Tagged Questions

Aspects of compliance with regulations, standards, laws, and policies.

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20
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5answers
1k views

Is it common practice to log rejected passwords?

While selecting unique passwords for each purpose is a great idea, in practice this rarely happens. Therefore many select passwords from a personal pool of passwords that are easily remembered. When ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views

PCI Encryption Key Management

(Full disclosure: I'm already an active participant here and at StackOverflow, but for reasons that should hopefully be obvious, I'm choosing to ask this particular question anonymously). I currently ...
19
votes
1answer
1k views

Has anyone achieved PCI compliance on AWS?

All the FAQs, documents and statements published by AWS aside, did any Level 1 merchant or service provider actually achieve PCI compliance on AWS yet? We're evaluating moving some of our services to ...
17
votes
4answers
1k views

Why doesn't the client's web browser need to be PCI compliant?

A hypothetical online store that accepts credit card payment will have to be PCI compliant because it receives (transmit), process and possibly store credit card numbers. But the client's web browser ...
17
votes
5answers
736 views

Does PCI compliance really reduce risk and improve security?

Might as well bring this hot topic to here! For those not in the know: https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/
16
votes
2answers
3k views

Minimum requrements for storing last 4 digits of credit card number?

We have a merchant website that uses Autorize.net's CIM and AIM. Our users may have multiple credit cards so we'd want to give them opportunity to distinguish between credit cards that they use on ...
15
votes
3answers
582 views

Do HIPAA Security Officers face personal liability for breaches?

The role of HIPAA Security Officer is very important in maintaining compliance. In smaller organizations, there's overlap in employees' roles, so the person that ends up as the HIPAA Security Officer ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views

Nessus vs third-party scans

As part of our PCI-DSS compliance process we get scans done by a third party. Based on the form and wording of the output, it's pretty clear they're using Nessus for most of their heavy lifting. Same ...
12
votes
3answers
546 views

Whistleblowing, business ethics and credit card data

I'm writing this post as I'm facing a personal, ethical dillemma and I would like feedback on the best way to approach this situation, particularly from a philosophical point of view. I work for a ...
10
votes
4answers
882 views

Question of importance of FIPS in security implementations

I am by far, no security expert but I experience on the subject working in Java (JCA,JCE and JSSE). Anyway, recently there was a discussion about FIPS compliance. I looked into this and SUN's ...
10
votes
4answers
317 views

PCI-DSS - one application per server?

How do I interpret the 2.2.1 point for PCI-DSS? Is "application server" 'one primary function' or does it need to be "program x server", "program y server" etc? I have a collection of applications ...
9
votes
4answers
588 views

New credit card security standards regarding PA-DSS Compliance

The new credit card standards including PA-DSS can be quite confusing for software companies. My question is this: If your software company designs a POS software system (like we do) which utilizes ...
9
votes
4answers
592 views

Is Google Analytics HIPAA compliant? How can I find out?

I'd really like to implement Google Analytics at my work on web software that is required to be HIPAA compliant. But I'm wondering if it's against the rules. Does anyone know how I can find out? I've ...
9
votes
2answers
470 views

logging requirements for PCI for web applications

Does PCI dictate how much should be logged at an application level or simply what shouldn't be logged? I'm struggling with too much logging right now and some people who think we should have it. From ...
9
votes
2answers
52 views

Do I need to password-protect an “Electronic Copy” of health information given to a patient on e-media?

I'm struggling to find good documentation regarding requirements around security and encryption of patient clinical information when delivered to a patient in electronic format. Patient portals, ...
8
votes
4answers
600 views

What is an appropriate auditing standard for a law firm?

I'm an IT Admin at a law firm. We handle sensitive customer data and some health records. I'd really like to have an outside consultant assess our data security practices, but I'm not sure what to ask ...
8
votes
2answers
174 views

How can one easily determine which IT Security related regulations apply?

