Due care is a legal standard that establishes a duty for people or any organization to act in a reasonable manner based upon the circumstances of a particular situation. This means that a person or organization’s conduct must not cause unreasonable harm to anyone else. It refers to the level of judgment, care; prudence, determination, and activity that a person would reasonably be expected to do under particular circumstances. The precise definition is usually made on a case-by-case basis, judged upon the law and circumstances in each case.
Administrative controls consist of policy, technique, clear codes, guidance, and instructions that are put into place to regulate the actions of individuals. Administrative controls demonstrate due care by placing the essential policies, procedures, and practices to reinforce policies of the organization. These controls are allocated into various features from access list to control spaces, password and user id for employees and separation of duties to ensure you reduce the risk of data security.
The administrative controls that we will look at provide assurance of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information through guidelines and standards. Administrative controls fall into two categories either preventive and detective, these controls illustrate the CIA triad of protection of integrity of resources, availability of assets (computer uptime), or confidentiality employee controlled access.
The absence of administrative control does impact corporate liability, mainly during a compliance review it is determined that the organization has not regulated any steps to successfully decrease the occurrences of protection issues and not dividing responsibilities in main positions. If such administrative controls, policies and procedures are lacking, the organization suffers from reliability concerns, and/or be accountable to shareholders as well as penalizes for non-compliance; either in financial or information security issues.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Title IV section 404 that “requires all publicly traded companies to confirm that they have effective internal controls.” In any legal complications, an absence of Administrative controls reveals the company’s awareness and carefulness against the security and competency to retain private information.
Administrative Controls influence the choice of Technical and Physical Controls by selecting the appropriate security processes and procedures to efficiently handle critical events in an organization. Without such guidance and control measures, there would be no foundation on which that controls can be built upon. Security policies are key to the establishment of a comprehensive information security program that includes technical and physical controls and are usually the first step in IT security.
Policies should define all controls; administrative, technical, and physical and how these controls are implemented and maintained. Security policies can cover access control, audits, roles and responsibilities, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus, passwords, smart cards, locks and keys, and biometric access controls.
Physical security is the use of locks, security guards, badges, alarms, and similar measures to control access to computers, related equipment (including utilities), and the processing facility itself. In addition, measures are required for protecting computers, related equipment, and their contents from espionage, theft, and destruction or damage by accident, fire, or natural disaster (e.g., floods and earthquakes).
Policies play a crucial role in defining and implementing controls to ensure the security of an organization’s information systems and assets. These controls encompass administrative, technical, and physical measures that collectively safeguard against potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Administrative controls refer to the policies and procedures put in place to manage and govern the security of an organization’s systems. This can include access control policies, which outline the rules and guidelines for granting and revoking access to sensitive information. Audits are another administrative control, allowing organizations to assess and monitor their security posture through regular assessments and evaluations.
Technical controls involve the use of technology to protect information systems. Intrusion detection systems are a common technical control used to identify and respond to unauthorized access attempts or malicious activities. Anti-virus software is another example, providing protection against malware and other malicious software. Passwords, smart cards, and biometric access controls are also technical controls that help ensure only authorized individuals can access sensitive systems and data.
Physical security measures are equally important in protecting an organization’s information assets. These measures involve the use of physical barriers and deterrents to control access to computers, equipment, and the processing facility itself. This can include locks, security guards, badges, and alarms. By implementing these measures, organizations can limit physical access to their systems and prevent unauthorized individuals from tampering with or stealing sensitive information.
Furthermore, physical security measures extend beyond access control. Organizations need to consider protective measures to safeguard computers, equipment, and their contents from various threats. This can involve protecting against espionage, theft, and destruction or damage caused by accidents, fires, or natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Implementing robust physical security measures ensures the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of an organization’s information systems and assets.
In summary, comprehensive security policies should cover administrative, technical, and physical controls to safeguard an organization’s information systems and assets. These policies define how controls are implemented and maintained, ensuring the organization is equipped to protect against potential threats and vulnerabilities. By understanding and implementing these controls, organizations can establish a strong security posture and mitigate risks effectively.