In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, protecting your organization against cyber threats has never been more important. Summit IT, a trusted Ohio-based Managed Service Provider (MSP), partners with mid-sized Northeast Ohio organizations to ensure they meet cybersecurity compliance standards, protect their data, and more. Join our experts below as we answer the following questions:
- Why is cybersecurity compliance important?
- What are common cybersecurity compliance standards?
- What are the consequences of not meeting compliance standards?
- How would a MSP protect my data and improve my compliance strategy?
- And so much more!
What is Cybersecurity Compliance and Why It Matters
Cybersecurity compliance refers to the set of laws, regulations, and industry standards that organizations must follow to protect sensitive data and ensure consumer privacy. These regulations may vary by industry. For example, healthcare organizations adhere to HIPAA and businesses that interact with credit or debit card data follow the PCI DSS. Complying with cybersecurity standards reduces the risk of data breaches, downtime, and financial loss, all of which can have serious consequences.
Unfortunately, some Ohio-based businesses have faced the consequences of poor cybersecurity. Consider the case of DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) in Fairfield, OH, who experienced a data breach that exposed personal information of customers, including Social Security numbers. After being investigated by the Ohio and Pennsylvania Attorney Generals, DDC was found guilty of “unfair and deceptive” cybersecurity practices as well as failing to detect and prevent the breach. As a result, they had to pay a $200,000 fine and implement a new cybersecurity program that meets industry standards. DDC took the smart step of partnering with cybersecurity companies to safeguard its data moving forward.
Common Cybersecurity Compliance Standards Businesses Must Meet
Cybersecurity compliance is not only a critical layer of defense but also a legal obligation. State and federal regulations set the bar for how organizations protect sensitive data and respond to data breaches. Whether your business handles patient records, credit card data, or basic consumer information, understanding cybersecurity compliance standards will protect both you and your customers.
Here are a few common data protection regulations for various industries:
- NIST CSF (The National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework): While this standard is not law, it is widely adopted as best practice and informs many other standards (like CMMC and ISO 27001). This standard is embraced across all industries and provides a flexible framework for identifying and recovering from cyber threats.
- PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): Any business that stores, processes, or transmits credit or debit card data must comply with the PCI DSS. This standard protects cardholder data and prevents payment fraud by maintaining a secure network, encrypting the transmission of cardholder data, conducting regular vulnerability scans, and more.
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): HIPAA applies to the healthcare field and safeguards Protected Health Information (PHI), which is any information about a person’s health status, treatment, or payment that might be identifiable. HIPAA requires websites to maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, conduct risk assessments, and more.
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): The European Union’s GDPR applies to any organization (including U.S. businesses) that collects or processes personal data of EU or UK residents. This regulation protects privacy and ensures transparency in how data is collected, used, and stored. The GDPR requires businesses to obtain explicit consent for data collection and more.
The list of cybersecurity compliance standards goes on and on, which is why partnering with a trusted MSP is so important. With the help of experts like Summit IT, an Ohio-based cybersecurity provider, you can trust that your website meets all regulatory requirements.
How An Expert Managed Service Provider (MSP) Strengthens Your Cybersecurity Compliance Strategy
Partnering with an experienced Managed Service Provider (MSP) gives businesses the expertise and tools needed to stay compliant and secure in a digital landscape with constant threats. An expert MSP reacts to cyber incidents and proactively strengthens your compliance strategy through regular assessments, knowledge on hidden cyber threats, and more. Learn more about how MSPs operate below.
Network and Security Assessment
An effective MSP would start by knowing your vulnerabilities. Risk assessments identify weaknesses in your systems and compliance practices before attackers can exploit them. Paired with speedy threat detection, an MSP can help your business to spot and respond to suspicious activity the moment it happens. Additionally, only an MSP can provide the around-the-clock monitoring to maintain cybersecurity compliance and prevent small problems from becoming costly data breaches.
Protecting Against Emerging and Hidden Threats
From zero-day attacks and phishing scams to ransomware campaigns and more, new cyber threats pop up everyday. A trustworthy MSP would stay ahead of these threats by combining continuous threat intelligence with advanced detection tools and on-going monitoring. MSPs are known to track what is going on globally so that they are prepared to protect your company proactively. This aggressive approach allows businesses to detect and contain threats early, reduce downtime, and maintain compliance with critical cybersecurity standards.
Anticipating and Forecasting Cybersecurity Risks
Your MSP should not only keep an eye on current global threats, but they should also anticipate future threats as technology quickly evolves. By analyzing trends and predicting potential vulnerabilities, an MSP can see a threat from a mile away. Rather than quickly reacting to whatever comes your way, work with an MSP to protect your business with a proactive approach.
Choosing the Right Managed Service Provider
Strength your cybersecurity and maintain compliance standards by working with the right MSP. A reliable MSP is local, boasts strong experience, and responds to customers in a timely fashion, with a sense of urgency.
Working with local cybersecurity companies ensures quick response times and an understanding of the nearby business climate. You want to make sure a potential MSP has extensive experience so you can trust them to anticipate security threats and implement industry best practices. Finally, you need an MSP that responds to you in a timely manner. When your data security is on the line, you can’t afford to wait for a call back. Go with an MSP that you know works efficiently and communicates well!
Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Compliance Today
Strengthen your cybersecurity compliance today by booking a free consultation with Summit IT. Summit IT is an Ohio-based cybersecurity company that specializes in compliance standards for mid-sized organizations in our region. With over 135 collective years of tech industry experience and a passion for excellent customer service, we strive to be the leading provider of IT-based solutions in Northeast Ohio.