How can you reconcile differing security standards and frameworks within your organization?

1 Assess your current situation

The first step is to understand your current security posture and the standards and frameworks that apply to your organization. You can use tools such as gap analysis, maturity assessment, or risk assessment to identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as the gaps and overlaps between different security domains. You should also review your contracts, regulations, and policies to determine your legal and contractual obligations and expectations.

2 Prioritize your goals

The next step is to prioritize your security goals and objectives, based on your business needs, risk appetite, and stakeholder expectations. You should align your security strategy with your organizational vision and mission, and communicate it clearly to your staff and partners. You should also consider the costs, benefits, and feasibility of implementing different security measures and controls, and balance them with your available resources and capabilities.

3 Harmonize your processes

The third step is to harmonize your security processes and practices, by adopting a common language, framework, and methodology for security management. You can use best practices and guidelines from reputable sources, such as ISO 27000 series, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, or COBIT, to establish a consistent and comprehensive approach to security governance, risk management, and compliance. You should also document your security policies, procedures, and standards, and ensure they are updated and reviewed regularly.

4 Integrate your tools

The fourth step is to integrate your security tools and technologies, by using common platforms, systems, and formats for security monitoring, reporting, and auditing. You can use tools such as security information and event management (SIEM), security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR), or security configuration management (SCM) to collect, analyze, and respond to security data and events from different sources. You should also use tools such as security dashboards, scorecards, or metrics to measure and demonstrate your security performance and compliance.

5 Collaborate with your stakeholders

The fifth step is to collaborate with your stakeholders, by building trust, transparency, and accountability for security across your organization. You can use tools such as security awareness training, security champions, or security committees to educate and engage your staff and partners on security issues and best practices. You should also use tools such as security audits, assessments, or certifications to validate and verify your security compliance and maturity, and share your results and feedback with your clients, regulators, and auditors.

6 Learn from your experience

The sixth step is to learn from your experience, by continuously improving your security processes, practices, and tools based on your feedback, lessons learned, and industry trends. You can use tools such as security incident management, root cause analysis, or post-mortem reviews to identify and address your security weaknesses and incidents, and implement corrective and preventive actions. You should also use tools such as security benchmarking, research, or innovation to identify and adopt new security standards, frameworks, and solutions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?