No-Fluff Policy Creation Checklist
- Mar 17
- 1 min read
Service Area: Strategic Leadership
Policies only protect you when they reflect reality, assign ownership, and are reviewed on a schedule.
Purpose: Stated in 1–2 sentences.
Scope: Defines who/what/where (employees, contractors, vendors; systems/data; locations/cloud).
Framework mapping: Mapped to your target(s) (NIST CSF, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, PCI-DSS, SOC 2).
Control language: Uses must/shall; no “strive/aim/best effort” statements.
Reality check: Every stated control is enforceable in your current environment (configs, tooling, process).
Ownership: Named policy owner by role (e.g., CISO/CTO) with authority to enforce.
Approvers: Defines required approvers (security, legal, HR, IT) as applicable.
Audience & accessibility: Published where the affected workforce can actually access it.
Exceptions: Documented exception process (request, risk acceptance, expiration, compensating controls).
Enforcement: Consequences for non-compliance are explicit and actionable.
Related documents: Clear links to standards/procedures that define the “how.”
Third-party coverage: Vendor/contractor requirements are included (or referenced) and enforceable.
Data handling: Classification + handling requirements (storage, transmission, retention, disposal).
Identity & access: Account lifecycle + MFA requirements for external-facing/admin access.
Logging & monitoring: Minimum logging + review expectations are defined (who reviews, how often).
Incident handling: Incident reporting expectations and escalation path are stated.
Review cadence: Last reviewed date + next review date (at least annually).
Trigger updates: Required updates after incidents, major tech changes, mergers, or regulatory changes.
Version control: Version history with change owner, date, and rationale.
Need policies that stand up in audits and hold up during incidents? Contact Red Spider Security to build or assess a lean, defensible policy set: https://www.redspidersecurity.com
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