Compliance and security are two distinct concepts in the realm of information technology. Compliance refers to rules, regulations, and standards set by governing bodies, industry organizations, or internal policies. Security protects assets from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
In simpler terms, compliance is about following the rules, while security is about protecting the organization’s assets from threats, whether those threats are internal or external. External entities often impose compliance, whereas security is essential to an organization’s risk management strategy.
Compliance is a baseline requirement for organizations to operate within regulatory or contractual requirements. Failure to comply with relevant laws and regulations can result in legal penalties, fines, or reputational damage. Compliance typically involves conducting audits, assessments, and reporting to ensure an organization meets specific requirements.
On the other hand, security is an ongoing effort to protect the organization’s assets from various threats, including malicious actors, cybercriminals, and insufficient internal actors. It involves implementing controls, processes, and technologies to safeguard information and systems’ confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
While compliance and security may seem like different concepts, they are interrelated. Compliance with relevant regulations and standards often involves implementing specific security controls and processes to protect sensitive information. On the other hand, implementing robust security measures can help an organization meet regulatory requirements and avoid non-compliance penalties.
In summary, compliance is about following rules and regulations, while security protects the organization’s assets from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. While the two concepts are distinct, they are interrelated, and adequate security measures can help organizations meet compliance requirements.
