Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Information Security GovernanceMedium
A global organization is expanding its digital services into several new countries. The CISO must ensure that the information security program effectively addresses the diverse legal and regulatory landscape. Which of the following approaches BEST supports this objective?
- AOutsourcing all legal compliance responsibilities to an external law firm.
- BConducting a jurisdictional legal and regulatory impact assessment for each new region.
- CAdopting only international security standards like ISO 27001 and NIST CSF.
- DImplementing a 'one-size-fits-all' security policy based on the strictest regional regulations.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Conducting a jurisdictional legal and regulatory impact assessment for each new region.
A jurisdictional legal and regulatory impact assessment is the best approach. This involves systematically identifying and evaluating the specific data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity laws applicable in each new country, allowing the organization to tailor its security program to meet these diverse requirements effectively.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While external legal counsel is valuable, outsourcing all responsibility without internal understanding or integration into the security program is insufficient for ongoing compliance.
- C. International standards provide good practice but do not automatically ensure compliance with specific national or regional legal and regulatory mandates.
- D. A 'one-size-fits-all' approach may be overly restrictive or fail to meet specific regional requirements, leading to inefficiencies or non-compliance.
Jurisdictional Legal Assessment
The process of identifying and evaluating the specific legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations pertinent to an organization's operations within different geographic regions or jurisdictions.
- Essential for global organizations.
- Addresses diverse data privacy, security, and residency laws.
- Informs policy development and control implementation.
Memory trick: Each land has its law; assess before you leap.