Available Policy Templates
DSALTA provides templates for all major policy types required by common frameworks:
Core Security Policies
Information Security Policy
Overall security program governance
Security roles and responsibilities
Policy review and update procedures
Applies to: All frameworks
Access Control Policy
User authentication requirements
Authorization procedures
Access review processes
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, most frameworks
Acceptable Use Policy
System usage expectations
Prohibited activities
Personal use guidelines
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001
Password Policy
Password complexity requirements
Password rotation schedules
Password manager requirements
Applies to: All frameworks
Data Protection Policies
Data Classification Policy
Data sensitivity levels
Handling requirements per classification
Labeling and marking standards
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR
Encryption Policy
Encryption standards and algorithms
Data-at-rest protection
Data-in-transit requirements
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS
Data Retention and Disposal Policy
Retention periods by data type
Secure disposal procedures
Legal hold processes
Applies to: GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001
Privacy Policy
Personal data collection practices
Data subject rights
Cookie policies
Applies to: GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA
Operational Policies
Change Management Policy
Change request procedures
Approval workflows
Testing requirements
Rollback procedures
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001
Backup and Recovery Policy
Backup schedules and frequency
Recovery time objectives (RTO)
Recovery point objectives (RPO)
Testing procedures
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001
Incident Response Policy
Incident classification
Response procedures
Communication protocols
Post-incident review
Applies to: All frameworks
Monitoring and Logging Policy
Log collection requirements
Retention periods
Review procedures
Alert thresholds
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA
Organizational Policies
Risk Management Policy
Risk assessment methodology
Risk appetite and tolerance
Risk treatment options
Review frequency
Applies to: ISO 27001, SOC 2
Business Continuity Policy
Continuity planning approach
Critical business functions
Recovery priorities
Testing requirements
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001
Vendor Management Policy
Vendor assessment procedures
Security requirements for vendors
Ongoing monitoring
Contract requirements
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA
Physical Security Policy
Facility access controls
Visitor management
Equipment protection
Environmental controls
Applies to: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA
Training and Awareness Policy
Security training requirements
Training frequency
Role-specific training
Compliance training
Applies to: All frameworks
Understanding Template Content
Policy templates include:
Framework-Aligned Language
Pre-written content that satisfies specific framework requirements. Templates reference the exact controls they address, making audit preparation easier.
Industry Best Practices
Templates incorporate proven approaches from successful compliance programs, saving you from reinventing the wheel.
Placeholder Text
Sections marked with [brackets] indicate where you insert organization-specific information:
[Company Name]
[Department Name]
[Specific Tool/System]
[Time Period/Frequency]
[Name/Title]
Guidance Notes
Italicized notes explaining:
Why sections are included
How to customize for your needs
What auditors look for
Common pitfalls to avoid
These notes should be removed before finalizing the policy.
Optional Sections
Some templates include optional sections for specific scenarios. Remove sections that don't apply to your organization.
Template Customization Process
Step 1: Select the Right Template
Choose the template matching your policy need. If multiple templates seem relevant, review each one's scope and applicability notes.
Step 2: Initial Review
Read through the entire template before making changes:
Understand the overall structure
Identify required customizations
Note optional sections to keep or remove
Plan organization-specific additions
Step 3: Replace Placeholders
Search for [bracketed text] and replace with your details:
Before: "[Company Name] encrypts all customer data using [encryption standard]."
After: "DSALTA encrypts all customer data using AES-256."
Before: "Access reviews are conducted [frequency] by [role/department]."
After: "Access reviews are conducted quarterly by the IT Security team."
Step 4: Adjust Scope and Applicability
Modify "Scope" sections to match your environment:
Remove requirements that don't apply:
Physical security details if you're fully remote
Data center controls if using cloud providers
Manufacturing-specific controls for software companies
Add requirements unique to your operation:
Industry-specific regulations
Customer contractual obligations
Organizational standards exceeding framework minimums
Step 5: Align with Actual Practices
This is the most important step: ensure policies reflect reality.
Review your evidence:
What do integrations show you're actually doing?
What processes do teams actually follow?
What tools do you actually use?
Update policy language accordingly:
Don't claim annual reviews if you do them quarterly
Don't specify tools you don't use
Don't document procedures you don't follow
Auditors compare policies to evidence. Mismatches are red flags indicating either policy violations or inaccurate documentation.
Step 6: Add Specificity
Make policies actionable by adding specific details:
Generic: "We protect sensitive data." Specific: "Sensitive data is encrypted at rest using AES-256, in transit using TLS 1.2+, and access is restricted to authorized personnel via role-based access controls."
Generic: "We perform background checks." Specific: "Criminal background checks are conducted on all employees before their start date through [Vendor Name], with results reviewed by HR"
Step 7: Remove Template Guidance
Delete all guidance notes (usually in italics or highlighted) that explained customization. These are for your reference during editing, not part of the final policy.
Step 8: Add Organization Context
Include relevant context that helps employees understand:
Why does this policy exist for your organization
How it supports business objectives
What problems does it prevent
How it's enforced
Customization Examples
Example 1: Access Control Policy
Template Version: "[Company Name] requires multi-factor authentication (MFA) for [scope of systems]."
Customized Version: "DSALTA requires multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all systems containing customer data, including:
Production AWS environments
GitHub repositories
Google Workspace accounts
Internal admin panels
VPN access
MFA is enforced through Google Workspace as our identity provider, using either authenticator apps or hardware security keys. SMS-based MFA is not permitted."
Example 2: Data Retention Policy
Template Version: "[Company Name] retains [data type] for [retention period] to satisfy [business/legal requirement]."
Customized Version: "DSALTA retains customer data for the following periods:
Active customer data: Retained while the customer account is active
Application logs: 1 year for security analysis and troubleshooting
Audit logs: 7 years for compliance and legal requirements
Financial records: 7 years per IRS requirements
Security incident records: 3 years for trend analysis
Data is securely deleted within 30 days of retention period expiration using secure deletion procedures documented in our Data Disposal Standard Operating Procedure."
When to Combine Templates
Sometimes multiple templates can be combined if they cover related topics and share the same audience:
Consider combining:
Password Policy + Access Control Policy
Backup Policy + Business Continuity Policy
Privacy Policy + Data Classification Policy
Keep separate when:
Policies have different owners
Update frequencies differ significantly
Audiences are distinct
Framework mapping differs
Creating Policy Families
Large organizations may create policy hierarchies:
High-Level Policy: Board-approved strategic direction
Standards: Specific requirements and metrics
Procedures: Step-by-step implementation details
Guidelines: Recommendations and best practices
DSALTA templates typically combine policy and standards. You can extract procedures into separate documents if needed for your organizational structure.
Template Limitations
Templates provide excellent starting points, but may not cover:
Industry-Specific Requirements: Healthcare, financial services, or other regulated industries may need additional content
Customer-Specific Obligations: Specific customer contracts may impose unique requirements
Organizational Complexity: Multi-national organizations may need additional considerations
Emerging Technologies: New technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT) may need custom policy sections
Add these elements to templates as needed.
Maintaining Template-Based Policies
Even after customization, template-based policies benefit from:
Annual Reviews: Verify policies still reflect current practices
Framework Updates: Incorporate changes to compliance standards
Organizational Changes: Update as your company grows or changes
Lessons Learned: Incorporate insights from audits or incidents
DSALTA notifies you when template source content is updated, allowing you to incorporate improvements.