Saudi Aramco Cybersecurity Compliance Certification (CCC) Assistance

Elevate your security posture, ensure compliance, enhance cybersecurity, and collaborate with Saudi ARAMCO !
INFOFIX IT SOLUTIONS’s ARAMCO Cybersecurity Compliance services empower you to reinforce third-party security, driving towards zero cyber risks in alignment with TPCS standards.
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Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest integrated oil and gas company, handles enormous volumes of sensitive data daily. Given the critical nature of its operations, the company is highly susceptible to cyber-attacks, which could have devastating consequences not only for Saudi Aramco but also for the global energy sector. To mitigate these risks, Saudi Aramco has implemented rigorous cybersecurity compliance measures, specifically aimed at ensuring that all businesses partnering with them adhere to stringent security protocols.

One of the key initiatives in this regard is the establishment of the Saudi Aramco Third Party Cybersecurity Standard (SACS-002). This standard was developed to ensure that all third-party vendors, contractors, and supply chain partners comply with a comprehensive set of cybersecurity requirements. The overarching goal of SACS-002 is to protect Saudi Aramco’s critical information, systems, and assets from potential cyber threats that could arise from vulnerabilities within its extended network of partners.

Core Requirements of SACS-002
The SACS-002 standard includes several critical requirements that vendors must meet to qualify as compliant:

  1. Assessment of ICT Infrastructure: Vendors are required to conduct a thorough assessment of their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure. This involves identifying all assets, systems, and networks that could potentially be exposed to cyber threats. The assessment should highlight any vulnerabilities or weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors.
  2. Identifying Security Gaps: Following the ICT assessment, vendors must identify any glaring security gaps within their infrastructure. These could include outdated software, unpatched systems, weak authentication protocols, or insufficient encryption measures. The identification process must be meticulous, ensuring that no potential vulnerability is overlooked.
  3. Implementation of Best Practices: Once security gaps are identified, vendors must take immediate action to address and rectify these issues. The remediation efforts should align with industry best practices and the specific guidelines outlined in the SACS-002 standard. This might involve upgrading systems, enhancing encryption, implementing multi-factor authentication, and other critical security measures.
  4. Documentation and Reporting: After implementing the necessary security measures, vendors are required to compile a detailed report documenting their compliance efforts. This report should include evidence of the actions taken, such as system logs, security audits, and other relevant documentation. The goal is to provide Saudi Aramco with a clear and comprehensive overview of the vendor’s cybersecurity posture.

Certification Process
Once the vendor has completed the compliance process and submitted their report, Saudi Aramco will review the documentation to ensure that all SACS-002 requirements have been met. This review is thorough and may involve additional audits or requests for further evidence.

If Saudi Aramco is satisfied with the vendor’s compliance efforts, they will issue a Cybersecurity Compliance Certificate. This certification is a critical requirement for any business that wishes to partner with Saudi Aramco. It not only demonstrates that the vendor has met the necessary cybersecurity standards but also serves as an assurance to Saudi Aramco that the vendor’s systems and practices will not introduce vulnerabilities into the company’s supply chain.

Importance of Compliance
For vendors already engaged in business with Saudi Aramco, maintaining compliance with the SACS-002 standard is crucial. Non-compliance could result in the termination of contracts and exclusion from future business opportunities. For potential new vendors, obtaining the Cybersecurity Compliance Certificate is a prerequisite for entering into any agreements with Saudi Aramco.

In summary, the SACS-002 standard represents a vital component of Saudi Aramco’s overall cybersecurity strategy. By enforcing strict compliance among its third-party vendors and partners, Saudi Aramco aims to create a secure and resilient supply chain, capable of withstanding the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Understanding Aramco Cybersecurity Certification?

Saudi Aramco introduced two classes of cybersecurity certifications for their supply chain partners depending on the nature of work outsourced to them, or the classification of the company. One was the Cybersecurity Compliance Certification or CCC and the other was the Cybersecurity Compliance Certification Plus, or CCC+.

These certifications aim to mitigate cyber risk, protect from possible vulnerabilities and ensure a robust security posture for third parties, as this was a major source of threat for Saudi Aramco for several years.

➣ The CCC must be obtained by companies providing services like general requirements, outsourced infrastructure, customized software, and cloud computing.

➣ The CCC+ must be obtained by companies providing network connectivity and critical data processing.

➣ The validity of the certificate is two years from the date of issue, during which time the parties must stay in compliance to maintain validity.

➣ The SACS-002 defines the standards and controls third parties must fulfill to be compliant – 24 common, and 87 specific requirements.

➣ Identification is the first part of the standard: asset categorization, setting cybersecurity policies, risk evaluation through penetration testing, and managing risk through detection and remediation.

➣ Protection through controlling access via passwords, badges, etc., setting processes to secure information and apps, disaster recovery planning, and defining protection of important systems.

➣ Detecting anomalies through continuous monitoring for unauthorized activity using scans and physical methods.

➣ Response – incident management policy, capability of response, and strategy to mitigate vulnerabilities.

