The Importance of Remote Access Policy

What is a Remote Access Policy?

A remote access policy is a document that defines how employees may use remote access methods for both personal and business use. That includes setting up guidelines for devices that employees can use when they’re not in the office. A remote access policy ensures all devices meet specific security standards before employees can utilize them.

The primary purpose of a remote access policy is to help ensure employees use devices, systems, and applications securely. A business should have plans in place for how employees are allowed to connect remotely.

It’s also important to note that remote access policies extend to both mobile devices and home computers.

The role of remote access policies is to define the rules and guidelines that every employee needs to abide by when using remote equipment: what can be done and what cannot be done, which technologies will be used, and how, etc.

Nowadays, it is common for people to work outside an office environment despite having all their equipment in a said physical location. A remote access policy helps ensure an office environment remains efficient and secure.

What Does a Remote Access Policy Cover?

The remote access policy dictates permissions and responsibilities related to using remote access technologies. It specifies acceptable use standards when employees are at home and anywhere else outside the office.

For example, it must detail what types of devices (laptops, notebooks, or smartphones) may be connected to the network without breaking security measures. It should also identify the level of protection required for user authentication and authorization. The policy should provide clear guidelines as to the circumstances when remote access will be granted (business or personal purposes).

Finally, remote access policy tackles issues such as defining which technologies will be allowed (VPN, laptop docking stations to access company networks) and identifying their user profiles (allow/forbid local file sharing).

Why Does a Remote Access Policy Matter?

A remote access policy is imperative for any successful company that wants to see proper growth in the modern business world. It ensures all users are logging in properly, and it prevents issues like unauthorized access to data or improper storage of proprietary information.

It matters for many reasons: first off, the whole point of having a policy is that it provides rules that everyone needs to abide by. Without it, employees might utilize their devices in an unsecured way that could damage your network’s security. Secondly, having a policy allows you to track usage and spend money on what’s really important to your business – especially if you’re supporting several remote users in one location: for example, you can decide which remote users should be provided with a VPN and which ones could go without it.

It also makes the job of your IT support much more manageable – they’ll know exactly what to look for in terms of security standards and won’t have to spend hours explaining things to employees when they try to establish their connections. Having this sort of policy also helps with BYOD (bring your own device) practices.

In addition, imagine a scenario in which your employees have been given access to remote devices without being told how they should use them, what level of security is required for their authentication/authorization, or what types of devices may be connected to a network at a particular business location. In this case, you risk letting employees use devices (laptops, smartphones, etc.) with little-to-no protection against malware and other types of computer viruses. Allowing remote access without a policy in place also increases the risk your company faces from cybercriminals who target open Wi-Fi networks for their targets.

In conclusion, remote access is an essential tool for businesses and organizations, and this policy is the safest way to grant employees this privilege while minimizing IT concerns and risks.

Best Practices for Creating a Remote Access Policy

* Identify Your Needs: you need to develop your policy based on your requirements. That means taking into consideration your network’s existing infrastructure, user profile, and business goals. If you’re unsure of what your needs are, consult with IT professionals who can help you develop requirements that make sense for your business. They should be able to suggest best practices based on their experience in similar situations.

* Use the Latest Connections Technologies: make sure any devices connecting via remote access use the latest technologies available to maximize security and performance. That includes suitable connection protocols like SSL/TLS or SSH, using compression when possible, and encrypting everything at all times (both data in motion and data at rest). It will ensure that hackers will have a tough time getting into your network even if they manage to steal credentials from a remote session.

* Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): create your policy so it requires at least two forms of authentication in order to log in remotely via public/private key pairs, passwords, one-time passcodes, biometric scanners, etc. Two-factor authentication is the industry standard for allowing remote access to sensitive information. Still, many companies are starting to allow one factor to make remote logins easier, which opens them up for potential threats.

* Decide What Kind of Data Can Be Accessed: make sure you define allowed/forbidden access rules for all types of data, including company emails, shared files, and so on. That will ensure that no unauthorized information is being transferred from a remote location back to your office, which can put it at risk from hackers.

* Maintain the Strength of Your Policy: make sure that your policy is reviewed and updated regularly to keep pace with changes in technology. That includes not only user authentication standards but also VPN protocols, types of connections allowed or blocked, encrypted storage technologies, etc. Keeping your policy up-to-date will ensure you are never left behind if new security vulnerabilities are discovered for older systems running older technology.

Log Management and Review Policy

Logs are the most critical part of your compliance with SOC security controls. Especially for those that require information on how it’s used and reviewed by employees within an organization, like monitoring, review procedures, etc., having a good Log Management process in place is critical to any organization. The Log Management and Review Policy document lays out how logs are monitored, used for review purposes by employees within an organization and what information they provide to the SOC auditor during a compliance audit.

What Are Audit Logs and What Should They Contain

Audit logs, also known as records of system activity, report who or what performed the operation and when it happened. To track changes in your business, you will need a tool that can provide this information for you.

The most common use of an audit log is to know what happened in the system, who made the change, and when. There are many different types of logs used for specific purposes. Still, they all try to achieve one goal: providing information about auditable events that happen on a computer or network resource. Most organizations use log analysis tools to know their system activity, whether it’s a simple server or an entire network.

