Information Security Engineer Goals and Objectives Examples
Coordinate and oversee all security-related activities for the organization.
Monitor system logs regularly to ensure that unauthorized access is prevented.
Maintain an accurate inventory of all hardware and software assets in the organization.
Develop and implement security policies and procedures that are consistent with industry standards.
Manage and administer firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security tools.
Evaluate new security products and recommend their implementation where necessary.
Implement and maintain a backup plan that ensures critical data can be retrieved in the event of a disaster.
Regularly perform vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential security weaknesses.
Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR.
Monitor the dark web for any information pertaining to the organization that could be used against it.
Work with vendors and third-party service providers to ensure that their security practices are up to par.
Provide regular training to employees on how to stay safe online and recognize phishing attacks.
Be available 24/7 to respond to any security incidents that may occur.
Conduct regular security audits to identify areas that require improvement.
Ensure that all system upgrades and patches are implemented in a timely manner.
Configure and manage access control lists (ACLs) to restrict access to sensitive data.
Implement a disaster recovery plan that ensures the organization can quickly recover from any major outage.
Work with the legal team to ensure that contracts with vendors contain appropriate security clauses.
Perform forensic analysis on compromised systems to determine the extent of any damage done.
Monitor employee behavior to detect any signs of malicious activity.
Conduct security awareness training for new hires during their onboarding process.
Develop incident response plans that outline how the organization will respond to different types of attacks.
Work with HR to ensure that employees who leave the company have their accounts deactivated promptly.
Monitor privileged user activity to ensure they are not abusing their privileges.
Implement multi-factor authentication wherever possible to increase security.
Ensure that all remote access connections are secure and encrypted.
Create and maintain documentation on all systems, applications, and processes related to information security.
Update security policies and procedures as needed based on changes in the threat landscape or business environment.
Conduct regular risk assessments to identify areas where the organization is vulnerable to attack.
Ensure that all new systems and applications are designed with security in mind from the ground up.
Work with developers to ensure that code reviews are performed regularly to identify any flaws in the application code.
Ensure that all laptops and mobile devices are encrypted and password protected.
Configure email filters to block spam and phishing emails from reaching employees' inboxes.
Monitor social media for mentions of the organization that could indicate a potential attack or breach.
Keep up-to-date on the latest trends in cybercrime and adjust security policies accordingly.
Develop emergency communications plans that outline how the organization will communicate with stakeholders during a crisis.
Implement and maintain access controls for physical spaces where sensitive data is stored or processed.
Manage SSL certificates to ensure that encryption remains strong and up-to-date.
Review firewall logs daily to identify any suspicious activity or traffic patterns.
Develop data classification policies that specify how different types of data should be handled according to their level of sensitivity.
Work with marketing teams to ensure they understand the importance of not disclosing sensitive information on public platforms like social media.
Make sure network diagrams are kept up-to-date to enable effective troubleshooting and incident response.
Ensure that all employees understand their roles and responsibilities when it comes to protecting sensitive data.
Maintain an updated list of all vendor contacts and their respective roles within the organization's security framework.
Monitor user accounts for unusual activity, especially after-hours or login attempts from unusual locations.
Maintain an up-to-date list of all authorized users who have been granted access to sensitive data, applications, or physical spaces.
Establish guidelines for reporting suspected security incidents or breaches to IT staff and management.
Implement a policy of least privilege wherever possible, ensuring users only have access to what they need to perform their job functions.
Conduct regular tabletop exercises to simulate various types of attacks and test the organization's incident response capabilities.
Work with legal teams to ensure compliance with laws regarding data privacy and information sharing across national borders.
Develop clear guidelines for managing passwords, including length requirements, complexity rules, and expiration policies.
Require periodic security awareness training for all employees, contractors, and vendors who interact with sensitive data or systems.
Implement a process for validating identities before granting access to sensitive data or systems remotely.
Ensure that wireless networks are configured securely, with appropriate encryption enabled and guest access restricted.
Conduct regular audits of system configurations, looking for vulnerabilities or misconfigurations that could be exploited by attackers.
Test backups regularly to ensure they are functioning correctly and can be restored when necessary.
Establish communication protocols for reporting security incidents internally and externally.
Monitor physical access control systems, including keycard readers, alarms, cameras, etc., for signs of tampering or misuse.
Patch known vulnerabilities as soon as new updates become available; prioritize critical vulnerabilities first.
Review web server logs for signs of attack or unusual activity, such as attempted SQL injection or cross-site scripting attacks.
Harden operating systems by disabling unnecessary services, removing default user accounts, limiting file permissions, etc.
Use encryption at rest for sensitive data stored on servers, workstations, or mobile devices.
Create detailed incident response playbooks outlining each step in the process of detecting, analyzing, containing, and recovering from a breach.
Perform regular audits of user account permissions, looking for excessive privileges or roles assigned incorrectly.
Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) or intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to monitor network traffic for signs of attack or anomalies.
Plan for redundancies in critical systems or applications in case of outages or failures.
Establish guidelines for hardening cloud-based infrastructure such as AWS or Azure instances.
Enforce two-factor authentication (2FA) for all users accessing sensitive data or applications remotely.
Conduct third-party assessments of vendors or service providers before granting them access to sensitive data or systems.
Audit third-party software licenses regularly to ensure compliance with usage terms and avoid unintended exposure to legal liability.
Use content filtering tools like DNS blacklists or URL filtering software to block malicious websites from being accessed by employees.
Implement change management processes for updating software or hardware configurations systematically over time.
Identify critical business processes that could be disrupted by a security incident and develop strategies for mitigating those risks proactively.
Write contingency plans for responding to DDoS attacks, malware infections, ransomware attacks, or other malicious threats.
Leverage machine learning algorithms or AI-powered analytics tools to detect anomalous behavior patterns more effectively than human analysts alone.
Know how to conduct ethical hacking exercises so as not to violate ethical principles while testing organizational information security systems.
Establish a proactive approach towards detecting insider threats which involves monitoring staff’s online/offline activities with company-owned devices.
Establish disaster recovery plan involving offsite storage locations where your organization's disaster recovery kit should include essential tools such as backup tapes, drives required for data backup purposes.