Information Classification Policy

Information Classification Policy

Policy Statement

Information Services (Decisive Analytical Systems) Responsibility
All Decisive Analytical Systems employees who come into contact with sensitive internal information are expected to familiarize themselves with this data classification policy and to consistently use these same ideas in their daily business activities. Sensitive information is either Confidential or Restricted information, and both are defined later in this document. Although this policy provides overall guidance, to achieve consistent information protection, Decisive Analytical Systems employees are expected to apply and extend these concepts to fit the needs of day-to-day operations. This document provides a conceptual model for Decisive Analytical Systems for classifying information based on its sensitivity, and an overview of the required approaches to protect information based on these same sensitivity classifications.
Addresses Major Risks
Decisive Analytical Systems data classification system, as defined in this document, is based on the concept of “need to know”. This term means that information is not disclosed to any person who does not have a legitimate and demonstrable business need to receive the information. This concept, when combined with the policies defined in this document, will protect information from unauthorized disclosure, use, modification, and deletion.
Applicable Information
This data classification policy is applicable to all electronic information for which Decisive Analytical Systems is the custodian.

PROCEDURES

Access Control

Need to Know
Each of the policy requirements set forth in this document are based on the concept of need to know. If an Decisive Analytical Systems employee is unclear how the requirements set forth in this policy should be applied to any particular circumstance, he or she must conservatively apply the need to know concept. That is to say that information must be disclosed only to those people who have a legitimate business need for the information.
System Access Control
Proper controls shall be in place to authenticate the identity of users and to validate each user’s authorization before allowing the user to access information or services on the system. Data used for authentication shall be protected from unauthorized access. Controls shall be in place to ensure that only personnel with the proper authorization and a need to know are granted access to systems and their resources. Remote access shall be controlled through identification and authentication mechanisms.
Access Granting Decisions
Access to sensitive information must be provided only after the written authorization of the Data Owner has been obtained. Access requests will be presented to the data owner using the Access Request template. Custodians of the involved information must refer all requests for access to the relevant Owners or their delegates. Special needs for other access privileges will be dealt with on a request-by-request basis. The list of individuals with access to Confidential or Restricted data must be reviewed for accuracy by the relevant Data Owner in accordance with a system review schedule approved by the VP or the Head of Infrastructure.

Information Classification

Owners and Production Information

All electronic information managed by Decisive Analytical Systems must have a designated Owner. Production information is information routinely used to accomplish business objectives. Owners should be at the VP level or above. Owners are responsible for assigning appropriate sensitivity classifications as defined below. Owners do not legally own the information entrusted to their care. They are instead designated members of the management team who act as stewards, and who supervise the ways in which certain types of information are used and protected.

Restricted
This classification applies to the most sensitive business information that is intended for use strictly within the organization. Its unauthorized disclosure could seriously and adversely impact the organization, its customers, its business partners, and its suppliers.
Confidential
This classification applies to less-sensitive business information that is intended for use within the organization. Its unauthorized disclosure could adversely impact the organization or its customers, suppliers, business partners, or employees.
Public
This classification applies to information that has been approved by the management for release to the public. By definition, there is no such thing as unauthorized disclosure of this information and it may be disseminated without potential harm.

Owners and Access Decisions

Data Owners must make decisions about who will be permitted to gain access to information, and the uses to which this information will be put. Data Owners must take steps to ensure that appropriate controls are utilized in the storage, handling, distribution, and regular usage of electronic information.

Object Reuse and Disposal

Storage media containing sensitive (i.e. restricted or confidential) information shall be completely empty before re-assigning that medium to a different user or disposing of it when no longer used. Simply deleting the data from the media is not sufficient. A method must be used that completely erases all data. When disposing of media containing data that cannot be completely erased it must be destroyed in a manner approved by the Head of Infrastructure of Decisive Analytical Systems.

Removable Media
Decisive Analytical Systems staff may only use Decisive Analytical Systems removable media in their work computers. Decisive Analytical Systems removable media may not be connected to or used in computers that are not owned or leased by the Decisive Analytical Systems without explicit permission of Decisive Analytical Systems InfoSec staff. Sensitive information should be stored on removable media only when required in the performance of your assigned duties or when providing information required by other state or federal agencies. When sensitive information is stored on removable media, it must be encrypted in accordance with the Decisive Analytical Systems Acceptable Encryption Policy.

Exceptions to this policy may be requested on a case-by-case basis by Decisive Analytical Systems-exception procedures.

Physical Security

Data Center Access
Access to the data center must be physically restricted in a reasonable and appropriate manner.
Facility Access
All network equipment (routers,, etc.) and servers located in the corporate office and in all facilities must be secured when no personnel, or authorized contractors, are present. Physically secured is defined as locked in a location that denies access to unauthorized personnel.

Special Considerations for Restricted Information

If Restricted information is going to be stored on a personal computer, portable computer, personal digital assistant, or any other single-user system, the system must conform to data access control safeguards approved by Decisive Analytical Systems and Corporate senior management. When these users are not currently accessing or otherwise actively using the restricted information on such a machine, they must not leave the machine without logging off, invoking a password protected screen saver, or otherwise restricting access to the restricted information.

Data Encryption Software
The Employees and vendors must not install encryption software to encrypt files or folders without the express written consent of Decisive Analytical Systems Security.

Information Transfer

Transmission Over Networks
If Restricted data is to be transmitted over any external communication network, it must be sent only in encrypted form. Such networks include electronic mail systems, the Internet, etc. All such transmissions must use a virtual public network or similar software as approved by the Information Security Team.
Transfer To Another Computer
Before any Restricted information may be transferred from one computer to another, the person making the transfer must ensure that access controls on the destination computer are commensurate with access controls on the originating computer. If comparable security cannot be provided with the destination system access controls, then the information must not be transferred.

Software Security

Secure Storage of object and source code
Object and source code for system software shall be securely stored when not in use by the developer. Developers must not have access to modify program files that actually run in production. Changes made by developers must be implemented into production by Technical Operations. Unless access is routed through an application interface, no developer shall have more than read access to production data. Further, any changes to production applications must follow the change management process.
Testing
Developers must at least perform unit testing. Final testing must be performed by the Quality Assurance team or the target user population.
Backup
Sensitive data shall be backed up regularly, and the backup media shall be stored in a secure environment.

Key Management

Protection of Keys
Public and private keys shall be protected against unauthorized modification and substitution.
Procedures
Procedures shall be in place to ensure proper generation, handling, and disposal of keys as well as the destruction of outdated keying material.
Safeguarding of Keys
Procedures shall be in place to safeguard all cryptographic material, including certificates. Decisive Analytical Systems Security must be given copies of keys for safekeeping.

Last Modified: 1st January 2021