This policy provides a simple, structured framework for managing risks to your business. It helps you identify what could go wrong, assess the potential impact, and make informed decisions on how to handle it, turning risk management from a complex chore into a strategic advantage.
-
Make Informed Decisions: Understand your top risks to confidentiality, integrity, and availability so you can protect what matters most.
-
Achieve ISO 27001:2022 Compliance: Implement a formal risk management process, including a Risk Register, which is a core requirement for certification.
-
Assign Clear Ownership: Ensure every significant risk has a designated owner responsible for its treatment, eliminating ambiguity.
-
Prioritize Your Efforts: Use a simple risk scoring method to focus your limited time and resources on the threats that pose the greatest danger to your business.
Read Full Overview
The Risk Management Policy for SMEs is a comprehensive framework designed to systematically identify, evaluate, and manage risks associated with information security, operations, technology, and third-party services. This policy ensures that risk management is seamlessly integrated into planning, project execution, vendor selection, and incident response, aligning with international standards such as ISO 27001:2022, ISO 31000, and regulatory requirements like NIS2 and DORA. Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, from the General Manager setting the organization’s risk appetite to the Risk Coordinator facilitating assessments and maintaining the Risk Register. By embedding risk management into organizational culture, this policy not only safeguards information assets but also provides peace of mind to stakeholders, knowing that potential threats are actively managed.
What's Inside
- Risk Assessment Process
- Risk Register & Documentation
- Risk Treatment Options
- Risk Ownership & Roles
- Annual & Ad-Hoc Risk Reviews
- Risk Scoring & Prioritization
- Exception Handling
- Enforcement & Compliance
Built for Leaders, By Leaders
This policy demystifies risk management, providing a practical process that any business owner can use to make smarter, more secure decisions without needing a dedicated risk department. It was authored by a security leader to be a defensible framework 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 | 6.16.1.3 |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 | 5.45.25 |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 | RA-1RA-2RA-3RA-4RA-5RA-6RA-7PM-9 |
| EU NIS2 | Art. 21(2)(a-d) |
| EU DORA | Art. 5 |
| COBIT 2019 | APO12MEA01 |
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.
P2S - Governance Roles & Responsibilities Policy
Defines who is accountable for risk ownership and decisions.
P5S - Change Management Policy
Requires risk assessment before implementing technical changes.
P17S - Data Protection and Privacy Policy
Addresses regulatory risk associated with handling personal data.
P30S - Incident Response Policy
Ensures that risk treatment continues during and after security incidents.
P33S - Business Continuity Policy
Identifies residual risks and recovery measures for critical services.
About This Policy
A Risk Management Policy is the strategic core of any Information Security Management System (ISMS). It provides a formal, repeatable process for an organization to identify, analyze, evaluate, and treat the risks that threaten its information assets, operations, and reputation. For a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME), a simplified yet robust risk management process is essential for making smart, cost-effective security decisions.
This policy establishes the framework required by ISO 27001:2022, NIS2, and DORA for managing information security risks. It outlines clear roles, defines a process for maintaining a Risk Register, and sets the criteria for risk assessment and treatment. By embedding this process into your business, you move from a reactive to a proactive security posture, enabling you to prioritize resources, demonstrate due diligence to auditors, and protect your business from its most significant threats.