Audit logs are used for compliance reporting and security investigations after some changes have been made in the systems. If you want to ensure that your organization complies with the privacy laws, then audit trails can help record what happened with any data and who accessed it.

You can use audit logs to track changes or access made by users. They should contain the following information:

– Date and time of action;

– The user ID;

– IP address (optional);

– Type of activity performed (e.g., create file/folder; delete file/folder; change permissions on a resource);

– Description of the activity;

– All relevant local data, such as filename and timestamp.

For How Long Should You Keep Audit Logs

The length of time you should keep the logs depends on your needs. If you only need to investigate cases that happened in a specific date range, then keeping all audit information for this period will be enough. If, however, you want to track changes over an extended period (e.g., years), it is necessary to create new sets of logs, keeping the old information in separate storage. In any case, it is crucial to store logs in an encrypted format.

As a general rule, your audit logs storage should include at least 90 days for the logs you can actively search and report on them. As for the log data you have backed up or archived for long-term storage, you should keep it for at least one year. If you are audited, your log data should be available for at least two years.

In addition to keeping the logs themselves, organizations should also keep a detailed description of all changes made (i.e., who changed what and when) so that they can easily access it if needed. This policy helps in identifying any suspicious activity on the organization’s systems.

Key Points to Consider When Developing a Log Management Policy

A log management policy is a great place to start for organizations concerned about governance and compliance. Every organization should develop one, even if they don’t plan on becoming an ISO 27001 or SOC compliant company soon. A comprehensive logging solution helps with security monitoring by ensuring that logs are stored properly and are easily accessible.

It’s essential to make sure that your logs are being stored and monitored so you can discover any issues promptly, whether it is for compliance or security purposes. Log management should be part of an organization’s cybersecurity strategy since it allows organizations to protect against incidents faster by acting on alerts within minutes.

First of all, the policy should also be as straightforward as possible. Also, you should define who has access to logs, which logs are monitored, and for what purposes. It includes specifying the time frame of retention (start date, end date). You can use this information as a reference point when reconstructing events that may have occurred in your network or system. It’s crucial to note that some organizations need to keep data for a more extended period of time. It is usually due to compliance reasons and can be really important in the event that your organization becomes involved in an investigation or legal matter. Additionally, it’s a good idea to ensure that no one has access to your logs unless they are authorized. If someone could gain unauthorized access, it would likely result in an adverse event for the organization and lead to a significant security breach.

Lastly, you should also consider what type of data is being generated — what kinds of log messages need to be collected? Is there sensitive information involved? How do you want this information to be managed, and who should have access to it? You can also determine what type of logs need to be collected by considering the size, volume, and performance requirements.

In addition to being viewed as a governance best practice for security onboarding with continuous monitoring practices, having a log management policy in place would ensure that your data is stored securely and can be accessed by authorized personnel only. It will help you keep track of any unusual activity on the network, which can then provide valuable insight into what events may have occurred over time — even if it were an incident or intrusion attempt. It also provides additional visibility into your network environment, which can help prevent unexpected security breaches.

Penetration Testing For Compliance

What is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing is a security evaluation method used to identify vulnerabilities in target systems. A penetration test is performed by exploiting the weaknesses and evaluating the defense of a system. Typically, the penetration tester or pentester will simulate an attack using one or more tools designed to exploit specific vulnerabilities on the target system(s), then recommend actions that eliminate them.

In essence, a penetration test is a legally authorized cyber attack.

Most companies tend to overlook apparent vulnerabilities on their systems and networks, such as password strength or improper use of encryption. That is why your business needs penetration testing. A penetration test can give you detailed information on your network and systems, thereby allowing you to make proper changes to protect it from real-world hackers.

It is common for pentests to be conducted by an outside party, such as a security firm or auditor. The use of external penetration testing firms has been steadily increasing over the years due to several reasons; including the benefits associated with using an external party such as:

  • External parties are not restricted by the IT policies in place at the organization.
  • They are independent and have no bias when it comes to choosing a penetration testing tool.

However, external pentesting firms do come with their own limitations, such as the inability to test specific parts of the organization due to restrictions in place or scheduling a pentest around the limited availability of one or more employees.

An internal pentesting team provides benefits such as:

  • The team is already familiar with the network and systems, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing the overall time required for completion.
  • Ability to test all aspects of the company’s network or system (i.e., employee desktops, sensitive information, etc.).
  • Operate without any limitations on tools used for the test. For example, many companies prohibit certain types of tools from being used, such as password crackers.

Although there is no right or wrong way when it comes to choosing a pentesting approach. You can consider an outside party if the test will be run as an audit to ensure compliance with certain regulations or if a specific organization cannot use or possess the tools required for pentesting.

Why Pentesting is Important to Meet Compliance 

Achieving compliance with security regulations and standards is not an easy task. A lack of expertise and resources, combined with confusing and ambiguous regulations, often leads to sub-par results.

In addition, traditional penetration tests may focus on critical infrastructure or limited scope within the network rather than a holistic assessment of entire enterprise networks. It makes compliance auditing challenging for most organizations, as many standard penetration tests require manual processes and are not scalable to large enterprise networks.

