What is Job rotation?
Job rotation Definition: The practice of having personnel become familiar with multiple positions within the organization as a means to reduce single points of failure and to better detect insider threats.
Understanding Job rotation
The practice of having personnel become familiar with multiple positions within the organization as a means to reduce single points of failure and to better detect insider threats. Job rotation involves systematically moving employees between different roles or responsibilities within an organization over time. From a security perspective, it prevents excessive concentration of knowledge access in individuals, exposes potential fraud or misconduct, and ensures multiple personnel understand critical functions. Job rotation is recommended in standards like ISO 27001, NIST SP 800-53, and requirements like PCI DSS and SOX. Organizations implement job rotation through formal policies, documented procedures, cross-training programs, and access management processes that support transitioning responsibilities. For example, a financial institution might rotate personnel handling sensitive financial transactions every 6 months, maintaining detailed handover procedures and monitoring for unusual activities during transition periods to detect potential fraud attempts. Related terms: Separation of duties, Principle of least privilege, Cross-training, Knowledge management, Insider threat, Single point of failure, Succession planning.