ComplianceForge: Minimizing Risk through Hierarchical Cybersecurity Documentation

Given the significant changes in the statutory and regulatory side of cybersecurity and privacy compliance, enterprises are under increased scrutiny from both clients and partners to demonstrate secure practices. These factors, combined with a lack of appropriate staff to identify and document an organization’s legal, regulatory and contractual practices, represent a legal and financial exposure since documentation is a core component to statutory, regulatory and contractual compliance. To this extent, the quote, “Nothing exists unless it is documented,” accurately implies the value proposition offered by ComplianceForge, an Oregon-based firm that specializes in cybersecurity and privacy documentation. With the firm’s core focus and expertise in professionally-written cybersecurity & privacy documentation, ComplianceForge enables businesses to get and stay compliant with their obligations. “We deliver innovative, best-in-class cybersecurity and privacy compliance documentation that addresses multiple statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements,” says Tom Cornelius, senior partner of ComplianceForge. He adds, “A holistic risk management approach ushers a well-thought and long-term design to reducing risk.” This goes far beyond having tools for point-in-time risk assessments, BIAs, DPIAs, and vulnerability scanning. Cornelius also points out, “Without understanding the complete picture of risk, an organization is just chasing its own tail.” The reason for this is without clearly understanding requirements; it is easy for an organization to waste time and resources on initiatives that matter little to creating a secure organization.

ComplianceForge had ascertained that amidst the ever-evolving threats affecting enterprises’ ecosystem—both internally and externally—most organizations do not find cybersecurity and privacy documentation as a proactive security measure. This common mindset considers documentation as a passive line of defense that offers minimal protection to their organization, often as an afterthought effort to appease compliance efforts.