MDSC 6005 Week 3 Assignment Organizational Information Assurance Laws – Detailed Study Notes
Introduction
Information assurance (IA) refers to the protection of information systems to ensure confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, and non‑repudiation. In modern organizations, leaders must comply with a wide range of laws and standards governing data collection, storage, and use. These laws protect sensitive information such as health records, financial data, educational records, and payment card details.
The Week 3 assignment in MDSC 6005 focuses on Organizational Information Assurance Laws, exploring how regulations like HIPAA, FERPA, Sarbanes‑Oxley, FISMA, Gramm‑Leach‑Bliley, PCI DSS, and Data Breach Disclosure Laws shape organizational responsibilities.
1. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Purpose: Protects patient health information (PHI).
Key Provisions:
Privacy Rule: Governs use/disclosure of PHI.
Security Rule: Requires safeguards for electronic PHI (ePHI).
Breach Notification Rule: Mandates reporting of breaches.
Organizational Impact:
Healthcare organizations must implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
Non‑compliance can result in fines and reputational damage.
2. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Purpose: Protects student educational records.
Key Provisions:
Grants parents/students rights to access and amend records.
Limits disclosure without consent.
Organizational Impact:
Educational institutions must secure student data.
Violations can lead to loss of federal funding.
3. Sarbanes‑Oxley Act (SOX)
Purpose: Ensures accuracy and reliability of corporate financial reporting.
Key Provisions:
Section 404: Requires internal controls and reporting.
Section 302: Executives must certify accuracy of reports.
Organizational Impact:
Companies must implement IT controls to protect financial data.
Enhances accountability and transparency.
4. Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA)
Purpose: Governs information security for federal agencies.
Key Provisions:
Requires agencies to develop, document, and implement security programs.
Mandates annual reviews and reporting.
Organizational Impact:
Federal contractors must comply with NIST standards.
Promotes standardized security practices.
5. Gramm‑Leach‑Bliley Act (GLBA)
Purpose: Protects consumer financial information.
Key Provisions:
Financial institutions must explain information‑sharing practices.
Requires safeguards to protect data.
Organizational Impact:
Banks and insurers must secure customer data.
Encourages transparency in financial services.
6. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
Purpose: Industry standard for securing payment card data.
Key Provisions:
Maintain secure networks.
Protect cardholder data.
Implement strong access control measures.
Organizational Impact:
Retailers and e‑commerce platforms must comply.
Non‑compliance can lead to fines and loss of ability to process cards.
7. Data Breach Disclosure Laws
Purpose: Require organizations to notify individuals of data breaches.
Key Provisions:
Vary by state/country.
Typically mandate timely disclosure and remediation.
Organizational Impact:
Encourages transparency and accountability.
Failure to disclose can result in penalties and loss of trust.
8. Information Assurance Standards
Examples: HIPAA, FERPA, SOX, PCI DSS, NIST frameworks.
Role: Provide guidelines for implementing security controls.
Organizational Impact:
Standards help organizations operationalize compliance.
Promote consistency across industries.
9. Organizational Responsibilities
Compliance: Implement policies and procedures aligned with laws.
Training: Educate staff on data protection.
Monitoring: Regular audits and risk assessments.
Incident Response: Plans for detecting and responding to breaches.
10. Challenges
Complexity: Multiple overlapping laws.
Cost: Implementing safeguards can be expensive.
Globalization: Different jurisdictions have different requirements.
Technology: Rapid change requires constant updates.
11. Strategies for Success
Integrated Compliance Programs: Align policies with multiple laws.
Use of Frameworks: NIST, ISO standards.
Automation: Tools for monitoring and reporting.
Culture of Security: Leadership commitment to data protection.
Conclusion
Organizational information assurance laws are critical for protecting sensitive data and maintaining trust. Compliance with HIPAA, FERPA, SOX, FISMA, GLBA, PCI DSS, and breach disclosure laws ensures organizations safeguard information while meeting legal and ethical obligations. Leaders must integrate knowledge of these laws into policies, training, and systems to achieve resilience and accountability in the digital age.
Quiz: MDSC 6005 Week 3 – Organizational Information Assurance Laws (15 Questions)
Instructions
Select the best answer for each question. Each item is multiple choice.
1. Which law protects patient health information (PHI)? A. FERPA B. HIPAA C. SOX D. GLBA Answer: B. HIPAA
2. Which HIPAA rule requires safeguards for electronic PHI? A. Privacy Rule B. Security Rule C. Breach Notification Rule D. Disclosure Rule Answer: B. Security Rule
3. FERPA protects which type of records? A. Financial B. Educational C. Health D. Payment card Answer: B. Educational
4. Which law requires executives to certify accuracy of financial reports? A. SOX B. HIPAA C. GLBA D. PCI DSS Answer: A. SOX
5. FISMA applies primarily to which organizations? A. Retailers B. Federal agencies C. Banks D. Universities Answer: B. Federal agencies
6. Which act requires financial institutions to explain information‑sharing practices? A. HIPAA B. FERPA C. GLBA D. SOX Answer: C. GLBA
7. PCI DSS is designed to protect what type of data? A. Health records B. Educational records C. Payment card data D. Financial reports Answer: C. Payment card data
8. Which law mandates timely disclosure of data breaches? A. SOX B. FERPA C. HIPAA D. Data Breach Disclosure Laws Answer: D. Data Breach Disclosure Laws
9. Which HIPAA rule governs use and disclosure of PHI? A. Security Rule B. Privacy Rule C. Breach Notification Rule D. Compliance Rule Answer: B. Privacy Rule
10. Which law’s violation can result in loss of federal funding for schools? A. FERPA B. HIPAA C. SOX D. PCI DSS Answer: A. FERPA
11. Which law requires annual reviews of agency security programs? A. SOX B. FISMA C. GLBA D. PCI DSS Answer: B. FISMA
12. Which act promotes transparency in financial services? A. GLBA B. HIPAA C. FERPA D. SOX Answer: A. GLBA
13. Which law requires breach notification to affected individuals? A. HIPAA B. FERPA C. SOX D. GLBA Answer: A. HIPAA (Breach Notification Rule)
14. Which standard is widely used for information assurance in healthcare? A. PCI DSS B. HIPAA C. SOX D. FERPA Answer: B. HIPAA
15. Which strategy helps organizations align with multiple laws simultaneously? A. Integrated compliance programs B. Ignoring overlap C. Outsourcing only finance D. Limiting audits Answer: A. Integrated compliance programs
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