RSI Security

Rethinking Your Cybersecurity

Category: Compliance Standards

Staying informed about all of the cyber security compliance standards is essential to keeping your company safe from hackers. Read on to learn about the various steps you can take to stay up to date with your industry’s compliance standards.

  • Top Five Consequences of HIPAA Violations

    Top Five Consequences of HIPAA Violations

    HIPAA violations pose serious risks to healthcare organizations, both financially and reputationally. These laws are designed to protect patient privacy and maintain the integrity of healthcare services, but failing to comply can cripple a business for years. Many organizations struggle to recover from the financial penalties, remediation costs, and damaged trust caused by a single breach.

    Intentional HIPAA violations can cost millions of dollars and may result in criminal charges for responsible individuals. Even unintentional violations, such as negligence or human error, can trigger fines, employee sanctions, and termination.

    Ignoring HIPAA compliance does not guarantee safety. Violations can surface years later, and retroactive penalties can leave organizations paying for past mistakes. Taking HIPAA seriously today helps prevent long-term consequences tomorrow. (more…)

  • NIST Security Operations Center Best Practices

    NIST Security Operations Center Best Practices

    The NIST Security framework, formally known as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), provides a structured and risk-based approach to protecting critical systems and data. For organizations operating a Security Operations Center (SOC), aligning with NIST security best practices strengthens detection, response, compliance, and overall cyber resilience.

    The NIST CSF is built around five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Together, these functions serve as a practical roadmap for building, auditing, and improving your SOC.

    In this guide, we explain:

    • NIST CSF SOC implementation

    • A complete security operations center audit checklist

    • How to perform a SOC gap assessment

    • Whether managed SOC services are right for your organization

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  • NERC CIP Standards Summary: All Mandatory Requirements, Explained

    NERC CIP Standards Summary: All Mandatory Requirements, Explained

    Compliance with the NERC CIP standards is critical to mitigating cybersecurity risks to North America’s bulk electric system (BES), which is also known as the bulk power system (BPS). The NERC CIP provides a comprehensive list of security controls to help organizations effectively and securely operate the BES. Read our blog to get a sense of the NERC CIP standards summary. (more…)

  • What are the 20 CIS Critical Security Controls?

    What are the 20 CIS Critical Security Controls?

    In 2008, the U.S. defense industry experienced one of the largest cyber intrusions in its history. That breach sparked a collaborative effort to define a prioritized, actionable cybersecurity framework. That effort eventually evolved into the CIS Critical Security Controls, now maintained by the Center for Internet Security (CIS).

    Today, the CIS Critical Security Controls (formerly known as the CIS Top 20) provide organizations with a proven roadmap for defending against the most common and damaging cyber threats.

    In this guide, we’ll break down all 20 CIS Critical Security Controls, explain why they matter, and outline how organizations can implement them effectively. (more…)

  • SSAE 18 type 2 vs SOC 2 Type 2 – What’s the Difference?

    SSAE 18 type 2 vs SOC 2 Type 2 – What’s the Difference?

    If you’re comparing SSAE 18 SOC 2 Type 2, you’re not alone. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.

    Here’s the short answer:

    • SSAE 18 is an auditing standard issued by the AICPA.

    • SOC 2 Type 2 is a specific report performed under SSAE 18 that evaluates how controls operate over time.

    Understanding the difference is critical for service organizations that handle customer data and need to demonstrate trust.

    Let’s break it down clearly. (more…)

  • How to Fill Out a PCI Compliance Questionnaire

    How to Fill Out a PCI Compliance Questionnaire

    Completing your PCI compliance questionnaire marks a necessary step in your efforts to demonstrate adherence to regulations overseeing credit card payments. According to the Payment Card Industry’s (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS), businesses that process fewer than 6 million transactions annually must fill out and submit their yearly Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ). With the right knowledge, anyone can learn how to fill out PCI compliance questionnaires. (more…)

  • DFARS Compliant Countries

    DFARS Compliant Countries

    Organizations working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) must ensure they are DFARS compliant. One critical requirement many contractors overlook is sourcing products from approved DFARS compliant countries, also known as qualifying countries.

    Failure to comply can result in contract termination, financial penalties, and reputational damage.

    In this guide, we’ll cover:

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  • What is a PCI Compliance Scan?

    What is a PCI Compliance Scan?

    A PCI compliance scan is a required external vulnerability scan used to verify that systems handling payment card data meet the security requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). These scans must be completed quarterly by an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV) for any organization that processes, stores, or transmits cardholder data.

    PCI compliance scans assess whether security controls are properly implemented to identify and remediate vulnerabilities that could expose sensitive payment information. Below is a clear walkthrough of how PCI compliance scans work and how organizations can prepare to pass ASV testing with confidence.  (more…)

  • PCI DSS and Cloud Security: Ensuring Compliance in the Cloud

    PCI DSS and Cloud Security: Ensuring Compliance in the Cloud

    PCI DSS Cloud compliance has become a critical challenge as more organizations adopt cloud environments to store and process payment data. While cloud computing delivers scalability, flexibility, and efficiency, it also introduces unique security risks when handling sensitive cardholder information.

    To address these challenges, businesses must understand how PCI DSS Cloud requirements apply across different service models. Doing so is essential for maintaining compliance, reducing risk, and preventing costly data breaches.

    In this blog, we’ll explore how PCI DSS Cloud standards impact organizations, outline key considerations for compliance, and share best practices for securing payment systems in the cloud.

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  • How to Prepare for a PCI DSS Audit

    How to Prepare for a PCI DSS Audit

    Ensuring compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is critical for any organization that processes or stores cardholder data. Preparing for a PCI audit can feel challenging, but with the right strategy, you can simplify the process and strengthen your payment security. In this guide, we’ll walk through the key steps to prepare for a PCI DSS audit, helping your organization achieve compliance and protect sensitive data.

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