ASD ISM 1626Seek Legal Advice for Insider Threat Plans
Official control statement
Legal advice is sought regarding the development and implementation of an insider threat mitigation program.
Quoted as published. Everything else on this page is written by Control Stack.
In plain English
Get legal advice when making and applying plans to handle insider threats.
What this means in practice
This control is about getting legal help when planning how to protect your business from insiders who might misuse their access to your systems and data. It's crucial because if you don't involve legal experts, you might break the law or miss crucial protections, leading to damaged reputation, legal trouble, or financial loss.
Framework
ASD Information Security Manual (ISM)
Control effect (Control Stack)
Proactive
Classifications
NC, OS, P, S, TS
ISM last updated
June 2024
Control Stack last updated
29 Sept 2026
E8 maturity levels
N/A
Topic
Insider threat mitigation program
Why it matters
Without legal guidance, insider threat plans may inadvertently breach laws, resulting in costly legal issues and reputational damage.
Operational notes
Engage legal counsel to review insider threat program design, monitoring, investigations and reporting for privacy and workplace law compliance.
Implementation tips
- Business owners should consult with a legal advisor to understand the legal requirements involved in developing an insider threat program. They can find a legal advisor through a professional legal firm or local business network and schedule a meeting to discuss potential legal considerations.
- HR managers should work with the legal advisor to ensure that all employee agreements include clear expectations regarding data usage and behaviour. This can be done by reviewing current contracts and updating clauses related to confidentiality and data protection.
- The IT team leader should collaborate with the legal advisor to set up a system for monitoring employee activity that complies with privacy laws. This involves identifying monitoring tools that respect privacy but detect unusual behaviour and configuring them accordingly.
- Managers should arrange training sessions for staff that include components about legal responsibilities and data protection obligations. They can do this by integrating privacy regulations and company policies in existing training programs and making it part of the onboarding process.
- The compliance officer should ensure that any action taken against an employee suspected of being a threat is legally sound. This involves documenting all investigative steps and having them reviewed by a legal professional before proceeding with disciplinary actions.
Audit / evidence tips
- AskThe legal advisor engagement records: Request the agreement or contract between the organisation and the legal advisor concerning insider threat programsLook atThe start date and scope of services providedGoodIs a clear record showing ongoing legal consultation on insider threats
- AskUpdated employee contracts: Request examples of employee contracts that include insider threat clausesLook atClauses covering confidentiality, data protection, and legal obligationsGoodResult is contracts showing these updated sections, approved by a legal advisor
- AskDocumentation of monitoring tools used: Request the list of monitoring tools implemented to detect insider threatsLook atDescriptions of how each tool respects privacy laws while identifying suspicious activitiesGoodIncludes detailed documentation reviewed by a legal professional
- AskTo see training materials for staff: Request copies of training materials or programs addressing legal responsibilities in data protectionLook atSections related to laws and company policies concerning insider threatsGoodOutcome is comprehensive materials with legal input
- AskIncident response records: Request records of any investigations or actions taken against insidersLook atDocumentation that these steps were reviewed for legal complianceGoodRecord demonstrates all steps were taken with legal oversight
Cross-framework mappings
How ISM-1626 relates to controls across ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Essential Eight, and ASD ISM.
ISO 27001
| Control | Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|
layersPartially meets(1)expand_less | ||
| Annex A 5.31 | ISM-1626 requires an organisation to seek legal advice when developing and implementing an insider threat mitigation program | |
These mappings show relationships between controls across frameworks. They do not imply full equivalence or certification.
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