FISMA
U.S. federal law for risk-based cybersecurity programs
CSA
Canadian consensus standards for occupational health and safety management
Quick Verdict
FISMA mandates risk-based cybersecurity for US federal systems via NIST RMF, while CSA regulates controlled substances through DEA scheduling and enforcement. Agencies adopt FISMA for compliance and resilience; healthcare firms use CSA to handle drugs legally and avoid severe penalties.
FISMA
Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014
Key Features
- Mandates NIST RMF 7-step risk management process
- Requires continuous monitoring and diagnostics program
- Applies to federal agencies and contractors
- Enforces annual independent IG assessments
- Streamlines major incident reporting to Congress
CSA
CSA Z1000 Occupational Health and Safety Management
Key Features
- Consensus-based development with public review
- PDCA framework for OHS management systems
- Structured hazard ID and risk assessment
- Hierarchy of controls prioritization
- Worker participation and leadership commitment
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
FISMA Details
What It Is
Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014 is a U.S. federal law establishing a risk-based framework for protecting federal information and systems. It mandates agency-wide information security programs focused on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, modernizing the 2002 act with emphasis on continuous monitoring and incident reporting.
Key Components
- Integrates NIST RMF 7-step process: Prepare, Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, Monitor.
- Leverages NIST SP 800-53 controls (20 families) and FIPS 199 categorization.
- Oversight via OMB policy, DHS/CISA operations, IG assessments.
- Metrics-driven maturity model aligned with NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
Why Organizations Use It
Federal agencies and contractors comply to meet legal obligations, avoid penalties like contract loss. It reduces risks, enables market access (e.g., FedRAMP), builds resilience, and aligns cybersecurity with missions for efficiency and trust.
Implementation Overview
Phased RMF lifecycle with governance, inventory, controls, assessments, ATOs. Applies to executive agencies, contractors; requires documentation (SSPs, POA&Ms), automation, audits. Scales from small contractors to large enterprises via continuous monitoring.
CSA Details
What It Is
CSA standards, developed by CSA Group (formerly Canadian Standards Association), form a family of consensus-based standards for health, environment, and safety (HES), with core focus on occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) via CSA Z1000 and hazard/risk processes in CSA Z1002. They employ a risk-based PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) methodology, aligning with ISO 45001.
Key Components
- **PDCA structureleadership/policy, planning (hazard ID, risk assessment), implementation/operation, checking (audits, incidents), management review.
- Six hazard categories: biological, chemical, ergonomic, physical, psychosocial, safety.
- Risk prioritization (severity, likelihood, exposure); hierarchy of controls.
- Worker participation integral; SCC-accredited certification optional.
Why Organizations Use It
Drives due diligence, legal compliance (when referenced in regs), risk reduction, and continual improvement. Builds stakeholder trust, supports market access, and provides court-recognized benchmarks for "reasonable precautions." Enhances reputation and operational resilience.
Implementation Overview
Phased: gap analysis, policy/training, process integration, audits/reviews. Suits all sizes/industries; global alignment via ISO. Certification via accredited bodies; emphasizes operational evidence over documentation.
Key Differences
| Aspect | FISMA | CSA |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Controlled substances classification, regulation, enforcement | |
| Industry | Healthcare, pharma, research, chemical manufacturers | |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal law with DEA enforcement | |
| Testing | DEA inspections, inventory audits, record reviews | |
| Penalties | Fines, imprisonment, registration revocation |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about FISMA and CSA
FISMA FAQ
CSA FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
The SOC Maturity Roadmap: A 5-Step Blueprint for Scaling from Ad-Hoc to Optimized Operations
Unlock SOC excellence with our 5-step maturity roadmap. Compare SOC-CMM, NIST CSF, and CMMC frameworks to scale from ad-hoc to automated operations. Start your
NIST CSF 2.0 Deep Dive: Mastering the Updated Framework Core Functions
Unpack NIST CSF 2.0's enhanced Core Functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover. Get SME playbooks, governance shifts & strategies for cyber
Beyond the Boardroom: 5 Ways Modern Compliance Software Elevates Every Department
Discover 5 ways modern compliance software boosts HR, IT, finance & more: automate risks, enhance efficiency, ensure data integrity, stay audit-ready. Elevate y
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
NIST 800-53 vs J-SOX
Compare NIST 800-53 vs J-SOX: Cybersecurity catalog meets Japan's ICFR regime. Uncover Rev 5 baselines, risk tailoring, ITGC focus & compliance strategies for global success.
ISO 27001 vs LEED
ISO 27001 vs LEED: Compare ISO's gold-standard ISMS for info security resilience vs LEED's green building framework. Key diffs, benefits, implementation—boost compliance & sustainability now!
TISAX vs NIST 800-53
Compare TISAX vs NIST 800-53: Automotive-focused TISAX safeguards prototypes & supply chains; NIST 800-53 delivers broad federal controls. Uncover overlaps, differences & strategies for compliance success.