In 2021, RIS met with a startup in the Gaming industry. This startup was seeking a SOC 2 Type 1 audit in order to satisfy requirements from the enterprises they were courting. Their information security posture was based on ad hoc actions by their technical leadership. While not completely absent, the security processes needed to be matured.
RIS initiated the process by establishing an Information Security Risk Management Group within the company. Assembled from a cross-functional team that included representatives from product management, software development, and quality assurance, this specialized group was mandated with the mission of spearheading the creation and implementation of security protocols company-wide. Securing universal buy-in across various departments was identified as a pivotal factor for the program's success.
Following this, RIS took the next strategic step by forming a Data Governance Group. This specialized team was assembled from various departments to represent all lines of reporting within the company. Recognizing the importance of adhering to regulations such as GDPR and CCPA, as well as other jurisdiction-specific privacy mandates, this group was assigned the critical role of governing data collection and retention practices across the organization.
As a final step, the company partnered with an external auditor to initiate a SOC 2 Type 1 pre-assessment. Guided by the principles of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, RIS instituted a comprehensive Information Security Risk Management Program. This program was meticulously designed, featuring a well-documented methodology for identifying threats, assessing vulnerabilities, and assigning risk ratings, among other key factors. The resulting risk assessment documents, which included in-depth analyses of threat actors, vulnerabilities, and risk prevalence, stand as some of the most exhaustive and detailed work that RIS has ever produced.
Upon completion of the SOC 2 Type 1 pre-assessment, RIS transferred the management of the newly established program back to the organization for final implementation. Thanks to comprehensive documentation of the risk assessment process and the inclusion of departmental champions, RIS had full confidence in the organization's ability to successfully complete their SOC 2 Type 1 report.