customers now have the tools they need to swiftly identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, all from a unified platform." “We are thrilled to partner with Check Point and collaborate to offer customers the highest level of endpoint protection,” said Michelle Hodges, Senior Vice President of Global Channels and Alliances at Ivanti. “We both understand that patch management is a critical component of any cybersecurity program and enhances the overall security posture for our customers by ensuring all systems are updated with the latest application updates, fixes, and patches. At Ivanti, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that empower our partners to strengthen their businesses and safeguard our customers.” By delivering a comprehensive endpoint security solution, Check Point enables organizations to defend against a broad spectrum of cyber threats and stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape. About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading provider of cyber security solutions to corporate enterprises and governments globally. Check Point Infinity's portfolio of solutions protects enterprises and public organisations from 5th generation cyber-attacks with an industry leading catch rate of malware, ransomware and other threats. Infinity comprises three core pillars delivering uncompromised security and generation V threat prevention across enterprise environments: Check Point Harmony, for remote users; Check Point CloudGuard, to automatically secure clouds; and Check Point Quantum, to protect network perimeters and datacenters, all controlled by the industry’s most comprehensive, intuitive unified security management. Check Point protects over 100,000 organizations of all sizes. About Ivanti Ivanti elevates and secures Everywhere Work so that people and organizations can thrive. We make technology work for people, not the other way around. Today’s employees use a wide range of corporate and personal devices to access IT applications and data over multiple networks to stay productive, wherever and however they work. Ivanti is one of the only technology companies that finds, manages and protects each IT asset and endpoint in an organization. Over 40,000 customers, including 88 of the Fortune 100, have chosen Ivanti to help them deliver an excellent digital employee experience and improve IT and security team productivity and efficiency. At Ivanti, we strive to create an environment where all perspectives are heard, respected and valued and are committed to a more sustainable future for our customers, partners, employees and the planet. For more information, visit www.ivanti.com and follow @GoIvanti.

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DATA SECURITY, PLATFORM SECURITY, SOFTWARE SECURITY

WinMagic partners with Lumen Technologies to offer mission-critical cybersecurity solutions

Globenewswire | May 29, 2023

WinMagic Inc. (the "Company" or "WinMagic") is proud to announce that it is now a member of the Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) Channel Partner program. WinMagic offers powerfully simple and seamless authentication and encryption solutions that use the endpoint to deliver unbeatable security. This partnership will enable the Company to leverage Lumen’s extensive network and cloud and security solutions to expand capabilities to existing WinMagic customers and enter new markets through access to Lumen’s comprehensive partner program. As a Lumen Channel Partner, WinMagic can draw on Lumen’s integrated portfolio of global solutions to enable greater product adaptability regarding network services, infrastructure and applications. Lumen’s solutions and infrastructure, combined with WinMagic’s innovative authentication and endpoint encryption products, provide customers with a complete portfolio of cybersecurity solutions. “This is a game-changer for customers. Paired with WinMagic’s next-gen security, Lumen’s edge compute infrastructure and portfolio of advanced solutions gives customers real power,” said Sara Seegers, regional vice president of indirect channel sales at Lumen. “Customers want to scale their operations as quickly as possible. They know this is the key to increasing their efficiency and growing their business. Together, we can bring results that exceed customer expectations.” "This partnership with Lumen brings users WinMagic’s most secure authentication technology to date with an incredible user experience," said Rahul Kumar, vice president of sales at WinMagic. "Our MagicEndpoint provides real-time, continuous authentication of the user plus endpoint device without requiring any user action. This strategy delivers the ‘always verify’ element of zero-trust security. We're excited to extend our next-gen security solutions to the Lumen network." WinMagic’s MagicEndpoint passwordless authentication solution delivers preboot authentication, Windows login and passwordless authentication to online services and applications. The software’s zero-trust security design complements government and commercial environments while delivering an end-to-end secure user experience. SecureDoc endpoint encryption enables organizations to secure all their data at the same time, keeping it safe from cyberattacks without disrupting productivity. About Lumen Technologies Lumen connects the world. We are dedicated to furthering human progress through technology by connecting people, data and applications — quickly, securely and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security and managed service capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For more information, visit www.lumen.com. About WinMagic WinMagic is a leading developer of cybersecurity solutions that, for 25 years, has raised the bar for endpoint encryption. Over 2,500 businesses and government agencies trust the company with over 3 million active licenses globally. The WinMagic authentication and encryption suite protects your company's data, on-premises or in the cloud. WinMagic delivers a seamless authentication and encryption experience that increases productivity while protecting users and data. For more information, visit www.winmagic.com.

