5 Stages of IT Compliance Grief

Imagine this: One of your largest clients invites you to a conference call where you learn they’ve introduced compliance and cybersecurity requirements for their vendors, and it is a laundry list of things you’ve never seen before! Failure to comply could mean losing them. To add pressure, you have just 90 days to gather a plan and start implementing it.

Initially, you might think, “No problem, our IT team has got this covered.” But then reality hits: your IT team reveals you’re far from meeting these standards, and it requires much more than the IT department to accomplish, and it’s a massive undertaking. Panic sets in—you hadn’t budgeted/planned for this. How do you explain this to the executives and the board? And where will you find the time to oversee it all?

This is real and happens every day.

Compliance and Governance is no longer just for regulated industries like banking, healthcare, or even enterprise companies; it’s now for everyone. Customers demand proof of cybersecurity, contracts include strict technology clauses, and state and local governments impose compliance obligations. Whether you’re a large corporation or a small business, understanding and embracing compliance to govern your environment is crucial to protecting your organization and preparing for a more secure future.

Compliance is crucial for all businesses, regardless of size. Cyber threats target smaller organizations linked to larger ones. Navigate this by considering the five stages of compliance grief.

The Reality of Compliance

Compliance is essential whether you’re a large corporation or a small business. Cyber threats don’t discriminate based on size; attackers often target smaller organizations that do business with larger ones. To navigate this landscape, consider the five stages of compliance grief:

#1 Denial

This is a common reaction for a small business when being met with these demands. In this denial stage, you need to realize size does not matter and compliance requirements apply to small and large businesses. In fact, cybercriminals are focusing more on smaller organizations because they tend to overlook compliance and cybersecurity maturity.

So what can you do?

• Educate your Team on their responsibilities regarding compliance.
• Let your vendors know where you stand and inform them about your compliance expectations.
• Talk to your legal team and seek feedback to ensure compliance meets your obligations.
• Make it real by establishing a formal process for signoff.
  

#2 Anger

There will absolutely be costs associated with achieving any compliance, and your current state will dictate the costs and speed in which you need to catch up. You will need to dig into the expense versus the consequences and keep in mind that losing a client or facing fines can be even costlier. Assess where you are today and develop a plan. The worst thing you can do is sit there and worry and complain, then do nothing,

Documentation is a great starting point: Document your vendors, legal contacts, and cybersecurity insurance information.

#3 Bargaining

Nope, it doesn’t work like that. The stages of IT compliance grief is real and is not going away; no matter how big or small your business is or what industry you run in, it’s here to stay, so tackle it. Bargaining means it’s more than just paperwork—it’s about figuring out how to get everyone and everything working together smoothly. One option is to use a framework like NIST which helps set up standardized ways of doing things. Cyber threats affect small businesses by exploiting their vulnerabilities.

Policies are important because they tell everyone, from employees to managers, what’s expected. It’s like finding the right rhythm for everyone to work efficiently and agreeably together. So, learn to dance.

#4 Depression

We’ve been there. It’s overwhelming. The mere thought of the amount of energy needed to put forth is simply exhausting, and it can even be paralyzing. But keep your head up and start with these practical steps. In the end, it will be worth it.

• Start with Governance: Begin with governance documents
• Prioritize: Work on what pertains to your business first.
• Professional Assistance: Seek help from experts who know where to start and how to manage the process.

Stay optimistic and break down the major work initiative into smaller, manageable tasks. Celebrate each milestone and the small wins to keep morale high and momentum strong. Don’t let the scale of the work initiative overwhelm you. Approach it methodically, focusing on achievable goals.

#5 Acceptance

All compliance standards are based on established cybersecurity frameworks. These cybersecurity frameworks are simply a list of best practices. The NIST Framework is a great place to start.

The best practices are the proven methodologies to combat cybersecurity crime and information theft. By going down a compliance path, you are creating an information security system that protects your organization better than it’s ever been before. That’s a good thing! Don’t wait for someone to tell you that you need to do it; be proactive and get more secure today.

Here is the key to staying on top of things: you must keep a regular communication schedule. This means keeping track of third-party vendors, having regular security meetings, checking for risks, and updating policies. maintain a regular communication schedule. This means tracking

So, how do you do that:

• Identify different types of threats
• Make a communication plan for each threat
• Set up a documentation plan
• Create a process to learn from past experiences

Let’s get real and net it out. To combat the 5 Stages of IT Compliance Grief, the first thing you need to embrace is recognizing that compliance is a continuous process, not a one-time event, and here to stay. If you are not seeing it now, it will be on your radar soon enough. This means staying on top of communication, reviewing risks, and updating policies regularly. It’s important to know the different threats and have a plan for each. Reviewing your plan on a regular basis will help you stay on top of it. Lastly. Get help if you need it. There are companies, like ABS, who are already ahead of the game, are prepared and have the wisdom and experience to help you. You got this!

Related Article – Ensuring Compliance Readiness and Security are Critical