If you’ve taken advantage of our cybersecurity assessments, you know a common question we have for every area is – Is this documented? Why is this so important and often overlooked?
Documentation brings to light duplication, eliminates errors and enhances communication, and although it’s time-consuming, it’s well worth having. Identify your big rocks and schedule 30 min to one hour weekly to work on them. Once you have the first one completed and a process established, it gets easier.
- Documenting your network baseline enables you to readily know when something is amiss.
- If it is documented, the follow through is usually going to happen.
- Enables more staff members to have the same baseline of information and processes.
- Identifies what other staff should be involved in processes.
- In case of an emergency, someone else can step in.
- A copy of documented processes should also be kept off site in case of a disaster.
- Checklists are very helpful for incident response and disaster recovery.
- Documentation of hardware/software with details is necessary for inventory.
- In times of stress, documentation ensures a step is not overlooked.
- All policies should be documented and reviewed annually to ensure the correct groups are receiving the information and updates are sent.
- If policies from state or regional guidance are used, download on-site copies for easy referral.
- Data governance involves data classification, data mapping, data disposal, etc., and documentation validates you know what is being collected, secured and shared.
If you hire a third-party service provider, ask them to provide documentation on your network including diagrams, backup schedules and procedures, base configurations, etc. so you are aware how your network is designed and managed. District IT staff can review this annually with your provider for updates. This includes HVAC and security camera providers – anyone that has access or equipment at your location.
If you experience emergencies or key people are not available, documentation will save time and stress!