What do you mean by IT and Cybersecurity compliance?

Cybersecurity Compliance entails adhering to numerous cybersecurity measures that are usually implemented by a regulatory authority, government, or industry association. They try to safeguard data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Compliance standards and frameworks differ by business and sector.

How does implementing & complying with various cybersecurity compliances benefit organizations?

Beyond the legal necessity to secure sensitive data, meeting regulatory compliance standards and criteria provides benefits for businesses. Implementing appropriate safeguards and security measures to protect sensitive customer and employee information strengthens the security posture. Also, intellectual property like trade secrets, software code, and product specifications can be secured as well.

How can organizations start implementing a Cybersecurity Compliance program?

It is critical to first determine the regulations or legislation companies must follow before they can start working towards establishing a compliance program. Some of the ideal steps are as follows: -

A.    Determine the type of data being dealt with and any applicable regulations

Compliance rules differ greatly state-by-state and nation-by-nation. However, a few of them are universal as well. The CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and the NYDFSCR (New York Department of Financial Services Cybersecurity Regulation), for example, set rules that apply to any company set up in any state across the US. Many rules impose extra controls on certain types of personal information. PII (Personally Identifiable Information) refers to any information that may be used to identify a person and is also a crucial data: -

• Unique Numbers present within National and/or Government-issued IDs
• First and Last Names
• Date of Birth and Age
• Resident and Correspondence Address
• Mother’s/Father’s Maiden Name

PHI (Personal Health Information) refers to any information that can be used to identify a person with their medical care. The following data is considered as PHI: -

• Doctors’ and Clinical appointment information
• Medical history of past and present acute and chronic diseases
• Admissions records, hospital bills, receipts
• Prescription records with medicines and dosage
• Personal and Family Health and Life insurance records

B.    Build a cybersecurity team by appointing a CISO

Any person with the necessary skills and work ethic might be assigned to handle cybersecurity on a part-time basis. To determine what compliance obligations may apply to the business, the CISO may wish to speak with a cybersecurity firm or an attorney. Some jobs that might be used as a dual CISO include: -

• CTO (Chief Technology Officer)
• CIO (Chief Information Officer)
• COO (Chief Operating Officer)
• IT Manager

C.   Assess the risks and vulnerabilities

Risk and vulnerability assessments are required for almost every significant cybersecurity compliance obligation. These are crucial in assessing the most severe security issues in your firm, as well as the controls you currently have in place. It is also important to consider the likelihood of ransomware attacks while performing vulnerability evaluations.

D.   Tolerance and requirements-based technical controls should be implemented

The next stage should be to start putting technological controls in place depending on your risk tolerance. A cybersecurity framework comes in handy to determine the starting point. Additional technical controls can be configured once the baseline is met.

E.    Policy, procedure, and process controls should be implemented

It is not only about the technology when it comes to cybersecurity compliance. It is also critical to have risk mitigation policies and procedures in place for both compliance and safety. Technical precaution may not prohibit an employee from accidentally downloading malware onto work systems or visiting dangerous websites. Non-technical controls include: -

• Mandatory end-user and staff security awareness training and security advisories
• Policies, and procedures that are well documented
• Processes of security controls and the accountability of the personnel manning them

F.    Continuously test, monitor, revamp and update

Examine any applicable criteria and make sure to test the controls regularly. It is easy to ignore cybersecurity as firms grow and develop, but companies can stay compliant by conducting frequent testing. It is a good idea to test both technological and process controls frequently when new requirements emerge and the old ones have to be revamped.

Protecting critical data is what security is all about and documenting those steps is what compliance is all about. Security personnel cannot establish control efficacy without documentation, even if the systems, networks, and software are protected. The internal or external auditors will have the information they need to verify control if the continuous monitoring & response efforts are documented. Furthermore, the documentation process facilitates discussions with senior management and allows the appropriate personnel to conduct a more thorough assessment of cybersecurity risk.

Centex Technologies helps businesses in understanding & implementing cybersecurity compliance in their organization. To know more about cybersecurity solutions, contact Centex Technologies at Killeen (254) 213 - 4740, Dallas (972) 375 - 9654, Atlanta (404) 994 - 5074, and Austin (512) 956 – 5454.

Browser hijacking happens when a user’s web browser is modified by an unwanted malicious software without their permission. It is also known as browser redirect virus as it redirects the user from one browser to another that usually contains malware. It may place unwanted advertizements into the browser or replace existing home page with hijacker’s page. The hijacking software might also contain spyware to obtain user’s confidential information.

Common Examples Of Browser Hijacking

• Babylon Toolbar
• Conduit
• Ask Toolbar
• CoolWebSearch
• Coupon Servers
• GoSave
• Onewebsearch
• RocketTab
• Search-daily.com
• do
• Taplika
• TV Wizard
• Vosteran
• Trovi

How Does Brower Hijacking Work?

Usually an application is installed on a user’s system that seems to be legitimate however, is not. The user is then fooled into agreeing for an additional download and when they install that application it further leads to browser hijacking. The information about browser hijacker software is presented in a way that confuses the user and they often end up installing it even though they are given an option to decline the download.

Browser Hijacking is usually done by spreading malware through email attachments containing malicious links, downloading infected files or visiting websites containing malware. It may also result from third party software, scripts and plug-ins, etc.

How Do You Know Your Browser Has Been Hijacked?

• When your searches are redirected to different websites.
• Web page loading is quite slow.
• There are multiple pop-up advertizement alerts.
• Numerous toolbars on the web browser which have not been installed by the user.
• Inability to access necessary data.
• Very less browser security.
• Sites being blocked.
• Web queries that fail to proceed through search engines.

How To Remove Browser Hijacking?

• Check out the authenticity of browser add-ons, plug-ins, extensions etc.
• Remove anything that seems suspicious or unnecessary from the system’s browser.
• Reset the browser settings to original default.
• Clear off the system’s Domain Name System (DNS) cache.
• Use browser hijacker removal tools

How To Prevent Browser Hijacking?

Following are some ways to prevent browser hijacking in the first place:

• Regularly update operating system (OS) as well as browser patches.
• Make sure that the browser software is updated with latest security features and are devoid of any vulnerabilities.
• Avoid clicking on emails & links sent by an untrusted source.
• Read all terms & conditions as well as end user licensing agreements before downloading any software.
• Install a good anti-virus software.

For more information about browser hijacking, contact Centex Technologies at (972) 375 - 9654. We are a leading technology consulting firm, which also provide IT support, Search Engine Optimization, Website Designing & Development services to their clients across the globe.

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