Safety Standards

Safety standards are formalised sets of rules, protocols, and best practices designed to ensure secure, consistent, and risk-aware operation across information systems and organisations. They define how security should be planned, implemented, monitored, and improved.

Safety standards provide structured guidance for managing threats, protecting assets, ensuring data privacy, and complying with legal and regulatory requirements. They are typically established by international or governmental bodies and are applicable across industries.

Key elements of safety standards often include:

• Risk assessment and management procedures
• Access controls and data encryption
• Incident response planning
• Monitoring and auditing mechanisms
• Staff training and awareness protocols

Prominent standards include:

• ISO/IEC 27001 – Specifies requirements for an information security management system (ISMS), including continuous improvement.
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework – A flexible risk-based guide developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) – An EU regulation outlining legal requirements for handling personal data securely and lawfully.

Safety standards are fundamental in:

• Industrial IT environments
• Cloud and network infrastructure
• Digital twin platforms
• Critical infrastructure systems
• Public sector and healthcare IT systems

Organisations that implement recognised safety standards demonstrate a commitment to data protection, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience.

See also: Safety Protocol, Safety observation, Construction Site Monitoring, Deformation Monitoring