Driving Compliance & Reducing Risk

In today’s higher education landscape, achieving full compliance with federal and industry regulations is a growing challenge. Colleges and universities are navigating evolving standards, limited resources, and increased scrutiny tied to requirements such as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), and Payment Card Industry (PCI). Yet, with the right roadmap—and leadership’s full engagement—measurable progress is not only possible, it’s attainable. 

From Risk to Readiness: A Tale of Two Institutions

This success story spotlights two institutions* that made remarkable strides in their compliance journeys—one focused on HIPAA, the other on GLBA. Both engaged CampusWorks through IT Managed Services, which provided risk assessments, roadmap development, and ongoing support from experienced security officers and analysts. 

Building HIPAA Maturity and Reducing Risk Exposure

The first institution dramatically improved its HIPAA compliance posture. This transformation was driven by a structured, institution-wide approach that included: 

• Comprehensive awareness training for staff and faculty 

• Strengthened data governance and security controls 

• Strategic investments in infrastructure and systems 

The team recognized that HIPAA violations can carry serious financial and legal consequences. By proactively addressing gaps and implementing a formal written security program, they not only improved compliance scores but also significantly reduced institutional risk. As a next step, we are working closely with the institution to prepare them for the anticipated upcoming HIPAA Security Rule changes.   

Strengthening GLBA Governance and Accountability

The second institution tackled GLBA compliance, achieving a nearly fourfold increase in adherence to statutory requirements—even amid major updates to GLBA rules. Success was fueled by leadership commitment to: 

• Develop and mature a robust information security program 

• Mandate institution-wide security training  

• Formalize institutional data governance 

This top-down leadership engagement created traction, transparency, and a shared sense of ownership across departments. 

Mapping the Path Forward

Both institutions began their efforts with a combined risk and compliance assessment that delivered a clear picture of their maturity levels and compliance status. These deep-dive assessments—typically requiring more than 100 hours of effort and engagement from technical teams—produced actionable roadmaps that helped leaders prioritize next steps and measure year-over-year progress. 

Crucially, these efforts were not one-off projects. They were part of broader IT Managed Services engagements that included CISO-level guidance, governance support, and long-term strategic planning. While standalone assessments are valuable, the most transformative outcomes occur when compliance is integrated into ongoing operations and institutional strategy. 

Compliance Is Not Just an IT Issue

These success stories underscore an essential truth: compliance is not just an IT responsibility—it’s an institutional imperative. 

With leadership buy-in, a clear roadmap, and expert guidance, even resource-constrained colleges can make substantial, measurable progress. And as federal audits become more rigorous, proactive compliance isn’t just best practice—it’s essential for institutional sustainability and student trust. 

The Power of CampusWorks Managed Services

As a trusted partner to colleges and universities across the nation, CampusWorks helps institutions strengthen their security posture, align compliance efforts with strategic goals, and build the operational resilience needed to thrive in an increasingly regulated environment. 

*To safeguard our clients’ privacy and security, their names have been withheld.