IT Security Terms: Regulations, Standards, Controls, Frameworks, and Policies – Where to Start!?

When tasked with the IT security of an organization, it can be easy to get bogged down in particulars and definitions and lose heart before you’ve even begun. With a plethora of terms to learn, details to secure, and moving parts to keep track of, building an effective cybersecurity strategy is no simple task. It requires a great deal of effort, planning, and coordination.

Security is a crucial aspect of any organization’s success, and cyberthreats are constantly evolving to become more sophisticated and more effective. Understanding the fundamentals of cybersecurity terminology is an important first step to protecting your organization against cyberattacks and other threats.

Regulations and Standards

Security regulations and standards outline practices, tools, and effects that are necessary for an organization to comply. Regulations are most often codified by law, carrying potential criminal prosecution and/or heavy fines as consequences for noncompliance. These regulations are developed by legislative bodies, ideally with insight from experts, to mandate a certain level of security across many industries in the affected region.

Regulations like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the USA’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are put in place by regulatory entities to protect individuals’ private and sensitive information. They legislate the responsibilities and requirements of organizations that handle personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI) to ensure that they are taking appropriate steps to protect that data.

Industry standards, on the other hand, are usually set forth by independent entities to establish a shared understanding of security levels. Some industry standards carry certifications, which organizations can obtain with documentation of compliance. This certification, as proof of compliance with industry standards, is a good way for organizations to show current and potential customers, employees, and partners that security is a priority.

The International Organization for Standardizations ISO/IEC 27001 is a widespread standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It applies to organizations of all sizes and across all sectors, providing them with requirements for information security. There are many other standards from ISO/IEC and other entities, such as NERC CIP and the Information Security Forum’s Standard of Good Practice, that fulfill similar functions in ensuring security.

Controls and Configurations

Security controls are the mechanisms that organizations use in order to mitigate cyberattacks and other threats. Core security controls include file integrity monitoring (FIM) and security configuration management (SCM).

Controls mentioned in NIST SP 800-53 Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations include:

• Access Control: Policies and procedures in place to manage which users have access to which resources and when, including defining roles and responsibilities.
• Awareness and Training: Measures that increase user awareness of cyberthreats and other risks, best practices, and the importance of protecting information security.
• Configuration Management: Steps taken to ensure that organizations’ security tools and solutions are configured properly to maximize effectiveness and prevent complications.
• Identification and Authentication: Controls in place to verify users’ identities and authorization to gain access to specific network areas or resources.
• Incident Response: Plans for steps to be taken if and when a cybersecurity incident occurs.
• PII Processing and Transparency: Policies and procedures for secure handling and use of customer and employee PII.
• Supply Chain Risk Management: Controls in place to address the challenges of threats to the supply chain.

There is a wide range of security controls by NIST SP 800-53 and other security frameworks to manage the many different aspects of cybersecurity required.

Frameworks and Policies

A security framework defines policies and procedures for establishing and maintaining security controls. These frameworks create a somewhat stable set of guidelines for various aspects of security, helping organizations to build effective security strategies. Security frameworks are designed to align with compliance requirements for relevant regulations and industry standards.

Some of the most common IT security frameworks are:

Organizations can follow security frameworks to develop strategies and policies. They lay out many of the practices and procedures that all members of an organization must adhere to in order to maintain compliance and security. These policies are essential to any organization’s security strategy, as they ensure that all employees are held to the same standard of secure activity.

Managing Compliance and Security

Keeping track of all of the different factors that go into information security requires staying on top of a wide variety of practices, solutions, and compliance requirements. Some organizations, especially small-to-medium-sized businesses, may find it most convenient and cost-effective to use a managed service provider (MSP) to help them handle all of the various challenges of information security.

With the right MSP, organizations can significantly cut down on the amount of time and effort they must dedicate to developing and maintaining their robust security strategy. Tools and solutions that automate steps of the process, like FIM, SCM, and adaptive DLP, can assist with achieving compliance and protecting sensitive information. It is no easy task to ensure information security, but tools and services can make it far simpler to achieve.

To learn more about regulatory compliance, visit our compliance resource here.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this and other guest author articles are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of Tripwire.