[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-243339-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-243339-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","conducting-an-information-security-gap-analysis-step-by-step-implementation","Conducting an Information Security Gap Analysis - Step-by-Step Implementation","","An information security gap analysis supports business continuity planning by comparing an enterprise’s current information security posture with an ideal or optimum state. The report defines the process, explains how probing audit-style questions reveal gaps, and highlights pitfalls that can undermine results or create adversarial dynamics. It further details how gap analysis fits within risk assessment and BCP development, including measurement beyond technical controls.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/presentations/","Presentations",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/conducting-an-information-security-gap-analysis-step-by-step-implementation/243339/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/conducting-an-information-security-gap-analysis-step-by-step-implementation/243339.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Mia  ","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-20","2026-09-12",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",16,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is an information security gap analysis used for?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It determines differences between the enterprise’s current information security state and an ideal or optimum state, supporting risk assessment within business continuity planning.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Why are probing questions recommended during the gap analysis?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"They help assess the real level of existing security and identify gaps between the security plan and actual practices.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What risks can undermine the gap analysis results?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"If the survey is perceived as punitive or politically motivated, fewer employees may respond, compromising the findings.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},243339,1791353446,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,93,98,103,107,112,117,122],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},11,90,"presentations",{"id":89,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":90,"show_sort_weight":91,"slug":92},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":94,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":99,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":100,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":55,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":104,"show_sort_weight":105,"slug":106},"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":108,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":109,"show_sort_weight":110,"slug":111},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":113,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":114,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":118,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":127},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":85,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":85,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":139,"read_time":33},687207024478,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","Conducting an  \nInformation Security Gap Analysis  \nby Rochelle Shaw  \nCopyright 2012, Faulkner Information Services. All Rights Reserved.  \nDocid: 00018422  \nPublication Date: 1207  \nReport Type: IMPLEMENTATION  \nPreview  \nAn information security gap analysis is a critical step in the Business Continuity Planning process and is a form of risk assessment. A gap analysis is designed to determine the differences between the present state of information security within an enterprise and its ideal, or optimum, state. Existing standards, including those developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), represent guidelines for the process of gap analysis, but should be used as a part of comprehensive business security plan. This report defines an Information Security Gap Analysis, looks at possible pitfalls, and provides a step-by-step implementation plan.  \nReport Contents:  \n● Executive Summary  \n● Description  \n● Possible Pitfalls  \n● Step-by-Step Implementation  \n● Web Links  \nExecutive Summary  \n[return to top of this report]  \nAn information security gap analysis is a necessary part of a business' risk management and business continuity programs.  \nOne of the preferred methods of performing this security gap analysis is to ask a series of probing questions, in the manner of a security audit. For example, if one of the objectives of the Enterprise Information Security Plan is to limit access to central servers and other IT infrastructure components, critical queries may include:  \n● Are all enterprise servers housed in a restricted area, such as a computer room?  \n● Is access to the server room limited to essential personnel?  \n● Are biometric access controls employed to govern entry?  \n● Is the server room monitored by video surveillance cameras?  \n● How many attempts at unauthorized access are routinely recorded, and how are these incidents investigated?  \nThe purpose of the survey is not punishment but rather to determine the actual level of existing security, what gaps exist between the security plan and the actual level of security, what security measures must be taken to narrow or eliminate the gaps, and what costs are involved. While a survey of this nature may be seen as adversarial by those providing the answer, care must be taken to ensure that the process is not used as a means to punish survey respondents or to gain some kind of political advantage. If responders see the survey being used as a punitive measure, fewer employees will respond to the survey, making it likely that the results will be compromised.  \nWhile the survey is one part of the gap analysis only, just as gap analysis is one part of a Business Continuity Plan (BCP); however, it can be the step in the process that makes or breaks the analysis. Much of the remaining steps are objective measurements that are necessary but give little insight into the mindset of a particular organization regarding security.  \nDescription  \n[return to top of this report]  \nAn information security-related gap analysis identifies information security gaps that may exist within an organization by examining the current information security stance to industry best practices or standards and regulations. However, gap analysis is not a standalone process. It is a step, albeit a strategic one, in the development of a BCP.  \nBusiness Continuity Plans  \nA Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is an over-arching program for organizational security that includes:  \n● A Business Impact Analysis-Used to identify the critical functions of a business.  \n● Risk Assessment and Analysis-Determines what the potential risks are, how each will affect business, and how to deal with them. This includes an information security gap analysis.  \n● Disaster Recovery Processes-Includes recovery processes for each critical business function.  \n● Development of th","cbCaiav4lpniHwEa","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiav4lpniHwEa","pdf",102923,"English","# Executive Summary\n## Step-by-step implementation approach\n# Description\n## Relationship to business continuity planning\n## Business impact analysis and risk assessment\n# The Gap Analyst\n## Required perspective and scope\n# Finding the Gaps\n## Common overlooked exposures","[{\"question\":\"What is an information security gap analysis used for?\",\"answer\":\"It determines differences between the enterprise’s current information security state and an ideal or optimum state, supporting risk assessment within business continuity planning.\"},{\"question\":\"Why are probing questions recommended during the gap analysis?\",\"answer\":\"They help assess the real level of existing security and identify gaps between the security plan and actual practices.\"},{\"question\":\"What risks can undermine the gap analysis results?\",\"answer\":\"If the survey is perceived as punitive or politically motivated, fewer employees may respond, compromising the findings.\"}]","Conducting an Information Security Gap Analysis - Step-by-Step Implementation | PDF",1789202901]