Directionsthis Assignment Will Be Completed Throughout The Courseben ✓ Solved

Directions: This assignment will be completed throughout the course. Benchmark – Impact Analysis Part 1: Information Acquisition 3.1: Examine the laws, regulations, and standards that organizations use to align with government requirements around cybersecurity best practices within their industry. Select an industry of your choice and review its compliance requirements. Then, using a fictitious company that is just starting out, identify the essential elements of what is required to attain compliance or successful cybersecurity resilience. Within a report to the CIO, present this information from a legal standpoint making sure to address the following: 1.

Identify any industry specific compliances that must be met (i.e., HIPAA, COPPA, DOD). Determine what overarching guidance they must comply with. Determine what overarching laws they must comply with. 2. Examine the requisite set of standards, frameworks, policies, and best practices most helpful in the development and implementation of the organizations objectives.

3. Identify the organization's critical data infrastructure assets (i.e., network, telecom, utilities, applications, computers, and client data categories). 4. Identify human resources for technical, management and legal operations. 5.

Identify requisite law enforcement entities required for reporting breaches to (i.e., local, state, and federal areas of compliance). Performance Level Ratings Meets Expectations Performance consistently met expectations in all essential areas of the assignment criteria , at times possibly exceeding expectations, and the quality of work overall was very good. The most critical goals were met. Near Expectations Performance did not consistently meet expectations. Performance failed to meet expectations in one or more essential areas of the assignment criteria, one or more of the most critical goals were not met.

Below Expectations Performance was consistently below expectations in most essential areas of the assignment criteria, reasonable progress toward critical goals was not made. Significant improvement is needed in one or more important areas. Criteria Below Expectations Near Expectations Meets Expectations Earned 3.1: Examine the laws, regulations, and standards that organizations use to align with government requirements around cybersecurity best practices within their industry. The student accurately identifies industry specific compliances that must be met. 0 pts – 2 pts 3 pts – 4 pts 5 pts The student accurately determines overarching guidance that must be complied with.

0 pts – 2 pts 3 pts – 4 pts 5 pts The student accurately determines overarching laws that must be complied with. 0 pts – 6 pts 7 pts – 9 pts 10 pts The student comprehensively presents the standards most helpful in the development and implementation of the organizations objectives. 0 pts – 6 pts 7 pts – 9 pts 10 pts The student accurately examines the frameworks most helpful in the development and implementation of the organizations objectives. 0 pts – 6 pts 7 pts – 9 pts 10 pts The student comprehensively presents the policies most helpful in the development and implementation of the organizations objectives. 0 pts – 6 pts 7 pts – 9 pts 10 pts The student comprehensively presents the best practices most helpful in the development and implementation of the organizations objectives.

0 pts – 6 pts 7 pts – 9 pts 10 pts The student accurately identifies the organization's critical data infrastructure assets. 0 pts – 6 pts 7 pts – 9 pts 10 pts The student comprehensively identifies human resources for technical operations 0 pts – 2 pts 3 pts – 4 pts 5 pts The student comprehensively identifies human resources for management operations 0 pts – 2 pts 3 pts – 4 pts 5 pts The student comprehensively identifies human resources for legal operations 0 pts – 2 pts 3 pts – 4 pts 5 pts The student comprehensively identifies requisite law enforcement entities required for reporting breaches to. 0 pts – 2 pts 3 pts – 4 pts 5 pts Industry standard technical writing is correct and utilized throughout.

0 pts – 6 pts 7 pts – 9 pts 10 pts TOTAL /100 Instructor Feedback © 2018. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. © 2018. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

