Our Compliance Expertise Helps Your Business Get Compliant and Stay Compliant

CMMC, GDPR, HIPAA, FISMA, PCI, FERPA, CRPB, DFAR, FTC, SEC, ISO 27001 and More

Whether you’re a SEC regulated company, healthcare provider, department of defense contractor, private business, or a government agency, our systems and practices will fit in with most security laws and regulations, so you can have peace of mind while we guide you to achieving compliance and regularly monitor your systems to insure you stay compliant.

FTC Safeguards. New Regulations in Effect May 15, 2024

According to the new FTC Safeguards rule, you are now considered a financial institution if you’re collecting information in relation to any financial transaction.

What is the FTC Safeguards Rule? The FTC Safeguards Rule is a component of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLB) Act, crafted to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer data held by financial institutions.

Applying to entities categorized as "financial institutions" under the GLB Act, including those engaged in loan provision, brokering, servicing, financial advisory, or credit reporting, the Safeguards Rule mandates these organizations to establish a comprehensive information security program.

This program must safeguard customer information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction, tailored to the institution's specific size, complexity, and operational scope.

CMMC Compliance

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a standardized framework established by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to oversee the cybersecurity practices of contractors serving the U.S. military. It comes as a direct response to past incidents involving the exposure of sensitive defense information within contractor information systems. To bolster security, all defense industrial base (DIB) contractors must adhere to and consistently uphold a set of rigorous cybersecurity standards, showcasing robust cyber hygiene, resilience against cyber threats, and effective data protection measures.

Challenges Associated With CMMC Compliance:

  • All businesses working for the DoD along any point of the supply chain are required to comply.
  • Minimum certification requirements demonstrating alignment with NIST SP 800-171 standards went into effect November 30th, 2020.
  • Each tier of the certification is a prerequisite for the following tier to pass.
  • CMMC compliance will be required by all contractors of the DoD by 2026.
  • Failure to comply with the required Systems Security Plan (SSP) and Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) could result in contract performance issues and/or breach of contract.

DFARS

As a DoD contractor, you know that complying with federal government regulations is a challenging task. The regulations are extensive, their interpretations can vary, and they are often evolving. Besides the changing landscape, noncompliance carries the risk of severe fines and business impacts.

When contracting with the DoD, your business handles sensitive information and must meet stringent security regulations. Historical data highlights a concerning trend:

  • The average DoD contractor is estimated to be only 60% compliant with the cybersecurity requirements outlined in DFARS.
  • According to the Council of Economic Advisors, malicious cyber activity cost the U.S. economy between $57 billion and $109 billion in 2016.

In response to the increasing rate of cybercrimes, the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) has established regulations to prioritize the security of organizations and their customers. Achieving compliance requires time and a thorough examination of the standards assessed during an audit.

It is important to note that the DFARS assessment is transitioning to the CMMC certification, a third-party certification system that will eliminate self-certification. Starting in late 2020, CMMC certification began being required to bid on all requests for proposals.

This transition period raises many questions, but understanding DFARS regulations is the first step in preparing for the changes. By familiarizing yourself with DFARS, you can position your company to adapt smoothly and successfully to the CMMC certification system. Let us help you navigate the complexities of DFARS.

HIPAA Compliance

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA, is a compliance standard that is designed to protect sensitive patient data. Any organization that deals with protected health information (PHI) is obligated to maintain and follow process, network, and physical security measures in order to be HIPAA-compliant. TOTAL NETWORK SOLUTIONS can help accelerate your healthcare business becoming HIPAA compliant in a cost-effective way.

WHAT IS HIPAA?
HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, establishes a set of regulatory standards governing the proper utilization and disclosure of sensitive patient data. Oversight of HIPAA is carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with enforcement entrusted to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

The primary objective of HIPAA is to safeguard the privacy, security, and integrity of Protected Health Information (PHI), which encompasses any demographic data that could be used to identify a patient or client.

WHO MUST ADHERE TO HIPAA?
HIPAA regulations are applicable to any entity involved in the electronic creation, collection, or transmission of PHI. Furthermore, organizations dealing with or encountering such transmitted information fall under the purview of HIPAA compliance. The regulation categorizes two types of entities that must comply:

COVERED ENTITIES
This category encompasses health care providers, health care clearinghouses, health insurance providers, and similar entities.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES
The term "business associates" has broad applicability, encompassing service providers engaged in handling, transmitting, or processing PHI. Examples include billing companies, Electronic Health Record (EHR) platforms, cloud storage providers, email hosting services, third-party consultants, and others.

Challenges Associated with HIPAA Compliance:

  • HIPAA violations attract hefty penalties.
  • Adequate training for handling PHI and dealing with malicious security attacks is critical.
  • It is imperative to have a Security Incident Response Plan (SIRP) in place to deal with a security event.
  • Professional assistance is required to handle the complexity of audits and to maintain the right documentation.

GDPR Compliance

The General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR, is a regulatory standard according to which businesses are obligated to protect the privacy and personal data of European Union (EU) citizens for all transactions that are carried out within the EU member states. The GDPR standard is intended to unify and reinforce data protection for all individuals that reside within the EU and to control the export of personal data outside the EU.

Challenges Associated with GDPR Compliance:

  • Businesses need to be prepared to adapt, test, maintain and demonstrate compliance with evolving GDPR requirements.
  • Non-compliant businesses are liable to pay hefty penalties and can also be temporarily or definitively banned.
  • Ambiguous terms and lack of clarity render GDPR compliance difficult to handle without professional assistance.

PCI DSS Qualification

PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It is a set of security standards and guidelines designed to ensure the secure handling of payment card data, such as credit card and debit card information. PCI DSS was created to protect cardholder data and reduce the risk of data breaches and fraud in the payment card industry. Organizations that handle payment card data, including merchants, service providers, and financial institutions, are required to comply with PCI DSS to maintain the security of sensitive financial information. Compliance involves various security measures and practices, including network security, access controls, encryption, and regular security assessments.

NIST 800-71 Framework

NIST 800-171 is crucial for business owners, especially those working with the Department of Defense (DoD), as it outlines the standards for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems. Compliance with NIST 800-171 ensures that your business meets the necessary security requirements to handle sensitive information, which is often a prerequisite for securing government contracts.

Adhering to these standards not only protects your business from cyber threats but also enhances your reputation as a reliable and secure partner. Non-compliance can result in losing contracts, legal penalties, and damage to your business’s credibility. Furthermore, the standards help you identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of costly data breaches.

In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, staying compliant with NIST 800-171 positions your business competitively, ensuring you can continue to work with government entities and maintain trust with your clients. Overall, it's an investment in your business's security, credibility, and long-term success.

ISO 27001

ISO/IEC 27001 is vital for business owners because it sets the international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). Compliance with ISO 27001 demonstrates that your business has a systematic approach to managing sensitive information, ensuring its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Achieving ISO 27001 certification helps protect your business from cyber threats and data breaches, which can be costly and damaging to your reputation. It also instills confidence in your customers and partners, showing them that you take data security seriously and are committed to safeguarding their information.

Additionally, ISO 27001 can provide a competitive advantage. Many clients and regulatory bodies now require or prefer businesses with this certification. It can also improve operational efficiency by implementing best practices and continuously monitoring and improving your information security processes.

In summary, ISO 27001 is an investment in your business's security, credibility, and operational excellence, helping you to mitigate risks, comply with legal requirements, and build trust with your stakeholders.