Security Compliance Isn’t a Result, It’s a Strategy
Navigating remote work as a part of ongoing enterprise-wide security initiatives.
Compliance with security and privacy regulations is crucial to an organization’s ability to protect its data. But it can’t be a checkbox exercise, says vice president of security and compliance at Splashtop Jerry Hsieh. A solution must be part of a comprehensive compliance program.
If security has become the top priority for business and IT leaders in recent years, regulatory compliance isn’t far behind. The need to protect data and privacy necessitates that organizations meet the requirements set forth by an array of compliance mandates, depending on the data being handled, ranging from the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
But it’s not enough to comply with regulatory mandates one-to-one, checking off the boxes that apply to an organization’s business or operations. The movement of data in cloud systems, evolving cybersecurity threats, and the full gamut of sometimes overlapping mandates have become too complex. A focal point in this landscape is the growth of remote work, which necessitates secure and reliable remote access to ensure its success and that of many other business functions. Organizations need to take an approach that supports an enterprise’s entire compliance program, built not only to meet current requirements but to make improvements proactively. They also need to be prepared for the inevitable modifications to current and new laws that will appear.
The Advantages of a Third-party Security Evaluation
As remote work continues to be adopted by companies worldwide, the need for secure and compliant remote access solutions has become paramount. Organizations operating in industries with stringent compliance and regulations need to ensure that they have controls in place for data privacy and systems security—and these controls must extend to the suite of cloud and IT solutions the organization has deployed to support and secure its remote and hybrid workforce.
However, it is not uncommon for small and mid-sized businesses to be challenged by limited budgets and a shortage of human resources required to establish and manage a full-scale security program. Self-assessment is a common first step in developing a security posture, regardless of the organization’s size. This is an effective way to understand and prioritize data, allowing organizations to tackle security incrementally.
However, an organization shouldn’t overly rely on self-assessments because they can have pitfalls. Having a third party evaluate your security controls allows you to catch any oversights and receive suggestions on areas that need improvement, such as improving security, processes, responsiveness, and other elements of a successful security posture.
See More: How to Assess and Manage Third-Party Risk
The Value of ISO 27001 Certification
When selecting a remote access solution, a company must closely examine the certifications and compliances a provider has met. A certification to look for is ISO/IEC 27001, published jointly by the International Standards Organization and the International Electrotechnical Commission, which has become a differentiator as the globally recognized benchmark for information security management systems.
With a comprehensive set of stringent requirements, it adheres to the highest current standards for risk management, cyber-resilience, and operational excellence while being flexible enough to support remote access solutions. By building ISO certification into an organization’s vendor requirements, they can be assured that their solution providers meet the stringent requirements for data handling and security practices.
Certification for ISO 27001 is typically three years, but that time frame includes a series of audits designed to find weaknesses and recommend improvements. It requires a strong security foundation to gain the initial certification, but after that, it’s essentially a continuous improvement program.
Unlocking Secure Access to AI
Artificial intelligence, especially Generative AI models like ChatGPT, has drawn much attention lately because of the speed, power, and innovation it brings to the computing environment. But AI also raises questions. For security practitioners, a big concern is that an AI model, while processing so much information so quickly, could commit a breach of confidentiality. It could result in a security compliance violation, even if it’s something small, like an email address.
Many organizations are looking to host their own AI models because there are advantages to keeping it on-premises. But how do you access the system remotely? A traditional VPN isn’t secure enough for remotely accessing internal applications or data. A better approach is to host the application or platform and use secure remote access, bolstered by a zero-trust approach to continuous authentication.
AI can also benefit compliance because it can help organizations identify all the data systems, including those containing PII and other sensitive information, in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The data can be classified to match regulations such as GDPR or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) so it can be quickly located in the event of, for example, a GDPR deletion request of personal information.
See More: Why Some Companies Are Still Overcautious About GDPR
Elevating Remote Work Cybersecurity
In today’s increasingly remote work world, it’s more important than ever that companies prioritize remote access security and compliance as an ongoing strategy built to meet current requirements and make improvements proactively. Partnering with third-party service providers with the required expertise and certifications can offer efficient and cost-effective solutions to catch oversights and receive suggestions for improvement. In addition, a robust security posture that includes a zero-trust approach to continuous authentication can better protect data, proactively manage risks, and help companies adapt to changing circumstances and threats.
How can organizations strategize security compliance in the era of remote work? Let us know on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you!
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