For Small Businesses: The Current Landscape of Cybersecurity Law

Small businesses understand that they are challenged with all the cybersecurity issues that large companies face. But often they fail to act preemptively under the false assumption that the resources of a large company are necessary to manage cyber threats.  Small businesses are often surprised to learn that effective cybersecurity strategies are within their reach and that, in many cases, small businesses can respond to threats faster and more effectively than large companies.

I recently participated as a speaker for a conference focused on the future of cybersecurity and how small businesses can protect themselves. Ariento’s Up on Cyber 2017 Conference at the UCLA James West Alumni Center was attended by numerous small business owners, and I enjoyed the informed questions posed by the audience.

You can view a video of my 45-minute presentation, the Current Landscape of Cybersecurity Law as it Relates to Small Businesses, in which I cover the following issues:

• What’s new in data threats
• Where do your obligations and liabilities come from
• Privacy Policies – protection and threat
• Risk Assessment – the first step to risk reduction
• Cyberinsurance – what and why
• Responding to a data breach

Like businesses of all size, small businesses are at risk of being hacked. The threat of compromising customer and employee privacy, and the possibility of losing their reputations – not to mention their businesses – are good reasons that all small businesses should act proactively to put cybersecurity programs in place.

 

Robert E. Braun is the co-chair of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Group at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP. Bob helps clients to develop and implement privacy and information security policies, negotiate agreements for technologies and data management services, and comply with legal and regulatory requirements. He helps clients to develop and implement data breach response plans, and he and his team respond quickly to clients’ needs when a data breach occurs. Contact Bob at RBraun@jmbm.com or +1 310.785.5331.

JMBM’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Group counsels clients in a wide variety of industries, including accounting firms, law firms, business management firms and family offices, in matters ranging from development of cybersecurity strategies, creation of data security and privacy policies, responding to data breaches and regulatory inquiries and investigations, and crisis management. The Cybersecurity and Privacy Group uses a focused intake methodology that permits clients to get a reliable sense of their cybersecurity readiness and to determine optimal, client-specific approaches to cybersecurity.