Hands-Free Compliance: MSPs Managing Controls and Policies for You

In today's rapidly changing digital landscape, cybersecurity threats present a significant challenge for businesses of all sizes. However, navigating the intricate world of compliance frameworks and their associated controls and policies can be especially daunting, particularly for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs). This is where Managed Service Providers (MSPs) with expertise in cybersecurity can step in and offer a seamless approach to compliance, ensuring your business complies with regulations while freeing up valuable internal resources.

This blog delves into the complexities of cybersecurity frameworks, delves into the details of compliance requirements, and elucidates how MSPs can greatly alleviate the challenges for SMBs.

Understanding the Compliance Landscape

Cybersecurity frameworks provide a standardized structure for organizations to implement security controls and best practices. These frameworks are not one-size-fits-all solutions, and various industries adhere to different regulations. Some of the most prominent frameworks include:

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): A comprehensive framework that provides a prioritized, flexible approach to managing cybersecurity risk.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): Protects sensitive patient data in the healthcare industry.
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Regulates the processing of personal data of individuals within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): Imposed on organizations that accept, transmit, or store credit card information.

Adding to this intricate landscape are industry-specific regulations:

• Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC): Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to assess the cybersecurity maturity of its contractors. CMMC mandates a tiered system, requiring contractors to achieve a specific level of cybersecurity hygiene based on the sensitivity of the data they handle.
• Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS): Implements additional cybersecurity requirements for Department of Defense contractors beyond those outlined in NIST CSF. DFARS mandates compliance with specific NIST Special Publications (SP) that address the protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA): The self-regulatory organization for the U.S. securities industry. FINRA enforces a set of cybersecurity standards (FOCUS) that member firms must adhere to in order to protect customer information and market integrity.

These industry specific regulations include specific controls, respectively:

• CMMC: Prescribes a tiered approach to cybersecurity with five maturity levels. Each level requires specific controls related to access control, incident response, and security awareness training, with the higher levels demanding more stringent measures.
• DFARS: Leverages the security controls outlined in NIST SP 800-171, which focuses on protecting CUI within DoD information systems. These controls address areas like system security architecture, access controls, incident response, and security assessments.
• FINRA FOCUS: Outlines a set of cybersecurity controls tailored to the financial services industry. These controls address areas like data governance, access control, data breach preparedness, and incident response.

Each framework outlines a set of controls, which are specific actions or procedures designed to mitigate cybersecurity risks. These controls can be broadly categorized into:

• Preventative Controls: Measures taken to stop cyberattacks before they occur, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access controls.
• Detective Controls: Mechanisms to identify and report security incidents, including log monitoring and vulnerability scanning.
• Corrective Controls: Actions taken to address security incidents and restore normal operations, such as data recovery and incident response procedures.
• Recovery Controls: Processes to restore critical systems and data following a security breach.

The Road to Compliance: Demystifying the Requirements

Complying with cybersecurity frameworks necessitates a multi-pronged approach. Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

• Policy Development and Implementation: Organizations must establish documented policies and procedures that align with the chosen framework's controls. These policies should address areas like password management, data encryption, acceptable use of technology, and incident response.
• Risk Assessments and Management: Regular risk assessments are crucial to identify vulnerabilities within the IT infrastructure. Based on the identified risks, appropriate controls should be implemented to mitigate them.
• Security Awareness and Training: Employees play a vital role in maintaining a strong security posture. Regular training programs must be conducted to educate staff on cybersecurity best practices and how to identify and report suspicious activity.
• Change Management: Organizations need to have a defined process for managing changes to their IT systems and infrastructure. This ensures that new vulnerabilities are not introduced inadvertently.

Documentation: The Backbone of Compliance

Ensuring thorough documentation is a crucial aspect of showcasing cybersecurity compliance. This section explores the essential components that establish a strong foundation for meeting compliance requirements:

• Security Policies: These documented procedures outline the acceptable use of technology within your organization. They should address critical aspects like:

  • Password Management: Policies defining password complexity requirements, minimum length, and mandatory periodic changes.
  • Data Encryption: Guidelines for encrypting sensitive data at rest and in transit to safeguard its confidentiality.
  • Acceptable Use Policy (AUP): Clearly defining acceptable and prohibited activities on company-owned devices and IT systems.
  • Incident Response Plan (IRP): A documented plan outlining the steps to be taken in the event of a security breach, including data breach notification procedures.