For example, achieving compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 requires an organization to monitor its information security controls continuously. It ensures that any vulnerabilities found during the process can be resolved or contained within 12 hours. To achieve this, it is crucial for organizations to first have suitable security control systems in place and then perform penetration testing exercises that can be adjusted based on these existing policies.

As vulnerabilities identified during penetration tests are reported from a risk perspective (i.e., they pose the most significant risks), auditors will then focus on mitigating those risks with the most significant impact on the organization.

Within this context, auditors will rely on findings from penetration tests and other audit methods such as vulnerability assessments (VA) and source code analysis to ensure no gaps in security measures around the network. The use of penetration testing allows auditors to be more confident in their risk management approach when conducting these audits.

Benefits of Pentests for Compliance and Audits

In recent years, organizations have started performing penetration tests to ensure they are meeting compliance requirements. These assessments can range from checking whether an organization has the policy to validate its compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to ensure financial institutions can effectively manage the transmission of information related to credit cards. Or, for example, assessing whether the Information Security Management System (ISMS), as per ISO 27001, includes adequate security controls.

Penetration testing can support and complement an organization’s quality assurance, vulnerability management, or information security program. Using penetration testing in conjunction with other methods allows testers to identify real-world threats, understand the impacts of vulnerabilities based on risk assessments and prioritize these risks accordingly. Penetration testing can also provide information that is not available through other testing methods, such as the ability to identify attacks without evidence of malicious activity (i.e., zero-day attacks) and the use of automated tools to compromise an organization’s security controls.

The primary advantage of penetration testing is that it can be performed on an ongoing basis and will provide more timely information about an organization’s security posture than other methods would. It is especially important for organizations that must undergo regular compliance audits to prove their system is secure.

Penetration testing also provides organizations with a way to test the effectiveness of countermeasures implemented due to an assessment. It can provide information regarding the security posture of a system after implementing new patches or updated configurations. It can also validate that security controls are being implemented as designed.

One of the biggest challenges for organizations is making sure penetration tests are effectively performed to deliver the insight needed to make critical security decisions. It is vital for penetration testing to be conducted on an ongoing basis to provide a continuous stream of information about the security posture of an organization’s systems and the impact of potential vulnerabilities.

An organization’s business cannot afford to be exposed to any threats. Still, penetration testing can provide organizations with an independent assessment of their system that will help them secure their data more effectively while ensuring they meet compliance requirements without disrupting normal operations.

SOC 2 Confidentiality Policy

The difference between confidentiality and privacy is often confusing, but the concepts are not interchangeable.

Confidentiality is about limiting access to information that should only be seen by certain people. Access policies ensure that the right people have access to data and then monitor compliance with those policies. Monitoring who has access to specific data and then tracking whether or not that access is warranted by business needs and employee job responsibilities ensures that confidentiality is intact.

Privacy is not about limiting access to information but instead ensuring that personal information is used in accordance with your organization’s stated privacy policies and the law. While you may limit who has access to specific pieces of data, you cannot control how they use it after they have viewed it.

Your organization mustn’t disclose personal information about any individual. That is why organizations must ensure that their privacy policies are followed. Privacy means following applicable laws and government regulations like HIPAA and internal policies prohibiting unnecessary disclosure of personal data.

In both cases, compliance with the stated policy is crucial for protecting confidentiality and privacy.

What is a Confidentiality Policy, and Why is it Important?

The confidentiality policy is a crucial element for protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access. It regulates the types of data collected, how organizations should use them, and who can access the data. It should be written in a way that helps your organization understand how information is collected and shared by employees, prevent disclosure of sensitive data, and respond to security incidents.

A confidentiality policy defines what constitutes confidential information and how companies should handle it. This type of policy is specific to the company, as each industry has its own data types that must be protected. These policies can vary significantly from business to business, but there are some commonalities, such as defined levels of protection for specific types of information.

A confidentiality policy can help organizations identify and protect sensitive information, both inside the organization and beyond. This policy should also recognize that non-sensitive information may nonetheless be treated as confidential by external parties. For example, a software application license key (a piece of information that does not itself require confidentiality protection) will often be treated as confidential by the software vendor.

A confidentiality policy applies to:

  • All employees of the organization, whether full-time or part-time, temporary, permanent, or contracted;
  • Employees of any business partners with access to sensitive information (regardless of title or job description);

The policy outlines the minimum requirements for ensuring confidentiality. Employees should use good judgment when making decisions about disclosure and discuss issues with their manager if they are unsure.

Confidentiality Policy Scope and Details

The confidentiality policy should be owned by the board of directors or equivalent governing body responsible for information protection. It must be communicated as a vital element of the organization’s commitment to protecting customer information.

What information will this policy cover? 

The confidentiality policy is designed to protect all types of sensitive data identified in the scope section. This policy applies to everyone in the organization, including employees, agents, contractors, consultants, and business partners. Here are some examples of data that is usually covered by this policy:

  • Personal customer information such as Social Security number, bank account numbers, and all personally identifiable information;
  • Customer payment information, including credit card numbers and other financial data;
  • Confidential business information such as trade secrets or private business transaction details.

