Do you perform background checks on personnel who handle sensitive data?

Explanation of the Question:

This question is asking whether your organization conducts background checks on employees or contractors who have access to sensitive data. Sensitive data can include personal information, financial records, intellectual property, or any other data that could cause significant harm if exposed. The purpose of background checks is to verify the trustworthiness and reliability of individuals who will be handling this data. This helps ensure that they do not pose a risk to the organization through malicious actions, negligence, or other security threats.

Why It Matters:

Performing background checks is a critical security measure because it helps mitigate the risk of insider threats. Insider threats can come from current or former employees, contractors, or business partners who have or had authorized access to an organization's data or information systems. By verifying an individual's past behavior, criminal history, and professional references, organizations can make more informed hiring decisions and reduce the likelihood of data breaches or other security incidents caused by internal actors.

Example of Evidence:

To demonstrate that your organization performs background checks, you might provide documentation of your background check policy, including the criteria used for evaluation (e.g., criminal history, employment history, education verification). Additionally, you could show records or reports of completed background checks for personnel who handle sensitive data, along with any follow-up actions taken based on the findings (e.g., additional training, access restrictions). This evidence should clearly show that background checks are a standard part of your hiring and onboarding processes for roles involving sensitive data.