ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Clause 5.2 is titled "Policy." This clause focuses on the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security policy within the organization. The key aspects of this clause include:
- Establishment: The organization must establish an information security policy that is appropriate to the purpose of the organization.
- Inclusion of Commitments: The policy should include commitments to satisfy applicable requirements related to information security and to continual improvement of the information security management system (ISMS).
- Availability: The information security policy must be documented, communicated within the organization, and available to interested parties as appropriate.
- Communication: The policy must be available to, and understood by, all individuals who work for the organization or who work on its behalf. It may also need to be communicated to other interested parties.
- Applicability and Alignment: The policy should be applicable to the organization’s information security risks and aligned with its strategic direction.
- Review: The organization must periodically review the information security policy for continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness, and update it as necessary to ensure it remains relevant and appropriate to the organization.
The information security policy serves as a foundation for setting information security objectives and establishes a general direction and principles for action regarding information security. It is a crucial tool for communicating management’s commitment to information security across the organization and to external parties.