Importance of IT security and compliance

IT security compliance is not just about security managers and CIOs deploying firewalls or anti-malware systems to protect their systems and information! It has to do with these and also managing the regulatory compliance requirements that governs IT security today. From the HIPAA act (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to GLBA (Gramm-Leach Bliley Act) to Sarbanes-Oxley, IT security compliance has certainly become more complicated and enterprises are often left wondering on how to manage complete compliance yet also remain cost-effective. 

As per a Forrester research study conducted last year, “compliance” of all types has become the primary driver of data security programs.” Almost 90% of enterprises surveyed by Forrester researchers agreed that “compliance with PCI-DSS, data privacy laws, data breach regulations, and existing data security policies is the primary driver of their data security programs.”With billions being spent on governance, risk and compliance (GRC), this is an area that any enterprise can ill-afford to ignore. Enterprises are often on the lookout for a solution that can effectively provide an optimized security management infrastructure that will also be fully compliant as required. 

An integrated and holistic IT compliance and security solution that can help enhance compliance processes and practices is the best option for any IT enterprise wanting to stay compliant. Such a solution would necessarily be required to be economical, with best controls and augmented web-based applications to safeguard systems, data and processes efficiently. Areas such as access management, risk monitoring and audits are elements that such a solution should necessarily provide for. With the right kind of GRC solution backing up IT security policies, enterprises can easily identity software security susceptibilities and can address compliance issues relating to regulations and standards effectively. Such a solution can protect an enterprise’s precious corporate assets, intellectual property and can assist in ensuring complete defense against external or internal threats. Additionally such a solution can work wonders to prevent any kind of data loss. 

Most enterprises would want to ensure that their IT security and compliance issues are sorted in such a manner that there is no adverse impact on productivity and with significant savings along with enhanced security and flexibility. Having in place the right IT security compliance solution in place can be the first step for an enterprise, in bringing about complete compliance and also tightening the defense around its critical IT assets and remaining compliant as per all the IT security regulations. 

Know more about - compliance management software and threat management solutions

Working towards being HIPAA compliant

Everyone connected with the healthcare industry understands the significance of HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The act has several rules including the privacy rule that is used to ensure that health plans and healthcare providers keep the information of patients secure and protected. With the Office of Civil Rights being very strict about the enforcement of HIPAA, it is extremely crucial for all healthcare providers big or small to understand the importance of being HIPAA compliant. Formulated in 1996, HIPAA has undergone several amendments, but essentially pertains to the imposition of standardized security systems in place to safeguard sensitive patient information from unauthorized access. In short, the act pertains to the handling of healthcare records, information and all healthcare related transactions. Every healthcare provider needs to necessarily comply as per the security, privacy, and management guidelines laid out for all healthcare information.

Healthcare providers need to necessarily put in place security policies that ensures complete physical and network safety of patient information and restricts access of healthcare information to only the authorized personnel. HIPAA healthcare compliance is essential but it can also be quite a cumbersome ask for some healthcare providers. Therefore, such healthcare providers must seek solutions that can help

·         formulate appropriate procedures that can help realize their security policies,

·         install best security measures to adequately offer protection to sensitive data and information of patients,

·         set specific guidelines in place to ensure zero violation of HIPAA rules

·         prevent unauthorized access of information, and

·         set procedures in place to educate employees about the importance of HIPAA compliance. 

HIPAA compliance can be easily achieved provided health care providers opt for such solutions that can offer them best ways to continuously review compliance procedures and policies including review of servers and log audits along with development of compliance reports. With such solutions healthcare providers can easily set clearly defined policies with appropriate access controls. When such solutions can also assist in ably responding to security incidents, they can be of tremendous help to healthcare providers. Such a solution should necessarily account for an emergency or a contingency plan in place to tackle any security incident. The solution that a healthcare provider eventually opts for should also be well-equipped to offer ways to recover lost data.  

Working towards being HIPAA compliant can be made fairly easy provided health care providers become prudent about what they need in their HIPAA compliance solution. Opting for a solution that can help healthcare providers establish appropriate policies and implement proper compliance checks is definitely a step in the right direction. 

Know more about - compliance management software and governance, risk here.

