Achieving compliance is just the beginning. Maintaining continuous compliance requires ongoing monitoring, regular reviews, and prompt remediation when issues arise.
The Continuous Compliance Model
Traditional compliance programs operate in cycles:
Implement controls before the audit
Pass the certification audit
Controls drift over time
Scramble before the next audit
Repeat
DSALTA enables continuous compliance:
Implement controls once
Automated monitoring runs constantly
Immediate alerts when issues arise
Quick remediation maintains compliance
Always audit-ready
This shift from periodic to continuous monitoring reduces stress and improves actual security.
Automated Control Monitoring
DSALTA continuously monitors controls through:
Integration-Based Monitoring
Connected tools provide real-time visibility:
Identity Provider Monitoring:
MFA status checked hourly
New user accounts are detected immediately
Permission changes tracked in real-time
Inactive accounts are flagged automatically
Cloud Infrastructure Monitoring:
Encryption settings verified continuously
Security group changes detected instantly
IAM policy modifications tracked
Compliance drift identified immediately
Code Repository Monitoring:
Code review compliance tracked per commit
Branch protection verified continuously
Security scanning results collected automatically
Deployment logs monitored in real-time
Test Frequency
Different controls require different monitoring frequencies:
Continuous (Real-time):
Encryption status
Authentication requirements
Network security configurations
Critical security controls
Hourly:
Access permissions
User directory changes
Security tool status
System availability
Daily:
Log retention compliance
Backup completion
Security alert review
Monitoring system health
Weekly:
Access reviews
Vulnerability scan results
Configuration compliance
Policy adherence
Monthly/Quarterly:
Comprehensive access reviews
Vendor assessments
Risk assessments
Training completion
Monitoring Dashboard
Access your monitoring overview from Compliance > Tests or individual control detail pages.
Key Metrics:
Overall test pass rate
Tests requiring attention
Recent failures
Trending improvements or degradations
Filters:
By status (passing, failing, needs attention)
By framework
By control category
By risk level
By integration source
Control Drift Detection
Controls can drift from compliance due to:
Configuration Changes: Team members modifying settings without realizing compliance impact
System Updates: Software updates are changing default configurations
Personnel Changes: New team members are unaware of compliance requirements Process Evolution: Workflows are changing without updating controls
Integration Issues: Connectivity problems are preventing monitoring
DSALTA's continuous monitoring catches drift immediately rather than discovering it months later during audits.
Manual Control Reviews
Not everything can be automated. Schedule regular manual reviews:
Quarterly Reviews
For each control:
Verify evidence is current and relevant
Confirm procedures are being followed
Interview control owners about challenges
Update documentation as needed
Refresh manual evidence
Annual Reviews
Comprehensive assessment:
Review all policies and procedures
Update for organizational changes
Incorporate lessons learned
Refresh all manual evidence
Prepare for recertification audits
Maintaining Audit Readiness
Continuous monitoring enables continuous audit readiness:
Always Current Evidence: Latest data is always available
Historical Records: Trend data proves sustained compliance
Quick Response: Issues are resolved before becoming audit findings
Confidence: Real-time visibility eliminates uncertainty
Efficiency: No last-minute scrambling before audits
Control Optimization
Use monitoring data to optimize your program:
High-Failure Controls: May need better implementation or training
Never-Failing Controls: May be over-specified or unnecessary
Difficult-to-Monitor Controls: Candidates for automation investment
Frequently-Updated Evidence: Could benefit from integration
Regular optimization reduces effort while maintaining or improving compliance.
Documentation of Monitoring
Document your monitoring approach for auditors:
Monitoring Schedule: What gets checked and how often
Alert Procedures: How failures trigger response
Remediation Process: How issues are resolved
Escalation Path: When and how issues escalate
Review Cadence: Regular manual review schedule
This documentation demonstrates mature, systematic control monitoring.
Seasonal Compliance Activities
Some control activities follow annual cycles:
Q1: Annual policy reviews, training renewals
Q2: Mid-year access reviews, vendor assessments
Q3: Audit preparation, evidence refresh
Q4: Year-end reviews, planning for next year
Plan these activities in advance and use DSALTA's task management to track completion.
Multi-Framework Monitoring
When monitoring controls are mapped to multiple frameworks:
One failure affects all mapped frameworks
Remediation improves all framework scores simultaneously
Evidence collected serves all frameworks
Efficiency compounds with more frameworks
This makes managing multiple certifications sustainable.