If you’ve ever bought a car, at some point in the negotiating process the salesperson probably has to “go talk to the manager.”
And while there’s a million things that could be happening in their conversation, chances are you’re sitting at a desk with their computer, which is open and unlocked, and if you really wanted, you probably have five minutes or so where you have access to their system.
This doesn’t just happen at car dealerships, it happens everywhere. Access to company systems and confidential client and customer data is continually put at risk…and that’s just from someone at the location.
Who knows what’s lurking in the dark world of cybercriminals where they are sending out hundreds of e-mails just hoping that one of your employees clicks a link that allows them to install a virus or spyware. When they do so, they aren’t just looking to get your data and confidential information, but access to hundreds or thousands of your customer, client or patient records.
That’s why in 2023 the government is cracking down, and here’s what small businesses need to know.
One of the biggest pieces of regulation to hit small businesses is the FTC Safeguards Rule. The goal of the rule is to protect the security of customer information.
Think about the car dealership example…
Most of the time when people purchase a car, they also get a loan for the car. So, the same computer that’s left unattended dozens of times a day is on a network that collects confidential financial and personal information about everyone getting those loans.
Chances are your business isn’t affected by this one rule…but it probably IS affected by others!
While the FTC Safeguard Rule specifically applies to “financial institutions,” those that “engage in activities that are financial in nature,” or businesses that are “incidental to such financial activities as described in (a lot of regulation gobbledygook),” the fact is that you NEED to be protecting your data and the security of your customers or you WILL be held responsible when there is a breach. (Note: If you want all the details, go to https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftc-safeguards-rule-what-your-business-needs-know)
There are hundreds of other regulations already in place for medical practices (HIPAA compliance), manufacturers (CMMC), law firm compliance and retail (PCE DSS compliance), and 47 out of 50 states have consumer data compliance, insurance, energy and more.
Here’s the good news for you…
While this can all be overwhelming and confusing and make you just want to stick your head in the sand and hope it doesn’t happen to you, THIS CAN BE EASY!
How? Let us handle all this for you. Just like your business requires specific skills, training and expertise in your field, we can handle all this information security for you so you don’t have to think about it.
We can take all this off your plate, making sure your systems and security are always up-to-date, plus so much more.
To see how we work and if we’re a good fit, simply call us at 301-739-7311 and we’ll walk you through your options.