How is this policy enforced? 

Sensitive information must be protected by both physical and technical security safeguards, as well as appropriate management policies. All employees are responsible for knowing what types of data require protection, how they should protect it, and where it is stored within the organization. Employees are expected to maintain confidentiality for all customer information, including internal or external communications regarding such information.

If the organization plans to disclose client data to third parties, confidentiality agreements should be required. The agreement must include appropriate safeguards to protect the confidentiality of sensitive customer information. Organizations should require that these agreements contain contractual language stating that this policy binds all employees throughout their time with the organization and after the termination of employment.

The policy can include a section that describes how employees should handle situations in which they suspect unnecessary disclosure of confidential client data. That includes guidance on when and with whom to report concerns.

Termination – This policy remains in effect even after an employee has been terminated from employment for any reason. Employees must continue to maintain the confidentiality of client information even after termination and may not use or disclose any client data.

What training should be given to employees?

Information security awareness and training are essential for adequate information protection. All employees should be trained on the importance of confidentiality and maintain a high level of understanding regarding their responsibilities concerning confidential data. Regular refresher training must also be provided as a reminder of all policies related to confidentiality, including this policy. Training topics may include:

  • Promoting confidentiality as an organizational value;
  • Proper handling of sensitive information;
  • Prohibiting the discussion or distribution of confidential client data outside the company, including by email or other electronic means;
  • Understanding the importance of protecting trade secrets and intellectual property.

Confidentiality policy should be included in the employee handbook and training materials so that employees understand their responsibilities for protecting client data. Employees should be aware of all procedures related to confidentiality and follow them at all times.

Potential consequences for employees not following the confidentiality policy

Employees should understand the risks associated with revealing client data to unauthorized third parties, even accidentally. Employees who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary actions, including termination. Furthermore, they may also be liable for civil or criminal penalties under applicable law. Employees should understand that this policy will be enforced and that violation can lead to severe consequences, including possible termination.

Some examples of Confidentiality controls:

  • Securely store confidential information on servers, encrypt data when it’s in transit (i.e., over the network, sent to a printer), and require system users to log in with credentials that periodically expire.
  • Limit access based on roles and job functions of each employee or contractor depending on their need-to-know.
  • Use anti-virus software to protect desktops and laptops from malware.
  • Configure firewalls to prevent unauthorized network access.
  • Monitor for unusual activity, including ports being left open, system logs of failed login attempts, and suspicious traffic that appears to be coming from a system that shouldn’t have the access required for that type of data.
  • Limit the sharing of data with third-party service providers.
  • Monitor system logs to detect suspicious activity, including failed login attempts and unusual traffic patterns.

The type and amount of confidentiality control required from organizations depend on the industry that is being served. For example, a financial services organization will have more stringent requirements than an online retailer or game-streaming service.

Conclusion:

Organizations should establish a corporate culture where confidentiality is valued, and employees are encouraged to report suspected violations. It is vital that all staff members are aware of the consequences if they violate this policy. 

In addition, organizations should monitor and audit compliance with this policy to ensure that all employees understand their responsibility for maintaining confidentiality. If you are looking for help with writing your confidentiality policy or any cybersecurity and compliance services, contact us today!

How Long Does it Take to Get SOC 2 Report

You’ve heard it over and over: you need to get SOC 2 compliant or else. But how long does the process take? In this article, we will discuss how long it will take your company to become SOC 2 compliant from start to finish – from the assessment phase all the way through to certification. It turns out that there are many steps involved in becoming certified with these standards, and they can’t be completed overnight.

What is the Purpose of SOC 2 Audit?

The SOC (Service Organization Controls) report is a guideline for service organizations to maintain an adequate level of security. This report is issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and can be requested from any certified public accounting firm. It outlines how to control and manage information technology systems to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data processed or stored within those systems.

The purpose of this audit is to verify that a service organization’s controls are effective in meeting its information security requirements. This process also helps identify weaknesses or areas where improvements may need to be made. A SOC audit is usually performed annually but can be done more or less often, depending on the client’s needs and industry regulations.

Type I vs. Type II: The Timing Difference

Type I is a report outlining the safeguards for meeting data security objectives as of a specified date. In contrast, Type II provides an overview of how those objectives are met over time.

Type II is a continual process. As controls are designed and put in place, they should be tested over time to ensure that there has been no degradation or loss of control effectiveness. Type II may also require an on-site examination if anomalies have been identified from other concerns like testing, new threats emerge, etc., which would call for an on-site inspection.

With this in mind, we can conclude that Type I reports can be generated right away once all controls are in place. As for Type II, if we are talking about the initial examination, a certain period must pass when controls are operating – as a rule, it takes nine to twelve months to get the final version of the report.

SOC 2 Audit Process Overview

  1. Planning

It is the first step in the SOC procedure, and this is where you can set up your audit process. The client decides what SOC criteria should be audited, how they will handle system access for audits, what locations are to be included during the audit, who needs authorization for accessing resources that have been audited, and what type of testing should be done. This phase usually takes from one to three weeks.

