Best Way to Demonstrate Compliance with Industry Standards

D.

The best way to demonstrate to senior management that organizational security practices comply with industry standards is to present the results of an independent assessment, as stated in option D.

Explanation:

A. A report on the maturity of controls: This option refers to an assessment of how well security controls are designed, implemented, and operating. While a maturity assessment can provide insight into the effectiveness of security controls, it does not provide an independent validation that security practices comply with industry standards.

B. Up-to-date policy and procedures documentation: Having current policies and procedures is an essential aspect of organizational security, but it alone does not demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

C. Existence of an industry-accepted framework: The presence of an industry-accepted framework, such as NIST or ISO, indicates that the organization is aware of industry standards, but it does not demonstrate compliance or validation that the organization follows those standards.

D. Results of an independent assessment: An independent assessment, such as a security audit or a certification process, provides an objective evaluation of an organization's compliance with industry standards. The results of the assessment are typically presented in a report that details the organization's security posture and identifies areas for improvement.

Therefore, option D is the BEST way to demonstrate to senior management that organizational security practices comply with industry standards.