Addressing the Issues Effectively with the Right IT Compliance

The internet is a paradise for all unsolicited and malicious entities causing unequivocal damage and loss without any considerations for the victims. Business corporations are always shrouded in an air of doubt and uncertainty as their critically sensitive data are incessantly surrounded by threats and risks. The IT systems that are deployed for providing protection and security to the environment are complex, unmanageable, incompatible and inconsistent, resulting very often in security infringements and the consequential adverse business impact.

The apathy prevailing in the present environment regarding inefficient management of the governance and risk factors has emerged as insufferable compliance issues debilitating the business. The negligent and callous attitude of the staff has helped the destructive brigade to gain easy entry into restricted and confidential data impounding the reputation and credibility of the organization. Many organizations have borne severe financial penalties due to unstructured security systems resulting in compliance violation.

IT Compliance has become a major concern and without a qualified management system in process the whole business can crumble and be ruined completely. To have a qualified compliance management system in place, businesses must ensure that every vulnerable gap is sealed and every activity is monitored closely to arrest any fraud or suspicious movements. The healthcare industry has fallen prey several times to these cowardly corrupt practices and undergone brutal penance.

HIPAA and HITECH regulations are the venerable commandments in the healthcare industry and any medical facility or provider found guilty of flouting the rules is subject to severe consequences. Thus it becomes extremely crucial to employ threat management solutions that have the tenacity to undergo extreme testing conditions to provide security to the business. These solutions should have intensively aggressive qualities to monitor and track every movement and restrict unauthorized entries with precision-based analysis. Automated solutions are an ideal option as all the processes are regularized and there is no opportunity for any fatal errors.

Flexibility is the most desired quality in IT compliance. An accommodating and persuasive temperament can foster integration and help the business to manage security effectively. High levels of visibility extends better control over the business processes so that the level of compliance maintained can be analyzed and measured, and this gives the business an opportunity to improve their standards and be at par. Automated compliance solutions have the ability to update existing business policies in line with the changes in the environment and staying compliant with the current compliance regulations. Businesses can gain immensely with stable, competent and cooperative solutions displaying extraordinary capabilities to track, forewarn and suggest remedies without elevating the costs.

Know more visit - HITECH compliance and healthcare compliance here.

A Compliance Strategy that secures your Business Operations

Risk is part of our lives and an inevitable force in business too. However, if precautionary measures are taken on time to tone it down, the results will be less intense and it will provide an incentive to have a well-stocked arsenal for any unexpected attacks. In a competitive business environment, a failed attempt to curb the risks promptly can wreak horrific terrors and reduce everything to ashes. A stringent enforcement through compliance regulations is the only way to a safe and successful business operation.  

Your business could be an easy target for insiders as well as outsiders. It is very easy for your employees to tamper with the business critical data or misuse it for personal gains as they are aware of the loopholes. Most often it has been found that major incidents take place due to insufficient authorization and authentication procedures. Employees are trusted blindly and given free access to areas containing sensitive data. Thus you need to employ compliance solutions that grant access only after thorough investigation and authentication of the user and their purpose.

Rivalry in business is a very good motive to perpetrate harmful practices through external influences such as release of viruses, infected applications and other sophisticated mediums. The third parties, vendors, suppliers and partners that you deal and collaborate with all come under the purview of suspicion. Hence it becomes extremely vital to instate robust technological barriers to vigorously screen any outsider requesting access to your confidential information systems. 

You need to employ the smart IT compliance management software that gives you prior notification of any looming dangers and suggests best solutions to avert these threats and deny their entry. It should have the capacity to monitor all suspicious activities round the clock without any interruptions in the process and provide you the most updated results promptly through an easy and quick manner. With a continuous monitoring cycle in place you will be provided with real-time information that is accurate.

To implant an efficient and effective IT compliance and security environment you need the assistance of an automated process that carries out end-to-end governance, risk and compliance functions in a simplified and transparent manner, so that you are aware of the level of compliance maintained in your business. This high visibility factor gives you the advantage to implement more tenacious measures to secure your business and seal every vulnerable gap without any delays. A flexible compliance management solution relieves you of the pressure of investing in costly applications and equipment as it has the ability to integrate with any application without any fuss.

