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Posted September 17, 2020
It’s no secret that more businesses are increasingly shifting to XaaS services, also known as cloud computing, for tools and services delivered over the internet. Unfortunately, while the shift is excellent for fulfilling cost-effectiveness and storage needs, it comes with significant risk. All businesses, especially those in the tech world, are susceptible to cyberattacks.
For many businesses, finding solutions for preventing and mitigating risks is the only way to ensure progress. It’s imperative to find strategies that keep your information security systems safe from attacks, compliant with relevant regulations, and attractive to current and potential clients.
Fortunately, the NIST Framework exists for this purpose. It provides guidelines that organizations can follow to avoid cybersecurity mistakes that may damage a company by violating cybersecurity regulations, penalties, lawsuits, reputation damage, and business loss.
The NIST SP 800-53 Risk Assessment, in particular, addresses the need for evaluation and a risk mitigation plan for information security systems. It ensures that you protect your systems through operative, technical and managerial precautions. By following the guidelines, you can ensure your information systems’ safety, integrity, and confidentiality.
Topics we’ll be covering in today’s post:
Let’s dive in and see how GreyCastle Security can help.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sought to create a standard for operations in the cybersecurity field in the United States and help governments and private organizations cope with threats in the cyber world. The NIST Framework provides guiding principles and best practices businesses in the tech space can follow to prevent, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats.
NIST compliance also helps you remain compliant with other regulations such as:
If you’re a tech business working in cloud computing’s fundamental components, namely SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, assessing and mitigating your cybersecurity risks is essential for business operations.
Why? Working primarily on the cloud and providing services that require off-site servers make you an ideal target for cybercriminals. Without a reliable risk assessment and management plan, you set yourself up for potential business loss, license losses, penalties, and lawsuits from frustrated clients that may also lose business.
NIST Risk Assessment ensures compliance with regulations that govern cybersecurity in government agencies, health care providers, insurance companies, financial institutions, and businesses in the education industry, among others. With the relevant compliance, you assure clients of your information security, enabling them to select you for business. It improves your reputation and helps you pass the standard criteria for selecting partners and vendors. What’s more, compliance proves that you’ve done your part to provide a safe environment, which is crucial for reducing liability if an incident happens.
The NIST SP 800-53 Risk Assessment is essential for tech companies, especially in SaaS, because it provides controls for information systems that store, process, and transmit company data. It addresses three fundamental classes of risks based on their level of impact- high, moderate, and low. The framework further splits the classes into 18 components for detailed assessment.
The NIST SP 800-53 sets the baseline for secure information systems. Once you determine the right security category for your information system, you can choose an objective. The three main objectives are integrity, confidentiality, and security.
NIST SP 800-53 then breaks down the standards needed to achieve each objective and the guidelines to implement each control. It doesn’t specify applications or software you need to achieve compliance -the decision remains within your discretion.
However, if you establish rules to meet the 18 components listed in the framework, you stand out from your competition and pass audits. You also ensure that you align your business with the NIST Risk Management Framework and NIST Incident Response.
Begin by running an analysis of your information security systems to identify the risks your institution faces, their impact, and your preparation level for handling each risk. It’s wiser to use tools that automate risk assessment to save time and produce accurate and timely results.
It’s critical to liaise with the top management to ensure that all employees, from the highest to the lowest ranking, understand the steps to be taken for NIST compliance. Each control laid out in the NIST SP 800-53 affects all workers in an organization, and hence, their contribution is the best way to ensure you stay protected and remain compliant. Outsourcing the training to cybersecurity experts can help you inform each employee properly and advise them on mistakes that make your institution vulnerable to attacks.
Take a look at your cybersecurity processes and policies to identify gaps and restructure all rules to fit your new cybersecurity measures. Detailed procedures are also excellent for encouraging compliance among employees by providing a clear path. Also, remember that while the NIST Framework provides a guideline for all organizations, it should not be the end of your cybersecurity measures. It’s essential to conduct continuous assessments to ensure that all your policies, processes, and controls protect your assets.
Let’s face it- ensuring compliance, running regular NIST 800-53 risk assessments, and managing incidence response is a lot to handle for an IT department. It costs money, time, and resources you may not have at your disposal. However, when you outsource an expert organization that understands the cybersecurity landscape, you can manage your cyber assets cost-effectively.
Contact GreyCastle Security to ensure your virtual assets are protected and that you are remaining compliant. Looking for more information on Cybersecurity Risk Assessments? Download our Free Infographic!
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Ho Chin is Chief Financial Officer at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Ho leads Finance, HR, IT and Professional Development. As part of the executive leadership team, Ho works to establish the company’s overall strategy and ensure proper execution of the supporting initiatives pertaining to the above areas of responsibility.
Prior to joining GreyCastle Security, Ho led finance and administrative functions at multiple private equity and venture-backed portfolio companies across multiple industries. Ho holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University in Centre County, Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dan Kalil is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Chairman at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Dan provides vision, leadership and strategies that drive GreyCastle Security’s position as an industry leader. With an emphasis on customer success, Dan’s profitable growth model leverages a customer-centric business approach that balances employee wellbeing and social responsibility.
