Noncompliance Risks: Information Security Policies | Exam CISM | ISACA

Situations That Increase Noncompliance Risks to Information Security Policies

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Question

An organization enacted several information security policies to satisfy regulatory requirements.

Which of the following situations would MOST likely increase the probability of noncompliance to these requirements?

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A. B. C. D.

A.

Certainly! The organization's enactment of information security policies is a step in the right direction towards compliance with regulatory requirements. However, the effectiveness of these policies depends on various factors such as their implementation, monitoring, and enforcement.

Out of the given options, the situation that would MOST likely increase the probability of noncompliance to the regulatory requirements is:

A. Inadequate buy-in from system owners to support the policies.

The reason for this is that system owners play a critical role in the implementation and enforcement of security policies. They are responsible for ensuring that their systems and applications comply with the organization's security standards, and they are accountable for any security incidents that occur. If they do not support the policies, they may not take them seriously, which could lead to noncompliance and security breaches.

For example, if a security policy requires the installation of the latest security patches on all systems, but the system owners do not see the value in this and do not prioritize it, the systems may remain vulnerable to attacks. Similarly, if a policy requires the use of strong passwords, but the system owners allow weak passwords to be used, the organization may be noncompliant with regulatory requirements.

On the other hand, the availability of security policy documents on a public website (option B) is not likely to increase the probability of noncompliance. While it may not be ideal to have sensitive information publicly available, it does not necessarily impact compliance unless the policies are not being followed.

Similarly, lack of training for end-users on security policies (option C) may lead to unintentional noncompliance due to ignorance, but it is not as significant as the lack of buy-in from system owners. End-user training is an essential aspect of an organization's security program, but it is not the only factor.

Finally, the lack of an information security governance framework (option D) may indicate a broader problem with the organization's security program, but it is not necessarily an indicator of noncompliance. A governance framework provides a structure for managing and monitoring security-related activities, but it is not the only way to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements.

In summary, the situation that would MOST likely increase the probability of noncompliance to regulatory requirements is inadequate buy-in from system owners to support the policies. The system owners' support is crucial for implementing, monitoring, and enforcing security policies, which are necessary for compliance with regulatory requirements.