What is required regarding the assignment of information security management responsibilities?

What is required regarding the assignment of information security management responsibilities?

• A. Outsource to external vendors only
• B. Assign to an individual or team (e.g., Chief Security Officer)
• C. Do not assign formal responsibility
• D. Leave it to each department

Answer: (B)

Assigning information security responsibilities to a specific person or team creates clear accountability and a solid governance structure. PCI DSS requires that responsibilities for protecting cardholder data be formally assigned to an individual or team, such as a Chief Security Officer or security program owner, so there is a named owner who oversees security controls, incident response, and vendor management. Relying on external vendors alone doesn't establish internal accountability or a single point of ownership for the organization's security posture. Without a formal assignment, there’s no clear person responsible for ensuring controls are implemented and maintained. Leaving responsibility unassigned or distributed haphazardly across departments leads to gaps, inconsistencies, and weaker security oversight.

Assigning information security responsibilities to a specific person or team creates clear accountability and a solid governance structure. PCI DSS requires that responsibilities for protecting cardholder data be formally assigned to an individual or team, such as a Chief Security Officer or security program owner, so there is a named owner who oversees security controls, incident response, and vendor management. Relying on external vendors alone doesn't establish internal accountability or a single point of ownership for the organization's security posture. Without a formal assignment, there’s no clear person responsible for ensuring controls are implemented and maintained. Leaving responsibility unassigned or distributed haphazardly across departments leads to gaps, inconsistencies, and weaker security oversight.