Regulations

Compliance and Risk Management in an Organization

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Illustration of the different facets of compliance management showing a woman in business attire holding a clipboard with a check mark, a man in a business suit holding a briefcase etc.

In a typical organization facing the increasing trend of new regulations and standards, as well as revisions and updates of cybersecurity frameworks, it may bode well to start asking some very pointed questions like how does compliance help to manage risk in our business environment, and what key questions should we be asking about how to assess the risks that exist?

Compliance plays a crucial role in managing risk in a small business environment. It helps ensure that a business adheres to relevant laws, regulations, industry standards, and internal policies. By doing so, compliance can mitigate various risks and protect the business from legal, financial, reputational, and operational harm.

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PCI DSS: Why Compliance is Critical for Payment Card Security

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Image of a pci dss secure payment concept showing a credit card, a Point-Of-Sale (POS) device, and receipt

Introduction

In today’s digital age, data is a valuable asset, and its security should be a top priority for any organization, especially when it comes to sensitive financial information. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to protect this very data, but why is it so crucial? In this article, we will explore the importance of complying with the payment card standard, and provide real-life examples of the consequences that can result from non-compliance.

What is PCI DSS?

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is a comprehensive set of security standards developed by major credit card companies like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express to ensure the protection of sensitive payment card data. The payment card protection framework outlines specific security requirements that organizations that handle cardholder data must adhere to. Compliance with these standards is not just a best practice; in many cases, it is a legal requirement.

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Compliance And Security: How Small Businesses Can Reduce Cost

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Different facets of compliance management

Are you responsible for the ongoing effectiveness of your security strategy and compliance audits in your small business or organization?

Some of the main threats facing small businesses and organizations today include:

  • Data breaches,
  • The lack of  dedicated security expert on staff,
  • Being an easy target for hackers,
  • The tendency to mishandle device configuration settings  and
  • Staying in  compliance with state and federal laws and regulation.

A primary concern for any business owner is the guardianship of customer and business data from increasing external threats to security, and tougher compliance requirements in regulated industries.

As a matter of fact, today, organizations and businesses must manage, govern and ensure compliance for the overwhelming amount of data they produce, especially in the face of global legislation like CCPA and GDPR, rather than national regulations.”

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Why Your Organization Needs An Internet Use Policy

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Employee Avatars working on a policy checklist.With computers and Internet access being such an integral part of every business, and the Internet filled with everything from gambling to x-rated websites, it is critical that every business has an Internet Use Policy in place.

This policy can help prevent your employees from accidentally or intentionally causing harm to your company or your company’s reputation. While you don’t want to give your employees the idea that they are living in George Orwell’s 1984, you want them to have a clear understanding of practices that are and are not appropriate during work hours. It is necessary for companies and organizations to create an Internet policy that everyone can live with.

Why Have An Internet Use Policy?

The purpose of a business is to make money, and for non-profit organizations, it is to fulfill the mission. In order to accomplish this, the company or organization has to have productive employees. The Internet can be a time drain and often prevent employees from being as productive as they should be.

With such a wide range of information available on the Internet, it is necessary to clarify the company’s expectations of its employees regarding Internet access. With a strong policy in place, the employee, as well as the employer, will find Internet use less confusing and frustrating.

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Data Encryption Tools For The Mobile Business Executive

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Infographic depicting various devices using data encryption.

Data encryption is not one of the security options most companies think of providing for their senior executives who use, and travel, with laptops, netbooks and tablets so they can stay productive even when on the road. This is even more true of corporate executives who sometimes demand anytime, anywhere access to data residing on corporate servers.

While the big corporations can afford to spend millions of dollars on data protection hardware and software., the same cannot be said of executives in small and medium-sized organizations, especially when it comes to loss of personal information, including credit card data, patient records or other financial information, stored by the company.

Data breaches happen and information is lost every day due to small mistakes that could have been avoided by using data encryption technologies. For small businesses, these data loss events can be devastating.

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Why Your Small Business Or Organization Needs An Email Policy

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Mail envelope containing a documenton on a computer screen.

Email is an important and necessary part of your business or organization. It provides an economical and instant means of communicating with staff, customers, and vendors – that’s both simple to use and enables increased efficiency. An email policy is required to protect this necessary business tool.

An email policy is a legal document that details your organization’s definition of acceptable use for the company email system. It should indicate who emails can be received from or sent to, as well as outline what constitutes appropriate content for work emails.

In addition, having an email policy will:

  • Protect the Organization from Liabilities:

When all employees read and sign an email policy, it proves they are aware and agree to the information contained in that policy. Should an email be sent that is not considered appropriate content according to the email policy, the employee, not the organization, would bear the brunt of liability for any damages or suits brought as a result of their sending an inappropriate email.

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