policy SME

IoT-OT Security Policy - SME

Ensure secure deployment, management, and monitoring of IoT and OT devices with a clear, SME-compliant security policy aligned to major standards.

Overview

This SME-adapted IoT/OT Security Policy defines mandatory rules for securing, managing, and monitoring all connected devices in office, production, and remote environments. With clear roles for the General Manager and simple controls, it ensures SMEs can enforce best-practice IoT/OT protection and regulatory compliance without specialist IT teams.

Safeguard Devices

Protect office, production, and warehouse IoT/OT systems from unauthorized access and disruption.

SME-Focused Controls

Designed for SMEs with clear roles, no need for dedicated IT teams.

Vendor and Third-Party Compliance

Mandates secure installation and accountability from external providers.

Regulatory Compliance Built-In

Aligns with ISO 27001, NIS2, DORA, GDPR, and NIST for full business protection.

Read Full Overview
The 'IoT / OT Security Policy' (document P35S) is crafted to provide SME organizations a comprehensive, practical framework for securing Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) devices. Recognizing the rapidly growing adoption of smart devices like sensors, cameras, HVAC controllers, and production machinery, this policy sets forth strict, enforceable rules for safe deployment, ongoing monitoring, vendor management, and regulatory compliance. This is explicitly an SME policy, as indicated by both its document number (P35S) and governance structure built around non-IT specialist roles, primarily the General Manager (GM) and designated employees or operations managers, rather than security officers or CISOs. Designed for simplicity and direct applicability, the policy facilitates strong control over IoT/OT environments without assuming organizations have extensive security teams or specialist IT resources. The inclusion of generalized roles ensures compliance and risk management are achievable by typical staff in office, warehouse, or production settings. The policy’s scope covers all planning, installation, configuration, use, support, or disposal of IoT and OT devices, including internal staff, external vendors, and contractors. Controls are extended across all company locations and cloud platforms interfacing with connected systems. Core governance requirements include maintaining a detailed device inventory, enforcing strict network segmentation (e.g., dedicated VLANs for IoT/OT), and mandating strong authentication and password management. The policy also requires regular firmware updates, clear contract clauses with vendors to ensure secure installations, and auditability for third-party work. Each IoT or OT device is tracked by device type, model, location, user assignment, and firmware version, reassessed quarterly to catch outdated or vulnerable assets. Access is strictly limited to authorized staff, and all default credentials must be changed before activation. Devices using cloud services must be secured with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and official company accounts. Additionally, physical devices in public or shared areas must have tamper protection measures. The incident response section directly references alignment with P30S (Incident Response Policy), requiring immediate action and escalation processes if devices are compromised or misbehaving. Risk and compliance procedures involve the GM conducting annual assessments, handling exceptions with compensating controls, and maintaining a risk register. Any violations trigger clear consequences, including access suspension, contract termination, and possible legal action. Regular reviews and communication of policy updates guarantee responsiveness to new threats or technologies, while built-in reporting procedures support whistleblowing and anonymous reports. Compliance with key standards is meticulously mapped, including ISO/IEC 27001:2022, 27002:2022, NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5, EU GDPR, NIS2, and DORA. Collectively, the policy enables SMEs to evidence alignment with international best practices, mitigate regulatory risks, and significantly reduce the chance of business interruption or data breaches linked to connected device environments.

Policy Diagram

Diagram illustrating the IoT/OT security policy flow from device deployment approval, secure configuration, ongoing monitoring, exception management, and annual risk assessment.

Click diagram to view full size

What's Inside

Scope and Rules of Engagement

Device Inventory and Segmentation

Third-Party and Vendor Security Measures

Firmware and Patch Management

Incident Response for IoT/OT

Annual Risk Assessment and Exception Handling

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
ISO/IEC 27002:2022
NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5
EU GDPR
Article 32
EU NIS2
EU DORA
COBIT 2019

Related Policies

Access Control Policy-SME

Enforces device-level login controls, strong password usage, and authorized access procedures for IoT and OT platforms.

Remote Work Policy-SME

Prevents use of remote access to IoT/OT dashboards via insecure or unapproved channels.

Data Protection And Privacy Policy-SME

Applies if IoT devices (e.g., security cameras) process or record personal data, ensuring compliance with GDPR.

Incident Response Policy-SME

Defines procedures for detecting, reporting, and resolving IoT or OT incidents, including suspected tampering or operational failure.

Social Media And External Communications Policy-SME

Ensures that no device information or network layout is shared externally unless approved.

About Clarysec Policies - IoT-OT Security Policy - SME

Generic security policies are often built for large corporations, leaving small businesses struggling to apply complex rules and undefined roles. This policy is different. Our SME policies are designed from the ground up for practical implementation in organizations without dedicated security teams. We assign responsibilities to the roles you actually have, like the General Manager and your IT Provider, not an army of specialists you don't. Every requirement is broken down into a uniquely numbered clause (e.g., 5.2.1, 5.2.2). This turns the policy into a clear, step-by-step checklist, making it easy to implement, audit, and customize without rewriting entire sections.

End-to-End Lifecycle Security

Covers installation, operation, monitoring, and secure disposal to minimize IoT/OT security gaps and risks.

Quarterly Inventory and Update Audits

Mandates regular reviews to identify outdated, unpatched, or unsupported devices before vulnerabilities appear.

Exception Handling with Compensating Controls

Allows time-limited exceptions, but always requires documented risk treatment and mitigation steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Built for Leaders, By Leaders

This policy was authored by a security leader with 25+ years of experience deploying and auditing ISMS frameworks for global enterprises. It's designed not just to be a document, but a defensible framework that stands up to auditor scrutiny.

Authored by an expert holding:

MSc Cyber Security, Royal Holloway UoL CISM CISA ISO 27001:2022 Lead Auditor & Implementer CEH

Coverage & Topics

🏢 Target Departments

IT Security Compliance Operations

🏷️ Topic Coverage

Access Control Network Security Compliance Management Incident Management Risk Management Security Operations
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IoT-OT Security Policy - SME

Product Details

Type: policy
Category: SME
Standards: 7