The Florida Information Protection Act affects all small business owners that rely on technology. Find out the facts from SemTech IT Solutions in Central Florida.
As of 2014, Florida set forth the Information Protection Act to specifically protect the private data of consumers. While many larger corporations in the state have taken note and started to work with an IT solutions company to help, many smaller organizations wrongly assume they don’t have the same worries. According to Florida Trends, a publication for small business owners, 43 percent of all cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses. Take a look at the facts every small business owner must know to ensure they comply.
The definition of personal information has grown from what it used to be. The Florida Information Act states a customer’s first name or initial and last name cannot be exposed in combination with an identification number, a social security number, a credit or debit card number, a financial account number, health information, or a health insurance policy number. Customer accounts must be adequately protected, such as their user name and password, security questions, or other data that may be necessary to enter an online account.
Your responsibility is to make sure your network is aptly protected, and you are correctly handling digital customer data. Multiple steps can be taken to ensure you are doing your part to stay compliant and protect your customers, such as:
Working with a company that provides IT solutions Central Florida will help you choose the steps necessary to protect your network and ensure the processes followed by employees are going to protect your customers.
One specific thing stated in the Florida Information Protection Action is that businesses will be held accountable for their actions. It is required that any breach that affects more than 500 people consumers must be reported to the Office of the Attorney General. Under Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, any business owner who violates the statutes set forth by the Information Act will be at risk of enforcement actions. Also, the consumers who have had their data exposed must be notified before 30 days after the incident has passed. If customers are not notified within that period, the business owner can be charged $1,000 per day for the 30 days following the deadline.
The Florida Information Protection Act of 2014 was designed to keep consumers in the state-protected from the high risk of personal information theft in a technological world, and it takes help from every type of business owner. If you believe your small business needs help with things like cybersecurity and data protection, reach out to us at SemTech IT Solutions in Orlando. We provide a range of services to keep your company operating efficiently and safely.
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