Most business owners agree that IT security measures are vital to the workplace. According to recent research by Purplesec, the global cost of cybercrime is estimated at $6 trillion annually. In addition, the average malware attack costs about $2.5 million to resolve. This doesn’t even include other losses like productivity and time. Sensitive information is always under threat, but most business owners are too busy with daily tasks to give IT security the attention it deserves.
You may be wondering if any regulatory bodies exist that set guidelines for IT infrastructure. The answer is yes, and that’s where IT compliance comes in. Any organization must meet certain regulations to secure their data. Staying compliant protects your business and it prevents costly violations.
What’s the Difference Between IT Security and IT Compliance?
IT Security is geared towards assessing vulnerabilities in your current infrastructure. Companies offer IT security solutions in order to help businesses protect their sensitive data. IT compliance involves the adherence to a set of specific guidelines. As a baseline, compliance is required, but IT security measures provide further protection. With that being said, both work hand in hand. The combination of adequate IT security and compliance regulations ensure that a company shields itself from cyber threats.
Common Regulations for IT Compliance
Companies must adhere to the type of compliance standards that apply to the data they own. In some cases, multiple regulations must be followed. Some of these include:
- HIPAA Compliance (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) for healthcare facilities
- SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) for data records and internal reporting systems
- PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) for any company that utilizes credit card payments
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) for companies that process information from the European Union (EU)
- SOC 2 (Systems and Organizational Controls) for cloud vendors
IT Compliance Standards
Although compliance standards are constantly updated, the fundamentals of regulations remain the same. To protect your business, you may have to adhere to the regulatory guidelines regarding:
- The Prevention of Data Loss. It may be necessary for you have methods in place for preventing the loss of key data and profits. This can involve back-ups and recovery planning.
- Disaster Recovery Planning. Let’s say a powerful storm destroys your brick-and-mortar business. In this scenario, it’s highly important to have a plan in place to protect your data. With proper recovery planning, you’ll be able to move your operations elsewhere and limit your downtime. This can ultimately save a business from going under.
- Data Sharing. Not all information should be made public. Regulations like these ensure that highly sensitive data is reserved for a few trusted individuals.
- Malware Protection. In order to stay compliant, anti-malware software is usually required. This tool needs to be installed across all of your devices to protect your infrastructure from malware attacks.
- Employer Policies. To ensure that your employees’ data is protected, you may need to create a firm set of company-wide policies. These should instruct your workers so they know how to address IT security threats.
- Threat Monitoring. Keeping a good watch on threats is crucial for preventing large-scale cyberattacks. This allows you to supervise your current infrastructure and ensure it is up to par.
- Breach Response. If a data breach occurs, you need to know what steps to take in response. Compliance regulations may require you to investigate the breach thoroughly and identify the root cause.
- Authorization. Only specific employees should have access to sensitive information. Regulations like these may put a cap on how many of your workers are authorized in the system.
How Nauticon Office Solutions Can Help
At Nauticon, we provide our clients with managed IT services, secure office technology and workflow solutions. Our specialists can help you stay compliant to protect your business and avoid potential violations. Business owners have a lot on their plate, and it can be difficult to find time for assessing compliance measures. We can take care of that for you and direct all of your IT needs. Our managed IT services come with:
- Network Administration
- Virtual CIO
- Cloud Services
- Cybersecurity Solutions
- Backup and Disaster Recovery
IT compliance is highly important to organization across a wide range of industries. Let us take care of this for you so you don’t have to worry. To get started and assess your current infrastructure, get in touch with us today!
Partner with Nauticon for IT Compliance Solutions and More
Nauticon is a leading provider of managed services, compliance solutions and other office technology solutions that can transform your workspace. If you are looking for a better way to meet your office’s needs, we are here to help. To learn more about our company and see how we can bring innovative, real-world solutions for your office’s needs to you, contact us today by calling (301) 279-0123.