Joe Tech gets a job managing Acme Startup's IT services. Acme Startup handles information of X, Y, and Z data types, and offers services A, B, and C. Joe Tech is aware that some of these data types ...
8
votes
4answers
122 views

Data needed for why not to load third party JavaScript on web page with credit card form

My company makes a JavaScript widget that e-commerce sites can embed on their pages. Our current instructions to our customers tell them to load our JS on every page of their site and most follow this ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views

Storing credit cards for automatic payments?

I have no experience with storing credit cards and I do not know anything about the legal end of this. The company I work for / develop for wants to store credit cards to process auto payments for ...
7
votes
5answers
488 views

What security requirements are a defacto standard in the Financial Industry?

What technologies, processes, or laws that relate to InfoSec apply specifically to the Financial industry? If you're familliar with the Financial Industry, can you share details? For example: What ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views

Is Facebook Connect or Twitter OAuth PCI Compliant?

We have a system that stores credit cards securely on file. We'd love to allow users to sign up using Facebook Connect or Twitter. Obviously this wouldn't be secure if we were trusting just any old ...
7
votes
1answer
255 views

Enterprise standard for securing servers.

This must be the most broad question to ask, but through the years, i've come up with my own list of things I so to secure my servers, I follow the obvious steps I could gather online such as, ...
7
votes
4answers
390 views

Wireless Activity Monitoring for PCI DSS Compliance

In an effort to be PCI DSS compliant, I took a trustkeeper.net questionnaire. I failed the question that asks Is the presence of wireless access points tested for by using a wireless analyzer at ...
7
votes
2answers
152 views

Cloud-specific standards and regulations

Not specific to any particular industry or requirements, but in general - are there currently commonly accepted standards regarding cloud-based applications? I* am developing a system that will be ...
7
votes
2answers
351 views

How can IA-5(1)(b) be enforced on Windows systems?

Note: I've also posted a question for this issue on non-Windows systems. In NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 3, IA-5 is the control addressing "Authenticator Management". The requirements in this control include ...
7
votes
1answer
810 views

Is there a way for a consumer to report PCI non compliance?

Is there a way for a consumer to report PCI non compliance?
7
votes
3answers
235 views

How do I secure my advertisement space against ad overlay browser attachments?

I don't really have an issue with advertisements simply being blocked by individual users who are visiting a customers site or my own site. As an individual you have the freedom to choose not to look ...
6
votes
7answers
792 views

Is this set-up PCI-Compliant?

Question: Is there a way to store credit card information on a shared hosting server AND be PCI compliant? Here is the setup: 1) SSL is being implemented for the whole checkout process and for the ...
6
votes
2answers
808 views

Are TPM chips or the equiavlent required for FIPS 140-2 security level 1 compliance?

A 'TPM chip' is: a secure cryptoprocessor that can store cryptographic keys that protect information FIPS 140-2 requires a cryptographic module, which can be hardware, software, or both that ...
6
votes
3answers
492 views

Is storing card details without the permission of the card holder against PCI DSS?

I've bought something from an online store, and when entering the card details, it sent the details to their server through a HTTPS connection, which I then assume they forwarded to their provider - ...
6
votes
1answer
136 views

How to Get and Set Digital Signatures with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Standards

How do I get and set digital signatures with the 21 CFR part 11 standards as defined by the Food&Drug Administration of the USA?
6
votes
2answers
682 views

Is BitLocker on a virtual machine still FIPS 140-2 compliant?

BitLocker can be used as a cryptographic module to fulfill FIPS 140-2 security level 1 compliance. In a common setup, USB thumb drives can be used to unlock drives encrypted by BitLocker on startup. ...
5
votes
3answers
474 views

If PCI DSS isn't a law, how can I be prosecuted for not being compliant?

PCI DSS isn't a law. Why can I be prosecuted for not being compliant?
5
votes
3answers
237 views

Certifiable standards for server security, besides PCI-DSS?

