Rules That Protect You

Regulatory compliance frameworks, data protection, audit procedures, and security standards.

Compliance ensures organizations meet legal, regulatory, and industry-specific requirements. Non-compliance can result in significant financial penalties, legal liability, and reputational damage. This guide covers major compliance frameworks and best practices. GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) governs how organizations collect, process, and store personal data of European residents. Requirements include obtaining explicit consent, enabling data subject rights, and reporting data breaches within specific timeframes. Non-compliance can result in fines up to 20 million euros or 4% of annual revenue. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protects patient health information in the healthcare industry. HIPAA requires administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect patient privacy. Business associates handling patient data must maintain BAAs with healthcare entities. PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) applies to organizations processing credit card payments. Requirements include network security, data protection, vulnerability management, and access control. Merchants failing compliance risk fines and payment processing restrictions. SOC 2 (Service Organization Control) provides a framework for service providers to demonstrate their security and control environment. Type I reports assess controls at a point in time, while Type II reports evaluate controls over an extended period. ISO 27001 provides a general framework for information security management applicable across industries. It requires establishing information security policies, managing access controls, implementing security monitoring, and continually improving security practices. Organizations achieving ISO 27001 certification demonstrate commitment to information security. Regular audits, documentation, staff training, and security monitoring ensure ongoing compliance with applicable requirements.

The regulations that govern IT and why they matter — GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI DSS and ISO 27001, explained for non-technical people.