Welcome to the new decade! I recently saw that we are now past the dystopian future of 2019 depicted in the film Blade Runner. However, as far as I know, synthetic humans and off-world colonies are still the stuff of science fiction. In the meantime, here are some real-life information technology trends small and mid-sized businesses should know about:
- New Laws and Consumer Expectations for Privacy
- Spotlight on Data Protection
- An Increasingly Remote Workforce
New Laws and Increased Consumer Expectations for Privacy
Internet users continue to be increasingly sensitive about how their data is collected, used, and managed. On January 1, 2020, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) ushered in a new era of privacy here in the U.S. The law allows California consumers to access personal data that companies have collected on them, to request that it be deleted, and to prevent it from being sold to third parties. It also gives consumers the ability to sue companies if the privacy guidelines are violated.
Companies that fall under the CCPA include those that serve California residents and have at least $25 million in annual revenue; companies of any size that have personal data on at least 50,000 people; or companies that collect more than half of their revenues from the sale of personal data. Like the precedent set by Europe’s GDPR, CCPA pertains to the residence of the consumer, not the location where the company is based.
You might notice changes to the websites you visit, such as a button or link at the bottom of the page reading “Do Not Sell My Personal Information”. The regulation specifies a clearly visible website footer offering consumers the choice to opt out of data sharing. It’s a lot more work to create a separate infrastructure just for California residents. This means the CCPA requirements will transform the internet for all of us. Expect to see more cloud-based solutions offering privacy-related features to help businesses optimize their processes in compliance with consumer expectations and the law.
Spotlight on Data Protection
The CCPA isn’t all about privacy. The regulation also mandates that covered entities maintain reasonable security procedures. CCPA assigns specific penalties of $100 to $750 per consumer per incident, or actual damages (whichever is greater) should unauthorized access occur. It doesn’t matter whether access is through a breach, theft, or “disclosure as a result of the business’ violation of the duty to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices”.
In my opinion, “reasonable” is a very subjective term. If you’re looking for tactical guidance, I recommend following the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework. The NIST framework provides helpful tools for companies not required to follow industry-specific guidelines such as HIPAA or FINRA.
If you have questions about your organization’s cybersecurity measures or the NIST cybersecurity framework, send me an email. Invario offers a Cybersecurity Scorecard for our Worry Free customers. This scorecard lets you see at a glance what security measures are in place, and what you might want to consider adding to your IT roadmap.
An Increasingly Remote Workforce
Here at Invario, we’ve embraced a remote workforce for nearly two decades. In 2020, as younger workers request more freedom and flexibility, companies across the board are more open to letting them work remotely. More than ever, small business leaders rely on a remote workforce to help scale their business. Remote work allows employees to achieve their lifestyle goals. It also gives the company access to expanded talent pools outside their local footprint.
As a result of the remote workforce trend, collaboration tools are vital. File sharing and syncing software that allows secure access to business documents from anywhere, and cloud-based solutions like Office 365 are key to maintaining productivity. Invario can recommend a tool-set for your organization that balances ease-of-use with security.
I’ve also noticed is a shift in hardware choices as on-the-go workers increasingly opt for laptops over desktop machines. With today’s robust laptops, a single device can be used with a docking station at the office or be taken home at the end of the day. Invario continuously monitors new equipment coming on the market so that we can recommend the best hardware option for your business needs.
A Final Note
I hope all of you had a joyful holiday season in whatever way you celebrate. To see how I celebrated, go to Invario’s Facebook page. You may recognize a certain Elf on Good Morning America’s Play of the Day.
As we begin 2020, I want to thank all of Invario’s customers, colleagues and friends for the loyalty and support you’ve shown us over the past 3+ decades. I’m so proud of the work we do to enable other small businesses in meeting their goals. I wish you all continued success in the New Year!
Dave
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If you know of a company that would be interested in the services of Invario, please email me the company name along with the phone number and email for the person we should contact.
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Referral$
If you know of a company that would be interested in the services of Invario, please email me the company name along with the phone number and email for the person we should contact.
That is all you have to do! Upon completion of the onboarding of a new customer, Invario will pay the equivalent of one month of Invario service to that customer. Recipients that cannot or do not wish to receive a referral payment may elect to have the referral fee donated to a charity of their choice or put into a company entertainment fund.