When a proposed system change violates an existing security standard, how should the conflict be resolved?

Calculating the risk associated with a proposed system change that violates an existing security standard is a fundamental practice in information risk management. This approach allows stakeholders to assess the potential impact of the change on security and the overall risk posture of the organization. By executing this analysis, one can quantify the likelihood of threats exploiting vulnerabilities introduced by the system change and evaluate the consequences of such exploitation on the organization’s assets, operations, and reputation.

Engaging in a risk assessment also facilitates informed decision-making by weighing the benefits of implementing the proposed change against the risks it may introduce. This process fosters a better understanding of the trade-offs involved and can lead to more strategic and informed actions, such as potentially redesigning the system change or implementing additional controls to mitigate identified risks.

While enforcing security standards, redesigning the system, or implementing mitigating controls are also important strategies in managing security compliance, these actions can be seen as responses to the situation rather than proactive risk assessment methods. Calculating risk thus serves as an essential first step that can guide whether and how to proceed with the proposed change while ensuring organizational security remains intact.