The terms “cybersecurity” and “compliance” are often used interchangeably. Many businesses mistakenly assume that investing in cybersecurity services and products automatically means they are also compliant with industry regulations and standards. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. While both cybersecurity and compliance are crucial for safeguarding your organization’s interests, it should never be assumed your cybersecurity services automatically help with compliance. In this blog post, we aim to clarify the differences between these two essential aspects of business security.
Cybersecurity Services and Products
Cybersecurity services and products are the frontline defense mechanisms that protect your business against data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other digital threats. These services are designed to fortify your digital infrastructure and keep sensitive information safe from prying eyes.
Anti-Virus: Employing robust anti-virus software helps to detect and remove malicious software from your systems, preventing potential breaches.
Patching: Regularly updating and patching your software and systems is crucial to eliminate vulnerabilities that cybercriminals might exploit.
Firewalls: Firewalls act as digital barriers, preventing unauthorized access to your network and systems.
User Management: Implementing user management protocols ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security, requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification to access accounts or systems.
EDR/XDR (Endpoint Detection and Response/Extended Detection and Response): These advanced solutions provide real-time threat detection and response to keep your systems safe.
DNS Filtering: DNS filtering blocks access to malicious websites, preventing employees from visiting harmful sites inadvertently.
SOC-as-a-Service: A Security Operations Center (SOC) offers continuous monitoring and threat detection, ensuring rapid response to security incidents.
Secure VPN: A Secure Virtual Private Network allows for safe remote access to your network, protecting data during transmission.
Incident Response: Having a well-defined incident response plan in place ensures that your organization can react swiftly to security breaches, minimizing potential damage.
Compliance Services
While cybersecurity services and products are generally easy to deploy and have a great impact on protecting your data from digital threats, compliance services ensure that your organization adheres to relevant industry regulations and standards that may or may not requite certain products. It also involves documenting specific policies and procedures around the products and staff. Compliance is essential for true cybersecurity and has additional benefits of avoiding potential penalties, legal issues, and maintaining the trust of your customers. Here’s what compliance services encompass:
Aligning Cybersecurity with Compliance Requirements: It should never be assumed that your cybersecurity services automatically make your organization compliant. A thorough understanding of industry-specific regulations and standards is essential.
Validating Compliance: Regular assessments and validations are crucial to confirm that your organization is indeed compliant with the required regulations and standards.
Identifying Compliance Gaps: Compliance services identify any areas where your organization may fall short of the necessary requirements and work to rectify them.
Policies and Procedures: Clearly define all of your policies and procedures. Policies and procedures get everyone on the same page for expectations and can give direction in the face of the unexpected.
Documentation: Compliance services assist in creating and maintaining documentation that proves your organization’s adherence to regulations. Make sure to document all of your cybersecurity policies and procedures. These documents are essential when preparing for audits or investigations.
Cybersecurity + Compliance
As a small to medium-sized business owner, it’s crucial to acknowledge the significance of both cybersecurity and compliance. These two elements work in tandem to create a comprehensive strategy that protects your business from external threats and legal repercussions. Managed Service Providers (MSPs), such as NSA, possess expertise in both cybersecurity and compliance services, enabling them to customize your cybersecurity solutions to align with compliance requirements.