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What Compliance Standards Does Your Business Need To Maintain?
 What Compliance Standards Does Your Business Need To Maintain? 1024 683 AMSYS ™ Group

Understanding HIPAA, NIST, And CMMC

Compliance standards are some of the most important things a business needs to maintain to be profitable and well-respected while staying out of legal trouble. Failure to meet these standards will make your business susceptible to fines and legal action. You’ll also take a hit on your reputation as customers, vendors, and competitors may find your business to be untrustworthy. By enforcing compliance, you’re working to promote ethical behavior while protecting the rights of your employees, customers, and other stakeholders.

But it’s not always obvious which compliance standards apply to your industry or specific business. While most businesses need to ensure they’re following Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards for workplace safety, they must also meet Environmental Protection Agency regulations for protecting the environment. There are also compliance requirements that have to do with the information you store and share. Here are three other compliance standards that you should know about if you’re a business owner or leader.

 

Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (HIPAA) 

You probably already know about HIPAA if you’ve been to any doctor’s appointment in the past two decades. This law was enacted in 1996 to protect the privacy of individuals’ personal health information and to ensure the security of that information. HIPAA only applies to “covered entities,” which include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. These entities must comply with the rules set forth by HIPAA when handling protected health information. They must have the necessary administrative, technical, and physical safeguards in place to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information.

There’s been confusion in the past relating to HIPAA, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. When employers requested vaccination status from their employees, many claimed that this violated HIPAA, which is false. HIPAA only applies to covered entities. It’s essential that you know the ins and outs of HIPAA if you work in the healthcare industry. Noncompliance can lead to fines, legal trouble, and, in some cases, the loss of your license to practice medicine.

 

National Institute Of Standards And Technology (NIST)

The NIST is a nonregulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce that develops and promotes standards, guidelines, and best practices for ensuring the security and privacy of information systems. NIST compliance is vital for any organization that handles sensitive information, such as personal data, financial information, or intellectual property. It becomes even more important for heavily regulated industries like health care, finance, and government. NIST compliance can help organizations protect against cyber threats, data breaches, and other security incidents. It also helps organizations meet regulatory requirements set by HIPAA.

When you adhere to NIST standards, you’ll easily identify vulnerabilities, improve incident response plans and prioritize security measures. The NIST has created a helpful framework and various publications that provide guidelines for various systems and scenarios. If you’re looking for a specific publication or are interested in other NIST resources, head to their website, NIST.gov, for more information.

 

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)

The CMMC is a framework developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to assess and certify the cyber security practices of organizations that work with the DoD. This framework includes a set of controls and processes that organizations must implement to protect sensitive information and systems from cyber threats. The CMMC framework applies to all organizations that work with the DoD and handle Controlled Unclassified Information. This often includes defense contractors, suppliers, subcontractors, and organizations that provide services to the DoD, such as IT, logistics, and engineering. Businesses that support the defense supply chain, including manufacturers, technology firms, and professional service providers, also need to adhere to CMMC guidelines. Failure to achieve CMMC certification can result in being unable to bid on or win DoD contracts.

 

Compliance is something every business needs to be aware of, regardless of industry. Negligences can result in fines, legal consequences, and damage to reputation. It’s important for businesses to stay updated with relevant regulations and guidelines, implement necessary safeguards, and prioritize compliance as a fundamental aspect of their operations. By doing so, businesses can mitigate risks, gain trust from stakeholders, and set themselves up for success in today’s complex regulatory landscape. Invest in compliance today to safeguard your business for a prosperous future. Start by investigating HIPAA, NIST, and CMMC to see if their rules and regulations are applicable to your business, then look to other organizations. Doing so will help set your business up for success.

Protect Your Business – 15 Essential Cybersecurity Practices
 Protect Your Business – 15 Essential Cybersecurity Practices 1024 683 AMSYS ™ Group

15 Essential Cybersecurity Tips to Protect Your Small Business from Cyber-Threats.

As small businesses rely more on digital technology, cybersecurity is critical. Cyber threats like data breaches and ransomware attacks can result in financial loss and reputational damage. To safeguard your small business, implement a robust cybersecurity strategy. Protect your data, finances, and reputation by prioritizing cybersecurity measures to mitigate potential cyber risks in today’s digital landscape.

Here are some essential cybersecurity practices that can help protect your small business.

