Change Management Policy
A change management policy template defining how changes to systems, applications and infrastructure are requested, assessed, approved, tested and recorded, aligned to ISO 27001, NIST SP 800-53 and PCI DSS.
What's Included
1. Purpose & Scope
Defines the objective and the systems, environments and change types the policy governs.
2. Change Classification
Establishes how changes are categorised so that risk determines the approval path.
3. Request & Approval
Defines who may raise a change, what a request must contain and who authorises it.
4. Testing & Validation
Requires changes to be tested in a non-production environment before release.
5. Implementation & Rollback
Governs scheduled release, communication and the ability to revert.
6. Emergency Changes
Defines the reduced path for urgent changes and the retrospective control that compensates.
7. Records & Audit
Establishes the change record an assessor expects to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a change management policy include?
A comprehensive change management policy should include purpose & scope, change classification, request & approval, testing & validation, and more. This template covers 7 key sections aligned to ISO 27001, NIST SP 800-53, PCI DSS, SOC 2 requirements.
Which frameworks require a information security policy?
Major frameworks requiring information security policies include ISO 27001, NIST SP 800-53, PCI DSS, SOC 2. This template maps directly to their control requirements, making it easier to demonstrate compliance across multiple standards.
How often should a change management policy be reviewed?
Best practice is to review your change management policy at least annually, or whenever significant changes occur in your organisation, technology environment, or regulatory landscape. Most frameworks including ISO 27001 and NIST CSF require documented policy review cycles.
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