RSI Security

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.

  • Threat-Informed Risk Assessment Requirements under CMMC Level 3

    Threat-Informed Risk Assessment Requirements under CMMC Level 3

    Achieving CMMC Level 3 compliance means going beyond the foundational safeguards of Levels 1 and 2. At this advanced stage, organizations must implement enhanced practices to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) against sophisticated threats.

    One of the most critical requirements is conducting a Threat-Informed Risk Assessment, an approach that integrates real-world threat intelligence into your risk management strategy.

    This proactive method doesn’t just strengthen periodic assessments, it informs every aspect of your cybersecurity posture, from system hardening to incident response planning.

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  • Understanding the Interplay Between CMMC, NIST, and DFARS

    Understanding the Interplay Between CMMC, NIST, and DFARS

    Organizations that contract with the U.S. military deliver essential goods and services that support national defense. To qualify for and maintain these contracts, companies must meet strict cybersecurity and compliance requirements, especially when handling sensitive government data. Three frameworks form the foundation of these requirements: CMMC, NIST, and DFARS. Understanding how they overlap and work together is key to staying compliant, avoiding penalties, and securing future contracts.

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  • Demystifying the HIPAA Data Storage Requirements

    Demystifying the HIPAA Data Storage Requirements

    One of the most challenging aspects of compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is understanding how to store sensitive data. This is partly because the US Department of Health and Human Safety (HHS) has not provided a specific set of HIPAA data storage requirements that companies need to follow. Instead, the various HIPAA rules impact data storage in one way or another. Read on to learn what you need to do. (more…)

  • Advanced Threat Awareness Training Requirements for CMMC Level 3

    Advanced Threat Awareness Training Requirements for CMMC Level 3

    For contractors in the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain, cybersecurity is not just a technical requirement, it’s a national security priority. That’s why the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) was introduced: to enforce standardized security protocols across all defense contractors, especially those handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Among the most demanding requirements for CMMC Level 3 is the need to counter Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) , stealthy, targeted attacks often backed by nation-states. To meet this challenge, organizations must go beyond firewalls and encryption. They need a cyber-aware workforce trained to recognize, respond to, and mitigate complex threats as they unfold. That’s where advanced threat awareness training becomes critical.

    It equips employees with the knowledge and skills needed to detect sophisticated cyberattacks and helps fulfill one of the essential Level 3 compliance requirements, creating a human firewall against evolving threats.

    APTs differ from common cyber threats in their persistence, targeting, and sophistication—often state-sponsored, they aim to stealthily infiltrate systems and extract sensitive data over time. Meeting this challenge demands more than technical safeguards, CMMC Level 3 mandates a cyber-aware workforce capable of detecting and responding to complex threats in real time. That’s where advanced threat awareness training becomes a cornerstone of compliance and long-term cyber resilience. (more…)

  • Innovations in CMMC Assessment Tools and Techniques Used by C3PAOs

    Innovations in CMMC Assessment Tools and Techniques Used by C3PAOs

    The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), developed by the Department of Defense (DoD), helps protect sensitive information across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). As cyber threats continue to evolve, organizations must adopt stronger methods to evaluate and maintain compliance. Today, CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organizations (C3PAOs) use advanced tools and modern techniques to improve the CMMC Assessment process. These innovations help make assessments more accurate, efficient, and reliable while reducing manual effort and potential human error.

    As a result, defense contractors can better identify security gaps, strengthen their cybersecurity posture, and prepare for certification with greater confidence.

    This article explores the latest innovations in CMMC assessment tools and techniques used by C3PAOs and how they are shaping the future of compliance across the defense sector. (more…)

  • Who Needs a Level 2 CMMC Assessment?

    Who Needs a Level 2 CMMC Assessment?

    In today’s evolving cybersecurity landscape, the Department of Defense (DoD) created the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) to safeguard sensitive data within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). This includes both Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). With the rollout of CMMC 2.0, many contractors must now determine whether they need a Level 2 CMMC Assessment. Understanding the requirements for Level 2 is critical for maintaining compliance, protecting sensitive information, and securing eligibility for future DoD contracts.

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  • What are the Three Components of the HIPAA Security Rule?

    What are the Three Components of the HIPAA Security Rule?

    Healthcare organizations and their partners face growing privacy and security risks when handling patient data. To safeguard this information, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) sets strict requirements. One of its most important provisions is the HIPAA Security Rule, which outlines how electronic protected health information (ePHI) must be stored, transmitted, and accessed securely.

    The Security Rule is built on three main components that every covered entity and business associate must follow. Understanding these components is essential for compliance and for protecting sensitive patient data against cyber threats.

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  • How Are C3PAOs Different From Other Assessors?

    How Are C3PAOs Different From Other Assessors?

    A C3PAOs assessment is a critical step for defense contractors seeking compliance with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organizations (C3PAOs) are the only entities authorized to conduct official certification assessments that determine whether an organization meets required cybersecurity standards.

    Unlike consultants, internal auditors, or general cybersecurity assessors, C3PAOs are accredited by the Cyber AB to perform formal CMMC certification assessments. Their role is essential for organizations that must prove compliance before handling sensitive Department of Defense information.

    Understanding how C3PAOs differ from other assessors helps contractors prepare for a successful C3PAO assessment, avoid compliance gaps, and maintain eligibility for DoD contracts. (more…)

  • Preparation Checklist for a CMMC Audit

    Preparation Checklist for a CMMC Audit

    In 2019, the Department of Defense (DoD), together with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute (SEI), began reviewing existing cybersecurity standards. Their goal was clear: to combine these practices into a single, unified cybersecurity framework to protect the DoD supply chain. This framework is now known as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Although the CMMC is still being fully developed, select DoD contractors are expected to undergo CMMC audits as early as this year. If you’re a government contractor, there’s no time to wait. Use this CMMC audit preparation checklist to get ready and ensure your organization meets all requirements.

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  • Main Causes of Security Breaches in the Healthcare Industry

    Main Causes of Security Breaches in the Healthcare Industry

    Over the past decade, the healthcare industry has undergone a major shift from paper records to electronic health records (EHRs). In 2008, fewer than half of healthcare organizations used EHR systems. Today, thanks to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH), digital records are now the standard across hospitals, clinics, and physician offices. While EHR adoption has modernized healthcare operations and improved patient care, it has also introduced new cybersecurity Security Breaches . As healthcare organizations store increasing amounts of sensitive patient information online, the risk of healthcare security breaches has grown significantly.

    Since the HITECH Act strengthened penalties for noncompliance, the number of reported healthcare breaches has risen steadily. In 2010 alone, the number of reported incidents exceeded the total from the previous six years combined. Although the spike was initially attributed to rapid EHR adoption, it is now clear that several factors contribute to the growing risk of healthcare security breaches. With the widespread use of digital tools—including smartphones, cloud storage, connected medical devices, and complex network systems—cybersecurity threats in healthcare have become more sophisticated. Understanding the causes of healthcare security breaches is essential for protecting electronic protected health information (ePHI) and strengthening healthcare cybersecurity defenses. (more…)