Navigating IT Compliance: A Game of Strategy

1. Design a site like this with WordPress.com Get started AGJ Systems & Networks Home Blog Navigating IT Compliance: A Game of Strategy AGJ Systems & Networks September 19, 2023 Uncategorized What do IT compliance and March Madness have in common? Well, the similarity is found in the madness – a term often used to describe the chaos of cybercrime. The digital landscape has witnessed an alarming surge in cyberattacks, making the term “madness” all too fitting: 1. Cybercrime has spiked by a staggering 600% since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. The average cost of a data breach now stands at a whopping $3.86 million. 3. An alarming 89% of healthcare organizations have fallen victim to data breaches in the past two years. This cybercrime madness shows no signs of abating. Consequently, governments, industry representative groups, and regulatory bodies have had to step in to make cybersecurity compliance mandatory across various sectors. Why IT Compliance is of Paramount Importance IT compliance encompasses the legal, regulatory, internal, and security obligations that organizations are expected to adhere to from an information technology and management perspective. Often, these compliance rules are in place to safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of individuals. Failing to adhere to compliance regulations can lead to severe consequences, including potential fines, penalties, lawsuits, work stoppages, business closures, and, in extreme cases, criminal and civil penalties. To demonstrate full compliance, companies must create and maintain comprehensive compliance reports that can be readily produced during regulatory audits. As businesses evolve and expand, their IT compliance requirements evolve in tandem. This is where partnering with a managed IT services provider proves invaluable, as it is exceedingly challenging for businesses to consistently keep up with changing regulations independently. Corporate compliance programs should outline external regulations, internal policies ensuring compliance, and employee training requirements. These compliance programs should undergo regular evaluations and testing, as compliance controls need to adapt as the organization and risks evolve. Securing compliance demands meticulous attention and well-documented processes. However, compliance regulations exist for compelling reasons. Cybercrime is rampant and continuously growing, with malicious actors behind these crimes exhibiting ruthlessness and persistence. As underscored in our cybersecurity playbook, achieving proper compliance is just one essential step in ensuring that your organization remains as secure and protected as possible in an era of heightened IT risks and vulnerabilities. The Most Common Compliance Audits

2. Various types of compliance audits span different industries and sectors. Here, we delve into three of the most prevalent compliance audits: Design a site like this with WordPress.com Get started 1. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC): CMMC is a cybersecurity baseline that every contractor, sub-contractor, or entity working with the Department of Defense (DoD) must adhere to. It is designed to ensure that all defense contractors maintain, at the very least, a basic level of cybersecurity hygiene to protect sensitive defense information. The CMMC framework incorporates a comprehensive security certification element to validate the implementation of processes and practices associated with achieving cybersecurity maturity levels. The assessment assigns a CMMC maturity level (ranging from 1 to 5) to a company, with each tier building upon the one below it. The required level depends on the nature of the contractual obligation and the classification of the data involved. The five maturity levels are as follows: Level 1: Covers the fundamentals of cybersecurity. Level 2: Introduces controlled unclassified information requirements. Level 3: Ensures the safeguarding of controlled unclassified information. Level 4: Focuses on detecting and responding to advanced persistent threats. Level 5: Emphasizes progressive cybersecurity. The DoD is implementing CMMC in phases, with all defense contracts requiring evidence of CMMC compliance by September 30, 2025. 2. Payment Card Industry (PCI): In an era of rampant online shopping, PCI compliance has been established to ensure that the credit card industry consistently safeguards sensitive customer data. Any organization involved in processing, storing, or transmitting customer cardholder data must comply with PCI data security standards (PCI DSS). These standards consist of widely accepted policies and procedures that enhance the security of credit, debit, and cash card transactions while protecting cardholders from the misuse of their personal information. Like many compliance programs, PCI standards aim to provide a more stable and secure customer experience, ultimately leading to a more reliable industry as a whole. Penalties for failing to meet PCI security standards range from hefty fines to the inability to process credit card data – both potentially detrimental to a company, especially those in their early stages or heavily reliant on such financial transactions. 3. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): Given the sensitivity of medical information, HIPAA was established in 1996 to safeguard confidential patient data. Any entity providing healthcare services and any business partners, vendors, or service providers with access to patient information and supporting care, payments, or transactions must adhere to HIPAA compliance. This encompasses doctors, nurses, hospitals, health insurance companies, and others in the healthcare sector. Organizations subject to HIPAA compliance that experience a cyber breach due to non-compliance face substantial fines and are publicly listed on the “Wall of Shame” – a website featuring details of breaches impacting over 500 individuals. Mitigating Compliance Madness with a Managed IT Services Provider

3. Keeping pace with ever-evolving compliance regulations and expectations is a formidable task, but it is of utmost importance for organizations. AGJ Systems & Networks, Mississippi’s premier managed IT services provider, boasts a team of compliance experts well-versed in the dynamic landscape of compliance regulations. Our IT compliance assessment encompasses a review of your existing compliance requirements, the development of requisite security policies and procedures, and the establishment of continuity and disaster recovery plans to best support these requirements. Design a site like this with WordPress.com Get started Contact us today to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation consultation and navigate the compliance madness with confidence. Source: https://www.agjsystems.com/it-compliance-made-easy-with-a- managed-it-services-provider/ Sponsored Content Accountants Might Be Earning More Than You Think (Search Courses) Accountant Courses | Search Ads | Spon… Check Out Our Recommendations Curated Just for You DiscoveryFeed | Sponsored Over 70 Celebrities Who Missed The Mark On Red Carpet Fashion News Clicks24 | Sponsored Unveiling the Top 10 Enigmatic Creatures Rarely Witnessed by Humans News Clicks24 | Sponsored Paint Transformations On Aircraft In The Sky News Clicks24 | Sponsored Share this:   Twitter Facebook Like Be the first to like this. Leave a Reply Write a comment… Log in to leave a reply. (optional) Reply

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