Paper for above instructions

Impact Analysis Part 1: Information Acquisition for a Fictitious Healthcare Company
Introduction
The healthcare industry faces stringent compliance requirements designed to protect sensitive patient information and ensure overall cybersecurity resilience. This report outlines the compliance necessities for a fictitious healthcare company, HealthSecure, which is just starting operations. The document examines relevant laws, standards, frameworks, policies, and best practices that HealthSecure must adopt to align with government requirements and achieve cybersecurity resilience.
1. Industry-Specific Compliance Requirements
HealthSecure must comply with several critical regulations and standards that govern the healthcare sector:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): This U.S. statute sets the standard for protecting sensitive patient data. HealthSecure must ensure that all necessary physical, network, and process security measures are in place to protect personal health information (PHI) (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2022).
- Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act: Pursuant to HIPAA, HITECH promotes the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology. It enhances patient privacy and security protections within electronic health records (EHRs) (Brennan et al., 2022).
- Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA): HealthSecure will also need to comply with FISMA, which mandates that federal agencies and their contractors, including healthcare entities that deal with government programs, implement information security measures (U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2023).
- Guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): The NIST Cybersecurity Framework and Special Publications (such as NIST SP 800-53) provide best practice guidelines for managing cybersecurity risks (NIST, 2023).
2. Overarching Guidance and Laws
In addition to industry-specific regulations, HealthSecure must align with overarching laws and guidelines needed for compliance with cybersecurity practices:
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): If HealthSecure has clients or operations in the EU, GDPR compliance is critical to ensuring that the data of EU residents is handled legally (European Commission, 2023).
- State Laws and Regulations: HealthSecure must familiarize itself with varying state laws that pertain to data protection in healthcare, as many states have their own regulations beyond HIPAA that govern patient privacy and data breaches.
3. Standards, Frameworks, Policies, and Best Practices
To navigate compliance effectively, HealthSecure should adopt several standards, frameworks, policies, and best practices:
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework: This framework is widely recognized and provides a policy framework of best practices for organizations to manage and reduce cybersecurity risk (NIST, 2023).
- ISO/IEC 27001: This international standard provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information, ensuring data security through risk management and control implementations (International Organization for Standardization, 2023).
- System Security Plan (SSP): This plan outlines the security requirements and controls in place for compliance and should be updated regularly to reflect any changes to the organization's systems or operations (NIST, 2023).
- Incident Response Policy: HealthSecure must have predefined strategies and steps for effective incident response to mitigate damages from cybersecurity breaches.
- Employee Training and Awareness Programs: Establishing regular training ensures that employees understand their role in safeguarding sensitive data and are aware of best practices and compliance requirements.
4. Critical Data Infrastructure Assets
Identifying critical data infrastructure assets is imperative for HealthSecure. These assets include:
- Network Infrastructure: Firewalls, routers, and other network devices must be fortified for secure communication.
- Telecommunication Systems: Secure voice communication channels must be put in place to safeguard sensitive discussions.
- Utilities: Electric and power management systems should be secured to prevent outages or disruptions.
- Applications: All health information systems must be protected to ensure they comply with HIPAA and other regulations.
- Client Data Categories: Patient information, billing data, and any personally identifiable information (PII) must be secured against unauthorized access.
5. Human Resources for Technical, Management, and Legal Operations
HealthSecure must designate roles within its human resources to maintain operational integrity:
- Technical Operations: Information Security Officers (ISOs), System Administrators, and Network Engineers are vital for maintaining cybersecurity defenses and responding to threats.
- Management Operations: A Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Compliance Officer are essential for ensuring adherence to regulations and overseeing organizational strategy.
- Legal Operations: Legal Counsel specializing in healthcare compliance is crucial for navigating legal landscapes, advising on HIPAA and GDPR requirements, and managing any breach incidents.
6. Reporting Breaches: Law Enforcement Entities
In the unfortunate event of a data breach, HealthSecure must establish connections with law enforcement entities for reporting requirements, which vary by jurisdiction:
- Local Law Enforcement: Contact local police departments as soon as a breach that impacts community members is identified.
- State Health Departments: The breach must also be reported to the relevant state health department within specified timeframes, as per state law.
- Federal Agencies: In cases where PHI is compromised, reporting to the Department of Health & Human Services is mandated under HIPAA, alongside notifying affected individuals.
Conclusion
HealthSecure must navigate a complex landscape of compliance regulations in the healthcare industry to achieve cybersecurity resilience. By adhering to federal and state laws, utilizing best practices and standards, and establishing a robust infrastructure with assigned roles, the organization can minimize risks and ensure the protection of its sensitive information. This report serves as a comprehensive guide for the CIO in understanding the requisite elements needed for compliance in today’s cybersecurity environment.
References
1. Brennan, M., et al. (2022). HIPAA Compliance: Strategies and Best Practices. Journal of Healthcare Management, 67(3), 280-291.
2. European Commission. (2023). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Portal. Retrieved from [https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection_en](https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-topic/data-protection_en)
3. International Organization for Standardization. (2023). ISO/IEC 27001 Overview. Retrieved from [https://www.iso.org/isoiec-27001-information-security.html](https://www.iso.org/isoiec-27001-information-security.html)
4. NIST. (2023). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. Retrieved from [https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework](https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework)
5. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2022). HIPAA for Professionals. Retrieved from [https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html)
6. U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2023). Federal Information Security Management Act. Retrieved from [https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-257g](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-257g)
7. U.S. Department of Justice. (2023). Cybersecurity & Data Breaches. Retrieved from [https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ccips/cybersecurity-data-breaches](https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ccips/cybersecurity-data-breaches)
8. U.S. Federal Trade Commission. (2023). Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business. Retrieved from [https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/plain-language/bus08-protecting-personal-information.pdf](https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/plain-language/bus08-protecting-personal-information.pdf)
9. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. (2023). HealthIT.gov. Retrieved from [https://www.healthit.gov/](https://www.healthit.gov/)
10. Symantec. (2023). Data Protection in the Cloud: Compliance and Security. Retrieved from [https://www.broadcom.com/company/newsroom/press-releases?filtr=2023](https://www.broadcom.com/company/newsroom/press-releases?filtr=2023)