DFARS Compliance: What You Need to Know

Due to the multitude of breaches where defense information has been compromised, the Department of Defense (DOD) has been working to impose additional requirements on defense contractors that process, store, or transmit sensitive information in support of the DOD and its mission. It has taken specific measures to help shore up the defense industrial base […]

Information Security Policies: Why They Are Important To Your Organization

In a previous blog post, I outlined how security procedures fit in an organization’s overall information security documentation library and how they provide the “how” when it comes to the consistent implementation of security controls in an organization. This blog post takes you back to the foundation of an organization’s security program – information security […]

Information Security Risk Management: A Comprehensive Guide

Some people may not believe this, but information security’s purpose is, or should be, to serve the business and help the company understand and manage its overall risk. Sure, there are some security professionals that appear to have the goal of spending as much money as possible and getting the latest and greatest software, and there are also some that like to say “no”…for everything…all the time, but the good ones are there to help.

Virtual CISO: What Is it? Services, Responsibilities, & Cost

According to ISACA’s State of Cyber Security 2019, 72% of organizations have a chief information security officer (CISO). Also, in that study, only 55% of organizations have an increasing security budget. For many small and mid-sized organizations, budgets are already tight, and hiring a full-time CISO may seem like a luxury. So how does an […]

Understanding SOC Services: Organization Control Audits

What are SOC services in relation to service organization control audits? SOC services, in this context, refers to System and Organization Controls (SOC) and the suite of services CPA firms provide for auditing these controls at a service organization. These audits are referred to as SOC audits. There are several different kinds of SOC audits […]

Understanding Blockchain: Security, Risks & Auditing Tips

Over the last decade, blockchain security and how it affects cybersecurity has become a hot topic among the information technology and financial circuits. But as with all technology, one must ask how safe it is to use. The most common form of blockchain implementation is known as Bitcoin. Bitcoin has since become one of many […]

Considering Risk to Mitigate Cyber Security Threats to Online Business Applications

Each online business application has their own set of assets that need to be protected in order for them to maintain privacy of information and maintain a positive reputation in the eye of clients or consumers. In the post, we will discuss the principles of security and privacy, define terms used to complete risk assessments, […]

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 […]

Can You Assess & Manage Your Organizational Risk?

Risk management is a basic component of everything we do. Subconsciously, we assess and manage risk with each decision we make—from getting up in the morning to going back to sleep. So, in a way, most of us are already seasoned risk managers. Yet many find organizational risk management to be an overwhelming task. Managing […]