Protecting financial and confidential data is of paramount importance for every company. There is an inherent responsibility to protect this type of information, and regulatory and compliance issues often come into play as well. Depending on the industry, regulations may be enforced by the government or by industry-specific organizations. Data privacy remains a concern for all businesses, and all are tasked with figuring out the best way to ensure compliance standards are met while ensuring confidentiality, efficiency, and productivity are not compromised.
As stated above, business regulations generally fall into two categories.
Government mandates may come from the federal government, state government, local government, or even a foreign administrative body for some companies. Most government regulations are focused on network security and data protection, and these mandates typically involve regular audits and routine reporting to exhibit adherence to compliance standards.
Industry regulations may require specific actions, reporting, codes of ethics, and more. Companies may also establish their own regulations as well – to make sure that their policies, procedures, and processes are all working towards protecting the corporate digital assets. Some policies commonly implemented by companies may include Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or Mobile Device policies to manage which devices can access your network and use which methods; or policies to address how to access a company’s network from remote locations, such as utilizing a secure, virtual private network or VPN.
There are other factors that organizations should consider when developing compliance policies.
Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery: Most IT compliance mandates from the government will necessitate data redundancy in some form, as it will be required for a successful recovery and continuity of business in the event of a crisis. Managed services provide excellent backup and disaster recovery options which offer resources for any company looking to protect its digital resources against theft, loss, or breach. Another vital consideration is developing a technology roster, including every piece of hardware, software, and the users with access to each component.
Adequately Monitored IT: Most compliance regulations will require some form of monitoring and oversight of the network infrastructure to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to maintain security for the data they store. One of the most beneficial reasons to work with a managed service provider is that a team of qualified technicians monitors and manages networks 24/7. Therefore if the business has set daily business hours, leadership can still feel confident that the network and hardware infrastructure are continually protected.
Routine Audits: Checking the company’s network and infrastructure for vulnerabilities is one of the most essential ways to ensure that the company remains compliant. Most regulations stringently ensure that network and infrastructure are tested regularly and thoroughly. Managed services firms can perform network vulnerability tests and assessments to make sure that they are robust enough to stand up to the demands of regulatory mandates. Alliance IT achieves these goals by providing penetration testing.
Teaming up with a managed services firm is one of the best ways to make sure that your compliance standards and requirements are not only being met – but exceeded. Compliance regulations should be approached not only as rules you have to follow but recognized as powerful guidelines to keep you focused, competitive, and efficient. Call Alliance IT today to learn more about the services we provide and how we can help you to meet your compliance goals.