  1. Pre-Audit Readiness Assessment

The pre-audit readiness assessment is a process that includes the implementation of cybersecurity controls and procedures, as well as their evaluation for effectiveness in preventing and detecting cybersecurity risks or incidents. It is designed to help an organization decide which areas need more attention from a risk management perspective; gaps identified during this assessment can also be addressed during the pre-audit gap analysis. The pre-audit gap analysis is a detailed overview of an organization’s information security program. Gap analysis identifies issues such as improper configuration settings on network devices or missing patches which should have been applied to protect against vulnerabilities. For most cases, this process takes two to four weeks. However, for some specific circumstances, it can sometimes take up to eight weeks.

  1. Remediation

Various factors can determine how long it will take to remediate a company’s data security breaches, such as the type of breach and the amount of personal data exposed. For instance, if an organization has had multiple external or internal intrusions in a short period, then the processing can take a while. In contrast, if it was just one intrusion, then remediation may be much quicker.

It typically takes up to twelve months to remediate all the issues found after a SOC pre-audit gap analysis. That’s because it can be difficult and time-consuming for many companies that are not experienced in IT security. Still, there is always help at hand through third-party assessors who specialize in this kind of work. In this case, remediation usually takes four to eight weeks.

  1. Audit Fieldwork

The audit fieldwork is the most crucial phase of a SOC Audit because it helps auditors determine whether or not your company has adequate controls in place to protect its assets and data from unauthorized access, alteration, misuse, destruction, or disclosure. At this phase, auditors actually start to gather and examining evidence for your SOC report, test the controls in your company, and make sure they work as intended. Audit fieldwork is usually a mix of both remote and on-site work. It usually takes two to ten weeks.

  1. Preparing the Report

At this phase, the auditing team needs to write the SOC report. Once all the fieldwork is done, they will compile all of their findings and provide an overview of them in a “Conclusions” section at the front end of the document. They’ll then go back and describe each finding in detail so that readers can understand what was found, how it was discovered, and what the auditors did to address it. The SOC auditor will also include any required disclaimers, such as how they identified their work and that the report wasn’t created for regulatory purposes. You will be able to read the report before its final release. The average time needed to complete the phase of the report preparation is two to five weeks, but it may vary due to the number of review comments from internal stakeholders.

  1. Maintaining Compliance

SOC 2 compliance is a year-round process. It is not uncommon for a company that has spent significant time and money setting up security procedures to suddenly slip back into non-compliance over extended periods of time. The most important thing for organizations looking to maintain compliance with SOC is to keep accurate records, be proactive in their responses to issues that may arise, and continue training employees on the importance of maintaining compliance. The following are some tips for maintaining compliance:

  • Conduct internal SOC assessments regularly.
  • Ensure all security personnel is trained and competent in the company’s procedures for handling sensitive data.
  • Monitor any changes to your organization, whether it is customers, employees, new products, or services.
  • Use an external auditor to conduct periodic reviews of your system. These audits can be used to identify potential areas where compliance may have been compromised and help find solutions before problems escalate.
  • Update your Cybersecurity Policy regularly, with input from all stakeholders. It includes the board of directors as well as employees and customers.

If you have any questions about SOC compliance or need help setting up an audit, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!

Bridge Letter in SOC Report

A SOC report can be beneficial for your organization. It includes a completed set of procedures and findings necessary to provide a high level of assurance that your controls are adequate. Furthermore, the SOC report may also contribute to showing compliance with various legal regulations. The report is designed to help your organization protect its assets, financial statements, and other areas of any concerns. Along with reviewing your systems and processes, the engagement team also investigates whether all controls can help ensure that risks continue to be managed effectively.

While most companies will request a report after each completed annual audit as part of their annual filing requirements, some require a report at specified points throughout the year. As part of a periodic review program, some companies require SOC Reports annually or semi-annually. While there may not be a need to conduct a complete examination each year, it is prudent to have the SOC report reviewed annually to confirm that minimum operating standards are being maintained.

What is a Bridge Letter in SOC?

A bridge letter is a notice that informs stakeholders your controls have not undergone significant changes or issues over the time between SOC reports. The purpose of this notice is to assure all concerned parties that the findings of the SOC reporting remain valid. This notice is submitted directly to customers with no further intervention by the CPA firm that performed the SOC examination.

What Are Some Benefits of a Bridge Letter?

Bridge letters allow for increased customer satisfaction because it reassures them their business processes and operations will stay secure despite any lapse in security coverage. It also reduces potential liability as there’s proof you’ve taken care to address gaps in your security monitoring, so an issue would need to be more severe before being reported on and requiring additional action by your customers.

A bridge letter also provides dependable visibility into internal controls and security measures that may be operating below the level of your SOC reports but are still necessary to monitor over time. The letter informs stakeholders of those processes and why they are essential to the organization.

Are There Any Disadvantages?

Inherently, there is a risk that if you have significant issues uncovered in your SOC reports which were not addressed by your bridge letter, this will leave customers feeling surprised or misled by the findings. A problem here would depend on how much time elapsed between the two letters and whether or not your controls were operating efficiently during that time. It’s essential to constantly evaluate how to improve security to proactively address any potential issues uncovered in the SOC reports before they become a problem.

