Deep Freeze on Cloud in Regulated Industries: Compliance, Audits & Traceability

Regulations are important. They protect consumers, the general public and businesses themselves from engaging in overly risky or detrimental practices. But this doesn’t mean all regulations are perfect or that even good and useful regulations are easy to comply with.

When it comes to cybersecurity and data protection, regulations can be particularly tricky because they’re consistently changing. Hackers and threat actors are forever honing their methods and improving their tools. Furthermore, as people learn more about their online data and how it may be vulnerable, they pressure governments and agencies to refine and fine-tune their laws and regulations.

All this makes it difficult for organizations in highly regulated industries to protect their clients and users and demonstrate that they meet the necessary compliance requirements. Deep Freeze Cloud can help.

Regulated Industries

Data privacy laws and potential cyberattacks affect all organizations in all sectors. But these concerns are elevated in certain industries. These include:

Financial Services

Banks, credit unions and insurance companies handle vast amounts of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and financial data, making them prime targets for cybercrime. Regulations such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) in the U.S. and various international frameworks mandate comprehensive security programs, risk assessments and specific controls. Additionally, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) governs the handling of credit card information across all businesses that process payments.

Government 

Government agencies and their contractors deal with highly sensitive information, necessitating strict cybersecurity compliance. Frameworks like the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) in the U.S. require rigorous controls, continuous monitoring and proven security maturity to safeguard federal information systems and supply chains. Failure to comply can result in loss of contracts and national security risks.

Healthcare

What information could be more private than one’s health records? The healthcare industry is heavily regulated to protect health information, notably by laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S. Such regulations mandate specific administrative, physical and technical safeguards, such as encryption and access controls, to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of patient data. Violations can result in substantial fines and a loss of public trust.

Legal 

Law firms and accounting firms are heavily regulated because they store vast quantities of PII, intellectual property and privileged communications. While they must comply with general data privacy laws — including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in California — they also adhere to professional ethical guidelines. Companies in the legal and professional sectors must take the utmost care in protecting client data, which often requires the same high-level security controls as financial institutions.

How Deep Freeze Cloud Can Help

Deep Freeze Cloud by Faronics provides excellent security measures and helps organizations to comply with stringent regulations. Deep Freeze Cloud possesses our patented Reboot-to-Restore technology, where every system restart resets the machine to its approved, original configuration, making it highly valuable for regulated sectors.

Compliance

Deep Freeze Cloud helps organizations maintain a constant state of compliance by eliminating unauthorized configuration changes, a common audit failure point. The system ensures only approved software and settings are present, automatically reversing any configuration drift or accidental changes upon reboot. Furthermore, integrated features, such as Desktop Lockdown, enforce strict security policies, supporting mandates from regulations like HIPAA and CMMC that require protection against malware, zero-day threats and unauthorized system access.

Audits

For regulated industries facing regular audits, Deep Freeze simplifies the demonstration of a consistent security posture. The centralized, web-based Management Console provides immediate verification that all endpoints, even those across remote locations, are operating in a protected Frozen state — meaning any alterations are reversed upon reboot. Since the system automatically reverts to the last approved configuration, IT can quickly certify the continual application of mandated security controls, dramatically reducing the risk of an inspection finding a non-compliant state.

Traceability

Deep Freeze offers effective tools for tracking system status and managing necessary exceptions. The platform’s dashboard and dynamic widgets provide real-time status and reporting for all managed assets. Its automatic maintenance scheduler deploys and logs Windows and software updates at pre-set times, providing a clear record of patch management compliance. Additionally, the Data Igloo feature allows specific user profiles or data folders to be exempted from the Freeze, ensuring that retained sensitive information is always in a separate, traceable and controlled environment.

Simplify Compliance With Deep Freeze

Deep Freeze Cloud can protect your workstations, servers and users’ data, preventing costly downtime and potential fines from regulatory bodies. Please reach out to our experts today to learn more.