Governance Framework Checklist

1. Governance Structure

 Establish executive sponsorship (CISO, CRO, CCO involvement).

 Form a governance committee with representatives from IT, Risk, Compliance, Legal, and
Business Units.

 Schedule regular governance committee meetings.

2. Risk Management Framework

 Identify risks across all business units, including third-party and cybersecurity risks.

 Assess and prioritize risks based on likelihood and impact.

 Implement risk mitigation strategies (controls, risk transfer, avoidance, or acceptance).

 Set up continuous risk monitoring processes.

3. Policy and Procedure Management

 Develop policies and procedures aligned with ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.

 Implement mechanisms to enforce policies consistently across the organization.

 Establish a regular policy review and update cycle.

4. Compliance Management

 Schedule regular internal compliance audits.

 Schedule regular external compliance audits.

 Create a system for regular compliance status reporting.

 Maintain proactive communication with regulators for updates and guidance.

5. Information Security Management System (ISMS)

 Implement technical and administrative security controls.

 Establish a comprehensive incident management process (detection, response, recovery, post-

incident analysis).

 Conduct regular security awareness training for employees.

6. Data Governance

 Classify data based on sensitivity and regulatory requirements (refer to the data classification
checklist).

 Implement data lifecycle management policies (retention, deletion, archiving).

 Deploy Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools to protect sensitive data.

7. Third-Party Risk Management

 Perform due diligence assessments on third-party vendors.

 Monitor third-party performance and risks continuously.

 Include security and compliance requirements in all vendor contracts.

8. Continuous Monitoring and Reporting

 Implement Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools for real-time
monitoring.

 Develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure governance effectiveness.

 Provide regular reports to the governance committee and executives.

9. Incident Response and Crisis Management

  Establish a dedicated Incident Response Team (IRT).

 Develop and document a crisis management plan (communication strategies, roles, recovery
processes).

 Conduct regular incident response simulations and tabletop exercises.

10. Continuous Improvement

 Create feedback loops to integrate lessons learned into the governance framework.

 Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and adaptation to emerging threats.

Implementation Timeline

 Phase 1 (0-3 months)

o Establish governance structure.

o Conduct initial risk assessments.

o Develop key policies.

 Phase 2 (3-6 months)

o Implement compliance management processes.

o Deploy critical security controls.

o Begin continuous monitoring.

 Phase 3 (6-12 months)

o Fully deploy ISMS.

o Implement data governance policies.

o Conduct regular audits and refine incident response plans.

Checklist for Data Classification Implementation

 Define data classification levels (Public, Internal, Confidential, Restricted).

  Identify data types, sources, and locations.
 Determine classification criteria based on regulatory, business, and sensitivity factors.
 Implement automated and manual data classification policies.
 Apply appropriate data handling and protection controls (access control, encryption, DLP).
 Educate and train employees on data classification policies.
 Monitor and review data classification effectiveness.
 Integrate data classification into the incident response plan.
 Document classification decisions and conduct regular audits.
 Establish a data stewardship program for ongoing data management.

ISO 27001 Policy Checklist

1. Information Security Policy

  Define the overall approach to information security.
 Include the scope of the Information Security Management System (ISMS).
 Outline objectives, responsibilities, and compliance requirements.

2. Risk Management Policy

 Establish a process for identifying, assessing, and managing risks.

 Define risk assessment criteria and risk treatment options.
 Document the risk acceptance criteria.

3. Asset Management Policy

 Define the process for identifying and managing information assets.

 Classify assets and assign ownership.
 Include guidelines for handling and protecting assets.

4. Access Control Policy

 Establish guidelines for managing user access to information and systems.

 Define roles and responsibilities for access control management.
 Include procedures for granting, reviewing, and revoking access.

5. Cryptography Policy

 Define the use of cryptographic controls to protect information.

 Include guidelines for encryption, key management, and digital signatures.

6. Physical and Environmental Security Policy

 Establish controls to protect physical assets and environments.

 Include guidelines for secure areas, equipment security, and environmental controls.

7. Operations Security Policy

 Define controls for ensuring the secure operation of information processing facilities.
 Include procedures for change management, capacity management, and malware protection.
 Establish guidelines for logging and monitoring.

8. Communications Security Policy

 Establish guidelines for securing communications and network services.

 Include controls for data in transit, network security, and remote access.
9. Supplier Relationships Policy

 Define the process for managing supplier relationships and risks.

 Include guidelines for security requirements in supplier contracts.
 Establish procedures for monitoring and reviewing supplier performance.

10. Incident Management Policy

 Define the process for managing information security incidents.

 Include guidelines for incident detection, reporting, response, and recovery.
 Establish a procedure for learning from incidents and improving security controls.

11. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policy

 Establish procedures for ensuring the availability of critical business processes.

 Include guidelines for business impact analysis, continuity planning, and disaster recovery.
 Define roles and responsibilities for continuity management.

12. Compliance Policy

 Define the process for ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and contractual
obligations.
 Include guidelines for data protection, intellectual property, and privacy.
 Establish procedures for audit and review to ensure ongoing compliance.

13. Human Resources Security Policy

 Establish guidelines for ensuring information security during the recruitment, employment,
and termination of personnel.
 Include procedures for background checks, security awareness training, and handling
violations.

14. Mobile Device and Teleworking Policy

 Define controls for securing mobile devices and remote working.

 Include guidelines for secure access, device management, and data protection outside the
office environment.

15. Data Classification and Handling Policy

 Define the process for classifying and handling information based on sensitivity.
 Include guidelines for data labeling, storage, transfer, and disposal.
16. Change Management Policy

 Establish procedures for managing changes to information systems.

 Include guidelines for evaluating, authorizing, and documenting changes.

17. Information Security Awareness and Training Policy

 Define the process for providing security awareness and training to employees.
 Include guidelines for regular training sessions and role-specific security education.

18. Privacy Policy

 Establish guidelines for protecting personal data and ensuring privacy.

 Include procedures for data collection, processing, and sharing in compliance with applicable
laws (e.g., GDPR).

Documentation and Review

 Ensure all policies are documented, communicated to relevant stakeholders, and made easily
accessible.
 Establish a review cycle to regularly update policies to reflect changes in regulations, threats,
and business needs.