  1. Keep Your Software Up to Date:  Regularly updating software is a basic but vital cybersecurity practice. Update operating systems, web browsers, plugins, antivirus software, and other applications used in your small business. Software updates often contain security patches that protect against known cyber threats. Keeping your software up-to-date helps minimize the risk of cyber attacks exploiting vulnerabilities, safeguarding your small business from potential security breaches.
  2. Use Strong and Unique Passwords: Weak passwords are easy targets for cybercriminals. It’s crucial to use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts, including email, cloud storage, social media, and financial accounts. Avoid using easily guessable passwords such as “123456” or “password.” Instead, use complex passwords that include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Additionally, consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely.
  3. Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. It requires users to provide two different types of identification, typically something they know (password) and something they have (e.g., a unique code sent to their mobile device). Implement 2FA wherever possible, especially for critical accounts like email and financial accounts. This can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access even if your password is compromised.
  4. Train Your Employees: Human error is often the weakest link in cybersecurity. It’s crucial to educate and train your employees on cybersecurity best practices. Provide regular training on topics such as identifying phishing emails, safe browsing habits, password hygiene, and social engineering attacks. Encourage employees to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Additionally, restrict access to sensitive information only to employees who require it for their job responsibilities.
  5. Back-Up Your Data: Data backups are essential for small businesses to protect against data loss due to cyber-attacks or other incidents such as hardware failure or natural disasters. Regularly back up all your critical data, including customer data, financial records, and intellectual property, to a secure location that is separate from your primary system. Test your backups to ensure they can be successfully restored when needed.
  6. Secure Your Network:  Securing your small business network is crucial to protect against cyber threats. Use strong, unique passwords for your Wi-Fi router and change them regularly. Enable WPA3 encryption for maximum security. Segment your network to isolate critical systems and restrict access to sensitive information. Utilize firewalls to filter network traffic and allow only necessary traffic.
  7. Regularly Monitor and Update Your Security Settings:  Regularly review and update security settings for devices, software, and online accounts. Limit user permissions to the minimum necessary, disable remote access for unused accounts, and configure firewalls to block unnecessary traffic. Monitor systems for signs of suspicious activity, like unusual logins or data transfers. Stay vigilant in ensuring correct security configurations to protect your small business against cyber threats.
  8. Have a Plan for Security Incidents: Despite taking all necessary precautions, security incidents may still occur. It’s essential to have a plan in case of a security breach. Develop an incident response plan that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a cybersecurity incident, including who to contact, how to contain the incident, and how to communicate with affected parties. Train your employees on the incident response plan and regularly review and update it to ensure its effectiveness.
  9. Regularly Update and Patch Your Systems: Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and new vulnerabilities can be discovered in your systems and software. It’s crucial to regularly update and patch your systems and software to protect against known vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates wherever possible and apply patches as soon as they are released by the vendors. This includes not only your operating systems and software but also your web applications, plugins, and other third-party software used in your business.
  10. Use Reliable and Updated Antivirus Software: Antivirus software can help detect and remove malware, viruses, and other malicious software from your systems. Ensure that you have reliable and updated antivirus software installed on all your devices, including computers, servers, and mobile devices. Keep the antivirus software up-to-date with the latest virus definitions to effectively detect and mitigate emerging threats.
  11. Secure Your Mobile Devices: Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are increasingly being used in small businesses for communication, data access, and other business operations. It’s crucial to secure your mobile devices to protect your small business from cyber threats. Implement strong authentication methods, such as fingerprint recognition or facial recognition, on mobile devices. Enable remote tracking and wiping of lost or stolen devices. Avoid connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
  12. Encrypt Sensitive Data: Encryption is a powerful technique that protects your data by converting it into a code that can only be accessed with the correct encryption key. Implement encryption for sensitive data, such as customer information, financial records, and intellectual property. Use encryption tools for data at rest, such as data stored on your computers, servers, and mobile devices, as well as data in transit, such as data transmitted over the internet or other networks.
  13. Limit Access to Sensitive Information: Not all employees need access to all information in your business. Limit access to sensitive information based on the principle of least privilege, which means that employees should only have access to the information necessary to perform their job responsibilities. Regularly review and update user permissions and access controls to ensure that employees only have access to the information they need to do their job.
  14. Be Cautious with Email and Other Communications: Phishing attacks, where cybercriminals impersonate trusted entities to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, are common in small business cybersecurity breaches. Be cautious with email and other communications, especially if they request personal information, contain suspicious links or attachments, or seem out of the ordinary. Train your employees to verify the authenticity of emails and communications before responding or clicking on links or attachments.
  15. Have a Disaster Recovery Plan: In addition to cybersecurity incidents, small businesses can also face other types of disasters, such as natural disasters, fires, or hardware failures. It’s crucial to have a disaster recovery plan that outlines how your small business will recover from such incidents and resume normal operations. This includes regular data backups, off-site storage of backups, redundant systems, and a plan to quickly restore operations in case of a disaster.

In conclusion, implementing essential cybersecurity practices is crucial for small businesses to protect against cyber threats and safeguard their data and operations. Strong password management, regular software updates, firewall protection, antivirus software, encryption, employee education, and multi-factor authentication are all vital cybersecurity measures that small businesses should prioritize.