Data Security Policy Template

A data security policy establishes your organization's formal rules for how data is classified, protected, and handled throughout its lifecycle. This template covers the complete framework: data classification tiers (Public, Internal, Confidential, Restricted), encryption requirements for each classification at rest and in transit, access control standards, backup and recovery requirements, incident response triggers, and employee responsibilities. It aligns with GDPR Article 32, HIPAA Security Rule, and SOC 2 CC6 control requirements.

The policy is written as a ready-to-adopt document with clear roles and responsibilities section assigning ownership to IT, data stewards, and end users. Appendices include a data classification decision tree to help employees categorize data, and an encryption standards reference table mapping data types to specific algorithms and key lengths. Deploy this alongside the [Acceptable Use Policy](/templates/acceptable-use-policy-template) and [Data Retention Policy](/templates/data-retention-policy) to complete your information security policy set.