Compliance And Certifications
Achieving Compliance, Earning Certifications, and Building Trust in Every Step
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COMPLIANCE CRAFTED, CERTIFICATIONS EARNED
Your Journey to Assurance and Excellence
PCI DSS:
ByteGRC helps businesses follow the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which is a global security rule to protect debit and credit card information. If your business handles card payments, you need to meet PCI DSS rules to prevent fraud and keep transactions secure.
PCI DSS was created by major card companies like American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, and Visa. These companies work together under the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) to monitor and enforce these rules.
As a certified Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), ByteGRC offers a wide range of services to help businesses meet all PCI DSS requirements and stay compliant. We guide our clients through the whole process to make sure they follow all the rules and protect their customers’ data.
PCI DSS has 6 main goals and 12 specific requirements that every business handling card payments must follow. These rules cover security systems, processes, and testing, and are designed to protect cardholder information. Meeting these requirements means following detailed rules that focus on keeping data safe.
Our experienced team at ByteGRC helps businesses understand and meet all the PCI DSS requirements to get certified and stay protected.
Our experts also help businesses prevent data breaches and fraud. We provide professional guidance on the right PCI DSS level for each business, depending on how many card transactions they handle each year.
Benefits of PCI DSS Certification
- Builds customer trust
- Helps avoid penalties
- Reduces security risks
- Meets other industry standards
SAMA Cyber Security Framework
In today’s digital world, people expect services to be always available and their sensitive information to be protected. Both public and private organizations, as well as society, rely heavily on digital services. These services are important for a strong digital economy and national security, which means protecting this data is crucial for building trust in Saudi Arabia’s financial sector.
As technology evolves, like with Fintech and blockchain, keeping information safe from cyber threats is becoming even more important. The financial sector understands how fast these threats are changing, and the need to stay prepared.
To help with this, SAMA has created the Cyber Security Framework. This Framework is designed to help financial institutions that SAMA oversees (called Member Organizations) manage and reduce risks related to cyber security. These organizations must follow this Framework to keep their digital assets safe.
Goals of the Framework:
- To create a common approach for handling cyber security in Member Organizations.
- To ensure Member Organizations reach a strong level of cyber security.
- To make sure cyber security risks are managed properly in Member Organizations.
The Framework is also used to check how well Member Organizations are handling cyber security, and to compare their performance with other organizations.
The Framework follows SAMA’s rules and international standards like NIST, ISF, ISO, BASEL, and PCI.
This Framework replaces all older guidelines from SAMA related to cyber security. For more details, see ‘Appendix A – Overview of previous SAMA guidelines.’
Saudi Data Management and Personal Data Protection Standards:
Saudi Data Management and Personal Data Protection Standard is a framework designed to ensure the security and proper management of data for both government agencies and private organizations that handle government data.
The National Data Management Office (NDMO), which oversees data regulation in Saudi Arabia, created this standard to help organizations follow best practices in data management and protection.
The standard includes 15 key areas, with 77 controls and 191 specific guidelines. These guidelines are divided into three levels of priority (P1, P2, and P3), each with deadlines for implementation:
At ByteGRC, we provide expert services to help organizations meet these standards. Our team conducts a full compliance assessment, measuring progress for each requirement. Fully completed guidelines receive a 100% rating, while incomplete ones are rated lower.
Our experts help clients by offering:
- Gap analysis to identify areas of improvement
- Risk assessments to understand potential threats
- Remediation planning to fix any gaps
- Documentation of policies
- Staff training
- Internal audits to ensure ongoing compliance
- Management reviews and successful final audits
At the end of the project, we deliver comprehensive reports and documents to help organizations continue to meet the standards.
ISO 27001
ISO/IEC 27001 is a top global standard for Information Security. It’s set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This standard helps protect a company’s important information from being lost or accessed without permission. It also shows that the company is committed to keeping information safe by getting certified.
