Data breaches continue to increase year over year: there was a 20% increase in data breaches from 2022 to 2023 and globally and there were twice the number of victims in 2023 as compared to 2022.
Compliance frameworks vary by industry, region, and type of data handled, with some of the most well-known including the General Data Protection Regulation in the European Union, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in the United States, and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard globally.
The importance of cybersecurity compliance cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in the protection of sensitive data and the overall security posture of an organization.
Protection of sensitive data: Compliance ensures that organizations implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data from cyber threats, unauthorized access, and breaches.
Trust and credibility: Organizations that adhere to established cybersecurity standards demonstrate their commitment to data protection, earning the trust of customers, partners, and stakeholders.
Several cybersecurity compliance standards have been established to address specific aspects of data protection and information security.
The General Data Protection Regulation is a comprehensive data protection law that came into effect on May 25, 2018, across the European Union and the European Economic Area.
The GDPR was designed to give individuals more control over their personal data and to unify data protection regulations across all EU member states, thereby simplifying the regulatory environment for international business.
Data minimization: Only data that is necessary for the purposes for which it is processed should be collected and processed.
Storage limitation: Personal data should be kept in a form that permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed.
Accountability: The data controller is responsible for, and must be able to demonstrate, compliance with the other principles.
Protect cardholder data: Entities must protect stored cardholder data and encrypt the transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks.
Implement strong access control measures: Access to cardholder data must be restricted to business need-to-know, each person with computer access must be assigned a unique ID and physical access to cardholder data must be restricted.
While SOC 2 is not a regulatory requirement, it helps organizations comply with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and others that require stringent data protection measures.
Completing a SOC 2 Type II audit is a significant achievement that underscores an organization's commitment to maintaining high standards of data security and operational integrity.
Developed by the Center for Internet Security, a non-profit entity that promotes cybersecurity readiness and response among public and private sector organizations, the CIS Controls are widely regarded as essential guidelines for securing information systems and data against cyber threats.
Focus on data protection: Recognizing the centrality of data to cybersecurity, version 8 emphasizes controls that help protect data in different states-whether at rest, in transit, or in use.
Navigating the complex landscape of cybersecurity compliance is a critical task for organizations aiming to protect sensitive data and avoid legal and financial penalties.
Location-based laws: Consider the geographical locations where your organization operates, as different countries and even states or provinces may have their own data protection laws, like GDPR in the European Union or CCPA in California, USA. Data type considerations: Identify the types of data you handle to understand which regulations cover your data processing activities.
The escalating rate of data breaches and cyber threats underscores the urgent need for stringent cybersecurity compliance across all sectors.
This Cyber News was published on www.offsec.com. Publication date: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 18:58:04 +0000