Framework Category

Policy

Policy establishes and maintains enforceable rules for managing cybersecurity risks, aligned with the organization’s context, strategy, and priorities.

Policies are regularly reviewed and updated to stay effective amid evolving threats, technologies, and business needs.

Implementation Questions

GV.PO-01

Policy for managing cybersecurity risks is established based on organizational context, cybersecurity strategy, and priorities and is communicated and enforced

Has your organization established and communicated a formal risk management policy that clearly articulates management's intent, expectations, and direction?

A formal risk management policy serves as the foundation for an organization's approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating security risks. It should clearly define roles and responsibilities, risk tolerance levels, assessment methodologies, and response procedures that align with business objectives. Without a well-defined policy, risk management efforts may be inconsistent, ineffective, or misaligned with organizational goals.

Does your organization have a process to regularly review and update cybersecurity policies and procedures to ensure alignment with your risk management strategy and overall cybersecurity objectives?

Regular review of cybersecurity policies ensures they remain relevant to current threats and business objectives. Without periodic reviews, policies may become outdated as technology environments, threat landscapes, and organizational priorities change over time. This alignment is crucial for effective risk management and resource allocation.

Does your organization require formal approval from senior management for all security policies?

Security policies should be formally approved by senior management to ensure leadership accountability and organizational alignment with security objectives. This approval process demonstrates management's commitment to security and helps enforce policy compliance throughout the organization. Without senior management approval, policies may lack authority or fail to receive necessary resources for implementation.

Has your organization formally documented and communicated its cybersecurity risk management policy, processes, and procedures to all relevant stakeholders?

This question assesses whether your organization has established clear cybersecurity risk management guidance and effectively shared it throughout the organization. Proper communication ensures all employees understand their roles in managing cybersecurity risks, the procedures to follow, and how risk decisions are made within the organization.

Does your organization require personnel to formally acknowledge receipt and understanding of security policies at onboarding, annually, and after policy updates?

Regular acknowledgment of security policies ensures employees remain aware of their security responsibilities and any changes to those responsibilities over time. This practice creates accountability and helps establish a culture of security awareness throughout the organization.

GV.PO-02

Policy for managing cybersecurity risks is reviewed, updated, communicated, and enforced to reflect changes in requirements, threats, technology, and organizational mission

Does your organization regularly update cybersecurity policies based on risk management review results to maintain acceptable risk levels?

This question assesses whether your organization has an established process to periodically review cybersecurity risk management findings and incorporate those insights into policy updates. Effective risk management requires continuous improvement as threats evolve, technologies change, and organizational priorities shift. Without regular policy updates informed by risk assessments, security controls may become outdated or misaligned with actual risk exposure.

Does your organization have a documented timeline for reviewing and updating security policies in response to changes in the risk environment or mission objectives?

Regular reviews of security policies ensure they remain aligned with the organization's evolving risk landscape and business objectives. Changes in technology, regulatory requirements, business operations, or threat intelligence may necessitate policy updates to maintain effective security controls.

Does your organization have a process to regularly review and update security policies to reflect changes in legal and regulatory requirements?

This question assesses whether your organization maintains compliance with evolving legal and regulatory landscapes by systematically updating security policies. Organizations operate in dynamic regulatory environments where requirements related to data protection, privacy, industry-specific regulations, and international standards frequently change. Without regular policy updates, organizations risk non-compliance, potential fines, and security gaps.

Does your organization have a process to update security policies in response to changes in technology adoption (e.g., AI) and business changes (e.g., acquisitions, new contract requirements)?

Security policies must evolve alongside technological and business changes to remain effective. When organizations adopt new technologies like AI, cloud services, or IoT devices, or undergo business changes such as mergers, acquisitions, or new client contracts with specific security requirements, existing policies may become inadequate or outdated. Without regular updates, security gaps can emerge that leave the organization vulnerable to new threats or compliance issues.