CPNI puts together collection of COVID-19 guidance

The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has put together a number of guidance documents to support organisations in mitigating risks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Available here, the Centre is hosting advisory documents and links from itself and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), with conditions resulting from the pandemic meaning there may be a greater risk to security. CPNI is recommending that organisations review their current processes against the guidance available, with the usual risk management processes being taken into account.

The guidance page highlights three key topics – securing your people, securing your assets, and security during a pandemic – with links provided to essential documents under each section.

CPNI has highlighted a number of increased risks to organisations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees working from home need to be encouraged to act in security conscious ways, while employment screening processes may become more challenging due to remote working and social distancing measures, which have the potential to encourage the risk of insider threat. It is therefore crucial to reassess any recruitment practices and to encourage a ‘secure culture’ within your organisation, placing trust and showing value to employees to ensure they don’t become a potential security risk.

As has been highlighted on IFSEC Global and throughout the mainstream media, there is also an increased threat of cyber scams during the coronavirus pandemic. Phishing techniques by hostile actors have become common, so ensuring employees are security conscious and aware of the warning signs is key.

In addition, CPNI is providing “high level guidance on good personnel security during a pandemic, where usual security practices are either suspended or changed to reflect the different working patterns”. Advice on reducing security risk is available, which includes practices such as limiting the number of operational entrances/exits, and minimising vehicle movements onto sites.

There is also support on adapting search and screening measures under social distancing rules without compromising on security, as well as advice on appropriate physical security equipment for organisations during this time.

Guidance to all the above, and more, is available from the CPNI’s ‘Staying Secure during COVID-19’ page.

Our sister title, SHP Online, has also put together advice for home working.

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