• Risk Assessments and Management: Regular risk assessments are fundamental to identifying vulnerabilities within your IT infrastructure. These assessments should be documented and include:

  • Methodology: The specific approach used to identify and assess risks (e.g., threat modeling, vulnerability scanning).
  • Identified Risks: A detailed list of vulnerabilities discovered during the assessment, categorized based on severity and likelihood.
  • Risk Mitigation Strategies: Clear documentation of the planned actions to address the identified risks, including the implementation of appropriate controls.

• Security Awareness and Training Programs: Educating employees about cybersecurity best practices is crucial for a layered defense. Documentation associated with training programs should include:

  • Training Materials: Copies of training modules, presentations, and handouts used during employee cybersecurity awareness sessions.
  • Attendance Records: Documented records of employee participation in security awareness training programs.

• Change Management Procedures: Organizations need a well-defined process for managing changes to their IT infrastructure. This process should be documented and encompass:

  • Change Request Process: A formal procedure for requesting, reviewing, and approving changes to IT systems and applications.
  • Impact Assessment: A documented evaluation of the potential security implications associated with any proposed IT change.
  • Post-Change Review: Documentation of the implemented changes and any identified security risks arising from them.
• Standardization and Accessibility:
  • Document Templates: Utilizing standardized templates for security policies, risk assessments, and other compliance documents streamlines the process and ensures consistency.
  • Centralized Repository: Maintaining a central repository for all security-related documentation facilitates easy access and retrieval for auditors and internal stakeholders.
  • Version Control: Implementing a version control system allows for tracking changes made to documents over time, ensuring everyone refers to the latest approved version.

Security Services: Building a Robust Defense

Businesses have the opportunity to utilize a range of security services to enhance their compliance stance:

• Vulnerability Scanning and Penetration Testing: Regularly identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in IT systems and networks.
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): A system that collects and analyzes security logs from various sources to detect and respond to potential threats.
• Managed Detection and Response (MDR): A service that provides continuous monitoring and analysis of security events, with the ability to take swift action in case of a cyberattack.

How MSPs Can Ease the Compliance Burden for SMBs

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) have the knowledge and resources needed to navigate the intricate world of cybersecurity compliance, providing substantial benefits to SMBs:

• Deep Knowledge of Frameworks and Controls: MSPs have a thorough understanding of various cybersecurity frameworks and their associated controls. They can guide SMBs in selecting the appropriate framework and ensure adherence to its requirements.
• Streamlined Policy Development and Implementation: MSPs can assist in developing and implementing security policies and procedures that align with the chosen framework.
• Automated Risk Assessments and Monitoring: Many MSPs offer automated tools for conducting regular risk assessments and continuously monitoring IT systems for vulnerabilities.
• Security Awareness Training: MSPs can provide comprehensive security awareness training programs for employees, educating them on cybersecurity best practices and phishing attempts.
• Patch Management and Threat Detection: MSPs can ensure timely patching of vulnerabilities in software and operating systems, along with implementing advanced threat detection solutions to identify and mitigate cyberattacks.
• Incident Response and Recovery: MSPs can offer expertise in developing and implementing incident response plans, including data breach notification procedures and assisting with system recovery in the aftermath of an attack.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Leveraging an MSP's compliance expertise can be significantly more cost-effective for SMBs compared to hiring dedicated in-house security personnel.

Regulatory compliance is essential for some businesses depending on industry, but for those SMBs not held down by a compliance framework, it's recommended that they still follow a best-practice framework. NIST cybersecurity framework is a baseline for most regulatory frameworks, and is a great start for those non-required SMBs. The point is, no matter what industry your business operates in, having cybersecurity best practices in place is key to not become a target for a cyber attack. If you're looking for an MSP partner to assist in your compliance management or implementing cybersecurity best practices, reach out to Charles IT today!