Bridge letters aren’t very time efficient. While SOC reports take a significant amount of time to prepare and complete, bridge letters can be created quickly (especially if there are no issues needing addressing). Still, they also need to be sent out right away. They will still generate additional customer correspondence, which may not be ideal for those who don’t maintain a strict schedule for when the mail comes in.

Bridge letters also aren’t very flexible — they are a one-size-fits-all type of solution. They don’t allow much of a change or customization to address specific circumstances or needs.

What Should It Include?

  • Date of your most recent SOC report’s start and end
  • Brief description of changes in internal controls and reason why they were not significant enough to require updating the SOC report
  • Your management’s name and contact information for customers to reach out to if they still have concerns about your security practices or findings
  • Any other noteworthy information

Also, consider including a disclaimer: A disclaimer is just an agreement that the CPA firm issuing the letter isn’t responsible for any liability or legal repercussions arising from its contents, however minor those consequences may be. Disclaimer is a common thing you will have been asked to include in your SOC reports if an issue arose during your last security review. For more information regarding this, you can read the section in your SOC report, which outlines the recommendations for such a disclaimer.

What Makes a Good Bridge Letter?

A good bridge letter should not only provide a detailed insight into the findings from your most recent SOC reporting period. It should also highlight any improvements that have been made to enhance security practices and plans going forward. It’s important to outline how controls have been fine-tuned based on what is contained in the previous report.

If there are any significant differences between your current SOC report and this bridge letter, then these should be highlighted as well.

It is important to note that you don’t need to discuss every little detail in your letter. Just include what is necessary for customers to understand why there was no update to your last report (or changes in the controls) over that period.

In conclusion, bridge letters are a way to provide customers with updates on security practices and findings over a specific period. They are not as flexible or detailed as SOC reports, but they can come in handy when you don’t have the time or resources for a full report. A bridge letter is a perfect way to reassure your stakeholders if there is a time-lapse between the termination of your fiscal year and the end date of your report.

SOC 1 vs. SOC 2: Understanding the Key Differences

SOC 1 vs. SOC 2: Understanding the Key Differences

Security is a crucial topic in the world of business. Whether you are just starting or have been around for decades, it’s always good to be up to date on security protocols and procedures. One example of this is SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports. These reports identify potential risks within your company that need to be addressed before they become significant issues. Let’s discuss what these reports entail and why they’re so important!

What Are SOC 1 and SOC 2 Reports

SOC compliance is a critical component for any business – big or small. With a growing number of large brands facing lawsuits and public controversy, the Social Responsibility movement has found a strong foothold in the corporate world. SOC compliance has proven to be an essential strategic advantage for modern business, and it’s becoming exceedingly difficult for a company to succeed without it.

SOC stands for “Service Organization Controls,” It is a report that provides an independent review of your internal controls. The SOC 1 report examines your systems, processes, and procedures to identify any vulnerabilities which could lead to fraud or theft. The primary purpose of this report is to show outside parties such as investors and financial reporting agencies that you have established a solid working system. You are not required to do this report, but it can be beneficial when trying to secure financing or persuade investors that your company is a good investment.

The SOC 2 report covers many of the same objectives as the SOC 1 since both examine controls within your organization that could lead to financial reporting errors or misstatements. However, SOC 2 is different because it verifies whether controls function according to a specific business model. The difference between the two reports stems from the fact that one looks at general controls while the other determines how well these controls fit together with your company’s systems.

The Difference Between SOC 1 and SOC 2 Reports

Both reports are required for companies handling personal information, but there is a big difference between the two. SOC 2 is more broad in scope, while SOC 1 looks at your systems and processes controls. The requirements for SOC 1 are less stringent than those of SOC 2. Type 1 is a report outlining the safeguards for meeting data security objectives as of a specified date. In contrast, type 2 provides an overview of how those objectives are met over time, usually twelve months. That is why many companies choose to get the SOC 1 report done first and then follow up with a second review by getting a SOC 2 report.

The main difference between the two types of SOC reports is that one focuses on processes and systems while the other focuses on overall management. With that being said, both reports will help you identify vulnerabilities in your company, as well as areas for improvement.

SOC 1 vs. SOC 2: Which is Right For You?

The decisions you make regarding SOC reports can have a significant impact on the success of your business. While they both identify weaknesses within your company, each report has its purpose.

SOC 2 is often used by those planning major transformations or conversions to ensure that internal controls meet external standards. It helps to ensure that changes aren’t made that will compromise the controls in place. SOC 1 is more commonly used by small and medium businesses, especially those handling personal information. These companies must have a report within their policies and procedures to show how they manage personal data for individuals. It can also be used as an internal control against fraud and theft since it outlines steps your company takes to protect information from unauthorized access.

If you are only starting a business, SOC 1 may be more applicable for your needs since it reviews controls within your overall operations instead of past systems and events. If you have been in business for some years, SOC 2 may be more appropriate because it reviews past events and any potential issues that might arise from them. When choosing one of these reports, it is vital to determine what information will most benefit your organization.

