ID.GV-1: Cybersecurity Policy — NIST Cybersecurity Framework
A documented cybersecurity policy forms the foundation of any compliant organization. ID.GV-1 requires you to establish clear governance standards and communicate them across your business. Without this control, your team lacks direction on security expectations and risk management priorities.
What this means
ID.GV-1 mandates that your organization develop, document, and actively communicate a formal cybersecurity policy. This policy must define your security objectives, roles and responsibilities, risk tolerance, and expectations for all employees and contractors. The policy serves as the north star for all other security controls and demonstrates leadership commitment to governance.
How to comply
- 1.Draft a comprehensive cybersecurity policy that covers risk management, incident response, data protection, and access controls aligned with organizational goals
- 2.Define clear roles and responsibilities for security leadership, IT teams, and individual contributors
- 3.Establish measurable objectives and key results tied to your security policy
- 4.Distribute the policy to all employees and contractors during onboarding and annually thereafter
- 5.Document acknowledgment of policy receipt and understanding from all personnel
- 6.Review and update the policy at least annually or when business/threat landscape changes significantly
- 7.Ensure executive leadership (board/CEO) formally approves and sponsors the policy
Evidence auditors look for
- Signed cybersecurity policy document with approval dates and authority signatures
- Employee training records showing cybersecurity policy acknowledgment and completion
- Policy distribution logs with timestamps and recipient confirmation
- Annual policy review meeting minutes with updates and sign-offs
- Contractor agreements referencing adherence to organizational cybersecurity policy
- Board minutes documenting security policy review and governance oversight
- Policy version control documentation showing revision history and dates
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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