If your finance team has adopted an AI tool this year — for reconciliations, expense categorization, or financial reporting support — you've made a decision that auditors are now watching closely. In 2026, AI has moved from pilot projects to daily use in a growing number of finance departments, and regulators are catching up. New guidance ties AI-driven changes in financial processes directly to SOX-relevant internal controls, meaning a tool adopted to save time could quietly

Here's a statistic worth sitting with: recent industry surveys find that a majority of organizations are only partially aware of which of their vendors are using AI tools, and roughly half of organizations experienced some kind of third-party cyber incident this past year, up from the year before. If you run vendor due diligence once at onboarding and rarely revisit it, there's a good chance your vendor list already includes companies feeding your data into AI systems you've

If you run a medical practice, dental office, behavioral health clinic, or any business that touches patient data, you've probably heard rumblings about changes coming to the HIPAA Security Rule. Here's the short version: after years of relatively loose "addressable" requirements, HHS is moving toward a much stricter, more prescriptive standard — and even though the final rule has slipped on the calendar, the direction of travel is clear enough that waiting to prepare is a ri

When people think about a data breach or compliance failure, they usually picture something happening inside their own walls — an employee clicking a phishing link, a misconfigured server, a lost laptop. But a large and growing share of incidents now start somewhere else entirely: with a vendor. Roughly one in three breaches today involves a third party in some way, and for small and mid-size businesses juggling dozens of software tools, contractors, and service providers, th

If your organization's HIPAA risk analysis is a document you dust off once a year to satisfy an auditor, 2026 is the year that habit catches up with you. The Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has signaled a more assertive enforcement posture this year, and small and mid-size healthcare organizations and their business associates are squarely in the crosshairs. OCR's Security Risk Analysis Initiative, launched in 2024, has already resulted

Here's an uncomfortable question worth asking your leadership team this month: do you actually know which of your vendors are using AI to process your data, and how? If you're not sure, you're not alone. Recent industry research found that a majority of organizations are only partially aware of which of their vendors use AI — and for the first time, vendor AI risk has tied cybersecurity as the top third-party concern for businesses across industries. That's a significant shif

Supply chains in 2026 are digitally interconnected, which means your SOX compliance posture is only as strong as your weakest vendor. Relying solely on a vendor's SOC 2 Type II report is no longer enough. The New Risk Surface Regulators are scrutinizing Information Produced by Entities (IPE) — data from third-party SaaS platforms that flows into your financial reporting. You're responsible for that data even after it leaves your vendor's hands. "Fourth-party risk," meaning yo

HHS has pushed final action on the HIPAA Security Rule overhaul to at least July 2027, moving ahead separately with Privacy Rule changes. If you run a healthcare practice or handle PHI, it's tempting to treat this delay as breathing room. It isn't. Who This Rule Affects HIPAA applies to covered entities — healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses — as well as their business associates: any vendor, contractor, or software platform that creates, receives

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed many industries, from healthcare to finance, by automating complex tasks and analyzing vast amounts of data. Yet, despite its impressive capabilities, AI systems are not flawless. They can make errors, misinterpret data, or produce biased outcomes. This is where Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) becomes essential. HITL integrates human judgment into the AI process, ensuring better accuracy, fairness, and adaptability. Understanding why HITL

When companies face the challenge of proving their commitment to information security, they often find themselves deciding between SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications. Both frameworks aim to protect sensitive data and build trust with clients, but they serve different purposes and suit different organizational needs. Understanding the key differences and factors that influence the choice can save time, resources, and help align security efforts with business goals. This post b

AI is moving from experimentation to business-critical operations—and regulators, customers, and boards are asking the same question: how do we govern it responsibly? Two ISO standards are quickly becoming the clearest, most practical roadmap for organizations that use AI in any form: ISO/IEC 42001 (an AI Management System standard) and ISO/IEC 23894 (AI risk management guidance). This post breaks down what each standard is for, what they typically require at a high level, an

Every business faces challenges when it comes to managing quality, safety, and sustainability. ISO 42001 is a new international standard designed to help organizations improve their management systems in a clear, consistent way. This post explains what ISO 42001 is, why it matters, and how it can benefit your business. What is ISO 42001? ISO 42001 is a management system standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It provides a framework for

AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude and other generative AI platforms have become part of daily work for employees across nearly every industry — drafting emails, summarizing reports, writing code, answering customer questions. It's fast, it's convenient, and it's not going anywhere. But most companies are using these tools without any real understanding of the risk involved. Here's what every business — and every employee — should know before typing another prompt. 1. You

Anthropic’s recent decision to hold firm on its AI usage restrictions—even in the face of significant political and commercial pressure—has sparked debate across the AI industry. Some framed the move as overly cautious. From an AI governance and compliance perspective , however, it was the correct decision. More importantly, it reflects the direction regulators, enterprises, and consumers are already moving: toward structured AI risk management, transparent governance, and en

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how businesses operate, offering new opportunities for efficiency and innovation. Yet, with these benefits come significant risks that companies must manage carefully. From data privacy concerns to decision-making errors, the potential pitfalls of AI can impact a business’s reputation, finances, and compliance status. Understanding these risks and taking practical steps to reduce them is essential for any organization using AI toda

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has been a key regulation shaping how businesses handle personal data since its introduction. In 2026, significant updates to the CCPA come into effect, changing the landscape for companies that collect, process, or sell consumer information. These changes aim to strengthen consumer privacy rights and increase transparency, but they also bring new challenges for businesses. Understanding these updates is essential to stay compliant a

Phishing attacks continue to evolve, becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. One of the newest and most deceptive methods is called Browser in the Browser (BitB) phishing. This technique tricks users by creating fake browser windows inside a real browser, making malicious sites appear legitimate. Understanding this trend is essential for businesses to protect their sensitive data and maintain trust with customers and employees. Fake browser window mimicking a login

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we share and analyze data, but this rapid adoption brings serious risks. Organizations and individuals that rely on AI tools to process sensitive information and provide responses may not realize the data sharing risk this entails or how this technology can produce unreliable or untraceable results. These issues raise concerns about privacy, accountability, and trust in AI-driven systems. Understanding these risks is essential for a

We've all heard about third parties and how they have been the root of some data breaches in recent times. We've seen plenty of...

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive information is more critical than ever. For...