Which government agency defines Standard and control for information security and cybersecurity
|
While security ratings are a great way to demonstrate that you’re paying attention to the cyber health of the organization you also need to show that you’re adhering to industry and regulatory best practices for IT security and making informed decisions for the long-term. A cybersecurity framework can help. Show
What is a cybersecurity framework?A cybersecurity framework provides a common language and set of standards for security leaders across countries and industries to understand their security postures and those of their vendors. With a framework in place it becomes much easier to define the processes and procedures that your organization must take to assess, monitor, and mitigate cybersecurity risk. Let’s take a look at seven common cybersecurity frameworks.
NIST Cybersecurity FrameworkThe NIST Cybersecurity Framework was established in response to an executive order by former President Obama — Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity — which called for greater collaboration between the public and private sector for identifying, assessing, and managing cyber risk. While compliance is voluntary, NIST has become the gold standard for assessing cybersecurity maturity, identifying security gaps, and meeting cybersecurity regulations. Watch this video to learn how well your organization or business partners align with the NIST cybersecurity framework. ISO 27001 and ISO 27002Created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 certifications are considered the international standard for validating a cybersecurity program — internally and across third parties. With an ISO certification, companies can demonstrate to the board, customers, partners, and shareholders that they are doing the right things to manage cyber risk. Likewise, if a vendor is ISO 27001/2 certified it’s a good indicator (although not the only one) that they have mature cybersecurity practices and controls in place. The downside is that the process requires time and resources; organizations should only proceed if there is a true benefit, such as the ability to win new business. The certification is also a point-in-time exercise and could miss evolving risks that continuous monitoring can detect. SOC2Service Organization Control (SOC) Type 2 is a trust-based cybersecurity framework and auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to help verify that vendors and partners are securely managing client data. SOC2 specifies more than 60 compliance requirements and extensive auditing processes for third-party systems and controls. Audits can take a year to complete. At that point, a report is issued which attests to a vendors’ cybersecurity posture. Because of its comprehensiveness, SOC2 is one of the toughest frameworks to implement — especially for organizations in the finance or banking sector who face a higher standard for compliance than other sectors. Nevertheless, it’s an important framework that should be central to any third-party risk management program. NERC-CIPIntroduced to mitigate the rise in attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure and growing third-party risk, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation - Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC CIP) is a set of cybersecurity standards designed to help those in the utility and power sector reduce cyber risk and ensure the reliability of bulk electric systems. The framework requires impacted organizations to identify and mitigate cyber risks in their supply chain. NERC-SIP stipulates a range of controls including categorizing systems and critical assets, training personnel, incident response and planning, recovery plans for critical cyber assets, vulnerability assessments, and more. Read more about effective strategies for achieving NERC-CIP compliance. HIPAAThe Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a cybersecurity framework that requires healthcare organizations to implement controls for securing and protecting the privacy of electronic health information. Per HIPAA, in addition to demonstrating compliance against cyber best practices — such as training employees — companies in the sector must also conduct risk assessments to manage and identify emerging risk. HIPAA compliance remains a keen challenge for healthcare organizations, as BitSight research suggests. GDPRThe General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was adopted in 2016 to strengthen data protection procedures and practices for citizens of the European Union (EU). The GDPR impacts all organizations that are established in the EU or any business that collects and stores the private data of EU citizens — including U.S. businesses. The framework includes 99 articles pertaining to a company’s compliance responsibilities including a consumer’s data access rights, data protection policies and procedures, data breach notification requirements (companies must notify their national regulator within 72 hours of breach discovery), and more. Fines for non-compliance are high; up to €20,000,000 or 4% of global revenue, and the EU is not shy about enforcing them. Read the Risk Managers Guide to the GDPR to learn more about developing a GDPR strategy and maintaining ongoing compliance. FISMAThe Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) is a comprehensive cybersecurity framework that protects federal government information and systems against cyber threats. FISMA also extends to third parties and vendors who work on behalf of federal agencies. The FISMA framework is aligned closely with NIST standards and requires agencies and third parties to maintain an inventory of their digital assets and identify any integrations between networks and systems. Sensitive information must be categorized according to risk and security controls must meet minimum security standards as defined by FIPS and NIST 800 guidelines. Impacted organizations must also conduct cybersecurity risk assessments, annual security reviews, and continuously monitor their IT infrastructure. A cybersecurity framework can be a vital guidepostCybersecurity frameworks provide a useful (and often mandated) foundation for integrating cyber security risk management into your security performance management and third-party risk management strategy. With a framework as your guidepost, you’ll gain vital insight into where your highest security risk is and feel confident communicating to the rest of the organization that you’re committed to security excellence. Get the Weekly Cybersecurity NewsletterSubscribe to get security news and industry ratings updates in your inbox. What does the Federal Information Security Management Act FISMA do?FISMA requires federal agencies to implement a mandatory set of processes and system controls designed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of system-related information.
What is the ISO standard for cyber security?The term ISO/IEC 27032 refers to 'Cybersecurity' or 'Cyberspace security,' which is defined as the protection of privacy, integrity, and accessibility of data information in the Cyberspace. Therefore, Cyberspace is acknowledged as an interaction of persons, software and worldwide technological services.
What standard for information security includes specific requirements that apply to federal agencies in the United States?Definition of FISMA Compliance
The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) is a United States federal law passed in 2002 that made it a requirement for federal agencies to develop, document, and implement an information security and protection program.
Is FISMA a framework?FISMA is U.S. government legislation that defines a comprehensive framework to protect government information, operations, and assets against threats. Signed into law in 2002 and updated in 2014, FISMA requires that federal systems meet a set level of security requirements (also known as “controls”).
|
