IT industry professionals understand the growing significance of effectively managing, sharing and storing sensitive data and information. Many highly regulated industries, from financial services to healthcare to government, have security compliance standards that are mandatory. The complexities of these standards can’t be overstated. With stringent guidelines and checklists, industry-specific frameworks are robust, time-consuming, and intimidating. Luckily, there are solutions for streamlining the compliance journey, helping MSPs and their clients navigate the complexities with ease.
The newest framework for the ControlMap platform, the Criminal Justice Information Services Security Policy (CJIS), is a set of security standards created by the FBI. This required framework ensures the protection of sensitive information within the criminal justice system in the United States, applying to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies (police/fire/emergency responders) and their vendors.
To get the full scoop on CJIS, let’s go over the fundamentals of the framework and how ControlMap can modernize the approach to becoming compliant.
A framework detailing security requirements for the handling, storing, and dissemination of criminal justice information, the CJIS Security Policy establishes guidelines for information security, including access controls, data encryption, incident response, and auditing. It’s designed to safeguard various types of information, such as fingerprints, criminal records, personal information, and other sensitive data collected and used by law enforcement, criminal justice, and other authorized agencies.
Compliance with the CJIS Security Policy is mandatory for organizations that access, store, or transmit this type of sensitive information. This includes law enforcement agencies (police, fire, etc.), courts, correctional facilities, and any other third-party entities that have access to or handle this data. Adhering to these standards helps ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of criminal justice information, reducing the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, or misuse of sensitive data.
Being compliant with CJIS provides the structure that is necessary to handle sensitive criminal justice information. There are many reasons why compliance is beneficial, not to mention the fact that is required for all agencies of law enforcement. Here are some of the key benefits for implementing CJIS:
Legal Compliance: Adhering to CJIS regulations ensures that organizations comply with legal mandates and requirements, reducing the risk of penalties, fines, or legal actions resulting from non-compliance. Complying with CJIS can ultimately lead to cost savings.
Data Security: CJIS guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for securing sensitive information within law enforcement. Following these guidelines boosts data security and mitigates the risk of data breaches among these agencies.
Trust and Reputation: From clients to public opinion, compliance demonstrates a commitment to security. This can support the reputation of law enforcement and associated agencies, building a foundation that safeguards sensitive information.
Risk Management: By following CJIS guidelines, organizations can identify and mitigate potential security risks more effectively. This proactive approach helps in preventing security incidents or data breaches.
Interagency Collaboration: Compliance facilitates easier information sharing and collaboration among law enforcement agencies and authorized entities. It streamlines processes for sharing critical data while maintaining security protocols.
Improved Efficiency: Implementing standardized security measures per CJIS guidelines can streamline processes and improve operational efficiency within organizations and across key stakeholders.
For law enforcement agencies, courts, correctional facilities, and an array of third-party entities, CJIS is a requirement. With ControlMap, reaching compliance for this framework is even easier. For MSPs who support clients in the US criminal justice system, this framework enables them to offer compliance support for the large industry.
Ready to get started? Login to ControlMap or book a demo to talk with our compliance experts. We are here to support your journey into CJIS compliance and beyond.
