CySA+ Compliance & Assessment Study Guide (CS0-003)

📋 Overview

This domain focuses on applying regulatory requirements, implementing compliance controls, and performing security assessments. Mastery of this domain is key to ensuring organizational adherence to laws and internal policies.

📜 Regulations & Standards — In-Depth Overview

🔐 GDPR — General Data Protection Regulation

Applies to all organizations processing data of EU citizens.
Requires explicit user consent and supports the right to be forgotten.
Data breaches must be reported within 72 hours.

🔗 Learn more at GDPR.eu

🏥 HIPAA — Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Protects patient health information (PHI).
Requires access control, encryption, and audit logs.
Healthcare providers and partners must comply.

🔗 HIPAA details from HHS.gov

💳 PCI-DSS — Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard

Applies to any organization processing credit card data.
Defines 12 security requirements including encryption, access control, and testing.
Regular vulnerability scans and audits are required.

🔗 PCI Security Standards Council

📃 SOX — Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Requires financial reporting integrity and transparency.
IT must enforce strict access control and change tracking.
Includes internal audits and IT compliance reviews.

🔗 SOX Law at SEC.gov

🏛️ FISMA — Federal Information Security Management Act

Requires U.S. federal agencies to follow NIST standards.
Focuses on risk assessment, controls, and continuous monitoring.
Applies to contractors working with federal systems too.

🔗 FISMA Framework by NIST

🔐 Security Frameworks

NIST SP 800-53: A comprehensive catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems and organizations. It provides a structured approach to selecting and implementing controls based on risk. 🔗 Learn more about NIST SP 800-53
ISO/IEC 27001: An international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It helps organizations manage the security of assets like financial information, intellectual property, and employee data. 🔗 Learn more about ISO/IEC 27001
COBIT: A framework for IT governance and management that helps organizations achieve their objectives for the governance and management of enterprise IT. It aligns IT goals with business goals and provides metrics and maturity models. 🔗 Learn more about COBIT
CSF (Cybersecurity Framework): A risk-based framework developed by NIST to improve critical infrastructure cybersecurity. It provides a common language for managing cybersecurity risks and is widely adopted across industries. 🔗 Learn more about NIST Cybersecurity Framework

🛠️ Assessment Tools & Techniques

Vulnerability Scanners: These tools help identify security weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications. Popular options include:
- Nessus: A widely used scanner for identifying vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance issues.
- Qualys: A cloud-based platform offering vulnerability management, compliance, and web application scanning.
- OpenVAS: An open-source vulnerability scanner that provides comprehensive scanning capabilities.
Configuration Auditing: Ensures that systems are configured securely and in compliance with best practices. Key resources include:
- CIS Benchmarks: Industry-accepted best practices for secure system configurations.
- Lynis: A security auditing tool for Linux and Unix-based systems.
Risk Assessments: A systematic process for identifying, analyzing, and mitigating risks. Follow established guidelines such as:
- NIST SP 800-30: A guide for conducting risk assessments, including threat identification and impact analysis.
Control Audits: Evaluate the effectiveness of security controls to ensure compliance with frameworks and standards. Reference:
- COBIT: A framework for IT governance and control, providing detailed audit guidelines.
- ISO/IEC 27001: A standard for auditing and certifying information security management systems.