How do you design and implement a cryptography policy for your organization?

2 Choose your cryptographic methods

The next step is to choose the appropriate cryptographic methods for your data protection needs. There are two main types of cryptography: symmetric and asymmetric. Symmetric cryptography uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt data, while asymmetric cryptography uses different keys for encryption and decryption. Symmetric cryptography is faster and more efficient, but requires secure key distribution and management. Asymmetric cryptography is more secure and flexible, but requires more computational resources and overhead. You can also use a combination of both methods, such as using asymmetric cryptography to exchange symmetric keys, or using hybrid encryption schemes that combine the advantages of both methods. You also need to select the algorithms, modes, key lengths, and parameters that meet the industry standards and best practices for your chosen methods.

3 Define your cryptographic roles and responsibilities

The third step is to define the roles and responsibilities of the people involved in the cryptographic process, such as data owners, data users, key managers, system administrators, auditors, and regulators. You need to specify who is authorized to create, access, modify, delete, or share encrypted data, keys, or certificates. You also need to define the policies and procedures for key generation, distribution, storage, backup, recovery, rotation, revocation, and destruction. You also need to ensure that the roles and responsibilities are aligned with the principles of least privilege and separation of duties, meaning that no one person or entity has too much power or access over the cryptographic system.

5 Educate your staff and stakeholders

The fifth step is to educate your staff and stakeholders about the importance and benefits of cryptography, as well as the risks and challenges involved. You need to provide training and awareness programs that cover the basics of cryptography, the goals and objectives of your policy, the roles and responsibilities of each participant, and the best practices and guidelines for using encryption. You also need to communicate and collaborate with your internal and external stakeholders, such as business units, customers, partners, vendors, or regulators, to ensure that they understand and support your policy and comply with your standards and expectations.

6 Monitor and review your cryptographic system

The sixth and final step is to monitor and review your cryptographic system on a regular basis to ensure that it is functioning properly and securely. You need to collect and analyze data and feedback from your cryptographic system, such as key usage, encryption performance, security incidents, or user satisfaction. You also need to evaluate and update your policy and controls according to the changes in your data, threats, regulations, or technologies. You also need to conduct audits and assessments to verify the compliance and effectiveness of your cryptographic system and identify any gaps or weaknesses that need improvement.

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?