A security compliance program is essential for organizations to identify, implement, and maintain effective security controls. This helps protect sensitive data, adhere to legal and contractual obligations, and comply with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

In essence, having a security compliance program allows companies to prove they meet established security standards and objectives, whether these are set internally or by industry-specific standards, external organizations, or government bodies.

In this article, Matt Cooper and Adam Duman from Sahl’s Privacy, Risk, & Compliance team outline how you can initiate a security compliance program within your organization.

Identifying the Need for a Formal Program

As organizations grow, the need for a formal security compliance program may arise. Indicators include:

Difficulty Closing Deals: Compliance issues causing delays or rejections indicate a formal program is needed, as clients expect adherence to certain standards.

Lack of Best Practices: Inconsistent security practices compared to industry norms suggest the need for formal guidance to avoid inefficiencies.

Regulatory or Social Pressure: Non-compliance with regulatory standards can lead to fines and reputational damage, making a formal program essential.

Inability to Answer Security Questionnaires: Difficulty providing clear answers to security-related questions from clients signals the need for a structured compliance program.

Steps to Get Started

1. Define Organizational Goals and Needs

Begin by clarifying your organizational goals and needs. Are you starting this program to close deals, demonstrate compliance, or achieve something else? Identify your desired end state and align it with key stakeholders. The more specific you are about your goals, the easier it will be to achieve them and gain support from others.

Before selecting standards or tools, ensure that your goals address more than just immediate problems. At Sahl, we use our compliance efforts as multipliers. For example, a compliant process in one department can often be adapted to others, improving cross-functional efficiency.

2. Define Your Roadmap and Timeline

Next, create a roadmap and timeline to understand what actions are needed to reach your goals. Break down your timeline into milestones and consider any dependencies that might affect your plan.

Address questions such as:

• What technology needs or gaps do we have?

• Will we need additional tools or support?

• Do we understand the technical demands of our goals?

• Should we build, buy, or partner?

3. Prioritize and Begin Implementation

With your needs and timeline in place, start prioritizing based on business needs and constraints. Take these steps:

• Reassess alignment with business objectives to ensure your plan is still on track and hasn’t deviated unnecessarily.

• Set official deadlines and commence the implementation of your program.

Security and compliance require context to avoid becoming overwhelming. Ensure that your compliance efforts are directed towards achieving measurable business outcomes.

Clearly communicate the reasons for your objectives, whether for customer satisfaction, revenue, or risk reduction, to gain support.