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is widely used in the financial industry and seems to be a useful requirement from the standpoint of a potential customer (see also Does PCI compliance ...
5
votes
3answers
276 views

Are Windows security updates audited?

An IT guy said that in his company, the Windows updates (small security updates that are downloaded automatically by the Windows autoupdate) are checked by the auditor. ie: the auditor checks if every ...
5
votes
2answers
447 views

What is the equivalent European organization of NIST, especially in the Security Computer Division?

What is the European counterpart organization to USA's NIST? I want to check the European best practices and guidelines on computer security. Does anyone know if this organization exists, and if ...
5
votes
1answer
161 views

What compliance problem does “Common Criteria Certification” solve?

It has been said Common Criteria solves a "Compliance problem, and not a security problem". Can someone explain where CC certification is required or benefits an industry? Is it simply a marketing ...
5
votes
1answer
372 views

Is BitLocker on a virtual machine FIPS 140-2 security level 1 compliant?

BitLocker can be used as a cryptographic module to fulfill FIPS 140-2 security level 1 compliance. What if the encrypted drive is on a virtual machine, is that still FIPS 140-2 compliant? In one ...
5
votes
1answer
107 views

Security evaluation: what is there apart from common criteria?

ACME makes a product that is used in some security-sensitive applications. There are no particular security regulations or industry standards in the domain of this product. ACME's business arm would ...
5
votes
1answer
316 views

Does PA-DSS apply to a SaaS eCommerce system?

My company develops and hosts a custom eCommerce and CMS system. We provide this only under a hosted, software-as-a-service model. We are in full control of the hosting environment, and our customers ...
5
votes
1answer
44 views

What security controls should be in place for online updates of user's correspondance address?

Addresses are one of the key pieces of security information for an account. They're used for authentication, determine where statements go, and changing an address on an account provide enough ...
5
votes
2answers
153 views

How can IA-5(1)(b) be enforced on non-Windows systems?

I have a question posted already for this issue in Windows systems, and thought that non-Windows systems should perhaps be covered separately. In NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 3, IA-5 is the control addressing ...
5
votes
2answers
336 views

How can Network Disconnect be implemented for RDP on a Windows system (2003/XP or later)?

From NIST SP 800-53, Rev. 3: SC-10 NETWORK DISCONNECT Control: The information system terminates the network connection associated with a communications session at the end of the session or ...
4
votes
3answers
354 views

Does (J-)SOX Forbid the Use of Open Source Software?

With Regard to Sarbanes Oxley and particularly The Japanese version thereof: Is it true that in order to comply with (J-)SOX you must have a support contract - and therefore a responsible party - for ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views

PCI DSS requirement 6.4.2 separation of duties between development/test environments

6.4.2 Is there separation of duties between personnel assigned to the development/test environments and those assigned to the production environment? What does the separation of duties here mean? ...
4
votes
2answers
255 views

Is Common Criteria (CC) a suitable standard to certify web applications

I never came across a web application that has been certified according to Common Critera. As far as I know there isn't even a protection profile available for web applications. What is the reason ...
4
votes
2answers
623 views

Storing account numbers and sort codes online

There are a lot of questions on storing credit card information, and of how PCI SSC/PA-DSS regulations apply to such activities and systems. I have read a lot of these, but my question relates to a ...
4
votes
2answers
237 views

Issues with the use of network surveillance tool in your company?

What issues will we face with the use of network surveillance tool in the company network with respect to the Telecommunication Interception Act and Privacy Act ? And what policies could be ...
4
votes
2answers
168 views

Is a “SAS 70 Type II” audited host SEC compliant?

From what I have read and known, SEC compliance is quite vague. It is best to be addressed in a strong manner, but when it comes to hosting in third-parties, the only way for you to prove their ...
4
votes
2answers
243 views

Is PCI DSS applicable to other solutions than those dealing with payment cards?

According to this quote from "applicability" section of PCI DSS it's not: The primary account number is the defining factor in the applicability of PCI DSS requirements. PCI DSS requirements ...

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