GLBA
U.S. law for financial privacy notices and safeguards
CMMI
Global framework for process maturity and improvement
Quick Verdict
GLBA mandates privacy notices and security programs for US financial institutions to protect NPI, enforced by FTC penalties. CMMI is a voluntary framework for process maturity across industries, appraised via SCAMPI for predictable performance.
GLBA
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
Key Features
- Requires privacy notices and opt-out for NPI sharing
- Mandates comprehensive written information security program
- Designates Qualified Individual for security oversight
- Imposes 30-day FTC breach notification for 500+ consumers
- Broad scope covering non-bank financial institutions
CMMI
Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)
Key Features
- Maturity levels 0-5 for organizational progression
- 25 Practice Areas in 4 Category Areas
- Staged and continuous representations
- SCAMPI appraisals for benchmarking
- Generic practices for institutionalization
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
GLBA Details
What It Is
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), enacted in 1999, is a U.S. federal regulation establishing privacy and security standards for financial institutions handling nonpublic personal information (NPI). It uses a risk-based approach via the Privacy Rule and Safeguards Rule, enforced primarily by the FTC for non-banks.
Key Components
- Privacy Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 313): Initial/annual notices, opt-out for nonaffiliated sharing.
- Safeguards Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 314): Written security program with administrative, technical, physical safeguards; Qualified Individual; board reporting; breach notification for 500+ consumers.
- **Pretexting provisionsAnti-social engineering protections. No formal certification; compliance via self-implementation and audits.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for financial entities (banks, lenders, tax firms); reduces breach risks, penalties up to $100K/violation; builds customer trust, enables secure operations, differentiates in competitive markets.
Implementation Overview
Phased: scoping, risk assessment, policy development, technical controls (encryption, MFA), vendor oversight, training, testing. Applies to broad financial activities; ongoing audits, no certification but FTC enforcement.
CMMI Details
What It Is
Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is a performance improvement framework developed by the Software Engineering Institute and now governed by ISACA. It provides a structured approach to process maturity across development, services, and acquisition, using maturity and capability levels to enhance predictability and quality.
Key Components
- 25 Practice Areas in v2.0, grouped into 4 Category Areas: Doing, Managing, Enabling, Improving.
- 6 Maturity Levels (0-5) in staged representation; capability levels per area in continuous.
- Generic Practices for institutionalization; SCAMPI appraisals for validation.
Why Organizations Use It
- Improves delivery predictability, reduces rework, boosts customer satisfaction.
- Required for DoD contracts and regulated procurement.
- Mitigates risks via measurement and governance.
- Builds competitive edge through certified maturity benchmarks.
Implementation Overview
- Phased approach: assessment, piloting, rollout, appraisal.
- Suited for mid-to-large enterprises in IT, defense, software.
- Involves training, tooling, change management; SCAMPI Class A for official ratings. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | GLBA | CMMI |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Consumer financial privacy and data security | Process improvement and organizational maturity |
| Industry | Financial institutions, non-banks (US-focused) | Software, services, acquisition (cross-industry, global) |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal regulation with enforcement | Voluntary process improvement framework with appraisals |
| Testing | Risk assessments, penetration testing, vendor oversight | SCAMPI appraisals (A/B/C), maturity/capability assessments |
| Penalties | Civil penalties up to $100K/violation, imprisonment | No legal penalties, loss of certification/market access |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about GLBA and CMMI
GLBA FAQ
CMMI FAQ
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