Data Security Policy
Purpose
This policy establishes requirements for securing and protecting data across our organization’s systems, networks, and applications. It defines the controls and procedures necessary to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Scope
This policy applies to all employees, contractors, consultants, temporary staff, and other workers at our organization, including personnel affiliated with third parties. It encompasses all data created, received, stored, or transmitted through our organization’s systems.
Data Protection Requirements
Access Control
- Access to data must be granted based on the principle of least privilege
- Access rights must be reviewed quarterly
- All access must require unique user identification and strong authentication
- Multi-factor authentication is required for access to systems containing sensitive data
- Access must be promptly revoked upon termination or role change
Data Encryption
- All sensitive data should be encrypted at rest
- Data in transit must be encrypted using TLS 1.2 or higher
- Encryption keys must be securely stored and managed
- Key rotation must occur annually or upon suspected compromise
Secure Data Transfer
- File transfers must use secure protocols (SFTP, HTTPS, or equivalent)
- External data sharing should be done judiciously and with peer consent
- Secure transfer methods must be validated before use
Data Handling Procedures
Data Storage
- Sensitive data must only be stored in approved locations
- Regular backups must be performed and tested
- Data must be stored in accordance with the Data Classification Policy
- Temporary storage locations must be regularly cleared
Data Processing
- Data processing must occur only on approved systems
- Processing activities should be logged and monitored
- Data integrity checks should be implemented
- Processing errors should be reported and investigated
Policy Review
- This policy must be reviewed annually
- Updates must be communicated to all personnel
- Version control must be maintained
- Previous versions must be archived