Background: Our client is an international firm providing practice management solutions to legal professionals. They realized the pressing need to enhance their Operational IT cybersecurity policies across all their global jurisdictions to safeguard sensitive data and to prepare for ISO readiness, a standard that outlines the best practices for information security management systems (ISMS).
Challenge: Developing comprehensive cybersecurity policies and procedures from the ground up while aligning the strategies with ISO readiness standards. The objective was to create a framework that is both secure and meets the ISO standards for ISMS without delving into technical jargon and emphasizing clarity and effectiveness.
Approach: The approach undertaken to address the challenges was systematic and structured:
- Phase 1: Assessment – The first step was to understand the existing policies, if any, and identify areas that needed improvement or complete revamping.
- Phase 2: Drafting Policies – Based on the assessment, we formulated clear, jargon-free policies and procedures to secure the company's data and streamline the management processes involved in handling sensitive information.
- Phase 3: Review, Acceptance, and Dissemination – After the policies were drafted, they were reviewed and approved by senior corporate leaders and made available on the company's intranet for compliance and awareness by all global employees.
- Phase 4: Review and Feedback – Once implemented, a feedback mechanism was set up to continually review the policies and make necessary adjustments based on practical experiences.
Results:
- Clear and Understandable Policies – The newly drafted policies were devoid of jargon, making it easier for employees to understand and adhere to them.
- ISO Readiness – The policies aligned with ISO standards so that the company is well-prepared to undergo ISO certification, should they pursue it for their products that do not yet have certification.
- Enhanced Security – With new cybersecurity policies, the company improved its security posture significantly, protecting itself better against potential cyber threats.
Conclusion: The project successfully established a clear, understandable set of cybersecurity policies and procedures that enhanced the company's security posture and prepared them for ISO readiness. The simplified language of the policies ensured that every employee could become a proactive participant in the company's cybersecurity framework, supporting a safer and more secure operational environment.