Fortunately, you can always choose both types of SOC reports for your company if you want. It will significantly reduce security risks and show investors that your company is concerned about protecting their information.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of security measures within a business. Both SOC 1 and SOC 2 compliance reports are excellent methods for ensuring that your organization takes the necessary steps to protect against information theft or fraud. Regardless of which report you chose, it is always helpful to engage an experienced third-party reviewer who can evaluate all aspects of a business’s security measures and make recommendations in line with current regulations.

GhostWatch Named Winner of the Coveted Global InfoSec Awards during RSA Conference 2023

GhostWatch Twice Named a Winner of the Coveted Global InfoSec Awards during RSA Conference 2023

GhostWatch Wins “Next Gen Managed Compliance and Next Gen Managed Security Service Provider” IN 11th Annual Global InfoSec Awards at #RSAC 2023

SAN FRANCISCO (BUSINESSWIRE) APRIL 24, 2023 – GhostWatch, a leading provider of managed compliance and security services, is proud to announce we have won the following awards from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), the industry’s leading electronic information security magazine:

“Next Gen Managed Compliance”

“Next Gen Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP)”

Ghostwatch helps clients build trust and confidence. Backed by industry-leading technology, our highly skilled team of experts delivers world-class service 24/7. For almost two decades we have helped clients meet their security and compliance objectives. GhostWatch serves clients across multiple industries, in the United States and worldwide.

We’re thrilled and humbled that GhostWatch has been recognized as the “Next Gen” leader for both Managed Security and Managed Compliance. Receiving two of the most prestigious and coveted cybersecurity awards is a testament to our team and the quality of our offerings. We look forward to continuing to serve our clients with the best value for money service and technology,” said Trevor Horwitz, CEO.

“GhostWatch embodies three major features we judges look for to become winners: understanding tomorrow’s threats, today, providing a cost-effective solution and innovating in unexpected ways that can help mitigate cyber risk and get one step ahead of the next breach,” said Gary S. Miliefsky, Publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine.


About GhostWatch

GhostWatch, a TrustNet Company, has helped clients secure their information systems for almost two decades. As a leading provider of managed security, GhostWatch serves clients across multiple industries, in the United States, and around the world.


About the Judging

The judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH, certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company submitted materials on the website of each submission including but not limited to data sheets, white papers, product literature and other market variables. CDM has a flexible philosophy to find more innovative players with new and unique technologies, than the one with the most customers or money in the bank. CDM is always asking “What’s Next?” so we are looking for best of breed, next-generation InfoSec solutions.


About Cyber Defense Magazine

Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of cyber security news and information for InfoSec professions in business and government. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. 

Business Continuity Best Practices

What Is Business Continuity Policy?

In simple terms, business continuity ensures that your business can continue in the event of an emergency or disaster. It might be due to a flood destroying your premises or a fire taking out your servers. It could even be extreme weather shutting down public utilities to your area, meaning you lose power and water.

Business continuity policy is a set of rules and procedures that provide guidance for preparing the organization in case of an emergency. Suppose you don’t have an established business continuity plan. In that case, anyone who has ever experienced significant disruption to their routine can tell you why it’s essential. Employees can feel stressed out and anxious, customers can feel betrayed if you cannot fulfill orders on time, and a bad reputation is difficult to deal with in the long term.

Best Practices for Effective Business Continuity

There are several steps you can take to prepare for an unforeseen event:

  • See what departments are most at risk.
  • Create a communication plan for employees and customers.
  • Assess your vendor’s business continuity plans.

Here are some steps to help you develop a business continuity policy for your organization.

Conduct a Business Risk Assessment

The first step in creating an effective business continuity policy is to conduct a risk assessment. It will make sure you identify all the potential threats and hazards that could affect your company’s operation ability. Audit your existing processes and procedures, as well as consider any ongoing trends that might impact your daily operations. It could include factors such as increasing crime rates in your area, a growing number of traffic accidents on the route to your offices, or an increasingly unstable political climate.

Consider the High-Risk Areas of Your Business

It’s crucial to consider high-risk areas of your business and determine what steps need to be taken to keep them safe. For example, if you have a highly valuable IT system, you may need to ensure that more than one person knows how to operate it. That will allow you to keep the system running even if your primary IT expert is unavailable. It’s also essential to think about things like fire alarms and security systems and the potential impact on key staff members such as receptionists or sales workers.

Plan for the Worst

Plan for the worst-case scenario, and ensure that you have a contingency plan in place should disaster strike. That may include details of where your key documents are located and how you will access them if necessary, such as storing hard copies at home or in the safety deposit box. It may also be worth having a backup plan for your backup and ensuring you have multiple copies of all important items such as insurance documents and financial information.

Make a Business Disaster Plan

Once you’ve identified all the potential threats and hazards that could affect your business operations, you need to make a disaster plan. That will ensure you have an immediate response in place for when disaster strikes. Your plan should include a designated team to handle the emergency, as well as procedures for safely evacuating all personnel and minimizing damage to your business’s physical assets.

Create a Business Continuity Policy

Once you’ve conducted your risk assessment and created your disaster plan, you need to create a business continuity policy. It should be a formal document that outlines your company’s approach to handling emergencies and disasters. It might include details such as how you will conduct regular risk assessments, the key objectives of your disaster plan, and what steps you’ll take when disaster strikes.

