![logo-new-23[1]](https://agrtech.com.au/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/logo-new-231-qad2sqbr9f0wlvza81xod18hkirbk9apc0elfhpco4.png "logo-new-23[1]"){kind=logo}
Your organisation’s security policies might have been fit for purpose three years ago. But cyber threats don’t stand still, and neither do compliance requirements.
If your information security policies haven’t kept pace with how your business operates today, you’re likely carrying unnecessary risk. Outdated policies create gaps that attackers exploit. They also make audits harder and leave your team unclear on what’s expected.
An information security policy uplift addresses this head-on. It’s a structured process to review, update, and strengthen your policy framework so it actually protects your organisation, not just ticks a box.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what a policy uplift involves, who needs one, and how the process works. Whether you’re preparing for certification, responding to an incident, or simply know your policies need attention, this page covers what you need to know.
Get in touch to discuss your business needs
Reviews from our happy clients
Justine Brummans
Alessio is both incredibly knowledgeable and personable! He gave me great advice that was catered to me and my situation. Thank you Alessio! Super helpful!
Springfield Equestrian Park
Alessio is amazing! I can not speak highly enough of how helpful and knowledgeable he is, my website he created far exceeded my expectations, he is so accomodating and I can only wish him every success with his business. I rate AGR technology 10 out of 10.
Legacy Energy
We used AGR Technology and dealt with Alessio to design and build our website as well as host our emails. Alessio was a pleasure to deal with and had plenty of ideas that we could implement into our site. He has a great attention to detail, he is also very polite in understanding our goals and what we wanted to achieve with our website.
Thanks mate,
Alex & Rob
Excellent Service
Alessio developed our website for our business and has done a wonderful job. He is very personable and knowledgeable. We have enjoyed working with him. We will be referring others to him and highly recommend him to those who need Tech advice.
MRC Performance
I have been in business for over 10 Years and recently moved to AGR Technology for all our IT needs. They are able to fix nearly anything remotely and always very helpful in recommending appropriate hardware upgrades that do the job as required but not costing more than needed.
Alessio provided an excellent service. He was very dedicated in his method of finding solutions to problems. He continued to try different avenues until he found the reason as to why a particular application was not working. He was very knowledgeable in his understanding of the internet and of applications and how they work, and he was able to apply this knowledge in understanding how to resolve the obstacles that continued to appear. He is understanding towards his client's needs and goals and he is willing to work with his client in achieving those goals. He is a very polite and well mannered person and very calm and gentle in his approach. I would highly recommend Alessio's services to anyone.
Palmira Rigoli
Great work ethics Alessio! We at Totally Gluten Free Products are very happy to have you on board as our IT and SEO master. Very reliable, trustworthy and knowledgeable in the field.
YouTube Comment
Nat's Custom Designs
Alessio from AGR Technology has recently helped me create a website for my business.
Throughout the whole process from start to finish Alessio made the process easy for me, by calling me and explaining each step of the way. I'm not very computer savvy, but with Alessio taking the time to explain in detail everything I needed to know from putting inventory in to having it shipped. He even remotely joined my computer to help guide me through everything.
He's very knowledgeable and is experienced in everything I needed and if there was anything else I needed to know that wasn't something he was familiar with, he researched it.
I would HIGHLY recommend Alessio to anyone. He has not only helped me for now but I know that if I ever needed help with anything else he would definitely go above and beyond to help. Thank you so much for everything you have done. It's been a long process but well worth it 🙂
Byron Macumber
AGR Technology is amazing. not only do they stick with you through out the process, they also accommodate to your wants and needs. They are efficient in their work and they have high integrity. Their capabilities are shown through their website design, and appropriate knowledge of utilities regarding software. over the many years of working with them they have been fantastic. I would recommend to everyone
Very helpful
Alessio was thorough, diligent and kept me updated at all time points. I was very impressed with his performance, passion and dedication. I will continue to use his services.
Wantrup & Associates
Alessio of AGR Technology is an IT guy we rely on whenever we need IT help. His professionalism impressed us right at the first time. He solved many of our IT problems in no time. Excellent communication and speedy response.
We highly recommend this company
From a happy customer
Valeria Bianco
I received AGR contact information from a previous client, who had found their service excellent. So I contacted AGR with some expectations, and I can say they exceeded them. Professional, honest, punctual, reliable, their service is faultless. We can't recommend them highly enough.
Very fast, value for money and a comprehensive service
AGR is professional, organised and very skilled at what they do. They take the initiative, looking after all the details that you would not have thought of to enhance your website presence, marketing funnel and automated appointment bookings. Big bonus - pricings are at a fraction of the cost of competitors.
Customer testimonial
Alessio from AGR Technology is wonderful at gently guiding the less technically savvy users to solve problems. Back up service excellent. Highly recommended
SEO for website
The team is very cooperative and delivers clean and very efficient work.
