6 Reasons Why Information Security is Important - Vigilant Software - Compliance Software Blog (2024)

Sensitive data is one of an organisation’s most important assets, so it makes sense that you prioritise its security.

What is information security?

Information security is “the practice of preventing unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, inspection, recording or destruction” of sensitive records.

Security measures perform four critical roles:

1. It protects the organisation’s ability to function.
2. It enables the safe operation of applications implemented on the organisation’s IT systems.
3. It protects the data the organisation collects and uses.
4. It safeguards the technology the organisation uses.

The challenges of information security

In an increasingly interconnected environment, information is exposed to a growing number and wider variety of risks.

Threats such as malicious code, computer hacking and denial-of-service attacks have become more common, ambitious and sophisticated. It’s made it harder for organisations to implement and maintain appropriate defences.

Getting started with information security

Implementing information security in an organisation can protect the technology and information assets it uses by preventing, detecting and responding to internal and external threats.

Senior management and IT are responsible for the organisation’s information security strategy.

However, in smaller organisations this job will likely sit with risk and security, data and compliance, and IT and information security managers and directors (sometimes this is just one person).

To support the information security strategy, it’s essential to improve staff awareness of information security issues through training and initiatives. Organisations also need to enforce their information security policies and review them regularly to meet security requirements.

Threats and vulnerabilities must be evaluated and analysed. This means establishing and implementing control measures and procedures to minimise risk, and auditing to measure the performance of controls.

Another crucial part of your information security strategy and project is GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance.

Introducing CyberComply

Vigilant Software aims to make data protection, cyber security, information security and risk management straightforward and affordable.

Drawing on our years of experience developing and deploying risk management tools and services, our products reduce the complexity of your implementation project.

OurCyberComplyplatform guides organisations through cyber risk and privacy monitoring and compliance.

It’s ideal for small- and medium-sized organisations to address their information security and compliance requirements.

It has been developed to:

• Quickly identify and treat data security risksbefore they become critical concerns.
• Map data flows in minuteswhile flagging up key data processing risks.
• Conduct a DPIA like an expert, saving time, money and resources.
• Reduce errorsand improve the completeness of risk management processes.
• Follow step-by-step processesand built-in guidance to ensure compliance.

It also contains an intuitive and interactive dashboardthat gives you a real-time overview of your project that you can personalise to see what’s important to you.

A version of this blog was originally published 26 March 2019.