Effective Funding Website Security Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

This security policy outlines the requirements and procedures for protecting the Effective Funding website (www.effectivefunding.com) and its associated data. This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and third parties who have access to or manage the website.

2. Data Classification

2.1 Sensitive Data

The following information is classified as sensitive:

• Client personal information (names, contact details)
• Business financial data (monthly revenue)
• Business identifying information
• Loan application details

3. Data Collection and Storage

3.1 Data Collection Requirements

• Only collect information necessary for loan evaluation purposes
• Clearly communicate data collection purposes to users
• Obtain explicit consent for data collection
• Implement secure form submission with HTTPS

3.2 Data Storage

• All sensitive data must be encrypted at rest using industry-standard encryption
• Regular backups must be maintained and encrypted
• Data retention periods must be clearly defined and enforced
• Personal data must be stored within secure, access-controlled databases

4. Security Controls

4.1 Technical Controls

• Implement SSL/TLS encryption for all web traffic
• Enable HTTPS-only access
• Maintain current security certificates
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF)
• Regular security patches and updates
• Anti-virus and malware protection
• Rate limiting to prevent form submission abuse

4.2 Access Controls

• Implement role-based access control (RBAC)
• Require strong password policies
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for administrative access
• Regular access review and removal of unused accounts
• Session timeout implementation
• Logging of all access attempts

5. Form Security

5.1 Input Validation

• Implement server-side validation
• Sanitize all user inputs
• Validate data types and ranges
• Implement CAPTCHA or similar anti-bot measures
• Prevent SQL injection and XSS attacks

5.2 Form Submission Security

• Implement CSRF tokens
• Rate limit form submissions
• Encrypt form data during transmission
• Implement secure file upload controls if applicable

6. Incident Response

6.1 Security Incident Handling

• Establish incident response team
• Document incident response procedures
• Maintain incident log
• Define notification procedures for affected parties
• Regular testing of incident response plan

6.2 Breach Notification

• Define criteria for breach notification
• Establish notification timelines
• Maintain communication templates
• Document notification procedures

7. Compliance

7.1 Regulatory Requirements

• Maintain compliance with applicable financial regulations
• Regular compliance audits
• Documentation of compliance measures
• Staff training on compliance requirements

7.2 Privacy Requirements

• Clear privacy policy
• Opt-in/opt-out mechanisms
• Data subject rights management
• Regular privacy impact assessments

8. Training and Awareness

• Regular security awareness training for all staff
• Periodic security policy reviews
• Documentation of training completion
• Updates on new security threats and procedures

9. Monitoring and Review

9.1 Security Monitoring

• Regular security assessments
• Continuous monitoring of website activity
• Log analysis and review
• Performance monitoring

9.2 Policy Review

• Annual policy review
• Update based on threat landscape
• Incorporation of incident learnings
• Documentation of all policy changes

10. Vendor Management

• Security requirements for third-party vendors
• Regular vendor security assessments
• Vendor access control procedures
• Vendor incident reporting requirements

11. Endpoint Security

11.1 Employee Computer Security

• All employee computers must have:
  • Enterprise-grade antivirus software with real-time protection
  • Automated system updates and security patches
  • Full disk encryption
  • Screen lock after 5 minutes of inactivity
  • Restricted administrative privileges
  • Regular automated backups
  • Mobile Device Management (MDM) for company-issued devices
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) software

11.2 Software Requirements

• Only approved software from the company’s software inventory may be installed
• All software must be licensed and regularly updated
• Prohibited software list must be maintained and enforced
• Regular software audits must be conducted
• Automatic updates must be enabled where possible

11.3 Internet Connection Security

• Secure Remote Access:
  • VPN requirement for all remote work
  • Split-tunneling disabled on VPN connections
  • Regular VPN access review and logging
  • Two-factor authentication for VPN access
• Network Security:
  • Company-provided secure Wi-Fi networks
  • WPA3 encryption for wireless networks
  • Regular network security scans
  • Network segmentation between departments
  • Firewall protection with regular rule updates
  • Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS)
  • DNS filtering to block malicious websites
  • Network access control (NAC) implementation

11.4 Email Security

• Email filtering for spam and malicious content
• Regular phishing awareness training
• Email encryption for sensitive communications
• Secure email gateway implementation
• Attachment scanning and sandboxing
• Domain-based Message Authentication (DMARC) implementation

11.5 Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy

• Minimum security requirements for personal devices
• Required mobile device management (MDM) enrollment
• Regular security compliance checks
• Remote wipe capability for company data
• Separate personal and work data
• Acceptable use guidelines

11.6 Remote Work Security

• Secure home network requirements
• Prohibited use of public Wi-Fi without VPN
• Regular security assessments of remote setups
• Secure document sharing procedures
• Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) for sensitive operations
• Regular remote work security training

11.7 Physical Security

• Clean desk policy
• Secure disposal of printed materials
• Physical access controls to work areas
• Security of mobile devices
• Lock screen policies when stepping away
• Visitor management procedures

Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding this security policy,
contact: info@effectivefunding.com

Last Updated: 12/26/2024
Version: 1.0