The FTC Safeguards Rule requires covered businesses to maintain a written information security program that protects customer financial information through clear ownership, a written risk assessment, risk-based safeguards, regular testing/monitoring, vendor oversight, and leadership reporting. It’s not a “buy tools and you’re compliant” rule—regulators generally look for a repeatable program you can explain and evidence. […]
The FTC Safeguards Rule is a federal regulation that requires small businesses that handle customer financial data to maintain a written cybersecurity and data protection program. It applies to CPA firms, accounting practices, tax preparers, and other service providers that access nonpublic financial information. Businesses must document their security policies, perform regular risk assessments, protect
Picture this: A small CPA firm thought they were protected. They had antivirus software, used strong passwords, and backed up their files occasionally. Then came tax season 2024. A ransomware attack encrypted three years of client tax returns, financial records, and QuickBooks data. The ransom demand? $175,000. The actual cost, including downtime, recovery, client notifications,
Running a business in today’s regulatory landscape is like competing in a high-stakes race where the rules constantly evolve, the penalties for mistakes are severe, and the competition never sleeps. Whether you’re a CPA firm navigating FTC Safeguards requirements, a credit union protecting member data, or a healthcare organization ensuring HIPAA compliance, success isn’t just
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The True Stakes of Your IT Choice In Norfolk’s competitive business world, IT isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s your foundation. The right support model keeps you productive, secure, and ready for anything. The wrong one? It could mean costly downtime, compliance fines, lost clients, or worse. So, should you stick with pay-as-you-go “break/fix” IT, or
The way we work has changed. Laptops, phones, tablets, and even printers now connect from homes, cafes, clinics, and airports—everywhere your business operates. Each device is a doorway: to opportunity, but also to risk. How do you secure every device, every location, every time? This practical guide shows you step-by-step protection for all business devices—onsite and remote—rooted
For Small Businesses & Regulated Organizations in Norfolk, VA and Beyond Why Unified Security Reporting Matters For most small businesses, compliance feels like a moving target—HIPAA, PCI DSS, NIST, or state data laws. Failing an audit or missing a regulatory deadline isn’t just a headache—it’s a risk to your revenue, your reputation, and in some
What Is 24/7 Monitoring & Incident Response? For small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), cybersecurity threats can strike at any time. It happens after hours, weekends, or even during a holiday. 24/7 monitoring means that your business’s IT environment is being watched continuously by a Security Operations Center (SOC), not just during office hours. If a threat is
DNS (Domain Name System) filtering is a proactive cybersecurity solution that intercepts web requests and blocks access to known dangerous, non-compliant, or unproductive websites. Rather than waiting for threats to reach your devices, these tools enforce protection at the network level, stopping malicious domains, phishing sites, and even distractions like social media before users connect. Part of