Information Classification Policies : An Exploratory Investigation

Open Access

Abstract

InfoSec policies are considered a key mechanism in information security, and most organizations have one. However, the large majority of security policy research has focused on what policies should include rather than how they are accomplished in practice. To contribute to overcoming the lack of knowledge regarding this crucial aspect, this paper investigates information security policies based on what underlying approaches information classification practices are built on and the perceived ease of turning the policy into practice. To do so, a survey was sent to 284 Swedish government agencies, and 80 of their internal policies were collected as data. The data were analyzed both qualitatively, and qualitatively. The results show that information classification adoption rates are low despite being mandatory and that agencies are struggling in closing the gap between standards and practice. Furthermore, the results also show that information classification policies need to be more specific and give more actionable advice regarding, e.g., how information life-cycle management is included in practice, and where the responsibility for classification is put in the organization.