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Information Security (IS18) 

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Purpose

The business of the Queensland Government covers a diverse range of industries and services, with individual agencies having varying technical and operational requirements in terms of information security controls. This Standard enunciates the mandatory requirements for agencies when establishing, implementing and maintaining information security within their organisation.

This standard provides a starting point for the development of individual agency information security management. Agencies must assess specific risks and take reasonable steps to protect information from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

The requirements of this Standard are based on the three elements of information security:

Confidentiality

Ensuring that information is accessible only to those authorised to have access;

Integrity

Safeguarding the accuracy and completeness of information and processing methods; and

Availability

Ensuring that authorised users have access to information and associated assets when required.

Policy statement

The Queensland Government has responsibility for a significant amount of information. Agencies must develop, document, implement and review appropriate security controls to protect this information from unauthorised use or accidental modification, loss and release by:

  • establishing an appropriate information security culture within the agency;
  • implementing security measures commensurate with the information’s value, business significance and sensitivity; and
  • adhering to all legal and legislative requirements.

Issue and review

This Standard was issued by the Director-General of the Department of Public Works in December 2006. Review of this Standard will occur on an annual basis.

Current Version: V3.00 (Reviewed March 2008)

Implementation

The authority for the implementation of the mandatory principles of the Information Standards is primarily derived from the Financial Management Standard 1997. Existing mandatory requirements of the previous version (V2.00) remain unchanged and have been amalgamated into V3.00.

Due to the increasing need for vigilance in the security of information, V3.00 has identified 9 additional requirements:

  • Development of Agency Information Security Plan;
  • Allocation of security functions, roles and responsibilities;
  • Implementation of Queensland Government Information Security Classification Framework (Sections 2 and 5);
  • Implementation of Queensland Government Authentication Framework;
  • Implementation of clear desk/clear screen policy in areas dealing with security classified information;
  • Implementation of wireless communications security;
  • Development of Mobile and Teleworking security processes and risk assessments;
  • Consideration of security requirements in all systems design and analysis; and
  • Development of Disaster Recovery Plan.

These new requirements must be implemented based on the following dates:

High-level risk assessment: Completion June 2007
High risk principles implementation: Completion December 2007

Implementation advice and toolboxes

Implementation advice and toolboxes are provided to assist agencies in implementing the mandatory principles of each Information Standard.

IS18 implementation toolboxIS18 implementation toolbox

Mandatory principles

Principle 1 - Agency security policy and planning

Agency management must recognise the importance of, and demonstrate a commitment to, maintaining a robust agency information security environment. A clear direction must be provided through the development and implementation of an agency information security policy and an agency information security plan. At a minimum, the policy and plan must:

  • detail the direction, scope and approach to the management of information security issues and risks within the agency;
  • be reviewed and evaluated in line with changes to agency business and information security risks;
  • be consistent with the requirements of the agency General Security plan and information security risk assessment findings; and
  • be communicated on an on-going basis and be accessible to all appropriate agency employees.

Implementation advice

Principle 2 - Security framework and third party access

A framework must be established within each agency to provide direction and coordinated management of information security. Frameworks must be appropriate to the level of security risks to the agency information environment. At a minimum, agencies must:

  • allocate and document security functions, roles and responsibilities to implement, maintain and control operational information security within the agency and/or with third party or outsourced service providers;
  • document agency requirements for information security when entering into outsourcing contracts and arrangements with contractors and consultants; and
  • ensure that prior to providing third parties access to Government information and systems, security controls commensurate with the security classification of the information or system, are in place or clearly defined in appropriate agreements or contracts.

Implementation advice

Principle 3 - Information asset classification and control

Agencies must implement policies and procedures for the classification and protective control of information assets (in electronic and paper-based formats) which are commensurate with their value, importance and sensitivity. When addressing classification and control policies and procedures, the agency must at a minimum ensure:

  • all ICT assets (including hardware, software and services) and information assets used in agency operations are identified, documented and assigned owners for the maintenance of security controls;
  • the classification of all information assets is in accordance with Queensland Government Information Security Classification Framework - Section 2;
  • the control of all security classified information assets (including handling, storage, transmission, transportation and disposal) is in accordance with Queensland Government Information Security Classification Framework - Section 5;
  • classification schemes do not limit the provision of relevant legislative requirements under which the agency operates; and
  • disposal of public records is in accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements and with the agency's Retention and Disposal Schedules, as approved by the State Archivist or in accordance with the Public Records Act 2002.

Implementation advice

Principle 4 - Human resource security

Agencies must minimise the risk of loss or misuse of information assets by ensuring that security controls are incorporated into agency human resource management. At a minimum, agencies must:

  • implement induction and ongoing training and security awareness programs, to ensure that employees are aware of and acknowledge their security responsibilities and that employees are provided with the appropriate skills for the correct use of agency information, systems, facilities and devices;
  • document security roles and responsibilities where employees have access to security classified information or perform specific security related roles, and ensure that security requirements are addressed, in recruitment and selection and in job descriptions;
  • develop and implement procedures for the separation of employees from, or movement within, the agency;
  • communicate responsibilities and procedures to all employees including contractors and third parties for the timely reporting of security incidents including breaches, threats and security weaknesses; and
  • ensure that security violations or breaches are investigated and where it is found that a deliberate violation or breach has occurred, that formal disciplinary processes are applied.

