As part of our compliance campaign, we are re-releasing certain resources to help MSPs guide their clients through the steps necessary to achieve and maintain compliance. Enjoy this selection just for MSPs from our <\/em>Data Compliance Hygiene Guide.<\/em><\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good news \u2013 and the most important thing to assure your clients of \u2013 is that they don\u2019t have to be perfect to pass their audit. Instead, your job is to help them prioritize the right actions throughout<\/em> the year to ensure optimal results, rather than just focusing on the audit itself. And that means increasing emphasis on IT hygiene. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This guide will review several IT hygiene practices worth adding to your clients\u2019 tech stacks to facilitate smoother audit processes. It will also explore the relationship between faster prep times and consolidated toolkits and systems. After reading, you\u2019ll have a better understanding of how to help your clients conduct internal audits, which proactive steps will save you time come audit season, and how to prepare them for official audits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first glance, you may not see the connection between IT hygiene and prepping your clients for audits. Audit preparation includes gathering lists of data and documentation, explaining control failures, and making remediation plans, while IT hygiene is about following through with best practices 24\/7. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But much like a runner shouldn\u2019t begin training a week before a marathon, an MSP shouldn\u2019t start implementing IT hygiene the week before a client audit. Instead, creating a continuous culture of hygiene for your clients will make helping them achieve compliance a much lighter lift. In addition to facilitating smoother compliance experiences, prioritizing IT hygiene provides the following benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Data regulations help MSPs to discover opportunities for more efficient processes, procedures, and tools. For example, in an effort to reduce your clients\u2019 attack surfaces and make compliance reporting easier, you may look for opportunities to eliminate redundancies or centralize your tech stack around a more efficient core platform. The less applications your staff has to manage, the easier compliance becomes, and the more freedom you have to serve even more clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Microsoft Digital Defense Report, basic security hygiene protects 98% of attacks. That\u2019s a critical figure for MSPs to know as data incidents continue to increase. Mitigating that threat for your clients should be a top priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having a plan to help your clients meet and maintain their compliance requirements silently communicates that your MSP is up on the latest business trends, technologies, and security practices. In other words, good cybersecurity habits forge a bond of trust between your MSP and your clients. And that higher level of trust can translate to more referrals and more potential customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As an MSP, it can be hard to not feel like audits are just another thing your clients are leaning on you to guide them through. But they provide an opportunity for you to showcase your proven cybersecurity measures that keep your clients\u2019 data safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether your client is a startup or a mom and pop shop, the best practices for achieving compliance are the same. The only difference is the amount of rigor required. Audits happen regularly, and regulations change frequently. Translation: you must consistently carve out time to review and improve your existing security practices, so when they come to you with compliance concerns, you\u2019re prepared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talk to each of your clients to figure out which compliance regulations apply to them and which don\u2019t. Consider building your security hygiene strategy based on the clients with the most stringent compliance requirements. For example, while HIPAA compliance is non-negotiable for health organizations, ISO 27001 implementation is voluntary. Nonetheless, according to the ISO Survey 2018, the demand for ISO certification grows by the year, and having a security program that complies with ISO provides top-of-the-line protection for your clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Usually, IT compliance focuses on three types of data, so at a minimum, be sure your tech stack includes safeguards in these three areas:
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Reviewing policies, investigating security incidents, and cooperating with certification bodies takes time. That\u2019s compounded for MSPs, who have to juggle these requirements for multiple clients at once. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thankfully, the vast majority of activities that go into making your clients data compliant can (and should) be automated. Automation tools help reduce overhead, minimize the risk of human errors, and improve the overall efficiency of your tech stack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several different ways to automate compliance-related activities exist, including:
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While it\u2019s not possible to automate everything, prioritize automating what you can. The time it takes to do the upfront work is nothing compared to the long-term dividends of finding exactly what your clients need when they need it later. And, of course, you will sleep better at night knowing their data is safe and sound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ready to start getting your clients compliant? JumpCloud\u2019s MSP Compliance Quickstart Guide was designed to get MSPs the resources they need to prepare their clients for an audit and shore up their IT security baseline. Visit the MSP Compliance Quickstart Guide<\/a> now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"