How are standards characterized in a security context?

In a security context, standards are characterized as mandatory and specific to technologies. This means that they provide clear, formalized requirements that organizations must adhere to in order to ensure a consistent level of security across their systems and processes. Standards are established to minimize risk and ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and industry requirements.

These mandatory requirements help organizations implement best practices in a uniform manner, leading to improved security posture and risk management. By following specific standards, organizations can achieve interoperability and compatibility between different systems and technologies, which is critical in a diverse IT environment.

On the other hand, recommended best practices, discretionary guidelines, and informal suggestions do not carry the same level of obligation or specificity as standards. While they can be beneficial in shaping security policies and practices, they do not have the enforced compliance aspect that standards do. Therefore, viewing standards as mandatory and specific to technologies aligns with their role in security frameworks and regulatory compliance.