Are there DITA structures for documenting IT security policies and procedures?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

DITA XML provides a structured framework for documenting IT security policies and procedures, which is essential in today’s technology-driven world where data and network security are paramount. Here’s how DITA structures can be used to create comprehensive documentation in this context:

1. Security Policy Documents: Security policy documents often comprise various sections, such as access control, password management, incident response, and more. In DITA, each section can be a separate topic, allowing you to create, update, and manage individual security policy components efficiently. By using maps, you can assemble these topics into a complete security policy document.

2. Procedure Manuals: IT security procedures, like those related to data backups, system updates, or network monitoring, can be authored using DITA’s structured approach. Each procedure can be a DITA topic, complete with steps, warnings, and related information. This modularity makes it easy to maintain and revise individual procedures without affecting the entire manual.

3. Regulatory Compliance Documentation: For documenting compliance with industry standards or regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), DITA allows you to create structured content for each compliance requirement. These topics can include explanations, guidelines, and procedures related to specific compliance aspects, ensuring clarity and easy access for readers.

Example:

Suppose you are creating a document for an organization’s security policy in DITA XML. Here’s an example of how individual topics can be used to structure the document:


<!-- Security Policy Document Structure -->
<map>
  <title>Organization XYZ Security Policy</title>
  <topicref href="access_control.dita" />
  <topicref href="password_management.dita" />
  <topicref href="incident_response.dita" />
  <topicref href="compliance.gdpr.dita" />
  <topicref href="compliance.hipaa.dita" />
  <topicref href="backup_procedures.dita" />
  <topicref href="monitoring_procedures.dita" />
</map>

<!-- Individual Topic: Access Control -->
<topic id="access_control">
  <title>Access Control</title>
  <body>
    <p>This section outlines the organization's access control policy.</p>
    <section>...</section>
    <section>...</section>
  </body>
</topic>

<!-- Individual Topic: Password Management -->
<topic id="password_management">
  <title>Password Management</title>
  <body>
    <p>This section covers the organization's password management guidelines.</p>
    <section>...</section>
    <section>...</section>
  </body>

In this example, DITA’s structured approach allows for efficient content management and navigation within IT security documentation.