Jerry Hughes

Jerry Hughes

Jerry Hughes, a founding member of Compass IT Compliance, LLC, has over 35 years of experience helping companies become compliant with internal, industry and government regulations such as PCI-DSS, Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, and GLBA. Mr. Hughes, a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) has extensive IT auditing experience, especially within the financial industry and the retail sector. He carries an undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics for Engineers and a minor in Computer Science from the University of Rhode Island. Mr. Hughes has helped develop Compass IT Compliance, LLC into one of the nation's premier consulting firms in the areas of IT governance, assurance, security, and compliance services.

Posts by Jerry Hughes

SOC 2 vs. C5 Compliance: A Comprehensive Guide

C5 vs SOC 2

As organizations increasingly rely on technology to manage sensitive information, compliance with industry standards becomes paramount. Two prominent frameworks that help organizations demonstrate their commitment to security and privacy are SOC 2 and C5. While both aim to establish t …

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The Value of Penetration Testing in SOC 2 Audits

SOC 2 Penetration Testing

Where data breaches and cyber threats have become increasingly common, organizations adopt robust security measures to protect their sensitive information. For businesses seeking SOC 2 compliance, penetration testing (pen testing) serves as an invaluable tool in assessing and enhancin …

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Will SOC 2 Replace ISO 27001 in Europe?

Europe Map

As organizations in Europe increasingly prioritize data security and compliance, the question of which standards to adopt becomes critical. Among these standards, System and Organization Controls (SOC 2) and International Organization for Standardization 27001 (ISO 27001) stand out as …

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What is a SOC 2 Gap Assessment? The First Step to Compliance

SOC 2 Gap Assessment

A SOC 2 gap assessment is a crucial step for organizations aiming to achieve SOC 2 compliance, especially those providing services like cloud computing, SaaS, and other technology-driven solutions that manage sensitive customer data. From my personal perspective, a SOC 2 gap assessmen …

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SOC 2 Common Criteria List: CC-Series Explained

SOC 2 Common Criteria List

SOC 2, a widely recognized auditing framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), is designed to assess the effectiveness of a service organization’s controls around data security. The SOC 2 report is based on the five Trust Services Criteria ( …

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SOC 2 vs. NIST: A Comprehensive Comparison

SOC 2 vs NIST

When comparing SOC 2 and NIST frameworks, it is essential to understand their respective roles in cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management. Both frameworks provide guidance for organizations seeking to protect sensitive data and ensure security, but they are designed with differ …

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