Raimond Volpe
Nothing but good things to say about Alessio. He has been great service and great at communicating with me by both phone and email. Very good knowledge and problem-solving ability with our web development. I would thoroughly recommend Alessio and AGR Technology to anyone wanting online marketing or web development
Website design
Big thank you to Alessio at AGR Technology for a smooth and easy website development process. Nothing was to difficult to accomplish, I can highly recommend his first class service.
Some of the businesses & organisations we have worked with
What Is an Information Security Policy Uplift?
An information security policy uplift is a comprehensive review and enhancement of your organisation’s security documentation. It goes beyond a quick edit, it’s about ensuring your policies reflect current threats, technologies, and regulatory obligations.
Most organisations have policies in place. The problem? They’re often generic templates that were never tailored to the business. Or they were written years ago and haven’t been touched since.
A policy uplift involves:
- Gap analysis – Identifying where existing policies fall short against frameworks like ISO 27001, Essential Eight, SOC or NIST
- Risk alignment – Ensuring policies address the specific risks your organisation faces
- Clarity improvements – Rewriting vague or overly technical language so staff can actually follow them
- Compliance mapping – Aligning documentation with regulatory requirements (Privacy Act, CPS 234, PCI DSS, etc.)
The goal isn’t to produce a stack of documents that gather dust. It’s to create practical, enforceable policies that reduce risk and support your security posture.
At AGR Technology, we approach policy uplifts with a focus on usability. If your team doesn’t understand a policy, it won’t be followed. That’s why we work closely with stakeholders to ensure documentation is clear, relevant, and actionable.
Who Needs Information Security Policy Uplift Services?
Short answer: any organisation that handles sensitive data and hasn’t reviewed their policies in the last 12-18 months.
But some situations make policy uplift particularly urgent:
- You’re pursuing ISO 27001 certification – Auditors will scrutinise your policy framework. Generic or incomplete documentation is a common reason for non-conformances.
- You’ve experienced a security incident – Post-incident reviews often reveal policy gaps that contributed to the breach.
- Your business has grown or changed – Mergers, new systems, remote work arrangements, and cloud migrations all introduce risks that older policies don’t address.
- You’re subject to new regulations – SOCI Act amendments, updated Privacy Act requirements, or sector-specific mandates (like CPS 234 for financial services) may require policy updates.
- You’ve failed an audit – If compliance assessments have flagged policy weaknesses, an uplift is the most efficient path to remediation.
We work with organisations across industries, healthcare, finance, government, professional services, and more. The common thread? They recognise that security policies aren’t just paperwork. They’re the foundation for how an organisation protects its data, systems, and people.
If you’re unsure whether your policies need attention, we offer a free initial consultation to assess your current state.
How the Policy Uplift Process Works
A proper policy uplift isn’t a one-week project. It requires structured engagement to get right. Here’s how we approach it at AGR Technology.
Planning and Assessment
We start by understanding your current environment. This includes:
- Reviewing existing policies, procedures, and standards
- Identifying applicable compliance frameworks and regulatory requirements
- Interviewing key stakeholders (IT, HR, legal, operations)
- Conducting a gap analysis against your target framework
This phase gives us a clear picture of where you are and where you need to be. We document findings in a detailed assessment report with prioritised recommendations.
Policy Development and Documentation
With the assessment complete, we move into drafting. This is where the real work happens.
We don’t use generic templates. Every policy is tailored to your organisation’s size, industry, risk profile, and operational context. Our documentation follows best-practice structures and plain-language principles.
Typical deliverables include:
- Information Security Policy (overarching)
- Acceptable Use Policy
- Access Control Policy
- Incident Response Policy
- Data Classification and Handling Policy
- Third-Party and Supplier Security Policy
- And others depending on your needs
We work collaboratively through drafts, incorporating feedback from your team to ensure policies are practical and enforceable.
Implementation and Training
Policies mean nothing if they sit in a SharePoint folder unread. That’s why implementation support is a core part of our service.
We help you:
- Communicate policy changes to staff
- Develop awareness training aligned with new requirements
- Establish review schedules and ownership
- Integrate policies into onboarding and BAU processes
This ensures your uplift delivers lasting value, not just a compliance checkbox.
Key Policies Included in a Security Uplift
The exact scope depends on your organisation, but most uplifts cover these core documents:
- Information Security Policy – The master policy that sets direction, scope, and accountability
- Acceptable Use Policy – Defines appropriate use of systems, devices, and data
- Access Control Policy – Governs user access, authentication, and privilege management
- Incident Response Policy – Outlines how to detect, report, and respond to security events
- Data Classification Policy – Establishes categories for data sensitivity and handling requirements
- Mobile Device and Remote Working Policy – Addresses BYOD, remote access, and mobile security
- Third-Party Security Policy – Sets requirements for vendors and suppliers handling your data
- Password and Authentication Policy – Specifies credential requirements and MFA expectations
- Backup and Recovery Policy – Defines data backup frequency, retention, and restoration procedures
- Change Management Policy – Controls how changes to systems are requested, approved, and implemented
We also develop supporting procedures, standards, and guidelines as needed. These provide the operational detail that makes high-level policies actionable.
