Security is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the data center and IT services world. When selecting a services provider, there’s no such thing as too much emphasis on security. Make sure that the service provider you choose places a strong focus on security—as in the end, it’s your customers’ data that you’re placing in the hands of that provider.
StrataCore can help to bring clarity to the security services marketplace to find the best fit for your specific business needs.
Here are a few certifications to look for with your data center and cloud services provider:
SSAE 16
The Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 replaced SAS 70 in June 2011. A SSAE 16 audit measures the controls relevant to financial reporting. Like SAS 70, the SSAE 16 standard focuses on guidance for auditors assessing financial statement controls at service organizations.
This is the basis of the SOC 1 report. The SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports both look at a service organization’s controls relevant to the security, availability, or processing integrity of a service organization’s system or the privacy or confidentiality of the information the system processes.
SOC 1 – The first of three new Service Organization Controls reports developed by the AICPA, this report measures the controls of a data center as relevant to financial reporting. It is essentially the same as a SSAE 16 audit.
SOC 2 – SOC 2 measures controls specifically related to IT and data center service providers. The five controls are security, availability, processing integrity (ensuring system accuracy, completion and authorization), confidentiality and privacy.
SOC 3 – This report includes the auditor’s opinion of SOC 2 components with an additional seal of approval to be used on websites and other documents. The report is less detailed and technical than a SOC 2 report.
SOC 1 and SOC 2 are similar to SAS 70 in that both have type 1 and type 2 report options:
Type 1 – A data center’s description and assertion of controls, as reported by the company.
Type 2 – Auditors test the accuracy of the controls and the implementation and effectiveness of controls over a specified period of time.
ISO / IEC 27001:2005 and 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard
ISO is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards. ISO certification means that providers can offer products and services which meet and exceed the specifications of their customers by implementing the quality, safety, security, environmental and energy management standards with the widest possible acceptance in data center sector.
This is the most widely-accepted certification available for supporting information, physical security, and business continuity ISO 27001 ensures that:
– risks and threats to the business are assessed and managed
– physical security processes such as restricted/named access are enforced consistently
– audits are conducted regularly at each site that include tests of security and cctv planning and monitoring
PCI-DSS Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
The PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) ensures the safe handling of sensitive information and is intended to help organizations proactively protect customer account data. For providers that don’t monitor or have access to customer data, applicability is restricted to physical security access to customer equipment through a combination of management systems and physical access safeguards and procedures.
HIPAA
Mandated by the U.S. Health and Human Services Dept., the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 specifies laws to secure protected health information (PHI), or patient health data (medical records). When it comes to data centers, a hosting provider needs to meet HIPAA compliance in order to ensure sensitive patient information is protected.
A HIPAA audit conducted by an independent auditor against the OCR HIPAA Audit Protocol can provide a documented report to prove a data center operator has the proper policies and procedures in place to provide HIPAA hosting solutions.
No other audit or report can provide evidence of full HIPAA compliance.
FedRAMP – The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
FedRAMP provides a cost-effective, risk-based approach for the adoption and use of cloud services by making available to Executive departments and agencies:
• Standardized security requirements for the authorization and ongoing cybersecurity of cloud services for selected information system impact levels;
• A conformity assessment program capable of producing consistent independent, third-party assessments of security controls implemented by Cloud Service Providers (CSPs);
• Authorization packages of cloud services reviewed by a Joint Authorization Board (JAB) consisting of security experts from the DHS, DOD, and GSA;
• Standardized contract language to help Executive departments and agencies integrate FedRAMP requirements and best practices into acquisition; and
• A repository of authorization packages for cloud services that can be leveraged government-wide.
FedRAMP supports the U.S. government’s mandate that all U.S. federal information systems comply with the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA).
The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)
United States legislation that defines a comprehensive framework to protect government information, operations and assets against natural or man-made threats. FISMA was signed into law part of the Electronic Government Act of 2002.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) outlines nine steps toward compliance with FISMA:
• Categorize the information to be protected
• Select minimum baseline controls
• Refine controls using a risk assessment procedure
• Document the controls in the system security plan
• Implement security controls in appropriate information systems
• Assess the effectiveness of the security controls once they have been implemented
• Determine agency-level risk to the mission or business case
• Authorize the information system for processing
• Monitor the security
