Countless organizations handle sensitive data every day, but how can your business ensure this information stays secure without data breaches or other cyberattacks? Compliance regulations exist across various industries to ensure organizations and businesses protect sensitive data in accordance with legal and security standards. In this guide, we’ll explore common cybersecurity compliance frameworks and how your organization can stay aligned with them.
Why is Compliance Crucial in Cybersecurity?
Compliance plays a vital role in maintaining a secure business environment. Organizations across various industries manage sensitive information, and compliance regulations ensure this data is handled responsibly to prevent damaging breaches. According to CompTIA, one of the leading cybersecurity credentialing organizations, most compliance regulations handle the following types of data:
- Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Date of birth, first and last names, address, social security number, mother’s maiden name
- Financial Information: Credit card numbers, expiration dates, and card verification values (CVV); bank account information; debit or credit card PINs
- Protected Health Information (PHI): Medical history, insurance records, prescription details
Properly safeguarding this information helps protect employees, patients, clients, and customers from identity theft and fraud. Failing to comply can result in hefty fines, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust.
Common Compliance Regulations
Staying compliant with industry regulations is essential to operating a secure and trustworthy organization. The following are some of the most widely recognized compliance frameworks:
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects sensitive patient health information from unauthorized disclosure. It sets national standards for privacy and data security, especially for healthcare providers and insurers.
CMMC 2.0
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) applies to organizations working with the U.S. Department of Defense. CMMC Version 2.0 is a framework which simplifies the framework into three certification levels and aligns more closely with NIST standards, helping ensure contractors protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
PCI-DSS
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) outlines security standards for businesses that store, process, or transmit credit card information. It helps reduce credit card fraud through rigorous data security requirements.
NIST
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publishes widely adopted cybersecurity frameworks to help manage and reduce risk. While not all NIST guidelines are mandatory, many organizations voluntarily implement them to strengthen their cybersecurity posture and support compliance with regulations like CMMC and FISMA.
How to Operate According to Compliance Standards
1. Understand Applicable Regulations
To maintain compliance at your organization, the first step is identifying which regulations apply to your business. This depends on factors like your industry, customer base, location, and the type of data you collect. For example, healthcare organizations must comply with HIPAA, while businesses processing payments need to follow PCI-DSS. Staying up to date with changes to these regulations is equally important to avoid accidental noncompliance.
2. Conduct Regular Risk Assessments
Routine risk assessments help uncover potential threats and vulnerabilities in your systems, processes, and staff practices. These assessments, performed either internally or by a third party, should prioritize risk mitigation and be updated regularly, especially when adopting new technologies or workflows.
3. Implement Strong Access Controls
Limiting access to sensitive data is a fundamental compliance requirement. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) ensures employees only access data necessary for their job roles. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to verify their identity with multiple methods.
4. Maintain Data Security and Privacy Measures
Data must be protected both in transit and at rest. Encryption is one of the most effective tools for achieving this. In addition, secure your network infrastructure using firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection or prevention systems. These layers of defense help guard against unauthorized access and cyber threats.
5. Develop and Enforce Security Policies
Your organization should have documented security policies to guide employee behavior and maintain consistency. These policies should cover areas such as password hygiene, acceptable use, data retention, and incident response. Ensure all employees review and acknowledge these policies and enforce them consistently.
6. Train Employees Regularly
Human error is the leading cause of data breaches. In fact, a Mimecast study found that 95% of breaches in 2024 were caused by human mistakes. Ongoing training helps employees recognize phishing attempts, handle sensitive data properly, and follow best practices. Frequent, up-to-date training fosters a culture of security awareness.
7. Document Everything
In the eyes of regulators, if it isn’t documented, it doesn’t exist. Maintain records of risk assessments, training sessions, access logs, policy revisions, and incident responses. Good documentation demonstrates compliance during audits and supports ongoing improvements.
Maintain Compliance at Your Organization
Understanding your industry’s compliance requirements (and actively working to meet them) is essential to protecting your business and its stakeholders from cyber risks.
Looking for help with your organization’s cybersecurity strategy? Count on GoodSuite, Woodland Hills’ premier provider of critical business systems. We offer fully-managed and co-managed IT services in Woodland Hills tailored to your unique business needs. Our cybersecurity services are designed to keep your data secure and your organization compliant, so you can focus on growth while we handle your technology.
Request a security assessment now or call us today to get started.
