How to Develop a System Security Plan

How to Develop a System Security Plan: Everything You Need to Know

Although network security planning can be complex depending on infrastructure and organizational goals, it’s an essential task for every business. For most organizations, developing a security plan is a smart way to protect business assets and keep the network up and running consistently. Learn how to develop a network security plan in this guide.

What Is a Security Plan?

A network security plan is a formal document that defines how a computer, network or information system will be secured and protected from threats, such as:

• Worms
• Viruses
• Unauthorized users

Your security plan should be a “living” document, meaning it should be amendable. Designing flexibility into your plan allows you to quickly adapt to changes occurring in the threat landscape, which is critical for protecting your business’s network both now and in the future.

Typically, the IT departments of businesses that rely on network security will implement these plans. Organizations that receive federal funding may also need to provide a system security plan to meet standards.

Why It’s Important to Have a Security Plan

Thanks to recent developments in cloud technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), the average network has expanded dramatically. As networks grow, though, so do their attack surfaces.

With more entry points to your system, it’s more important than ever to have a strong security plan in place. Information systems are also increasingly essential to day-to-day business operations, making security crucial to preventing costly downtime.

Some organizations may also be required to have a documented security plan. If you store or otherwise handle sensitive data — such as electronic health records (EHRs) subject to HIPAA — you may need to take certain system security measures to stay compliant.

Whether you are required to write a System Security Plan (SSP) or simply want to improve your organization’s data security, thinking carefully about your current risks is a good starting point.

How to Develop a Security System Security Plan

Developing a new system security plan starts by evaluating your current security and its strengths and weaknesses. If you’ve faced any security threats recently, what caused them? How were they resolved? During this stage, identify all the physical and informational assets your system security needs to protect.

Once you understand your organization’s current network security, you can begin developing your security plan using the following process:

1. Risk assessment: Conducting a thorough risk assessment of all your assets and resources will reveal key vulnerabilities within your system, helping you determine what level of security you require.
2. Strategizing: Work with your security team to determine potential strategies for resolving any security gaps you find. Test these solutions if possible.
3. Documentation: Write a detailed plan that outlines all company procedures related to network security. Make this plan accessible to all employees and relevant stakeholders who may need it for reference later.
4. Implementation: Create a reasonable timeline and begin implementing the new system.

What to Include in Your System Security Plan

Your system security plan should include several essential pieces of information:

• A list of authorized users
• What each user is allowed to do on the network
• The access control methods users will use to access the system
• Known strengths and weaknesses of the system
• A list of connections to other systems within your network
• Plans for addressing security weaknesses
• Guidelines for testing security systems
• System backup and restoration procedures
• Any other information required by law in your industry

You’ll also want to include documentation of your process for auditing your system, including guidelines for managing vulnerabilities discovered during the investigation.

Tips for Implementing Your Network Security Plan

The implementation process can make or break your security planning project, which is why taking the time to properly strategize beforehand is so crucial for success.

Following these implementation best practices can help ensure you cover all your bases when your security plan officially goes into effect:

• Establish security controls: The specific set of controls you implement will vary depending on your industry and business model. For example, any company accepting credit card payments must comply with PCI DSS requirements.
• Hire a security provider: Partnering with a managed security service provider (MSSP) on a temporary or permanent basis can augment your existing security team with additional resources and expertise, freeing your staff to focus on their core tasks.
• Train all employees: Periodically conducting security awareness training sessions with new and existing employees educates them on the requirements of your network security plan. Frequent training can also help you communicate to your staff why following these policies is so important, motivating them to put what they learn in training into practice.
• Build a culture of security: Organizations with a “security-first” company culture are better equipped to respond to and resolve threats due to proactive measures like regular security trainings, channels for anonymously reporting policy violations and a robust incident response plan.

Working with a third-party security provider is one of the best ways to save money while ensuring a smooth security plan implementation. Your MSSP’s subject matter experts (SMEs) can guide your in-house staff in infrastructure maintenance, updates and patches, compliance management and any other areas where they need additional assistance to ensure future success.

If you decide to retain your MSSP on an ongoing basis, you can outsource key security tasks to these experts to give your in-house team more time to tackle other responsibilities. You have complete flexibility in deciding what’s right for your organization.

Let DataSpan Help With Your Network Security Challenges

If this process seems like a lot to tackle, that’s OK. Building security from the ground up can be an enormous job. That’s why DataSpan is committed to helping businesses like yours develop custom security plans that meet their unique needs.

With 50 years of experience behind us, we know how important a security plan is to the success of your business. We offer security assessment, consultation and implementation services to help you reduce threats against your network and achieve unparalleled performance. To get started, find your local representative or contact DataSpan today.