Our ARAMCO CCC Compliance Service Process

Comprehensive ARAMCO CCC services that help you protect against cyberattacks and ensure compliance

  • Initial Evaluation

    The Infofix team evaluates your operations thoroughly to check if they are as per Aramco requirements. Safety, quality, and environmental efficiency aspects are carefully scrutinized.

  • Development

    Our ARAMCO CCC experts carry out a Gap Assessment to verify if your information security measures are as per the ARAMCO CCC standard and if there are any vulnerabilities.

  • Cyber Risk Assessment

    The Infofix team identifies data security and privacy risks by comparing the current status with the ARAMCO CCC standard.

  • Risk Treatment Plan

    Our dedicated professionals draft a risk management or treatment plan to plug the gaps and mitigate the risks, bringing them to acceptable levels as per the controls set in the SACS-002.

  • ARAMCO CCC Policies & Procedures

    The ARAMCO CCC experts at Infofix draw up strategies that help you achieve and maintain both privacy and security to ensure compliance with ARAMCO CCC or CCC+.

  • Technology Implementation

    Should we find any tech gaps, our team will guide you on closing them and applying technical controls.

  • ARAMCO CCC Internal Audits

    To check if there are any deviations from data security policies and procedures as set forth in ARAMCO CCC, we conduct regular internal audits and correct anomalies if any.

  • Security Awareness

    Our team conducts training sessions for employees on ARAMCO CCC requirements, spreading awareness and eliminating potential leaks or errors from your workforce.

  • ARAMCO CCC Implementation Reviews

    To evaluate your continued compliance levels, we carry out ARAMCO CCC implementation reviews regularly, allowing us to remedy any issues.

Benefits of ARAMCO CCC

We know that any third-party vendor who wants to partner with Saudi Aramco must have the Third-Party Cybersecurity Certification. The biggest and most obvious benefit is that the risk of cyber-attacks is greatly reduced both for your business as well as for Saudi Aramco. You get the opportunity to do business with a giant company which can bring in many ripple-effect benefits:

  • Improved reputation: when you make an effort to get Aramco CCC certified, it will boost your reputation as a business committed to cybersecurity, making you attractive to other clients too. Aramco deals with several companies, and you can get noticed.
  •  Competitive edge: Being Aramco CCC certified gives you a significant edge over competitors who are not certified and helps your business stand out.
  • Cost savings : preventing cyber attacks is much more economical than cleaning up the mess after a breach and investing in protecting data and assets helps you save substantially.

Challenges Faced In Getting ARAMCO CCC Certification

While the Aramco CCC is mandatory for doing business with ARAMCO and offers several benefits, it is not without its challenges.

  • Vendors may need to shell out significant resources in terms of people and money to get certified and not everyone may be willing to do that, especially when the awareness about cybersecurity is low.
  • There are several legislations both domestic and international that vendors need to comply with, making the process more complicated.
  •  The certification is not a one-and-done thing. Organizations have to constantly ensure that their operations and procedures are as expected by the SACS-002. It can be a continuous struggle to keep up with changing regulations and advancements in cybersecurity procedures.

Of course, these challenges can be easily overcome when you entrust Infofix with auditing your procedures to help you get certified.

Why Select INFOFIX's ARAMCO CCC Service

  • Certified Aramco CCC experts who handle each project accurately and carefully
  • Personalized services that are aligned with the critical objectives of your organization
  • Superior quality services that are economically priced
  • Short turnaround time with no compromise on quality
  • Assured Aramco CCC compliance thanks to our scrupulous evaluation and policies
  • Continuous monitoring to ensure maintenance of compliance
  • Iron-clad security for critical assets and quick detection of security gaps

F.A.Q

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What are the key requirements of the Aramco Cybersecurity Standard?

The key areas that are evaluated include data protection, network security, access control, cybersecurity regulations compliance, incident response strategies, workforce awareness and training programs.

When should we renew the ARAMCO CCC certificate?

The ideal time to apply to renew your Aramco CCC certificate is shortly before the validity period of two years comes to a close.

To ensure compliance, your business must submit a renewal application for the CCC Certificate before the end of the two-year validity period.

What is the difference between the ARAMCO CCC and the ARAMCO CCC+?

A self-assessment test to compare with the SACS-002 controls is sufficient for third-parties who want to get CCC certified. They can ask for one of the authorized firms to validate the compliance assessment package remotely.

To get the CCC+ certification, third-party vendors who are classified as critical data processors or network connectivity providers will have to get one of the authorized firms to carry out their online assessment by comparing with the scope controls as set out in SACS-002.

What is the procedure for submitting the certificate once our organization receives it from the audit firm?

Go to the e-marketplace system to upload both your Aramco CCC and the CCC report to Saudi Aramco.

Is it necessary to obtain a fresh CCC every time our organization bids for a new contract?

That depends entirely on the type of engagement and classification you belong to. If the classification is the same, there is no need for a new certificate. However, if it changes, you may need to approach one of the authorized audit firms to carry out an assessment to verify your compliance levels against the scoped controls set out in SACS-002. This will cover everything in the category previously covered along with the new ones.