FISMA
U.S. federal law for risk-based cybersecurity management
ISO 19600
International guidelines for compliance management systems
Quick Verdict
FISMA mandates risk-based cybersecurity for US federal agencies and contractors via NIST RMF, while ISO 19600 provides voluntary guidelines for general compliance management systems. Agencies comply with FISMA legally; organizations adopt ISO 19600 for scalable governance.
FISMA
Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014
Key Features
- Mandates NIST RMF 7-step risk management process
- Requires continuous monitoring and diagnostics (CDM)
- Risk-based system categorization via FIPS 199
- Agency-wide security programs with annual IG assessments
- Real-time major incident reporting to Congress
ISO 19600
ISO 19600:2014 Compliance management systems — Guidelines
Key Features
- Principles of good governance and independence
- Risk-based identification of compliance obligations
- PDCA cycle for continual improvement
- Scalable to any organization size
- Integration with other management systems
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 using the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF), a 7-step process: Prepare, Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, Monitor.
Key Components
- NIST SP 800-53 controls (20 families, baselines per FIPS 199 impact levels)
- Continuous monitoring via SP 800-137
- System Security Plans (SSPs), POA&Ms, Authorizations to Operate (ATOs)
- Oversight by OMB, DHS/CISA, Inspectors General with maturity metrics
Why Organizations Use It
Federal agencies and contractors must comply to avoid penalties, contract loss, debarment. It reduces risks, enables market access (e.g., FedRAMP), builds resilience, aligns cybersecurity with missions, enhances trust.
Implementation Overview
Phased RMF application: inventory, categorize, implement controls, assess, authorize, monitor continuously. Applies to agencies, contractors handling federal data; requires audits, reporting. Scalable for large enterprises to smaller vendors.
ISO 19600 Details
What It Is
ISO 19600:2014, Compliance management systems — Guidelines, is a non-certifiable international standard providing scalable guidance for organizations to establish, implement, evaluate, maintain, and improve a Compliance Management System (CMS). It uses a principles-based, risk-based approach aligned with PDCA cycle and high-level structure for management systems.
Key Components
- Core clauses: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
- **Principlesgood governance, proportionality, transparency, sustainability.
- Broad obligations: laws, contracts, voluntary codes.
- No fixed controls; emphasizes integration and culture.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates compliance risks and penalties.
- Embeds compliance into culture and operations.
- Enhances governance, stakeholder trust, efficiency.
- Benchmarks against best practices; transitions to ISO 37301.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, design, rollout, monitoring.
- Applicable to all sizes/sectors; proportionate to complexity.
- No certification; internal audits and management reviews suffice. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | FISMA | ISO 19600 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | General compliance management systems guidelines | |
| Industry | All organizations worldwide, any sector | |
| Nature | Voluntary international guidelines (withdrawn) | |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews | |
| Penalties | No legal penalties, self-improvement |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about FISMA and ISO 19600
FISMA FAQ
ISO 19600 FAQ
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