ISO 27001 focuses on protecting important and sensitive information by setting up an Information Security Management System (ISMS). This system uses a risk-based approach and aims to build trust with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
The standard helps manage information security to:
- Meet legal requirements.
- Ensure information is confidential, intact, and available—known as the CIA principles.
CIA Principles:
- Only authorized people can access or change the information.
- Information must be accurate and trustworthy.
- Authorized users should be able to access the information whenever they need it, while keeping unauthorized users out.
ISO certification is crucial for protecting key assets like client information, employee data, and the company’s reputation.
ByteGRC helps many organizations get ISO 27001 certified. Our experts assist with:
- Analyzing gaps in current security practices.
- Assessing risks.
- Creating necessary policies and procedures.
- Developing the ISMS framework.
- Planning and implementing fixes.
- Supporting policy documentation.
- Training staff on ISO 27001.
- Conducting internal audits.
- Reviewing management processes.
- Ensuring a successful audit.
- Facilitating the certification process.
Action Plan
The steps for the ISO 27001 process are shown in the diagram below.
Benefits of ISO 27001:
- Builds trust and credibility, helping grow your business.
- Reduces the risk of fines or legal issues.
- Lowers the chance of security breaches caused by staff.
- Keeps information secure, allowing the business to run smoothly.
- Ensures information is protected and accessible.
- Enhances the organization’s reputation and boosts confidence.
- Works for organizations of any size.
- Saves money by reducing security incidents.
ISO/IEC 27017
ISO/IEC 27017:2015 is a set of guidelines for securing cloud services. It builds on ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and ISO/IEC 27002 by adding specific controls for cloud service providers and their customers. Organizations use these controls based on their specific needs.
- Shared responsibilities between cloud providers and customers
- Safe return of customer assets when contracts end
- Isolation of virtual environments
- Secure setup of virtual machines
- Documenting important operational procedures
- Allowing customers to monitor activities in the cloud
- Aligning security for virtual and physical networks
Benefits of ISO 27017 Certification
External assurance to customers
Gives customers confidence that their cloud data is secure.
Reduce Risk
Helps lower the chances of security breaches and boosts trust.
Enhances Certification
Builds on and improves existing ISO 27001 certification.
Framework for Cloud Customers
Provides a solid security framework for cloud customers and holds providers accountable.
Comprehensive Security Framework
Ensures a complete security framework for cloud services, enhancing provider accountability.
Why Implement ISO 27017?
ISO/IEC 27017 helps make sure that your cloud data is safe, reducing the risk of breaches and building trust with your clients. It offers a standardized way to manage cloud security and guides customers on what to expect from their cloud service providers.
The standard includes guidelines on asset management, secure handling of customer data, and maintaining isolation of virtual environments. With cloud data breaches becoming more common, implementing ISO/IEC 27017 ensures you’re doing everything possible to protect your data.
Built on the foundations of ISO 27001 and ISO 27002, ISO 27017 provides global compliance and supports both cloud service providers and customers in managing cloud-related risks.
CPS 234:
Financial services organizations have long been targeted by cyber threats. In November 2020, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) announced enhanced enforcement of Cross-Industry Prudential Standard (CPS) 234. Although CPS 234 has been in place since 2018, enforcement has been relatively lenient. As APRA ramps up its enforcement, understanding CPS 234 is crucial for organizations striving to demonstrate compliance.
What is APRA CPS 234?
APRA oversees Australia’s financial services sector, and CPS 234 outlines guidelines to help organizations maintain cybersecurity resilience and protect sensitive data.
CPS 234 includes four key requirements:
- Define information security roles and responsibilities
- Maintain a risk-based security posture for business continuity in the face of cybersecurity incidents
- Develop and implement remediation plans
- Implement security controls aligned with the criticality and sensitivity of data assets
- Notify APRA of information security incidents
Who Needs to Comply with APRA CPS 234?
