SOC 2 audits are independent assessments of your company’s cybersecurity posture, and those audits are no walk in the park. Hence it would be wise for your company first to undertake its own SOC 2 readiness assessment: so that you can identify and correct problems before the external auditors find those issues for you. First, the basics.

In the fast-paced world of cybersecurity, change is not only constant but crucial. The New York Department of Financial Services (NY-DFS) demonstrated that principle on Nov. 1, 2023, when it completed a sweeping set of updates to its cybersecurity regulation. If you find yourself apprehensive about these changes, fret not — I’m here to guide you through the process and to provide a comprehensive plan for successfully meeting the new regulations.

As the world of digital payments evolves rapidly, staying ahead in terms of security standards is paramount for any business handling cardholder data. The introduction of PCI DSS 4.0 brings significant updates and enhancements aimed at strengthening payment security and overall cybersecurity in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.

Once upon a time in the world of business, risk was seen as something to be feared, a looming specter of potential failure. However, in a time of rapid change and innovation, a new perspective emerged, one that recognizes the positive potential of risk as a catalyst for growth and transformation. If you missed our recent RiskInsider Webinar and couldn’t attend the IIA/ISACA GRC Conference, let me fill you in on how you can embrace risk for a brighter tomorrow.

Any organization’s survival depends on its ability to identify potential risks and then take steps to reduce those risks before they become disruptions. Neglecting even small details, especially when multiple stakeholders are involved, can lead to significant losses of money, reputation, customer goodwill, and more. Risk management is arguably the most effective way to navigate uncertain circumstances.

Think cybersecurity training is just a snore fest of jargon and compliance checkboxes? Think again. Welcome to the new era of Cybersecurity training, where ‘boring’ is a forbidden word and engagement is the name of the game. This guide is all about flipping the script—from just ticking off ‘compliance’ boxes to actually being ‘competent,’ and we’re doing it with training techniques that are as engaging as they are effective.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern business, staying ahead of the curve has become synonymous with survival. Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) applications have emerged as the guardians of stability, security, and sustainable growth. So how can you assure your organization invests wisely in these essential tools? If you’re like me, you’ve struggled in the past to justify the investment in GRC and the necessary technology to support it.

The concept of automation has been around for decades in the software field, but recent advancements in machine learning and natural language processing have led to huge breakthroughs. We’ve gone from machines that complete rules-based, predetermined tasks to a new generation of software that “learns” from huge sets of data so that it can make predictions — collectively known as artificial intelligence (AI).

Your company’s first external audit can be a bit overwhelming. The audit firm will seek a considerable amount of audit evidence from your business – and if you want to prepare for that compliance audit in advance, there’s an equally vast amount of information available about how audits should work. Every company’s audit experience will differ, depending on the scope and the standard against which you will be audited.

Any organization that uses information technology should conduct cybersecurity risk assessments from time to time. Each organization, however, faces its own unique set of security risks and needs to tailor its approach to addressing those specific risks within its risk management processes. To get started, you first need to identify all your organization’s IT assets, which might be subject to those risks.