To successfully market and sell products or services internationally, a company’s IT security team has to closely collaborate with its business and compliance teams. They need to define clear implementation requirements based on various international and national standards.
Staying updated on evolving security standards is crucial. Following news feeds and blogs from professional and industry groups can provide valuable insights. Specialized security magazines, especially those focusing on specific countries or regions, are also beneficial, particularly if they align with the company’s market interests.
There are several professional organizations that information security professionals can join, such as BCS (the Chartered Institute for IT), the Chartered Institute of Information Security, ISC2, and IEEE. These groups are excellent resources for learning about new and emerging security standards.
However, knowing international security requirements means little if you don’t understand where and how your business operates. It all begins with the business side. Different business areas must determine how they plan to sell and support their products abroad. Clearly communicating their needs to the compliance and IT security teams is essential.
Once those needs are established, the compliance and IT security teams can conduct focused research on specific countries and regions. This should lead to a tailored set of security requirements, which can then be reviewed and finalized in collaboration with the business. After agreement, the IT team can implement the necessary measures.