Prior to becoming CEO, Dan served as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, during which he supported multiple acquisitions and helped the organization achieve substantial sales growth. In addition to serving as CEO at GreyCastle Security, Dan continues to hold the position of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Assured information Security (AIS) in Rome, New York, a company he co-founded in 2001.
Over the course of the last 22 years, Dan has been committed to advancing the state of cybersecurity and has played an instrumental role in the identification and development of critical, next-generation cyber capabilities. He has held positions in almost every facet of cybersecurity, beginning as a computer forensic examiner and progressing through the management and executive leadership ranks. In addition to co-founding AIS, Dan has facilitated multiple cybersecurity startups, raised investment capital and has served in various lead and support roles toward the acquisition of five companies in the last eight years.
Dan has a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity and a master’s degree in Cybersecurity from Utica College in Utica, New York.
Michael Stamas is an entrepreneur, board member, Vice President and a founder of GreyCastle Security. With more than two decades of experience in the technology sector, Mike pairs his management and business development skills with a deep understanding of cybersecurity. Mike brings a unique brand of risk-based advising to GreyCastle clients and prospects.
Mike holds certifications in numerous security and technology related areas, including the Department of Homeland Security and other security technologies like Symantec, Cisco and Microsoft.
Mike plays an active role in his community and serves as a board member and Vice President of InfraGard Albany as well as an advisory board position with the Capital Region YMCA.
Mike has been recognized for his numerous achievements through various honors including the Albany Business Review’s prestigious 40 Under 40 award.
Dan Maynard serves as GreyCastle Security’s Chief Operating Officer, where he currently leads Sales, Marketing and Legal.
Dan has enjoyed a 30+ year career in the Information Technology and Telecommunications industry, during which time he has held various leadership positions for organizations such as Rochester Tel/RCI, Citizens Communications (Frontier), PAETEC Communications, IntegraOptics, tw telecom/Level3 and Centurylink.
In addition to various voice and data technology platforms, he possesses a strong background in leadership development, sales and marketing leadership, transformational leadership and strategic planning. Dan has a thirst for knowledge and as a committed lifelong learner, he encourages and supports professional development initiatives for his teams and continues his involvement with Vistage International.
Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he was selected as a member of their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
When not at work, Dan enjoys traveling, golfing, attending Utica Comets hockey games and relaxing in the Adirondacks on beautiful Canada Lake with family and friends.
Dan Didier is the Vice President of Solutions and board member at GreyCastle Security.
Dan has been a cybersecurity practitioner for more than 20 years and uses his knowledge and experience to develop cybersecurity solutions that ensure readiness and preparedness.
Dan received his bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, New York, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a master’s degree in Information Assurance from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.
Our Computer Incident Response Teams (CIRTs) have responded to hundreds of breaches, intrusions, malware infections, thefts, employee investigations, fraud cases and other incidents. Our highly-certified experts have extensive experience in command, coordination and correction of incidents in nearly every industry throughout North America, from local businesses to Fortune 500 international conglomerates.
800-403-8350Francesca LoPorto-Brandow is Director of Culture at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Francesca leads all social responsibility efforts and partnerships and develops effective strategies that promote organizational-wide behaviors and attitudes consistent with a culture of safety, inclusion, teamwork, motivation and high-performance.
Prior to this role, Francesca was Director of People & Culture at GreyCastle and with her leadership, the company’s culture has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as a Nationally recognized Best Workplace, Albany Business Review Best Places to Work and Albany Times Union Top Workplaces.
Before joining GreyCastle Security, Francesca worked as an OD consultant and focused on strategic culture change at The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, Inc. for more than six years. There, she facilitated client education sessions, coached leaders and teams, developed and executed consulting interventions and served as strategy project leader on various client engagements. Her work has taken her into Fortune 100 companies and across borders including Panama, Singapore and beyond.
Francesca is a Lean Six Sigma–certified Green Belt, a proud YWCA-GCR board member and in 2013, she coordinated and emceed the inaugural TEDx Troy—a livestream of TEDCity 2.0. Since 2012, she has coordinated and emceed the Troy 100 Forum, a biannual forum for government, religious and community leaders to discuss issues vital to the future of Troy, New York.
Bilingual in English and Italian, Francesca holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Technology from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management & Technology. She was awarded Cybersecurity Recruiter of the year North America in 2017 by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards.
Jamie Aiello is Senior Vice President of Services and Product Management at GreyCastle Security. In this position, Jamie is responsible for leading a high performing and well-balanced team that is ultimately responsible for the identification, selection, execution and successful performance of our company’s diverse portfolio of cybersecurity offerings.
Prior to joining GreyCastle Security, Jamie has held leadership positions with Annese and Associates, ConvergeOne and BlueSky IT Partners with a focus on delivering cost effective information technology solutions for companies across multiple verticals.
Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, a master’s degree in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina and a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.