CPS 234 applies to all APRA-regulated entities. It falls under various legal frameworks:
- The Banking Act of 1959 (Banking Act)
- The Insurance Act of 1973 (Insurance Act)
- The Life Insurance Act of 1995 (Life Insurance Act)
- The Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act of 2015 (PHIPS Act)
- The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act of 1993 (SIS Act)
Specifically, CPS 234 applies to:
Banks:
- Authorized deposit-taking institutions (ADIs).
- Non-operating holding companies authorized under the Banking Act (authorized banking NOHCs).
General and Life Insurers:
- General insurers.
- Non-operating holding companies authorized under the Insurance Act (authorized insurance NOHCs).
- Parent entities of Level 2 insurance groups.
- Life companies, including friendly societies and eligible foreign life insurance companies (EFLICs).
- Non-operating holding companies registered under the Life Insurance Act (registered life NOHCs).
- Private health insurers registered under the PHIPS Act.
- RSE licensees under the SIS Act.
Primary Requirements for APRA CPS 234 Compliance
CPS 234 consists of thirty-six paragraphs, with twenty-four outlining expectations for maturing security programs. Nine core requirements guide organizations in securing data effectively.
Roles and Responsibilities
CPS 234 mandates that organizations assign cybersecurity responsibilities across leadership and departments, including:
- Board of Directors must ensure the organization maintains an effective, risk-based information security program.
- Clearly defined information security roles and responsibilities for the Board of Directors, senior management, governing bodies, and other key stakeholders.
CPS 234 emphasizes robust governance by the Board of Directors to oversee and guide security efforts.
NIST Cyber Security Framework:
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides guidelines for penetration testing in Special Publication 800-115, “Guide to Penetration Testing”. This publication details the essential components for a successful penetration test.
Key to a successful test is a thorough understanding of the organization’s network, systems, and security policies. Initial reconnaissance, including both active and passive information gathering, is crucial for identifying potential vulnerabilities.
After gathering and analyzing information, penetration testers proceed with attacks, either automated or manual, while ensuring they remain undetected by security systems.
Post-attack, the tester prepares a comprehensive report detailing the attacks conducted, vulnerabilities identified, and recommendations for remediation.
Information Security Manual (ISM):
The Information Security Manual (ISM) from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) offers a framework for organizations to protect systems and data from cyber threats using a risk management approach.
Intended Audience:
APRA oversees Australia’s financial services sector, and CPS 234 outlines guidelines to help organizations maintain cybersecurity resilience and protect sensitive data.
- Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs)
- Chief Information Officers
- Cybersecurity Professionals
- Information Technology Managers
The ISM’s principles offer strategic guidance to protect systems and data from cyber threats, categorized into four key areas: Govern, Protect, Detect, and Respond.
Cybersecurity Principles:
Govern:
Managing and identifying security risks.
Protect:
Implementing controls to mitigate security risks.
Detect:
Identifying and understanding cybersecurity events.
Respond:
Responding to and recovering from cybersecurity incidents.
ISM Guidelines on Data Wiping:
The ISM includes detailed guidelines on media usage, sanitization, destruction, and disposal. Effective data wiping is crucial to ensure no residual data remains, using approved methods to prevent data recovery.
The ISM recommends specific sanitization procedures to ensure that data is not recoverable by common or emerging practices. This includes media sanitization processes and procedures developed for robust protection.
Who Needs to Comply with APRA CPS 234?
The ISM advises using encryption to protect data. For data at rest, full disk encryption is preferred over file-based encryption, and volume encryption is recommended for enhanced security.
Approved encryption algorithms include the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which is used for encrypting data and is the default algorithm for various encryption solutions.
Choosing the Right Data Protection Software:
Select data protection software based on the type of data and your organization’s needs. For sensitive data on unused devices, whole disk encryption is recommended, while BCWipe and BestCrypt provide comprehensive solutions for data wiping and encryption.
To comply with ISM recommendations, consider these software options:
BCWipe Total WipeOut for erasing entire hard drives and BCWipe for selected files and folders.
