Creating an IT Compliance Policy – 7 Things to Consider
Conducting business operations in the digital world is prone to security risks. Mitigating them would be impossible if you don’t have an IT compliance policy. rnrnSetting up a robust IT compliance policy in your business is more important now than ever. And it’s because most organizations now depend on digitized services. rnrnOnline companies rely on e-commerce websites to do business by taking orders and receiving payments. Even brick-and-mortar organizations utilize software to perform various activities, such as order management and back-office accounting. rnrnIn such tech-driven environments, a lack of proper security measures jeopardizes the business leader’s position. Their IT systems get abused, and their technology often becomes a source of scandals. rnrnThe only way to avoid this possibility is to create a strong IT compliance policy. rnrnThis article will cover key considerations when developing your system of IT compliance. rn
rnrnOne of the biggest threats to your data security is having untrained employees. Their actions can have a huge impact on cybersecurity. For instance, improper software upload, sharing, download, and storing can jeopardize critical information.rnrnThe reality is, many employees opt for insecure data transfer methods due to their convenience. Some of the tools they use are personal emails, consumer-grade collaboration apps, and instant messaging. All of these are ideal targets for cybercriminals. rnrnTo prevent your business from becoming a victim, your users must learn and understand where various threats originate from. They should especially understand the actions that can give rise to vulnerabilities. rnrnMaking file sharing a top priority and investing in proper education demonstrates the significance of IT compliance. Your efforts can help team members willing to adopt the best practices in this field. rnrnWhen developing your training plan, make sure to include several key topics: rn
WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER FOR IT COMPLIANCE POLICIES
rnFACTOR #1 - PEOPLE, PROCESSES, AND HOW THEY ALIGN TO TECH
rnIT compliance isn’t just about technology – it also involves people and processes. And the reality is that many organizations focus heavily on their tech, resulting in failed audits due to their failure to consider the other two aspects. This makes the compliance world more complex. rnrnTaking the correct approach can help ensure your enterprise abides by the necessary standards. rnFACTOR #2 - RELEVANT LAWS AND REGULATIONS
rnLaws and regulations stipulate the policies that govern IT compliance requirements. Here are the most common ones: rn- rn
- The Sarbanes-Oxley Act – regulating financial reporting rn
- The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act – governing non-public personal information and financial data rn
- The Health Insurance and Accountability ACT – regulating health information that healthcare organizations process rn
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- Control Objectives for Information and Related IT rn
- National Institute of Standards and Technology rn
- Payment Card Industry Data rn
FACTOR #3 - RAISING EMPLOYEE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE POLICY
rnrnrnOne of the biggest threats to your data security is having untrained employees. Their actions can have a huge impact on cybersecurity. For instance, improper software upload, sharing, download, and storing can jeopardize critical information.rnrnThe reality is, many employees opt for insecure data transfer methods due to their convenience. Some of the tools they use are personal emails, consumer-grade collaboration apps, and instant messaging. All of these are ideal targets for cybercriminals. rnrnTo prevent your business from becoming a victim, your users must learn and understand where various threats originate from. They should especially understand the actions that can give rise to vulnerabilities. rnrnMaking file sharing a top priority and investing in proper education demonstrates the significance of IT compliance. Your efforts can help team members willing to adopt the best practices in this field. rnrnWhen developing your training plan, make sure to include several key topics: rn- rn
- How insecure file transfer methods expose your company to risks rn
- Avoiding phishing scams rn
- Precautions to exercise before using or downloading unsanctioned applications rn
- The conditions for using and creating strong passwords. rn
FACTOR #4 - HOW YOUR IT POLICY ALIGNS WITH THE COMPANY’S SECURITY POLICIES
rnAligning IT compliance with your business operations involves understanding the culture of your organization. For example, your environment can revolve around either processes or ad-hoc ways of doing things. rnrnEnterprises aligning with the former are best off issuing in-depth policies to ensure compliance. rnrnBy contrast, companies that match the latter require detective and preventive controls. They need to address specific risks associated with your policy. It helps various auditors understand why you’ve deployed a particular control or decided to face certain risks. rnFACTOR #5 - UNDERSTANDING OF THE IT ENVIRONMENT
rnIT environments directly affect your IT policy compliance design. That said, there are two main kinds of environments: rn- rn
- Homogeneous environments – These consist of standardized vendors, configurations, and models. They’re largely consistent with your IT deployment. rn
- Heterogeneous environments – The other type uses a wide range of security and compliance applications, versions, and technologies. rn
FACTOR #6 - ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY
rnIT policy compliance doesn’t function without accountability. It entails defining organizational responsibilities and roles that determine the assets individuals need to protect. It also establishes who has the power to make crucial decisions. rnrnAccountability begins from the top and encompasses executives. And the best way to guarantee involvement is to cast IT policy compliance programs in terms of risks instead of technology. rnrnAs for your IT providers, they have two pivotal roles: rn- rn
- Data/system owners – The owner is part of your management team that’s responsible for data usage and care. Plus, they’re accountable for protecting and managing information. rn
- Data/system custodians – Custodial roles can entail several duties, such as system administration, security analysis, legal counseling, and internal auditing. rn