The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the secure use and handling of external storage media in order to protect sensitive and confidential information.
Scope: This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and third-party individuals who use or handle external storage media.
Types of External Storage Media: The policy covers the following types of external storage media: USB drives, external hard drives, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and other similar storage devices.
Classification of Data: All data stored on external storage media must be classified according to the organization's data classification policy.
Encryption: All external storage media must be encrypted using an approved encryption method before any sensitive or confidential data is stored on it.
Physical Security: External storage media must be physically secured at all times and not left unattended in public places.
Use of Personal Devices: Personal devices such as laptops and USB drives cannot be used to store sensitive or confidential information.
Transfer of Data: External storage media containing sensitive or confidential data must not be transferred outside the organization without prior approval and proper encryption.
Disposal of External Storage Media: All external storage media must be securely disposed of when no longer needed in accordance with the organization's data disposal policy.
Violations: Any violations of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the organization's disciplinary policy.
Policy Review: This policy will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis or as needed to ensure its continued effectiveness.