BestCrypt Volume Encryption for whole disk protection and BestCrypt Container Encryption for specific files and folders.
Essential Eight
To boost cybersecurity for Australian businesses, the government requires following the Essential Eight controls. This guide explains these controls and offers tips to help you meet the requirements.
What is the Essential Eight?
The Essential Eight, set up by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) in 2017, is a set of cybersecurity rules. It adds four new strategies to the original four, helping businesses protect themselves from modern cyber threats.
The goal is to prevent attacks, reduce their impact, and keep your data available.
GDPR
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a stringent privacy regulation established by the European Union (EU) to protect the personal data of its citizens and residents. Enforced since May 25, 2018, GDPR introduces rigorous fines and penalties for non-compliance.
What is the Essential Eight?
The Essential Eight, set up by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) in 2017, is a set of cybersecurity rules. It adds four new strategies to the original four, helping businesses protect themselves from modern cyber threats.
GDPR Principles and Requirements: Compliance with GDPR involves adhering to seven key principles and addressing individual rights related to data privacy and protection. Our experts ensure that all principles are met, helping you achieve full GDPR compliance.
Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency — Data processing must be lawful, fair, and transparent.
Purpose limitation — Data must be processed for specified, legitimate purposes.
Data minimization — Only collect and process data necessary for the specified purposes.
Accuracy — Ensure personal data is accurate and up-to-date.
Storage limitation — Store personal data only for as long as necessary.
Integrity and confidentiality — Implement measures to ensure data security, such as encryption.
Accountability — The data controller must demonstrate compliance.
GDPR represents Europe’s commitment to data privacy, especially as digital data becomes increasingly critical. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines of up to 4% of annual revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher.
For expert assistance with GDPR compliance, contact us at ByteGRC. Our consultants are skilled in guiding clients through GDPR requirements and ensuring compliance.
Key Benefits of GDPR Compliance:
- Improved consumer confidence
- Reduced maintenance cost
- Better alignment with evolving technology
- Enhanced decision-making
- Improved data security
- Enhanced enterprise brand reputation
COBIT
Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT) is a leading IT governance framework developed by ISACA. It provides best practices for managing IT governance and management, focusing on aligning IT objectives with business goals. COBIT offers a structured approach to building and maintaining an effective IT governance system, applicable to organizations of all sizes and industries.
COBIT organizes IT governance into key domains and management objectives, ensuring that IT processes are well-managed and aligned with business needs.
COBIT’s management objectives are grouped into four domains:
Management Objectives:
Align, Plan, and Organize (APO) — Covers organizational strategy and supporting activities.
Build, Acquire, and Implement (BAI) — Focuses on the definition, acquisition, and implementation of IT solutions.
Deliver, Service, and Support (DSS) — Manages the operational delivery and support of IT services.
Monitor, Evaluate, and Assess (MEA) — Addresses performance monitoring
Monitor, Evaluate, and Assess (MEA) — Addresses performance monitoring, evaluation, and assessment of IT processes.
COBIT’s framework helps organizations improve IT governance, achieve compliance, and drive value from IT investments. Implementing COBIT best practices ensures that IT processes align with business goals and support organizational growth.
Benefits of COBIT Implementation:
- Improved alignment of IT with business goals
- Enhanced risk management
- Increased compliance with regulatory requirements
- Optimized IT resources and investments
- Enhanced stakeholder confidence
- Improved process efficiency
Essential Eight
The Essential Eight is an advanced cybersecurity framework mandated by the Australian federal government for businesses to strengthen their cyber resilience. This framework goes beyond the initial four controls, adding four more to enhance protection against modern cyber threats.
Overview
Developed by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the Essential Eight framework is designed to prevent and mitigate cyber attacks. By adhering to these eight controls, organizations can significantly reduce their risk profile.
The Essential Eight framework aims to:
- Prevent attacks by implementing robust controls
- Limit the impact of successful attacks
- Ensure data availability and integrity
