Cyberlaw Competency: Regulatory Requirements And Standards

Cyberlawcompetency 42315 Regulatory Requirements And Standards The

Develop new policy statements with two modifications for each of the following sections of the attached “Heart-Healthy Insurance Information Security Policy”: 1. New Users 2. Password Requirements. Justify each of your modifications based on specific current industry standards applicable to the case study. Include all in-text citations and APA-formatted references for sources used.

Paper For Above instruction

The rapid evolution of cyber threats and the increasing reliance on electronic processing of sensitive health information necessitate continuous updates to information security policies to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations. This paper focuses on revising specific sections of the "Heart-Healthy Insurance Information Security Policy," namely the "New Users" and "Password Requirements" sections, with modifications grounded in current best practices and standards such as those from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Revised "New Users" Policy Section

Modification 1: Require comprehensive identity verification processes, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), before granting access to new users. This aligns with NIST Special Publication 800-63, which emphasizes robust identity proofing and MFA to prevent unauthorized access (NIST, 2017).

Modification 2: Implement mandatory security awareness training for all new users upon onboarding. HIPAA mandates organizations to educate staff on safeguarding Protected Health Information (PHI), making training essential for compliance and reducing human error security risks (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2018).

Revised "Password Requirements" Policy Section

Modification 1: Mandate complex passwords containing at least 12 characters, including uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This supersedes older standards and is recommended by NIST SP 800-63B, which advocates for longer, more complex passwords to strengthen security (NIST, 2017).

Modification 2: Enforce regular password changes every 60 days and prohibit reuse of previous passwords within the last 10 cycles. These measures help mitigate the risk of compromised credentials being reused or exploited over time, aligning with current cybersecurity best practices and HIPAA security standards (HHS, 2018).

Justification of Modifications

The modifications proposed are based on authoritative industry standards aimed at enhancing security posture. Installing MFA for new users aligns with NIST's recommendations for secure identity verification, crucial in healthcare environments where PHI protection is paramount (NIST, 2017). Including mandatory security training addresses human factors that are often the weakest links in security chains, fulfilling HIPAA's requirement for staff education (HHS, 2018). Enhancing password complexity and establishing stringent policies on password aging and reuse follow NIST guidelines, which favor longer, more complex passwords combined with proactive lifecycle management to prevent credential-related breaches (NIST, 2017). These standards collectively ensure that the organization maintains compliance and mitigates risks associated with data breaches, unauthorized access, and non-compliance penalties.

References

• HHS (2018). HIPAA Security Rule. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html
• NIST (2017). NIST Special Publication 800-63B: Digital Identity Guidelines - Authentication and Lifecycle Management. National Institute of Standards and Technology. https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-63b
• HHS (2013). HIPAA Privacy Rule and Security Rule. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html
• ISO/IEC 27001:2013. Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems. International Organization for Standardization.
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (2021). Password Security Best Practices. CISA.gov. https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/tips/ST04-003
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (2019). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST. https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (2016). HIPAA Security Series: Protecting PHI. CMS.gov. https://www.cms.gov
• Hoffman, L., & Novak, T. (2019). Digital Security in Healthcare. Journal of Information Security, 10(2), 77-90.
• Smith, J. (2020). Enhancing Password Security in Healthcare Organizations. Cybersecurity Journal, 15(4), 230-245.
• Lee, S., & Kim, D. (2022). Update on Industry Standards for Information Security. International Journal of Cybersecurity, 8(1), 45-60.