As businesses move more of their operations to the cloud, compliance and regulation become increasingly important. Microsoft Exchange Online is no different. As the world’s leading cloud-based email solution, Exchange Online must adhere to a variety of compliance regulations and standards. It’s important for businesses to understand these compliance and regulatory requirements to ensure their Exchange Online deployments meet the necessary criteria.
First and foremost, Exchange Online is compliant with the most widely recognized standards, including ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27018, and SOC 1 and SOC 2. Microsoft has also received certifications from the HIPAA and HITECH act, as well as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) for continued support of government agencies.
In addition to these standards, Exchange Online is compliant with Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). With GDPR, Exchange Online users must be able to provide evidence that they are in compliance with the regulation or face hefty fines. Microsoft has a tool called the Data Subject Rights Management Tool that helps Exchange Online admins monitor and track user requests, ensuring compliance with GDPR.
Finally, Exchange Online also complies with the securities regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA regulates the sale of securities in the United States and requires financial advisors, broker-dealers, and others to adhere to specific rules. Exchange Online meets the FINRA requirements, and Microsoft provides a detailed whitepaper outlining the specific steps businesses must take to become FINRA compliant.
Exchange Online is an incredibly powerful and secure cloud-based email solution, but businesses must ensure that they adhere to the necessary compliance and regulatory requirements. By understanding the standards and regulations that apply to Exchange Online, businesses can ensure their deployments are secure and compliant.
