Last month I wrote about the importance of security policies and provided some basic principles for developing solid security policies.
IT Audit & Compliance Blog
The Linford & Company Blog is written by our very own auditors, who are experts in IT audits, information security, and compliance topics. Their auditing experience encompasses a broad spectrum of industries and organizations, and their specialized expertise can help your company or organization make the right decision for your auditing needs. Our specific areas of focus in our IT Audit & Compliance Blog include SOC 1 Audits, SOC 2 Audits, HIPAA Audits, HITRUST Certification, and FedRAMP Assessments, NIST & CMMC, and Penetration Testing.
Confidentiality vs. Privacy in a SOC 2
In a SOC 2 examination, two of the five Trust Services Principles and Criteria are Privacy and Confidentiality. These two principles can be confusing and may seem to overlap.
Cloud Services Agreements – Protecting Your Hosted Environment
Many companies are considering using a Cloud Service Provider to host their environment or house their data. Because of this, it is important to have a Cloud Service Agreement in place that clearly defines the responsibilities of the Cloud Service Provider, compliance guaranties, steps taken in the event of a breach or incident, and a […]
SOC Qualified Opinions & What they Mean for Your Organization
Qualified opinions mean that either the internal controls were not designed (Type I or II) or operating (Type II only) effectively for one or more control objectives included within a SOC 1 report or Trust Services Criteria included within a SOC 2 report. In a SOC report, management asserts that certain controls are in place. […]
The FedRAMP SSP: Important Tips for a Successful Outcome
Whether for an agency assessment or a Joint Authorization Board (JAB) assessment, the FedRAMP System Security Plan (SSP) is the foundational document that supports a FedRAMP assessment. From it, the government agency representatives and the Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) are able to get an understanding of how the FedRAMP baseline security controls are implemented […]
Corporate Data Backup: What’s the Point?
Having a plan in place to backup pertinent information to keeping a business running in the event information becomes unavailable for use is an important concept of business continuity. This blog will provide a definition and importance of corporate data backups, outline solutions options, and define best practices used for defining a corporate data backup […]
How Long Does a SOC Examination Take?
We are frequently asked how long it takes to complete a SOC examination. Unfortunately there is not an answer that fits for every examination because every service organization is different. But, if an organization has controls in place the average time taken for a SOC examination is typically one to three months for Type I reports, and six to 12 months for Type II reports. If controls are not in place, the examination can take longer.
HIPAA Business Associate Agreements
A recent settlement between the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and an orthopedic clinic highlights the importance of executing a HIPAA business associate agreement with appropriate third party services providers.
FISMA Compliance: Security Standards & Guidelines Overview
The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) was originally released in December 2002 and established the importance of information security principles and practices within the Federal Government, noting that information security was “critical to the economic and national security interests of the United States.
FedRAMP Continuous Monitoring – What Are the Responsibilities of CSPs and 3PAOs?
Today’s information environments are always changing, whether through the development of new capabilities, patching systems, responding to new threats and vulnerabilities, or fixing discrepancies within the system. Each change to the system carries with it an inherent security risk. Therefore, that security risk must be evaluated in the context of the security posture of the […]