Create A Cybersecurity Compliance Plan With These Seven Tips

Cybersecurity has become a huge concern for businesses over the last few years, as more news of data breaches come out. Even some of the biggest names have been affected, so you know that it's a problem you need to address. 
 
The idea of creating a cybersecurity compliance plan is overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Here are seven tips that will help you secure your company and show your customers you value their privacy. 
 
Always Be Vigilant:    If you outsource any of your day to day running or data storage to the cloud, it's easy to assume that the services operating them will have proper data security in place. However, if a breach were to happen the buck will still stop with you. Because of this, you need to choose cloud providers that are using the best tech and know how to keep data safe. 
 
Before signing up with any provider, ask them what they do to keep data protected. You want to see that they take security as seriously as you do. If the answer isn't what you're looking for, you'll need to go elsewhere. 
 
Understand The People Implementing Your Plan:   No matter how good a cybersecurity compliance plan is, it's only as good as the people who are implementing it. If even one of them slips up, it's so easy for someone to gain access to your data and cause havoc. You want to invest in your staff to ensure this doesn't happen. 
 
Have proper training for staff members, and walk them through just what they need to know. They need to be fully informed of their role in the plan, and the risks that happen when they don't fulfil their roles. With the right training, you can trust them to keep data managed safely. 
 
Use Language Everyone Can Understand:   If you're in charge of creating the compliance plan, then there's going to be a certain amount of jargon that you'll be familiar with. In the plan, that's going to make sense to you, but to others in the company it may not make any sense at all.
 
You need to create plans that are accessible by every member in the company. If everyone can easily understand their role, then it makes it so much easier for you to implement the plan and see success with it. 
 
Find The Right Resources:  When using an outside vendor to help you create a compliance plan, you need to be sure that you're picking the right one. Again, this feels very overwhelming if this isn't your area of expertise. It's important you get it right though, so make sure you do your research. 
 
You want to use companies that enforce cybersecurity compliance to the standards of the law. They need to be serious about keeping your business and your customers safe. If they aren't offering this, they aren't going to be the service for you. 
 
Conduct Risk Assessments:   When creating a plan, you need to run risk assessments. These will look for any weaknesses in your current cybersecurity, where you're not up to the standard of the law. 
 
You can find guides to risk assessments online, which show you what you should be looking for, and how to patch up any holes in your security. 
 
Implement Technical Controls:  Technical controls will be what you use to customize your cybersecurity compliance plan, and make it as bulletproof as possible. For example, you can use encryption to protect customers' sensitive data, or or use standardized anti virus software to protect company machines. 
 
If you're using a dedicated professional to implement the plan, they will be able to show you what you need.
 
Test Your Plan:   Once the plan is in place, you'll need to test it. You want to see how it stands up to an actual threat, and where any potential holes are. That way, you can amend it before a real threat comes along. 
 
Don't forget to change your plan if your business expands or changes. You may need different options to keep the business safe, so run tests again to see where you're at. 
 
With these tips, you'll be able to create a robust cybersecurity compliance plan, and ensure that it's up to the task of protecting your business. Talk to the experts, ensure everyone understands the plan, and test it regularly. 
 
 
Lauren Groff is a cybersecurity expert with Academized.com. She used to work in the HR department of a well respected IT Company, before becoming a cybersecurity writer for various online publications. 
 
You Might Also Read: 
 
How to Transition From Remote Work To A Secure & Agile Workforce:
 
 
« CISA, NSA And The Dual Hat
Webinar: Building A Security Observability Strategy In AWS »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

Conscio Technologies

Conscio Technologies

Conscio Technologies is a specialist in IT security awareness. Our solutions allow you to easily manage innovative online IT awareness campaigns.

Cybersecurity Credentials Collaborative (C3)

Cybersecurity Credentials Collaborative (C3)

C3 provides a forum for collaboration among vendor-neutral information security and privacy and related IT disciplines certification bodies.

H3C Group

H3C Group

H3C provides a full range of Computer, Storage, Networking and Security solutions.

exceet Secure Solutions

exceet Secure Solutions

exceet Secure Solutions is your experienced specialist for Internet of Things (IoT), Heath Telematics, electronic signatures and timestamps and IT security.

Horiba Mira

Horiba Mira

Horiba Mira is a global provider of automotive engineering, research and test services including services and solutions for automotive cybersecurity.

Nettoken

Nettoken

Nettoken is the first identity management platform designed for everyday internet users, to encourage awareness and control of our ever expanding digital footprint and personal cybersecurity.

Pixm

Pixm

Pixm’s computer vision based approach offers a truly unique and effective means to protect organizations from web-based phishing attacks.

Cybermerc

Cybermerc

Cybermerc's services, training programmes and cyber security solutions are designed to forge collaborations across industry, government and academia, for collective defence of our digital borders.

Axellio

Axellio

Axellio provides economic, end-to-end cyber security solutions designed for your team, environment, and security objectives, providing packet level visibility across your network.

Obrela Security Industries

Obrela Security Industries

Obrela provides security analytics and risk management services to identify, analyze, predict and prevent highly sophisticated security threats in real time.

Sekur Private Data

Sekur Private Data

Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure communications and secure data management.

42Crunch

42Crunch

42Crunch provides API security testing and threat protection. We proactively test, fix and protect your APIs from development to runtime.

Avatar Managed Services

Avatar Managed Services

Avatar offers proven, process driven IT support to companies who want to utilize their technology to their best advantage.

Sansec Technology

Sansec Technology

Sansec Technology is dedicated to the research and development of cryptographic products and solutions for cyber security.

Cyscomply

Cyscomply

Cyscomply is an AI-powered self-assessment platform to identify gaps, benchmark against global standards and take the right action. You can assess against NIST CSF, DORA, ISO 27001, NIST 800-171.

Elixirr

Elixirr

Elixirr is an award-winning global consulting firm working with clients across a diverse range of markets, industries and geographies.