We started our series on risk management a few weeks ago by introducing the concept of risk. One of the general stereotypes about risk is that it lacks some discreteness of security compliance–it doesn’t lend itself to checklists or paint-by-numbers approaches. This is, overall, a good thing, but can prove challenging for enterprises not ready… Read More
In the increasingly interconnected and complex world of business technology, many organizations are grappling with the challenges related to insecure integrations and agreements. The rise of technology service models, managed service providers (MSPs) and SaaS apps introduce compliance and risk management issues almost faster than businesses can keep up. Thus, a new discipline has evolved:… Read More
We’ve previously discussed the importance of risk management, and the challenges that come from approaching risk through large-scale frameworks. According to an abstract framework, many organizations aren’t necessarily equipped to mobilize far-ranging risk assessments. Here, we’ll discuss a compromise to combine the best of both worlds: standards-based risk management.
Risk management is quickly becoming the foundation for most security and compliance standards. And this is for good reason–complex security threats based on modern technology and the interoperability of extensive cloud-based infrastructure aren’t going to be held at bay through ad hoc implementation of technology. Risk doesn’t have to be an amorphous and ill-defined process,… Read More
Risk management is a term bandied about by a lot of experts. It’s critically important, of course, but it is also a catch-all for security terms that may not seem to apply directly to immediate, regulatory security. So, when insider threats come up, it becomes challenging to parse out how security and risk help address… Read More
In our previous article, we discussed the concept of risk management–what it is and why it’s important. However, risk management in cybersecurity isn’t new, and many organizations are working towards normalizing risk as an approach for comprehensive cybersecurity and compliance efforts. While this move is a good one, we also find that many organizations will… Read More
Part 1: Risk and Security in Modern Systems “Risk “is a term gaining real traction in any industry where cybersecurity regulations impact businesses. Many frameworks and regulations are turning to risk management as a proactive and comprehensive approach to security management. This shift can mean big changes for enterprises that aren’t generally considering risk as… Read More
With the Department of Defense unveiling CMMC version 2.0 last November, many contractors breathed a sigh of relief. The relaxed assessment requirements and streamlined structure signaled a willingness from the DoD to work with assessors and contractors to find a way to promote security over Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) without making the process harder than… Read More
The Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is one of the more complex regulations in the U.S., due in no small part to the complicated and open-ended nature of the law. What should companies do? In this case, covered organizations are turning to risk-based assessments to help them support their security approaches. Here, we… Read More
The increasing use of cloud vendors and third-party providers has made advanced IT infrastructure and expertise available even to smaller organizations. It has also created an interconnected ecosystem of businesses, government agencies, utility firms and managed service providers (MSPs) that can potentially compromise security across multiple systems. If you’re a managed service provider, it’s your… Read More
After several delays and timeline shifts to accommodate vendor and auditor feedback, the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council will release the newest version of the framework, PCI DSS 4.0. This standard, expected to launch at the end of March 2022, will fundamentally alter some key components of the framework to help support payment acceptance… Read More
Most organizations have at least heard of SOC reports. Published and administered by the American Institute of Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), the SOC umbrella of attestations helps organizations demonstrate adherence to best practices around data privacy, cybersecurity, risk assessment and financial reporting. Since SOC requirements come directly from the AICPA, the organization releases documents pertaining… Read More
SOC audits are some of the most common non-regulatory audits in the U.S. These attestations provide companies with a way to demonstrate their dedication to transparent and secure financial reporting and protecting consumer information. Accordingly, SOC reporting can become an in-depth and complicated task that is rendered even more complicated when factoring in subservice providers. … Read More
Security and compliance are paramount in the defense industry–even for unclassified information, like Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The operations of these particular industries call for the utmost discretion, and all stakeholders must be on the same page. As modern digital infrastructure makes its way into the defense supply chain, it’s equally crucial for contractors and… Read More
Managing cybersecurity threats is a full-time job, and most cybersecurity specialists rely on shared knowledge between experts in the field to combat these threats. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database provides a starting point for this kind of knowledge, centralizing an index of known security vulnerabilities in the wild. The CVE program recently joined… Read More
We often take digital identity for granted… We create accounts all over the Internet for various services, but rarely think about the information that sits in a server for every company we interact with. Furthermore, we rarely think about the potential for fraud related to those identities and how that potential threat impacts finance or… Read More
The Internal Revenue Service is one of the largest and most essential federal government agencies… which means that there is a lot of opportunity for third-party contractors and managed service providers to offer products to support its mission. It also means that these contractors will be expected to adhere to security standards, specifically those outlined… Read More
Discussions about security and compliance disproportionately focus on businesses and enterprises, precisely because these organizations serve as central repositories for critical industrial or consumer information. Accordingly, regulations and best practices are often tied to securing this infrastructure, with consumers getting little to no attention. However, the reality of modern cybersecurity threats is that almost all… Read More
Audits and compliance are just part of doing business for financial organizations. Clients and partners must know that they can trust you to manage their critical information, keep it secure, and maintain its confidentiality. Frameworks like Systems and Organization Controls, or SOC, help organizations meet these expectations in a standardized way. While SOC 2 is… Read More
The federal government has strict and comprehensive regulations on how agencies handle constituents’ personal information. This is just as true for tax information. The IRS leans on established guidelines associated with federal security to dictate regulations for agencies that handle tax information and, by and large, treats that information as a sensitive and critical part… Read More
Many enterprises are looking for ways to increase their security and to protect their interests. As the world of cybersecurity, legal risk and operational challenges become more and more complex, checklist compliance regulations just aren’t going to cut it. That’s why governments and private organizations are increasingly turning to risk management as a tool for… Read More
Following the continuous rage of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations face a difficult task to secure the workload and devices of the employees scattered around the world. As a home has become the new office, it unveiled serious organizational cybersecurity gaps. Experts say that simply installing antivirus software or encrypting traffic on a company-issued MacBook is… Read More
Corporate compliance is a major undertaking for a few reasons–IT systems become complex, work forces grow to hundreds of individuals with different levels of access to information and public corporations must file difficult financial and security attestations annually to prevent fraud. One of the essential forms of financial and IT compliance for publicly-traded companies in… Read More
SOC 2 is one of the most well-known and well-respected compliance frameworks for businesses wanting to show partners and clients that they take security seriously. With the help of expert auditors and supportive security professionals, SOC 2 can quickly become a standard part of doing business in nearly any industry. Organizations attempting to meet SOC… Read More