A POA&M is a commitment, not a parking space
A plan of action and milestones converts a known gap into managed work. Used properly it is evidence of a functioning program; used as storage it is a list of things nobody intends to do.
Ideas and field notes
Blog
Practical writing about cybersecurity, compliance, and sustainable security operations.
The risk assessment that should come first
A risk assessment tells the organization which risks it actually has. Nearly every other governance activity, the policy review included, is guesswork without it.
What an annual security policy review should produce
An annual review should test a policy against current obligations and operations, then record decisions, evidence, owners, and follow-up work. Most standards require the review; few organizations get full value from it.
How do you know your security policy and procedures are being followed?
A useful policy and/or procedure identifies the evidence that will show whether the organization is actually following it.
A policy says what; a procedure says how
A policy states what the organization will do; its procedures state how, who, and with what. Keeping them apart makes both usable and keeps neither one stale.