Many businesses are still continuing to be a victim of corrupt practices and facing tremendous damages to their reputation as well as their revenue earning possibilities. Ideally the compliance management software with its assessment powers to raise alerts on the state of compliance can help you avoid costly errors operating without any fear of onslaught from any source.

To know more visit - vulnerability management here.

Importance of Governance Risk and Analysis

Enterprises have realized that governance and related issues of compliance and risk management cannot be ignored. Estimated to be a market of over $32billion, governance, risk and compliance management solutions offer ways and means to lessen the burden of the complications that arises, ensuring full compliance to administrative norms and regulations.

There are constantly evolving and ever changing compliance requirements and enterprises need to be aware of all the governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) management frameworks and approaches. From sustained monitoring and analysis of data to using technology to supporting compliance requirements, the GRC management refers quite simply to the assessment, mitigation of risk and ensuring complete compliance for the enterprise. The idea is to instill the controls and effective risk processes for the enterprise to empower them with a completely automated, yet continuous monitoring mechanism that can assist enterprises in identifying risks and responding to it before it can actually destabilize systems and applications.

Some enterprises engage risk auditors or consultants to get an overall view of their risks and also to ensure complete monitoring of their IT systems that supports crucial business processes. Some others employ automated solutions that can help proactively report, identify and alleviate risks and eliminate compliance violations from occurring. Without an effective GRC solution, an enterprise would be missing out on a crucial element of business strategy. An enterprise bereft of GRC solutions could very well be a breeding ground for serious structural, planning, developmental problems in their day-to-day functions and business processes.

Every enterprise must necessarily engage in comprehending their past compliance methods and then identify the correct measures required for optimized risk management. Once this is accomplished, the enterprise be in a position to correctly ascertain what risks need to be secured and what resources can be assigned to meet the same requirement. Addressing GRC issues has to be a critical element in the functioning of any enterprise with the right kind of GRC management solution, the best suited security policies, guidelines, procedures and standards for effective compliance.

Equipped with the right GRC management solution, enterprises can definitely be assured of keeping their focus on business growth and improved revenues by simplifying the response to industry regulations and understanding of risks and controls.

To know more visit - IT Compliance and healthcare compliance here.

Compliance Precautions for Ensuring the Longevity of your Business

Compliance in business has become one of the foremost concerns, and many have suffered due to irregular practices and inefficient security systems. Business ethics have taken a backseat with rampant violation of regulations and incessant attack on business critical data. Information systems do not have the power to resist malicious and sophisticated encroachments and businesses are succumbing to financial losses.

Every business has been affected by these brutal forces right from retail, hospitality, public and financial services to healthcare compliance. Businesses seldom take proactive measures to protect their critical information systems and most often it is the public who have to bear the consequences. In the healthcare sector patients are at risk as their personal health information are misused due to the disorganized and weak policies that are in operation. The authorities in healthcare organizations have often demonstrated their indifferent attitude with loss of important files through employees’ negligence and impractical regulatory norms. 

Security breaches in government services can cause fatal impacts on the lives of innocent citizens. Every business and every industry needs to employ a holistic approach towards infringement activities and take aggressive initiatives against the perpetrators. A business is not completely secure until and unless there is a system that addresses all the factors associated with governance risk and compliance throughout the enterprise. The formula to achieve success and sustain one’s business is to employ compelling and credible compliance management software that can uproot the evil from its roots.

The compliance management software should have intelligent and advanced features to track all suspicious activities and provide effective solutions to make the attacks invalid. Intense vigil is required and therefore the solutions should also facilitate high visibility. It should provide real-time information that can be relayed to the businesses on time, and it should update the existing policies as per the revised regulations. The software should act as a capable vulnerability manager and intercept all doubtful events through efficient vulnerability scanning procedures.

Achievement can only be determined if it is measured. In order to evaluate the level of compliance status present in the organizations it is important to have accurate reports. The compliance management solution should be able to conduct a precise analysis of the compliance position and provide reports duly. A flexible and integrating solution that can accommodate any compliance framework is ideal to stop all infiltration. 

There are no compatibility issues, a common drawback that renders all security measures ineffective. If businesses want to consider a healthy and long innings and reinstate the earnings they have lost they need to implement a comprehensive non-compromising governance, risk and compliance solution.