Implementation advice

Principle 5 - Physical and environmental security

The level of physical controls implemented must minimise or remove the risk of equipment or information being rendered inoperable or inaccessible, or being accessed, used or removed without appropriate authorisation. At a minimum, agencies must ensure that:

  • building and entry controls are in place for areas used in the processing and storage of security classified information;
  • physical security protection (commensurate with the security classification the level of the information) is in place for all government offices, rooms, storage facilities and cabling infrastructure;
  • computer and communications equipment, where practical, are located in secure areas with access control mechanisms in place to restrict use to authorised personnel only, and that where physical controls are not possible, other control methods are in place;
  • policies and processes are implemented to monitor and protect the use and/or maintenance of information, equipment, storage devices and media away from agency premises, and in situations where a risk assessment determines, additional control mechanisms are in place;
  • policies and processes are implemented for the secure disposal and/or reuse of equipment, storage devices and media (including, delegation, approval, supervision, removal methods and training of employees) which are commensurate with the security classification level of the information stored on the asset; and
  • general control policies including a clear desk and clear screen policy are implemented in information processing areas that deal with security classified information.

Implementation advice

Principle 6 - Operational security management

Operational procedures and controls must be documented and implemented to ensure that information, information systems and network tasks are managed securely and consistently, in accordance with the level of required security. Agencies must at a minimum ensure:

  • incident management procedures and mechanisms to review violations are in place to ensure appropriate responses in the event of security incidents, breaches or failures;
  • adequate controls are in place for the prevention, detection, removal and reporting of attacks of malicious and mobile code on information systems and networks;
  • comprehensive systems maintenance processes and procedures including operator and audit/fault logs and information backup procedures are in place;
  • operational change control procedures are implemented to ensure that changes to information processing facilities or systems are appropriately approved and managed;
  • methods for exchanging information in all forms, between agencies and/or third parties are compliant with legal and legislative requirements and consistent with the classification schemes and controls defined in the Queensland Government Information Security Classification Framework; and
  • on-line transactions and services are assessed against and consistent with the requirements of the Queensland Government Authentication Framework.

Implementation advice

Principle 7 - Access controls

Control mechanisms based on business owner requirements and assessed/accepted risks must be in place for controlling access to all information, information systems, networks (including remote access), infrastructures and applications. Access control rules must be consistent with agency business requirements and information classification as well as legal and legislative obligations. At a minimum, agencies must ensure that:

  • access requirements are assessed against the Queensland Government Authentication Framework;
  • access to agency information systems requires specific authorisation and that each user is assigned an individually unique personal identification code and secure means of authentication;
  • policies and procedures are defined, documented and implemented for the management of operating systems security, including user registration, authentication management, access rights and privileges to systems or application utilities;
  • restricted access and authorised use only warnings are displayed upon access to all agency systems;
  • where wireless communications are used, that the security features of the product are appropriately configured and afford at least the equivalent level of security of wired communications;
  • control measures are implemented to detect and regularly log, monitor and review information systems and network access and use, including all significant security relevant events;
  • risk assessments are conducted and policies and processes are defined for mobile technologies and teleworking facilities; and
  • security risks associated with use of ICT facilities and devices (including non-government equipment) within the agency such as mobile telephony, personal storage devices and internet and email, are assessed prior to connection and appropriate controls implemented.

Implementation advice

Principle 8 - System development and maintenance

Security controls must be in place during all stages of system development, as well as when new systems are implemented into the operational environment. Such controls must be commensurate with the security classification of the information contained within, or passing across, information systems, networks infrastructures and applications. When establishing new systems or implementing improvements to current information systems including off-the-shelf or outsourced software development, agencies must at a minimum ensure:

  • security requirements are addressed in the specifications, analysis and/or design phases and that internal and/or external audit are consulted when implementing new or significant changes to financial and critical business information systems;
  • processes including data validity checks, audit trails and activity logging are included in applications to ensure the accuracy and integrity of data captured or held in applications;
  • authentication techniques and policies are consistent with those of the Queensland Government Authentication Framework requirements;
  • appropriate change control, acceptance and system testing, planning and migration control measures are carried out when upgrading or installing software in the operational environment;
  • that access to system files is controlled to ensure integrity of the business systems, applications and data; and
  • access controls including access restrictions and segregation/isolation of systems are identified and implemented into all infrastructures, business and user developed applications.

Implementation advice

Principle 9 - Business continuity and disaster recovery management

A managed process including documented plans must be in place to enable the information environment to be restored or recovered in the event of a disaster or major security failure. At a minimum, agencies must:

  • establish processes to assess the risk and impact of the loss of information or systems on agency business in the event of a disaster or security failure;
  • develop methods for reducing known risks to agency information or systems; and
  • ensure business continuity and disaster recovery plans are maintained and tested to ensure systems and information are available and consistent with agency business and service level requirements.

Implementation advice

Principle 10 - Compliance

Agency information security controls for all information processes, systems and infrastructure must adhere to any legislative or regulatory obligations under which the agency operates. To ensure all legal, statutory, regulatory, contract or privacy obligations relating to information security are managed appropriately agencies must at a minimum:

  • ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to monitor, review and audit agency information security effectiveness, including the assignment of appropriate security roles and engagement of internal and/or external auditors and specialist organisations where required; and
  • all agency information security policies, processes and requirements including contracts with third parties, are reviewed for compliance on a regular basis and reported to appropriate agency management.

Implementation advice

Last updated: 7/10/2008 2:25 AM