= The most useful source of information for a newly hired information security manager who has been tasked with developing and implementing an information security strategy is the organization’s mission statement and roadmap. The mission statement defines the organization’s purpose, vision, values, and goals, and the roadmap outlines the organization’s strategic direction, priorities, and initiatives. By reviewing the mission statement and roadmap, the information security manager can understand the organization’s business objectives, risk appetite, and security needs, and align the information security strategy with them. The information security strategy should support and enable the organization’s mission and roadmap, and provide the security governance, policies, standards, and controls to protect the organization’s information assets and processes.

The capabilities and expertise of the information security team (A) are important factors for the information security manager to consider, but they are not the most useful source of information for developing and implementing an information security strategy. The information security team is responsible for executing and maintaining the information security program and activities, such as risk management, security awareness, incident response, and compliance. The information security manager should assess the capabilities and expertise of the information security team to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and to plan the resource allocation, training, and development of the team. However, the capabilities and expertise of the information security team do not directly inform the information security strategy, which should be driven by the organization’s business objectives, risk appetite, and security needs.

A prior successful information security strategy © is a possible source of information for the information security manager to refer to, but it is not the most useful one. A prior successful information security strategy is a strategy that has been implemented and evaluated by another organization or a previous information security manager, and has achieved the desired security outcomes and benefits. The information security manager can learn from the best practices, lessons learned, and challenges of a prior successful information security strategy, and apply them to the current organization or situation. However, a prior successful information security strategy may not be relevant, applicable, or suitable for the organization, as it may not reflect the current or future business objectives, risk appetite, and security needs of the organization, or the changing threat landscape and business environment.

The organization’s information technology (IT) strategy (D) is also a possible source of information for the information security manager to consult, but it is not the most useful one. The IT strategy is a strategy that defines the IT vision, goals, and initiatives of the organization, and how IT supports and enables the business processes and activities. The information security manager should review the IT strategy to understand the IT infrastructure, systems, and services of the organization, and how they relate to the information security program and activities. However, the IT strategy is not the primary driver of the information security strategy, which should be aligned with the organization’s business objectives, risk appetite, and security needs, and not only with the IT objectives, capabilities, and requirements.

References = CISM Review Manual, 16th Edition, Chapter 1: Information Security Governance, Section: Information Security Strategy Development, page 23-241