Cyvatar is a private cybersecurity company based in Irvine, California, specializing in cybersecurity management, vulnerability detection, and risk remediation; it provides penetration testing services as part of its offerings, with 19 employees, $4.2M revenue, and $12M in funding.
SOC 2 Type 2 Certification
Origin
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and introduced in 2011 as part of their Service Organization Control reporting framework. It was created to address the growing need for standardized security auditing as businesses increasingly moved their data and operations to third-party cloud service providers. The AICPA recognized that traditional financial auditing standards were insufficient for evaluating the security practices of technology service providers, prompting the development of SOC 2 to assess controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy based on their Trust Services Criteria.
Industry Importance
SOC 2 Type 2 certification is highly valued because it provides independent verification that a service provider has implemented and maintained effective security controls over a specified period (typically 6-12 months), rather than just at a single point in time like Type 1. This certification has become an essential requirement for vendors handling sensitive customer data, as it demonstrates to clients and stakeholders that robust security measures are consistently in place. Many enterprises now require SOC 2 Type 2 reports from their vendors as part of their third-party risk management programs, making it a competitive necessity for SaaS companies, cloud providers, and data processors seeking to build trust and win business with security-conscious organizations.
HIPAA Compliance and Cybersecurity
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) was enacted by the U.S. Congress and signed into law in 1996. The legislation was created to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without patient consent or knowledge. The Security Rule, added in 2003, established national standards for protecting electronic personal health information (ePHI), requiring covered entities and their business associates to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. While HIPAA itself is legislation rather than a certification, various organizations offer HIPAA compliance training and certification programs to help IT professionals understand and implement these requirements.
HIPAA compliance is critically important in healthcare IT because violations can result in severe penalties, ranging from $100 to $50,000 per violation, with annual maximums reaching $1.5 million. Beyond avoiding fines, HIPAA knowledge is valued because healthcare data breaches can expose sensitive patient information, damage organizational reputation, and erode patient trust. IT professionals with HIPAA expertise are highly sought after as healthcare organizations increasingly rely on digital systems for medical records, billing, and patient communication. Understanding HIPAA requirements helps ensure that healthcare systems are designed, implemented, and maintained with appropriate security controls to protect patient privacy in an era of growing cyber threats.
GDPR Certification Overview
Origin
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was created by the European Union and came into effect on May 25, 2018. It was developed by the European Parliament and Council to modernize and unify data protection laws across all EU member states. The regulation was created in response to the rapid growth of digital technology and data processing, aiming to give individuals greater control over their personal data while establishing clear obligations for organizations that collect, store, and process such information.
Industry Value
GDPR compliance is highly valued in the industry because it demonstrates an organization's commitment to data privacy and security, which has become a critical business concern globally. Organizations with GDPR expertise can avoid substantial fines (up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover), maintain customer trust, and gain competitive advantages when doing business with European entities or handling EU citizens' data. Professionals with GDPR certification are in high demand as companies worldwide seek to ensure compliance, implement proper data protection frameworks, and avoid the legal, financial, and reputational risks associated with data breaches and non-compliance.
NIST 800-171: Origin and Importance
Origin
NIST Special Publication 800-171 was created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a non-regulatory agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. First published in June 2015 and subsequently revised, it was developed in response to Executive Order 13556, which aimed to establish standards for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The framework was specifically designed to help non-federal organizations that handle, store, or process CUI on behalf of the federal government implement appropriate security controls to protect sensitive government information outside of federal systems.
Industry Importance
NIST 800-171 has become critically important in the defense industrial base and federal contracting sectors, as compliance is now mandatory for organizations working with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies that handle CUI. The certification demonstrates that an organization has implemented 110 security requirements across 14 control families, covering areas such as access control, incident response, and system integrity. Beyond contractual requirements, achieving NIST 800-171 compliance has become a competitive differentiator and trust signal in the marketplace, showing clients and partners that an organization takes cybersecurity seriously and follows recognized best practices for protecting sensitive information.
- Peoples State Bank