Data Protection SOP¶

Sub-procedure for Innovate pillar digital transformation

Overview¶

This sub-procedure defines the implementation of data protection controls based on data classification. It covers encryption, access management, data loss prevention, backup/recovery, and secure data disposal to protect data throughout its lifecycle.

Scope¶

Pillar: Innovate (Digital Transformation) Service Area: Data Governance Related Services: Security Operations, Compliance

Prerequisites¶

Data inventory and classification completed
Data protection policy approved
Control mapping matrix finalized
Budget allocated for protection tools/controls
Technical resources assigned
Change management process established

Procedure¶

Step 1: Protection Requirements Analysis¶

Objective: Define specific protection controls per data class

Review classified data inventory
Identify high-value/high-risk data assets
Map regulatory requirements to controls:

Regulation	Encryption Requirement	Access Control	Logging	Retention
HIPAA	AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.2+ in transit	Role-based + MFA	6+ years	6+ years
PCI DSS	AES-256, tokenization	Need-to-know	1+ year	1+ year after processing
GDPR	Pseudonymization/encryption	Consent-based	Documented	Minimization
SOC 2	Defined in policy	Least privilege	Defined	Defined

Document control requirements per asset
Identify existing controls and gaps
Prioritize gap remediation

Duration: 2-3 days Owner: Security Lead

Step 2: Encryption Implementation¶

Objective: Implement encryption for classified data

Encryption at Rest:
Identify storage systems requiring encryption
Select encryption approach (native, application, third-party)
Implement key management:
- Centralized key management (KMS)
- Key rotation procedures
- Key backup and recovery
Enable encryption on databases, file systems, backups
Validate encryption is active
Encryption in Transit:
Inventory data transmission paths
Implement TLS 1.2+ for all internal/external traffic
Configure certificate management
Disable legacy protocols (SSL, TLS 1.0/1.1)
Validate with network scans

Duration: 5-10 days (varies by scope) Owner: Security Engineer

Step 3: Access Control Implementation¶

Objective: Implement least-privilege access controls

Review current access configurations
Implement role-based access control (RBAC):
Define roles aligned to job functions
Map roles to data access permissions
Remove direct user-to-data access
Implement privileged access management:
Identify privileged accounts
Implement just-in-time access
Enable session recording for sensitive access
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA):
Require MFA for Highly Confidential/Restricted data
Implement MFA for remote access
Configure access recertification:
Quarterly review for sensitive data
Annual review for all access

Duration: 5-10 days Owner: Identity & Access Management Lead

Step 4: Data Loss Prevention (DLP)¶

Objective: Prevent unauthorized data exfiltration

Define DLP policies:
Endpoint DLP (copy, print, USB)
Network DLP (email, web, file transfer)
Cloud DLP (SaaS, IaaS storage)
Configure detection rules:
PII patterns (SSN, credit card, PHI)
Classification labels
Keyword matching
Define policy actions:
Alert only (monitoring mode)
Block with user justification
Block with no override
Deploy DLP agents and configure policies
Tune rules to reduce false positives
Enable reporting and dashboards

Duration: 5-10 days Owner: Security Engineer

Step 5: Backup and Recovery¶

Objective: Ensure data recovery capabilities

Review backup coverage:
All Confidential+ data backed up
Backup frequency aligned to RPO
Backup retention aligned to requirements
Implement backup encryption:
Encrypt backups at rest
Secure key storage separate from backups
Configure backup testing:
Monthly backup validation
Quarterly recovery testing
Document recovery procedures:
Recovery runbooks per system
Contact lists and escalation
Recovery time objectives (RTO)

Duration: 3-5 days Owner: Operations Lead

Step 6: Secure Data Disposal¶

Objective: Ensure secure data destruction

Define disposal requirements:

Classification	Disposal Method	Verification
Public	Standard delete	None required
Internal	Secure delete	Log confirmation
Confidential	DoD 5220.22-M wipe	Certificate
Highly Confidential	Cryptographic erasure or physical destruction	Certificate + witness
Restricted	Physical destruction	Certificate + witness + audit

Implement disposal procedures:
Hardware disposal process
Media sanitization process
Cloud data destruction verification
Maintain disposal certificates
Update asset inventory upon disposal

Duration: 2-3 days Owner: Operations Lead

Step 7: Monitoring and Validation¶

Objective: Verify and maintain protection effectiveness

Configure security monitoring:
Data access logging
Anomaly detection for sensitive data
DLP incident alerts
Establish validation procedures:
Monthly encryption verification
Quarterly access review
Annual control assessment
Document evidence for compliance:
Control operation screenshots
Audit log samples
Test results
Create protection dashboard