Security Governance Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Security Governance Policy is to establish the framework through which the organization directs, manages, monitors, and continuously improves its information security program.

Effective security governance ensures that information security activities align with organizational objectives, support risk management efforts, protect information assets, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and enable business operations. This policy defines the governance structure, responsibilities, oversight mechanisms, and decision-making processes necessary to maintain an effective and sustainable information security program.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All employees
• Contractors
• Consultants
• Temporary personnel
• Interns
• Third-party personnel with access to organizational systems or information

This policy applies to:

• All business units
• All departments
• All information systems
• All information assets
• All organizational facilities
• All cloud services
• All technology environments
• All third-party relationships involving organizational information

3. Policy Statement

The organization shall maintain a formal Information Security Governance Program that establishes accountability, oversight, and strategic direction for information security activities.

Information security shall be managed as an organizational responsibility and integrated into business planning, risk management, operational processes, technology initiatives, and strategic decision-making.

Management shall provide leadership, oversight, and support necessary to maintain an effective information security program.

4. Objectives

The objectives of this policy are to:

• Establish clear security governance responsibilities.
• Align information security with organizational objectives.
• Support effective risk management.
• Protect information assets and business operations.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, contractual, and industry requirements.
• Promote accountability for security activities.
• Support continuous improvement of the information security program.
• Enable informed security-related decision-making.

5. Definitions

Security Governance

The system by which information security is directed, controlled, monitored, and evaluated within the organization.

Information Security Program

The collection of policies, procedures, controls, technologies, and activities used to manage information security risks.

Security Risk

The potential for threats to exploit vulnerabilities and adversely impact organizational assets, operations, or objectives.

Security Control

A safeguard or countermeasure implemented to reduce security risks.

Control Owner

An individual or department responsible for implementing, maintaining, and monitoring a security control.

Executive Management

Individuals responsible for strategic leadership, governance oversight, and resource allocation.

6. Governance Principles

The organization’s security governance program shall be based on the following principles:

• Accountability
• Risk-based decision-making
• Continuous improvement
• Regulatory compliance
• Business alignment
• Defense in depth
• Transparency
• Measurable performance

Information security decisions shall support business objectives while maintaining acceptable levels of risk.

7. Governance Structure

The organization shall establish a governance structure that provides oversight of information security activities.

The governance structure shall include:

• Executive management oversight
• Information security leadership
• Risk management functions
• Control ownership responsibilities
• Security policy management
• Compliance oversight
• Incident management oversight

Security governance responsibilities shall be documented and communicated throughout the organization.

8. Executive Management Responsibilities

Executive management shall:

• Provide leadership for the information security program.
• Approve security policies and major security initiatives.
• Establish organizational risk tolerance.
• Allocate appropriate resources.
• Review security performance.
• Support compliance activities.
• Promote a culture of security awareness.

Executive management shall receive periodic updates regarding information security risks and program performance.

9. Information Security Responsibilities

The Information Security function shall:

• Develop and maintain the information security program.
• Establish security policies, standards, and procedures.
• Conduct risk assessments.
• Monitor security controls.
• Coordinate security awareness activities.
• Support compliance initiatives.
• Respond to security incidents.
• Report security metrics and risks.

The Information Security function shall provide guidance and oversight across the organization.

10. Management Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors shall:

• Support security initiatives within their areas of responsibility.
• Ensure personnel comply with security requirements.
• Identify and report security risks.
• Participate in risk management activities.
• Support security awareness efforts.
• Facilitate remediation of identified issues.

Managers are accountable for implementing security requirements within their business functions.

11. Employee Responsibilities

All personnel shall:

• Comply with security policies and procedures.
• Protect organizational information assets.
• Complete required training.
• Report security incidents and concerns.
• Follow approved security practices.
• Support organizational security objectives.

Security is a shared responsibility across the organization.

