Commercial, Defense & Government Frameworks

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171 is a requirement for non-federal organizations that process, store, or transmit Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement) regulates the minimum standards for security protocols and policy relating to sensitive information.
NIST 800-171 compliance is self-reported and in the process of being replaced by CMMC. The NIST 800-171 Framework supports all 14 primary control areas defined in the NIST 800-171 and all of the sub-controls within the 14 controls.

ISO 27001 is one of the most widely used security frameworks on a global scale. It is commonly used to create, implement, and/or maintain a strong Information Security Management System (ISMS).
ISO 27001 is ideal for any organization looking to develop a structured and well-organized security program with the purpose of protecting organizational information and systems.
The ISO 27001 Framework includes the 14 controls that detail best practices for cybersecurity measures (Annex A).

Department of Defense (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 creates compliance and certification standards and a network of C3PAOs (Certified 3rd Party Audit Organizations) in a coordinated effort to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) throughout the U.S. Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain.
When fully implemented, all contractors and subcontractors at all levels in this supply chain must be certified to the CMMC standard to bid on or renew Department of Defense contracts.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1996 that sets national standards for protecting Protected Health Information (PHI)—both electronic and physical—handled by healthcare organizations and their business associates.
HIPAA applies to covered entities (such as healthcare providers, health plans, and clearinghouses) and business associates (third-party vendors handling PHI on behalf of covered entities).
HIPAA compliance is mandatory and enforced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Violations can lead to significant financial penalties, civil lawsuits, and reputational damage.
HIPAA is structured around three primary rules:
Privacy Rule – Regulates the use and disclosure of PHI
Security Rule – Requires administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for electronic PHI (ePHI)
Breach Notification Rule – Mandates timely notification of data breaches affecting PHI
HIPAA also requires organizations to implement risk assessments, access controls, training programs, and audit logging, ensuring that PHI is securely maintained, shared, and accessed only by authorized personnel.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data privacy law enacted by the European Union (EU) that governs how organizations collect, process, and protect personal data of EU citizens.
GDPR applies to any organization—regardless of location—that handles the personal data of individuals residing in the EU. This includes healthcare providers, technology firms, and third-party service providers that collect or manage patient or customer information.
GDPR compliance is mandatory and enforceable by significant financial penalties. The regulation emphasizes data subject rights, breach notification requirements, and strict data protection measures.
GDPR establishes core principles such as lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, and confidentiality. It also mandates Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), and appointment of Data Protection Officers (DPOs) where applicable.