Decoding IT Compliance: Comprehensive Security and Privacy Requirements Across Major Industries 

In today’s digital-first world, IT compliance has become a cornerstone of business operations across all sectors. As cyber threats evolve and data privacy concerns intensify, organizations face an increasingly complex web of regulations and standards. This article aims to decode the essential security and privacy requirements across major industries, providing a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the intricate world of IT compliance. 

We’ll begin by summarizing key regulations and standards, then explore how these apply to specific industries. This approach will provide a thorough overview of the IT compliance landscape, helping organizations understand and address their particular regulatory challenges.  Please note this article is not intended to be all inclusive and your situation and regulatory or contractual obligations may vary from the list below.  Please consult with appropriate internal and/or external resources to validate your requirements. 

Part 1:

Key IT Compliance Regulations and Standards

01

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): 

  • Protects sensitive patient health information 
  • Key components: Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule 
02

HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act): 

  • Expands HIPAA requirements 
  • Focuses on electronic health records and breach notifications 
03

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): 

  • Ensures secure handling of credit card information 
  • Applies to all organizations collecting, processing, storing or transmitting card payments 
04

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): 

  • EU regulation for data protection and privacy 
  • Applies to organizations handling EU residents’ data 
05

CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and CPRA (California Privacy Rights Act): 

  • Provide California residents control over their personal information 
  • Often seen as a model for other state-level privacy laws 
06

GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act): 

  • Requires financial institutions to explain information-sharing practices 
  • Mandates protection of consumers’ sensitive data 
07

SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act): 

  • Focuses on corporate governance and financial reporting 
  • Has significant implications for IT controls in financial firms 
08

FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rules: 

  • Self-regulatory organization overseeing broker-dealers 
  • Includes cybersecurity requirements and best practices 
09

FFIEC (Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council) guidelines: 

  • Provides uniform principles and standards for financial institutions 
  • Includes IT examination handbooks and cybersecurity guidance 
10

FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act): 

  • Defines framework to protect government information and assets 
  • Applies to federal agencies and their contractors 
11

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification): 

  • Unifies cybersecurity standards for the defense industrial base 
  • Implements five levels of cybersecurity maturity 
12

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): 

  • Protects privacy of student education records 
  • Applies to all schools receiving federal funds 
13

COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act): 

  • Imposes requirements on operators of websites directed at children under 13 
  • Focuses on parental consent for data collection 
14

NERC CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection): 

  • Addresses security of electrical systems 
  • Includes standards for cybersecurity of critical electric infrastructure 
15

NIST SP 800-82 (Guide to Industrial Control Systems Security): 

  • Provides guidance on securing industrial control systems 
  • Widely used in manufacturing and utilities sectors 
16

ISO/IEC 27001: 

  • International standard for information security management 
  • Applicable across various industries 
17

CPNI (Customer Proprietary Network Information) regulations: 

  • Restrict how telecom carriers use and share customer data 
  • Enforced by the FCC 
18

NAIC Data Security Model Law: 

  • Establishes standards for data security in the insurance industry 
  • Adopted by several states 
19

ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations): 

  • Controls the export of defense and military related technologies 
  • Includes provisions for cybersecurity in defense industry 
20

FDA regulations for pharmaceutical and medical devices: 

  • Include cybersecurity guidelines for medical devices 
  • Focus on patient safety and data integrity 

Timothy J. Marley, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CISM, CIA, CDPSE

Founder and Principal Consultant, Prism One

Timothy J. Marley, founder and principal consultant of Prism One, is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with over two decades of experience in information technology, risk management, and compliance. Tim’s extensive expertise helps organizations navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity and risk management.

Tim’s mission is to empower organizations to build resilient security postures in an ever-evolving threat environment. At Prism One, he continues to provide tailored, high-quality cybersecurity solutions to meet the unique needs of each client.

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