12. Information Security Program

The organization shall maintain a documented information security program that addresses:

• Security governance
• Risk management
• Asset management
• Access control
• Data protection
• Network security
• Endpoint security
• Vulnerability management
• Incident response
• Business continuity
• Vendor risk management
• Security awareness and training
• Compliance management

The program shall be reviewed periodically and updated as needed.

13. Risk Management

Information security activities shall be guided by a risk-based approach.

Risk management activities shall include:

• Risk identification
• Risk analysis
• Risk evaluation
• Risk treatment
• Risk monitoring
• Risk reporting

Security controls shall be selected and implemented based on identified risks and business requirements.

14. Policy Management

The organization shall maintain a formal policy management process.

Security policies shall:

• Be documented
• Be approved by management
• Be communicated to personnel
• Be reviewed periodically
• Reflect organizational requirements

Policy reviews shall occur at least annually or following significant changes.

15. Security Control Management

The organization shall establish and maintain security controls designed to protect information assets.

Security controls shall:

• Be documented
• Have assigned owners
• Be monitored for effectiveness
• Be reviewed periodically
• Support compliance obligations

Control deficiencies shall be addressed through corrective action processes.

16. Security Metrics and Reporting

The organization shall establish security metrics to measure the effectiveness of the information security program.

Metrics may include:

• Security incident statistics
• Vulnerability remediation performance
• Training completion rates
• Audit findings
• Compliance status
• Risk assessment results
• Control effectiveness measurements

Security reporting shall be provided to management on a periodic basis.

17. Compliance Management

The organization shall identify and comply with applicable:

• Legal requirements
• Regulatory obligations
• Industry standards
• Customer requirements
• Contractual obligations

Compliance activities shall be monitored and periodically assessed.

18. Security Awareness and Culture

The organization shall promote a culture of security awareness and accountability.

Security awareness initiatives shall:

• Educate personnel about risks
• Reinforce security responsibilities
• Encourage secure behavior
• Support incident reporting

Security awareness shall be an ongoing activity.

19. Third-Party Governance

Third-party relationships involving organizational information or systems shall be managed according to organizational security requirements.

Third-party governance activities shall include:

• Security assessments
• Risk evaluations
• Contract reviews
• Compliance verification
• Ongoing monitoring

Third-party risks shall be incorporated into the organization’s risk management process.

20. Incident Governance

The organization shall maintain oversight of security incident management activities.

Governance responsibilities include:

• Incident reporting oversight
• Incident response coordination
• Escalation procedures
• Post-incident reviews
• Corrective action monitoring

Significant incidents shall be reported to executive management.

21. Continuous Improvement

The information security program shall be continuously improved through:

• Risk assessments
• Security reviews
• Audit findings
• Incident lessons learned
• Compliance assessments
• Technology evaluations

Improvement opportunities shall be documented and tracked.

22. Exceptions

Exceptions to security requirements must:

• Be documented
• Include business justification
• Include risk assessment
• Be approved by management
• Be reviewed periodically

Compensating controls shall be implemented where appropriate.

23. Compliance and Auditing

Compliance with this policy shall be verified through:

• Internal audits
• External audits
• Security assessments
• Management reviews
• Compliance evaluations

Findings shall be documented and addressed through corrective action processes.

24. Enforcement

Violations of this policy may result in:

• Removal of system access
• Disciplinary action
• Contract termination
• Legal action where applicable

25. Review and Maintenance

This policy shall be reviewed:

• At least annually
• Following significant organizational changes
• Following regulatory changes
• Following major security incidents
• Following significant technology changes

Updates shall be approved by executive management.

26. Related Policies

• Information Security Policy
• Risk Management Policy
• Security Control Framework Policy
• Access Control Policy
• Vendor Management Policy
• Incident Response Policy
• Security Awareness and Training Policy
• Compliance Policy
• Business Continuity Policy

27. Policy Approval

Policy Owner: Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or Information Security Manager

Approved By: Executive Management

Effective Date: __________________

Review Date: __________________

Version: 1.0