Introduction
Cybersecurity compliance is a key consideration for mostly large organizations, but also for SMBs that want to work with these large organizations. While most frameworks and standards are designed with large enterprises in mind, several of these practices can be scaled to fit SMB needs.
Voluntary Regulations
Voluntary regulations are not mandated by law but serve as best practice guidelines that organizations can adopt to strengthen their cybersecurity posture. For many businesses, including SMBs, these frameworks provide a structured way to assess and enhance their security measures without the immediate pressure of legal compliance. They allow companies to proactively manage risk and often serve as a stepping stone to meet more stringent regulatory requirements if needed.
CIS Controls
Developed by the Center for Internet Security, these best practices provide a prioritized roadmap to strengthen defenses. SMBs can use them as a flexible guide to enhance their cybersecurity measures.
These are very practical (they give specific instructions for all operating systems) and very thorough best practices which we highly recommend as a start for a company looking to improve their cybersecurity.
Download them on cisecurity.org, or use Pareto Security for device monitoring that incorporates checks from CIS Controls.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
This risk-based framework outlines core functions—Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover—to help organizations manage cybersecurity risks. Although widely used by larger organizations, its adaptable approach can benefit SMBs.
Learn more on NIST.gov.
ISO 27001
An international standard for establishing an information security management system (ISMS). It helps businesses set up structured policies and controls. For many SMBs, obtaining certification may be ambitious, but adopting its principles can improve security practices. That said, instructions are often very abstract so it’s not the best fit for companies new to cybersecurity compliance.
Purchase on iso.org.
SOC 2
Designed for cloud service providers and technology companies, SOC 2 focuses on five trust principles: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. While certification might be more relevant for tech-centric SMBs, the underlying controls offer a useful security blueprint. It has a similar issue as ISO – abstract and not very beginner-friendly.
Learn more on AICPA & CIMA.
EU Cybersecurity Regulations
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
Considered the gold standard in data protection, GDPR (Wikipedia) applies to any organization that processes EU citizens’ data. Key requirements include:
- Obtaining explicit consent for data collection.
- Notifying authorities of breaches within 72 hours.
- Implementing data minimization and robust security measures.
- Enabling user rights to access, delete, or transfer data.
NIS2 Directive (Network and Information Security Directive 2)
Targeted at critical infrastructure sectors like healthcare and finance, this directive mandates:
- Timely reporting of cybersecurity incidents.
- Implementing comprehensive risk management practices.
ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law)
Focused on digital communication privacy, ePrivacy Directive (Wikipedia) regulates cookie use and online tracking. It works in tandem with GDPR to ensure greater transparency for users.
UK Cybersecurity Regulations
UK GDPR Mirroring the EU’s GDPR with local adaptations, UK GDPR requires businesses to:
- Protect data of UK citizens.
- Report breaches to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
- Uphold user data rights.
NIS Regulations (UK’s Version of NIS2)
These rules are similar to the EU’s NIS2 and are tailored to critical service providers, such as those in healthcare, energy, finance, and transport. They emphasize incident reporting and risk management.
Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018
Complementing UK GDPR, the DPA defines criminal offenses and outlines exemptions, providing a detailed legal framework for data processing.
US Cybersecurity Regulations
State-Level Consumer Privacy Laws
- CCPA/CPRA (California Consumer Privacy Act/California Privacy Rights Act): These laws grant California residents rights over their personal data. Similar initiatives in states like Virginia and Colorado offer varied levels of protection.
Federal Regulations for Specific Industries
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): Requires healthcare providers to safeguard patient information.
- GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act): Mandates financial institutions to protect consumer financial data.
- SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act): Imposes cybersecurity and financial recordkeeping requirements on public companies.
- CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification): This certification is required for Department of Defense contractors, establishing cybersecurity maturity levels that can be informative for high-security environments.
Global Industry Cybersecurity Regulations
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
PCI DSS (Wikipedia) is essential for any business that processes, stores or transmits credit card data. It outlines requirements to protect cardholder information, making it particularly relevant for retail and e-commerce SMBs.
Summary
This was a short intro to cybersecurity regulations. Most European companies will need to follow GDPR for data protection and cookie law for the choice of tracking. After that, it is up to you if you need actual certifications to show your potential enterprise customers, or if you’re just looking to improve your company’s cybersecurity. In the latter case, I again recommend reading through the CIS Controls for your operating systems since it’s the best next step.
For an even easier and non-intrusive way to keep your devices safe, consider Pareto Security. Our device monitoring solution works seamlessly in the background to catch vulnerabilities early, ensuring your business stays secure – and compliant with different regulations if you so require.
