Organizations often adopt a combination of general cybersecurity standards in addition to standards based on their industry, geographic location, business operations, and specific cybersecurity needs. Below are some recommendations on frameworks that MSPs can consider 

General Cybersecurity Standards

✅ CIS: CIS Controls are a set of cybersecurity best practices and guidelines developed by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) to help organizations improve their cybersecurity posture and defend against common cyber threats.

✅ NIST CSF: The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States and provides a voluntary framework of cybersecurity standards, guidelines, and best practices for improving cybersecurity risk management and resilience across critical infrastructure sectors.

Industry based Cybersecurity standards

Technology & IT Services providers

✅ ISO 27001: is a globally recognized standard for information security management systems (ISMS) and provides a framework for organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and continuously improve an ISMS to manage information security risks effectively.

✅ SOC 2: Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 is specifically relevant for service providers that store, process, or transmit customer data in the cloud or on behalf of their clients.

Healthcare

✅ HIPAA: Security & Privacy rule of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to ensure data privacy & security of Protected Health Information (PHI)

Government and Public Sector:

✅ CMMC: The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a cybersecurity framework and certification program developed by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance the cybersecurity posture of contractors and subcontractors within the defense industrial base 

✅ FedRAMP: FedRAMP stands for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program. It is a U.S. government program that standardizes the security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring of cloud products and services used by federal agencies.

Financial & Banking 

✅ Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): Applies to organizations handling credit card payments and mandates security measures to protect cardholder data.

✅ Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) guidelines: Provide cybersecurity guidance and requirements for financial institutions.

✅ FINRA's (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Small Firm Cybersecurity Checklist supports small firms in establishing a cybersecurity program.

✅ The FTC's Safeguards under Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA): Requires financial institutions to protect consumer financial information through administrative, technical, and physical safeguards.

Retail and E-commerce:

Retailers handling payment card data must comply with PCI DSS. Additionally, they may need to adhere to consumer data protection laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) or the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Others

Education: Educational institutions must comply with student data protection laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the U.S., which governs the privacy of student education records.

Energy and Utilities: Energy and utility companies may be subject to sector-specific regulations and standards, such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards in the U.S.

Other regional regulations  

UK Cyber Essentials: Cyber Essentials is a cybersecurity certification scheme developed by the UK government to help organizations protect themselves against common cyber threats. 

Australian Essentials 8: The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is a government agency that provides cybersecurity guidance, resources, and advice to Australian businesses, organizations, and individuals.

TISAX EU Auto: TISAX stands for "Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange." It is a framework and assessment process developed by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) to assess and certify information security management systems (ISMS) in the automotive industry supply chain

Each industry has its own unique cybersecurity compliance challenges and requirements, and organizations within these industries must stay informed about relevant regulations, standards, and best practices to effectively manage cybersecurity risks and ensure compliance.