In marketing and sales, we need to pay attention to Cybersecurity and protect our businesses and clients from potential threats. We gather a lot of information on customers that may be desired by cyber criminals; names, email addresses, and credit card information are the most obvious. Laws enacted at the federal and state levels are expanding the definitions of "sensitive data" that needs to be protected. They are also providing some protections for businesses that put measures in place to minimize the potential for cyber theft. This article includes resources to help you assess the risks and develop a data protection plan.
"Street gangs are pivoting from black market drugs to identity theft..."
As I was conducting research for this article, I learned that criminal gangs in Miami are pivoting to identity theft because it's more lucrative than drugs. If street gangs are making a pivot from the very lucrative business of drug trafficking to an even more lucrative black market identity theft business, we better heed the warning.
My friend Mike Robidoux was the one who shared the source of this information, an article in Forbes entitled Miami Street Gangs See No Hope in Dope. They've Switched to Identity Fraud Fueled By Russian Hackers. Mike watches these developments closely. His business is ID Shield which provides products to protect businesses and individuals from identity theft. He also helps clean up the mess when individuals have their identities stolen.
In marketing and sales, we need to pay attention to this trend. We gather a lot of information on customers that may be desired by cyber criminals; names, email addresses, and credit card information are the most obvious. Laws enacted at the federal and state levels are expanding the definitions of "sensitive data" that needs to be protected. They are also providing some protections for businesses that put measures in place to minimize the potential for cyber theft.
Make sure the data clients entrust to you is secure. Below are some resources available at no cost that can help businesses assess their risk and mitigate the potential of becoming victims to cyber criminals.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a great overview of tools available from federal government departments to help businesses Stay Safe From Cybersecurity Threats. The site describes the common cyber crime tools (malware, viruses, ransomware and phishing) and provides links to resources at other departments designed to help businesses assess their risk and develop a plan to protect their data.
For Example:
Also check with your state's Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Every state has an SBDC, usually affiliated with their flagship university, and all the services provided are free (yes, FREE). The SBDC may have state-level resources to help you understand what is required by law in your state and help you protect your data.
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