Not sure which policies you need? Contact AGR Technology for a scoping discussion.
Benefits of Uplifting Your Information Security Policies
A well-executed policy uplift delivers tangible benefits across your organisation:
Reduced risk exposure – Clear policies close gaps that attackers exploit. When staff know what’s expected, they’re less likely to make mistakes that lead to breaches.
Easier compliance – Whether you’re pursuing ISO 27001, meeting Essential Eight maturity, or satisfying regulatory requirements, updated policies make audits smoother and reduce non-conformance findings.
Clearer accountability – Good policies define who is responsible for what. This eliminates confusion and ensures security tasks don’t fall through the cracks.
Better incident response – When an incident occurs, you need documented procedures to follow. Uplifted policies mean faster, more coordinated responses.
Improved stakeholder confidence – Customers, partners, and boards increasingly expect robust security governance. Current policies demonstrate you take security seriously.
Foundation for security culture – Policies set expectations. When they’re clear and well-communicated, they help build a culture where security is everyone’s responsibility.
The return on investment is significant. The cost of an uplift is a fraction of what a data breach, regulatory fine, or failed certification would cost.
Risks of Outdated or Inadequate Security Policies
Neglecting your policy framework carries real consequences:
Regulatory penalties – Privacy regulators and industry bodies are increasingly active. The OAIC has issued significant fines for privacy breaches linked to inadequate controls. Outdated policies make it harder to demonstrate compliance.
Certification failures – If you’re pursuing ISO 27001 or SOC 2, auditors will identify policy gaps. This delays certification and increases costs.
Increased breach likelihood – Vague or missing policies mean staff don’t know how to handle sensitive data, respond to phishing attempts, or report suspicious activity. This creates opportunities for attackers.
Insurance complications – Cyber insurers scrutinise policy documentation during underwriting and claims. Inadequate policies can affect coverage or payouts.
Operational confusion – Without clear policies, teams make ad-hoc decisions. This leads to inconsistent practices and potential security weaknesses.
Reputational damage – A breach tied to poor governance damages trust. Customers and partners may reconsider their relationship with your organisation.
The common thread? Most of these risks are preventable with proper policy management. An uplift is proactive risk mitigation.
Conclusion
Your information security policies are the backbone of your security program. If they’re outdated, incomplete, or gathering dust, they’re not protecting your organisation.
A policy uplift brings your documentation in line with current threats, compliance requirements, and business operations. It’s not about bureaucracy, it’s about clarity, accountability, and risk reduction.
At AGR Technology, we’ve committed to helping organisations across Australia strengthen their security governance. Our approach is practical: we deliver policies that are tailored, usable, and built to support your broader security objectives.
Ready to uplift your information security policies? Get in touch with AGR Technology for a no-obligation consultation. We’ll assess your current state and recommend a path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an information security policy uplift?
An information security policy uplift is a comprehensive review and enhancement of your organisation’s security documentation. It involves gap analysis, risk alignment, clarity improvements, and compliance mapping to ensure policies reflect current threats, technologies, and regulatory obligations—creating practical, enforceable documentation that reduces risk.
How often should information security policies be reviewed and updated?
Information security policies should be reviewed at least every 12–18 months. However, updates may be needed sooner if your business undergoes significant changes like mergers, cloud migrations, new regulations, or security incidents that reveal policy gaps requiring immediate attention.
What policies are typically included in a security policy uplift?
A typical security policy uplift includes core documents such as an overarching Information Security Policy, Acceptable Use Policy, Access Control Policy, Incident Response Policy, Data Classification Policy, Third-Party Security Policy, Password and Authentication Policy, and Backup and Recovery Policy, tailored to your organisation’s needs.
Why do organisations fail ISO 27001 audits due to policy issues?
Organisations commonly fail ISO 27001 audits because their policies are generic templates never tailored to the business, outdated documentation that hasn’t kept pace with operations, or incomplete policy frameworks with gaps. Auditors scrutinise policy quality, and non-conformances delay certification and increase costs.
How does a policy uplift improve compliance and reduce cyber risk?
A policy uplift closes security gaps attackers exploit by aligning documentation with frameworks like ISO 27001, Essential Eight, or NIST. It maps policies to regulatory requirements, clarifies staff responsibilities, and establishes enforceable procedures—making audits smoother while reducing breach likelihood and regulatory penalties.
What are the consequences of having outdated security policies?
Outdated security policies can lead to regulatory penalties, certification failures, increased breach likelihood, cyber insurance complications, and reputational damage. They create operational confusion where staff make inconsistent ad-hoc decisions, leaving your organisation vulnerable to attacks and compliance violations.
Related resources:
Expert Penetration Testing Services in Australia