This policy defines how security responsibilities are assigned and managed in your organization. It ensures everyone knows their role, supporting ISO 27001:2022 compliance and building customer trust by demonstrating formal, clear governance.
-
Establish Clear Accountability: Define exactly who is responsible for security tasks like access control and incident response, eliminating confusion.
-
Prevent Fraud & Errors: Implement separation of duties to reduce the risk of internal misuse or conflicts of interest.
-
Simplify Audits: Pass audits with ease by having clearly documented roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
Read Full Overview
The Governance Roles and Responsibilities Policy for SMEs is an essential tool for establishing a strong foundation in information security governance. It defines the framework through which organizational roles and responsibilities are assigned and managed, ensuring a seamless integration with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and other regulatory requirements. This policy applies to business owners, general managers, employees, and external IT service providers involved in governance and oversight of information security. By clearly documenting roles and responsibilities, the policy facilitates effective accountability and decision-making across SMEs. Use cases include establishing clear accountability for security-related duties such as policy management, access control, incident handling, and monitoring. It also enables the effective separation of duties, reducing conflicts of interest and risks of fraud. The policy supports informed decision-making and oversight of IT and security risks, thus building confidence among customers, partners, and auditors.
What's Inside
- Purpose, Scope & Objectives
- Roles & Responsibilities
- Governance Requirements
- Policy Implementation
- Risk Treatment & Exceptions
- Enforcement & Compliance
- Review & Update Requirements
Built for Leaders, By Leaders
This policy was authored by a security leader to be a practical framework that empowers you to manage security effectively, even without a dedicated IT team. It's designed not just to be a document, but a defensible tool that stands up to auditor scrutiny.
Authored by an expert holding:
Framework Compliance
🛡️ Supported Standards & Frameworks
This product is aligned with the following compliance frameworks, with detailed clause and control mappings.
| Framework | Covered Clauses / Controls |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | Clause 5.3 |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 | 5.25.35.4 |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 | PM-1PL-1PL-4CA-1AC-1 |
| EU GDPR | Art. 5(2)Art. 32 |
| EU NIS2 | Art. 21(2)(a) |
| EU DORA | Art. 9Art. 10 |
| COBIT 2019 | EDM03APO13DSS05 |
Part of a Complete ISMS Toolkit
This policy is one of 37 documents in our complete toolkit. When implemented as a set, our framework helps you achieve comprehensive compliance across major standards.
100%
ISO 27001:2022
95%
NIST
88%
NIS2
75%
DORA
70%
GDPR
Related Policies
This foundational policy is directly linked to the following organizational security policies to ensure comprehensive alignment and traceability across the ISMS.
P4S - Access Control Policy
Defines how access is granted, managed, and revoked, directly tied to assigned roles.
P8S - Information Security Awareness and Training Policy
Reinforces role-specific responsibilities and expectations.
P17S - Data Protection and Privacy Policy
Outlines legal duties under GDPR, which are assigned to roles defined in this policy.
P30S - Incident Response Policy
Requires defined responsibilities for reporting, escalation, and resolution of incidents.
About This Policy
This Governance Roles and Responsibilities Policy for SMEs provides the essential framework for assigning and managing information security duties within your organization. It ensures that every individual, from the general manager to employees and external providers, understands their specific security obligations. This clarity is fundamental to establishing accountability, which is a core requirement for ISO 27001:2022 and other major regulations.
The policy's scope covers all business systems and data, ensuring consistent governance across office, remote, and cloud environments. By formally documenting roles, defining delegation procedures, and mandating oversight, this document helps prevent security gaps caused by unclear responsibilities. It is a critical tool for any SME looking to build a structured, auditable, and effective security program that protects the business and builds customer trust.
