Today, businesses are facing increasing challenges in both compliance and cybersecurity in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Although these two areas are inherently linked, they are often managed separately, leading to inefficiencies, gaps, and heightened exposure to risks. For organizations looking to navigate this complex environment, a unified approach to compliance and cybersecurity is not just desirable; it’s essential. The dangers of a fragmented approach Managing compliance and cybersecurity as distinct entities might seem logical at first glance, but this separation quickly becomes counterproductive. When these functions are treated independently, businesses risk creating redundancies, inconsistencies, and internal misunderstandings. For instance, a team working on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) might spend weeks developing an access control matrix for compliance, unaware that the cybersecurity team has already completed this task. Conversely, a cybersecurity team might deploy technical solutions without considering specific compliance requirements, thereby exposing the organization to regulatory penalties. This lack of alignment not only increases risk but also leads to a waste of resources. Investing in tools and processes that address only one of these areas, without leveraging potential synergies, results in higher costs and delays in implementing effective security and compliance strategies. Compliance: Much more than cybersecurity Compliance goes far beyond cybersecurity. It encompasses a broad set of regulations that extend beyond the mere protection of systems and data. For example, the GDPR in Europe imposes not only technical security measures but also stringent requirements for data governance, individual rights, and processing transparency. Moreover, compliance includes ethical and social responsibility dimensions. In the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), for example, it’s not enough to secure systems; companies must also ensure that their algorithms are transparent, explainable, and free from discriminatory biases. This necessitates a holistic approach that transcends traditional concerns of data availability, integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity. Are you secure and compliant, or just compliant? Compliance does not mean security, nor are they the same. Compliance may be considered by some organizations as a point-in-time snapshot that demonstrates they meet the minimal security requirements of specific regulatory standards such as GDPR, PCI or HIPAA. On the other hand, security is an entire system of technical controls as well as policies and processes that define how data is stored, processed, consumed and distributed with an effective and verified protection from cyber threats. Moreover, security and threat landscapes are changing perpetually while compliance requirements change predictably. An effective security strategy leads to a robust, cost-effective and streamlined compliance. Unifying for comprehensive and continuous risk management Compliance frameworks are based on legislative texts, often developed over several years. While these texts mandate security measures, their relevance can quickly become outdated in the face of rapidly evolving cyber threats. It is therefore crucial to go beyond regulatory requirements to ensure that the organization remains aligned with the current state of the art in security practices. For instance, research on the security of machine learning systems, the design of defence mechanisms against adversarial attacks, and the evaluation of AI systems are key areas to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of AI-based solutions. Aware of these challenges, legislators provide some flexibility in cybersecurity regulations, as seen in directives like NIS 2 or DORA, by encouraging organizations to base their security measures on their specific risk profiles. To be truly effective, compliance and cybersecurity must work closely together. Organizations can build a unified compliance and cybersecurity framework by bundling the key elements of cybersecurity, governance, risk and compliance. Together, these elements can identify the organization’s specific risk profiles and define the most relevant measures to meet the security objectives set by the legislator. Unified cybersecurity-governance-risk-compliance approach At Eviden, we understand the critical importance of an integrated approach to compliance and cybersecurity. Our advisory services are designed to help organizations navigate this complex landscape by developing strategies that not only meet regulatory requirements but also align with best practices. Equipped with multidisciplinary expertise, our teams ensure your organization is both compliant and secure against today’s and tomorrow’s threats. Together, we can help you bridge the gap between compliance and cybersecurity for more effective and resilient risk management. Connect with us to discuss how your organization can leverage a unified compliance and cybersecurity approach to boost efficiencies, close gaps, and address risks faster. Learn more about Eviden’s unified compliance and cybersecurity approach.