Select a Backup Site

Another critical aspect of creating an effective business continuity policy is choosing a suitable backup site to operate from. It should be as close as possible to your usual premises but in a different physical location. That will ensure you can quickly move across if disaster strikes and maintain as little downtime as possible.

Keep Backup Copies of Data in the Cloud

The cloud is one of the best ways to ensure that data is kept safe and secure. That may involve storing documents such as invoices, sales receipts, or company information in an online “cloud” storage system. It’s also possible to keep backup copies of images and other files online using a web storage service. That will allow you to access them from any device with an internet connection, which is very convenient.

Share Your Business Continuity Plan with Staff

You must share your business continuity plan with all your employees. That should include details such as the location of your backup site and a list of contacts to whom they can turn if no one is available from your designated team. Once this step is completed, it’s essential to make sure everyone is aware of their responsibilities and the importance of their role in ensuring business continuity. Although your disaster plan should explain what to do in an emergency, it’s crucial that you also train your staff on resilience and business continuity. That can include regular fire drills, for example, so that everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire. It also means regularly testing your business continuity plan so that employees are aware of their responsibilities and know how to respond when disaster strikes.

Remember to Test and Review Your Plan Regularly

Finally, it’s essential to test your business continuity plan regularly to ensure that it works properly and everything still functions correctly. For example, you may want to simulate different scenarios and see how you would react in real-life situations. It will help uncover any weaknesses or areas that need improving. So, make it part of your business continuity plan to run these types of tests at least once every few months. It’s also crucial that you review your business continuity plan regularly. It would be best if you did this annually at the very least and immediately following any changes to your business.

Conclusion

A business continuity plan is a document that outlines your company’s approach to handling emergencies and disasters. It should include details such as how you will conduct regular risk assessments, the key objectives of your disaster plan, and what steps you’ll take when disaster strikes. The importance of having an effective business continuity policy cannot be understated because it can help minimize downtime in the event of any emergency or natural disaster.

Therefore, you must put your business continuity policy into place as soon as possible. Don’t forget to regularly test and review your plan and conduct regular risk assessments. It will ensure it’s always up-to-date and ready to handle any emergency or disruptive event.

Top Managed Security Services Company 2021

Top Managed Security Services Company 2021

Even after more than a year into the pandemic, the business world is still struggling to address the cybersecurity challenges that it has introduced. As organizations are rapidly bolstering their digital transformation efforts to seamlessly run their everyday operation, cloud systems and servers are becoming lucrative targets for cybercriminals. To this end, businesses need a partner who can holistically address all their security-related concerns.

Enter GhostWatch.

Enter GhostWatch is an industry-leading managed security services provider that empowers businesses to build trusted relationships with their partners, customers, and employees. The company caters to private and public, mid-sized to large organizations across various industries worldwide, including healthcare, financial services, contact centers, energy, and utilities, to name a few. “Managed security services have largely evolved into managed detection and response services. With our improved tools and evolved approach, we can detect cyber threats and respond quickly before events turn catastrophic,” mentions Trevor Horwitz, Founder and CISO, GhostWatch. “We offer our technology and expertise to clients and counter the growing cyber security threats”.

At its core, GhostWatch follows a threefold approach comprising of detecting, containing, and defeating attacks. The company’s methodology involves building a solid foundation by analyzing clients’ network architecture and conducting a comprehensive discovery process.

The process enables GhostWatch to identify the assets in the network and then classify them based on their value to the overall business environment. It also filters out the vulnerabilities from the architecture, ultimately leaving clients with a focused set of data differentiating real threats from false positives. With such comprehensive cyber security strategies in place, GhostWatch has gleaned numerous success stories and much client appreciation. For instance, when a California-based company felt the pressure of meeting PCI compliance requirements, it found GhostWatch’s expertise and software suite to be the most trustworthy. “The client was under tremendous pressure to comply with the PCI guidelines within a tight deadline to get an audit. Without it, they would have been otherwise prohibited from accepting payment cards, which constituted 95 percent of their revenues.

They required an on-premise solution and we installed both our hardware and software within their environment in record time,” narrates Horwitz. Soon, the company passed the PCI audit with flying colors. In another instance, an early-stage company had significant gaps in its security approach while negotiating a large contract with a well-known Fortune 500 company. To resolve security gaps, the company needed a cloud-based managed security service and reached out to GhostWatch. Within just a few days GhostWatch had the managed security system running and enabled the client to win the deal with the Fortune 500 company.

 

Even after garnering huge number of successful customer stories, GhostWatch is still going strong discovering its potential through an aggressive roadmap. Being well-settled in the U.S., GhostWatch expanded its footprint into the European market several years ago, reaching more clients and attracting more technical talent to its team. Having new minds in the team has empowered the company to cater to clients 24/7 and deliver significant value. “Our experience, talent, and technology are the key drivers of the excellent value we deliver to clients. Our team approach propels us to collaborate with other technology companies, including AT&T, AWS, Google, and Microsoft, and that ensures the befit security outcomes for our clients,” concludes Horwitz.

Originally published by Enterprise Security Magazine.