Cybersecurity risk assessments serve as a critical component in safeguarding government organisations that manage sensitive information or offer essential services. Yet, not all assessments are created equal. Both compliance and technical assessments bring a multitude of benefits to the table but can also have their limitations, making a balanced cybersecurity risk assessment that encompasses both approaches crucial to gaining a comprehensive understanding of security risks and maturity.
In this regard, the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) can provide invaluable assistance to government organisations in aligning their cybersecurity risk assessments with their objectives and context.
Let’s take a deeper look at the Protective Security Policy Framework, why it’s important to understand, and how it can improve cybersecurity risk assessments.
What is the PSPF?
The Protective Security Policy Framework is a set of policies and guidelines that assist Australian Government entities to protect their people, information and assets, both at home and overseas. It was revised in 2018 to reflect the changing security environment and to adopt a more risk-based and outcomes-focused approach.
The framework consists of four protective security outcomes: security governance, information security, personnel security, and physical security. Each outcome has a core requirement and several supporting requirements that describe the minimum level of security acceptable to the government.
It also requires all non-corporate Commonwealth entities to report to their portfolio minister and the Attorney-General’s Department each financial year on their level of maturity against the four outcomes and the 16 core requirements. These reports assure the government that entities continue to implement sound and responsible protective security practices to identify and mitigate security risks and vulnerabilities.
Why is it important to leverage PSPF in cybersecurity risk assessments?
The two types of security assessments most common in cybersecurity—compliance and technical assessments—have their benefits and limitations.
A compliance assessment can help an organisation demonstrate its adherence to best practices and legal obligations, as well as enhance its reputation and trustworthiness. However, a compliance assessment may not cover all the possible scenarios and attack vectors that could affect the organisation, nor guarantee that the security controls are effective in practice.
A technical assessment, on the other hand, can help an organisation discover and address its actual weaknesses and gaps, as well as test its resilience and response capabilities but may not cover all the relevant regulations and policies that apply to the organisation nor ensure that the security controls are sustainable and consistent.
That’s why a balanced cybersecurity risk assessment should combine compliance and technical aspects to provide a comprehensive and accurate picture of the organisation’s security risks and maturity.
The Protective Security Policy Framework can help organisations achieve this alignment, taking into account factors such as their size, sector, culture, resources and stakeholders.
What are the benefits of conducting a balanced cybersecurity risk assessment using the Protective Security Policy Framework?
Consistent and comprehensive approach: The framework helps to establish a consistent and comprehensive approach to security risk management across the organisation, ensuring that all relevant factors and stakeholders are considered.
Resource prioritisation: The framework enables government organisations to prioritise and allocate resources to address the most critical and likely risks, while also maintaining a reasonable level of residual risk.
Compliance improvements: It supports government organisations to meet legal and regulatory obligations, as well as their contractual and reputational commitments, regarding the protection of information and systems.
Resilience and readiness: It enhances the resilience and readiness to respond to and recover from security incidents, minimising the potential impact and disruption to its operations and services.
What are the challenges of implementing the Protective Security Policy Framework?
One significant challenge is the prescriptive nature of the policy, which contains numerous mandatory statements such as “shall,” “must,” “are to,” and “need to”, making it difficult for entities to effectively practise risk management, as they may struggle to balance the policy’s requirements with their unique risk management needs.
The lack of proper security risk training and experience among many employees can also hinder their ability to effectively implement the policy. Furthermore, security risk assessments are often only carried out every two years, which can lead to potential security risks going unnoticed over time, leaving entities vulnerable to security breaches.
Additionally, security managers may not have access to the best tools and resources for creating and managing effective security risk assessments, which can result in incomplete or inaccurate assessments and inadequate security measures.
Gain comprehensive insights into your cybersecurity protocols with a balanced risk assessment backed by the Protective Security Policy Framework
Understanding the PSPF in cybersecurity risk assessments is important for any Australian Government entity that wants to protect its information and assets from cyber threats.
By conducting a balanced cybersecurity risk assessment using PSPF and a capable risk management platform, government organisations can demonstrate their adherence to the minimum level of security acceptable to the government, identify any areas for improvement, and prepare for a more technical-based cybersecurity risk assessment in the future.
