As organisations fight to protect their systems from security threats sprawled all across the virtual world, IT companies are evolving newer strategies to keep all problems at bay. This involves organisational security at the micro level and compliance with regulations such as the Sarbanes Oxley and ISO/IEC 27001 along with protection of intellectual property. Hence came up the Information Security Management System (ISMS) approach for management and protection of sensitive company information. Information Security Management System includes protection of people, processes as well as IT systems.

The Working
ISMS primarily functions within organisations to secure company data and information from different media of security threats. It does so by managing information security within the enterprise so that it is efficiently able to meet threats that arrive from thriving in an information-centric society. These challenges including evolving information security along with privacy legislation and published guidelines such as the OECD and cyber security. Information Security Management Systems also assist organisations to deal with natural threats of fire, flood and earthquakes, along with manmade IT troubles such as viruses, SPAM, privacy and hacking. Industrial espionage, a remote but relevant threat to organisational security is also curbed with the implementation of ISMS.

It is easily derived from the above description that ISMS is not only able to protect information stored electronically on company devices. Instead, it also includes protection of information available on paper. Appropriate for small as well as large organisations, ISMS is offered by IT companies in a customisable form. Therefore, an effective Information Security Management System can be used across data centres, websites, manufacturing units, and services centres.

Implementation
As always, people are primary to perfect use of this excellent security framework. Companies need to ensure that their staff is accurately trained to use information security management systems. serious buyers involve their staff in training of the systems to ensure absolute usability towards greater security. This is also important because of the dynamic nature of technology itself. In fact, it is ideal to have an organisational strategy with ISMS that is regulated from the top management to the implementation team. Simultaneously, involvement and commitment of the top management is a must to ensure fruitful implementation of the ISMS.

Enterprises must ensure thorough risk assessment so that the right kinds of resources are consumed in the areas of importance. Information needs to be accurately classified so that information security management systems are accurately implemented. For instance, companies can have sub divisions like public, internal use and confidential.

Before implementing an information security management system, organisations must undertake a risk assessment so that appropriate resources are allocated. This way, enterprises are assured that areas of importance are given priority. This includes processes such as desktop audit and total on site audit.

Therefore, an information security management system can work as the perfect security cover, only provided it is implemented smartly and securely.

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Things to do when implementing ISMS

• Before implementing ISMS, purchase the standard documents to familiarise yourself with the procedures.
• Undertake staff training so implement and assess the right ISMS.
• Organisations must review all security threats before implementing an ISMS.
• Companies must have a policy document for efficiency of ISMS.
• One can pick a certification body that tests the efficiency of the ISMS for ISO/IEC 27001:2005 compliance.