In response to changes in the medical industry due to COVID-19, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have put forth a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to streamline how doctors can access mental health information. This article will discuss this rule change and why it… Read More
Cyber threats continue to grow in complexity and sophistication. To address this evolution, the Department of Defense has introduced the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 to ensure that defense contractors maintain robust cybersecurity practices to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). To address one of the most important processes in modern security (risk management), CMMC… Read More
It has become increasingly important for financial institutions to adopt robust security measures to safeguard their client’s assets and personal data. To address this challenge, FINDA has established a comprehensive set of rules to enhance its member firms’ cybersecurity posture. However, there isn’t a set-in-stone framework for specific security measures. Instead, FINRA consists of obligations… Read More
The rapidly evolving regulatory landscape has become increasingly complex and challenging for organizations to navigate. To address these complexities, the Compliance-as-a-Service (CaaS) business model has emerged as a valuable solution for organizations seeking to maintain regulatory compliance while minimizing risk. This blog delves into the CaaS business model, exploring its key features, benefits, and limitations.… Read More
The importance of risk management cannot be overstated… and yet, many enterprises struggle with the practice due to a lack of standardization or expertise. And while the challenges that businesses face implementing risk management are understandable, they are no longer acceptable. This article will provide an in-depth overview of OCTAVE Allegro, a framework developed to… Read More
In an increasingly digital world, cybersecurity has never been more critical for organizations of all sizes and industries. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the potential impact of a security breach on an organization’s operations, reputation, and financial well-being can be devastating. As a result, integrating cybersecurity risk management into more comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management… Read More
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has fundamentally transformed the data protection landscape for organizations operating within the European Union. Managed Service Providers, essential partners for many businesses, must also carefully navigate GDPR compliance to protect their clients’ data and maintain trust. Understanding the implications of GDPR on MSPs and their services is vital for… Read More
As cloud computing continues gaining popularity, organizations increasingly turn to cloud services to store and process their data. However, with this increased reliance on cloud services comes a heightened risk of data breaches and cyber attacks, making cloud security a critical concern for businesses of all sizes. To address these concerns, the International Organization for… Read More
As technology advances, the need for effective cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly important. The necessity for regular testing, including penetration testing, has raised awareness of best practices and standards for such assessments. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed comprehensive guidelines and standards to help organizations safeguard their information systems from cyber threats.… Read More
A Managed Service Provider (MSP) provides their clients with a wide range of IT services, including network management, software support, and hardware maintenance. However, as cyber threats evolve, MSPs are increasingly expected to provide comprehensive security solutions to their clients. This can be a significant challenge, as they may need more specialized expertise, tools, and… Read More
Quantum computing has long been a theoretical idea with limited practical application. The only usable quantum computers were only available to cutting-edge researchers supported by massive corporations or government-funded universities. As time has passed, however, these researchers have begun to make massive strides in making quantum computing realizable in a way that could impact modern… Read More
In today’s interconnected world, IT system trustworthiness has become an essential cornerstone for critical infrastructure’s seamless and secure functioning. As governments, enterprises, and industrial organizations rely on complex digital systems, the trustworthiness of these systems must be measured and maintained. The need for trust in IT systems has been magnified by the rapid adoption of… Read More
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are essential for federal agencies and contractors to ensure the security of sensitive information, such as classified data, personally identifiable information, and financial data. This article will describe some of the most common FIPS security standards, their importance, and how federal agencies and contractors use them. We will also discuss… Read More
Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are some of the most dangerous and persistent cyberattacks that organizations face today. Understanding the APT lifecycle is crucial for organizations looking to protect their sensitive data and networks against these attacks. The APT lifecycle consists of several stages: reconnaissance, initial compromise, establishing persistence, escalation of privileges, lateral movement, data exfiltration,… Read More
Unlike traditional cyberattacks, advanced persistent threats are often carried out by well-funded and highly skilled threat actors who use a range of techniques to gain and maintain access to a target’s network and data for an extended period of time. As the number of APT attacks continues to rise, businesses of all sizes need to… Read More
Multi-cloud environments are becoming increasingly common. Multi-clouds leverage the flexibility of public cloud connectivity across several providers to help organizations remain scalable and flexible. While multi-cloud offers numerous benefits, it also presents unique security challenges that must be addressed to ensure the security of applications and data hosted in the cloud. In this article, we… Read More
We’ve previously discussed the role of risk assessment as defined by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 31000, and generally speaking, we’ve found that risk management is a key practice to supporting security and compliance. To better support organizations approaching risk assessment, ISO published the supplementary document, ISO/IEC 31010, “Risk assessment technique.” In this article,… Read More
In previous blog posts, we’ve discussed the role of technology and HIPAA (related explicitly to HITECH regulations). However, the growth of intelligent devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to a sea change in how Covered Entities (CEs) and Business Associates (BAs) manage their patients. Likewise, it adds new wrinkles to how these… Read More
The Internet of Things (IoT) was seen as the next big thing for the consumer market. While the impact of IoT technology is still unfolding, there is no doubt that IoT devices have made a much bigger impact in the commercial space. IoT networks are changing how we handle major industrial processes, from healthcare to… Read More
Understanding the structure of a SOC 2 report is essential for both businesses and service providers who are thinking ahead to their audit and attestation. It will serve as the “story” of an organization’s SOC 2 journey, covering the evaluation of their adherence to the Trust Services Criteria (TSC)–security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. … Read More
As previously discussed, ISO/IEC 27701 is a comprehensive international standard that provides specific privacy guidelines for organizations attempting to meet additional standards for handling PII in line with jurisdictions like GDPR. This document aligns ISO-compliant organizations with PII-focused standards by implementing Privacy Information Management Systems (PIMS). So far, we’ve covered how ISO 27701 refines ISO… Read More
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a security assessment and authorization program for cloud services used by the federal government. It is designed to ensure that cloud services meet the federal government’s security requirements, and that sensitive government data remains protected. A critical component of the FedRAMP security authorization process is the… Read More
We’ve previously discussed ISO 27701 and how it refines two essential security standards and control libraries (ISO 27001 and ISO 27002). But, the entire purpose of ISO 27701 is to align IT systems with privacy requirements found under GDPR. Here, we’ll discuss the third section of this document that defines additional guidelines for organizations acting… Read More
StateRAMP guidelines include network security standards from NIST 800-53, with specific requirements for implementing those guidelines based on the application and data processing. Implementing boundary controls is one of the more relevant and sometimes challenging aspects of compliance network security. Here, we will dig into how StateRAMP (and FedRAMP, to some extent) approach subnetworks and… Read More