Over the past few months, we have had conversations with quite a few CISOs and compliance officers, and we have asked them what is on top of their minds these days. Most were concerned about meeting NIS2 and/or DORA regulations; some were working on ISO27001 or SOC2 certifications.
Almost everyone found it difficult to answer how they would solve the file-sharing problem contained in these regulations. So, let’s try to get an overview:
- NIS2: The NIS Directive (Directive on security of network and information systems) is a European Union directive that requires organizations in certain industries, such as energy, transportation, banking, and healthcare, to implement cybersecurity measures and report major security incidents. Compliance with NIS2 is mandatory for organizations falling within its scope.
- DORA: The Digital Operational Resilience Act is a regulation introduced by the European Union. The main aim of DORA is to strengthen the IT security of financial entities such as banks, insurance companies, and investment firms and ensure that the financial sector in Europe remains resilient in the event of a severe operational disruption.
- SOC 2: SOC 2 is a framework for managing customer data based on five “trust service criteria”: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. SOC 2 compliance is important for service organizations that handle customer data, as it assures customers of the security and privacy controls in place.
- ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information, ensuring it remains secure. ISO 27001 certification demonstrates that an organization has implemented best practices for information security.
When it comes to external file-sharing in a Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 environment, compliance with these frameworks and standards is important for several reasons:
- Security: External file-sharing involves sharing sensitive company information outside the organization’s boundaries. Compliance with ISO 27001 and SOC 2 ensures adequate security controls are in place to protect this information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
- Regulatory Compliance: Depending on the industry and geographical location, organizations may be subject to various data protection and cybersecurity regulations. Compliance with frameworks like NIS2 ensures adherence to specific regulatory requirements.
- Risk Management: By aligning with these frameworks, organizations can better identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with external file-sharing activities. This helps safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of shared data.
- Operational Efficiency: Following DORA practices can improve the efficiency of file-sharing processes by streamlining workflows, reducing lead time for changes, and increasing deployment frequency while maintaining security and compliance standards.
In summary, compliance with NIS2, DORA, SOC 2, and ISO27001 is crucial for ensuring the security, compliance, and efficiency of external file-sharing activities in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 environments.
I hope you found this helpful. If you want to explore your digital footprint, we have made a free Risk Calculator available; feel free to try it out.
