A Reformed Information Security Management System (R-ISMS)

Abstract

An Information Security Management System (ISMS) specifies the instruments and methods that an administration/management level of an institution uses to comprehensibly manage the tasks and activities aimed at achieving information security. ISMS evolved as a systematic and structured approach to managing information following advances in IT infrastructure, services and applications so that they remain secure. While there are various implemented ISMS frameworks, researchers continually try to emphasize and increase human participation in ensuring information security. The aim of this research study is to develop an algorithm-based model to facilitate effective ISMS services for organizations. This algorithm-based ISMS model employed Information Technology General Controls (ITGC) technique as an expansion of the vistas of known ISMS frameworks, to improve information security control in organizations. The purpose of refinement is to make the frameworks more easily understood, implemented, and measured in organizations by stakeholders.Microsoft Office Visio 2010 software was used in designing the reformed model. Bactracking and Branch-and-bound algorithms were used in developing the model. The model utilises the above named methods to address the problem of inadequate management systems for information security. The results of this study showed that, with the level of usability, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards are more easily implemented and well recognized by stakeholders (top management, staff, suppliers, customers/clients, regulators) unlike the other security frameworks.  In conclusion, this study showed that R-ISMS is a customized algorithm model that assists organizations to enhance the ability in monitoring the performance of their activities, policies and procedures.

Keywords:Information Security Management Systems (ISMSs), Reformed ISMS, International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC),  Backtracking / Branch-and-bound algorithms.