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DATA SECURITY, PLATFORM SECURITY, SOFTWARE SECURITY

ActZero Teams with UScellular to Secure Mobile Devices from Ransomware Attacks

Prnewswire | May 18, 2023

ActZero®, a leading cybersecurity provider for small and mid-sized enterprises, announced it is teaming with UScellular, making it the first and only wireless carrier to offer the ActZero Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service. Together the two organizations make it easier for businesses to secure mobile devices from ransomware and phishing attacks. UScellular Business Ultimate and Business Premium unlimited handset plans now include ActZero MDR for Mobile. "UScellular and ActZero share a common goal: to bring better performance and better security to businesses at a fair price," said Sameer Bhalotra, chief executive officer for ActZero. "With ActZero's on-device cyberdefense technology plus 24x7 security operations staff, UScellular business customers can stop mobile threats quickly, before they spread into the corporate network." With 24/7 threat coverage, ActZero stops breaches on mobile devices and networks, with a 90% block rate and response time of 15 minutes for critical alerts. Customers can easily deploy ActZero MDR for Mobile within minutes to their employees' iOS, Android, or Chrome mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. On-device protection and real-time notifications eliminate delays if a mobile device is compromised. ActZero's patent-pending AI means better cyberdefense and fewer false alarms. "ActZero delivers a powerful and affordable cybersecurity service businesses need to prioritize threat and vulnerability management," said Kim Kerr, senior vice president, enterprise sales and operations for UScellular. "Our customers often don't have the IT resources to ensure they are protecting their network and devices from malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. The unique artificial intelligence and machine learning from ActZero intelligently pinpoints threats so less time is spent filtering noise and more time is focused on the action that should be taken, when it's truly important." About ActZero ActZero is a Gartner-recognized provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services that delivers a powerful and affordable cybersecurity service to protect small and mid-sized enterprises against ransomware attacks. By continuously testing defenses against the latest attack techniques and variants, ActZero ensures AI detections and human threat hunters quickly stop threats. The company brings deep roots and expertise in cybersecurity to deliver measurable ransomware defense, reducing false alerts and responding quickly on a customer's behalf. Combined with exceptional service, ActZero empowers businesses with confidence that the company and customers are protected. For more information, please visit actzero.com. About UScellular Business UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and plays a critical role in helping businesses of all sizes navigate the wireless ecosystem, delivering advanced technology, increased network security and reliability. To learn more about UScellular's business solutions, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com/business.

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ENTERPRISE SECURITY, PLATFORM SECURITY, SOFTWARE SECURITY

Check Point Software Technologies Bolsters Endpoint Security with Enhanced Posture Management to Tackle Escalating Vulnerability Exploits

Globenewswire | May 15, 2023

Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally announced today the expansion of its Check Point Harmony Endpoint protections solution by incorporating vulnerability and automated patch management capabilities. This enhancement addresses the mounting number of cyberattacks that exploit unpatched system vulnerabilities for unauthorized access. To deliver this advanced feature, Check Point has joined forces with Ivanti, integrating Ivanti Patch Management to assess and remediate software vulnerabilities from cloud to edge, into Check Point's Harmony Endpoint protection solution. The National Vulnerability Database reported over 25,000 vulnerabilities in 2022, with this figure expected to rise. Furthermore, a recent Dark Reading report revealed that 57% of ransomware attacks capitalize on unpatched vulnerabilities, highlighting the necessity of addressing this issue to defend against such threats. However, vulnerability patching is often a complex and time-consuming process. Many organizations lack insight into their environment's vulnerability status, and even when they do, patching takes an average of 97 days, according a report of the Ponemon Institute. This delay provides ample opportunities for attackers to exploit these weaknesses. To tackle this challenge, Check Point is enhancing its endpoint security solution, Harmony Endpoint, with vulnerability assessment and automated patch management capabilities. This will equip Harmony Endpoint users with an intelligent, automated process that minimizes the attack surface and boosts operational efficiency by: Automatically scanning organizational endpoints with minimal performance impact Providing comprehensive visibility into the status of all devices, saving valuable time for IT and security teams Auto-patching vulnerabilities and implementing security policies to ensure a secure and uninterrupted workflow. "We are excited to enhance our endpoint security solution with vulnerability assessment and automated patch management capabilities," says Ofir Israel, VP of Threat Prevention at Check Point, "This added value complements Harmony Endpoint's existing offerings of Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), and other advanced security features. Our customers now have the tools they need to swiftly identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, all from a unified platform." “We are thrilled to partner with Check Point and collaborate to offer customers the highest level of endpoint protection,” said Michelle Hodges, Senior Vice President of Global Channels and Alliances at Ivanti. “We both understand that patch management is a critical component of any cybersecurity program and enhances the overall security posture for our customers by ensuring all systems are updated with the latest application updates, fixes, and patches. At Ivanti, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that empower our partners to strengthen their businesses and safeguard our customers.” By delivering a comprehensive endpoint security solution, Check Point enables organizations to defend against a broad spectrum of cyber threats and stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape. About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading provider of cyber security solutions to corporate enterprises and governments globally. Check Point Infinity's portfolio of solutions protects enterprises and public organisations from 5th generation cyber-attacks with an industry leading catch rate of malware, ransomware and other threats. Infinity comprises three core pillars delivering uncompromised security and generation V threat prevention across enterprise environments: Check Point Harmony, for remote users; Check Point CloudGuard, to automatically secure clouds; and Check Point Quantum, to protect network perimeters and datacenters, all controlled by the industry’s most comprehensive, intuitive unified security management. Check Point protects over 100,000 organizations of all sizes. About Ivanti Ivanti elevates and secures Everywhere Work so that people and organizations can thrive. We make technology work for people, not the other way around. Today’s employees use a wide range of corporate and personal devices to access IT applications and data over multiple networks to stay productive, wherever and however they work. Ivanti is one of the only technology companies that finds, manages and protects each IT asset and endpoint in an organization. Over 40,000 customers, including 88 of the Fortune 100, have chosen Ivanti to help them deliver an excellent digital employee experience and improve IT and security team productivity and efficiency. At Ivanti, we strive to create an environment where all perspectives are heard, respected and valued and are committed to a more sustainable future for our customers, partners, employees and the planet. For more information, visit www.ivanti.com and follow @GoIvanti.

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