In terms of cybersecurity, what does compliance often require?

Compliance in the context of cybersecurity primarily requires adherence to laws, regulations, and internal controls. This encompasses a wide range of legal and regulatory standards that organizations must follow to ensure they protect sensitive information appropriately. For instance, regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandate specific security measures to preserve the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.

Adhering to these regulations not only helps avoid legal penalties but also builds trust with clients and stakeholders by demonstrating that the organization is committed to maintaining high standards of cybersecurity. This goes hand in hand with internal controls, which are policies and procedures put in place by the organization to manage risk effectively and ensure compliance with these external requirements.

While regular employee training is a crucial part of a robust security posture, it is specifically a part of the execution of compliance rather than a fundamental requirement of compliance itself. The use of proprietary software can be a part of an organization's strategy, but it is not a compliance requirement. Similarly, minimizing the number of audits could lead to a lack of oversight rather than fostering an environment of compliance. Therefore, the most comprehensive answer regarding what compliance requires is adherence to laws, regulations, and internal controls.