Published 2025-02-18 by TechNet New England
Regulatory compliance is not just for large enterprises. Small and mid-sized businesses face real requirements based on their industry, the data they handle, and who they do business with. Understanding your obligations is the first step to meeting them.
Common Compliance Frameworks
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
Applies to: Healthcare providers, health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and their business associates
Key requirements:
- Protect the privacy of patient health information (PHI)
- Implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards
- Conduct regular risk assessments
- Have business associate agreements with vendors
- Report breaches according to notification rules
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
Applies to: Any business that accepts, processes, stores, or transmits credit card data
Key requirements:
- Protect cardholder data with encryption
- Maintain secure networks and systems
- Implement access controls
- Monitor and test networks regularly
- Maintain an information security policy
State Privacy Laws
Many states have enacted their own privacy regulations (California's CCPA/CPRA, Virginia's VCDPA, etc.) requiring:
- Disclosure of data collection practices
- Consumer rights to access and delete data
- Opt-out mechanisms for data sales
- Reasonable security measures
Industry-Specific Requirements
- Financial services: GLBA, SOX, various SEC/FINRA rules
- Legal: State bar requirements, client confidentiality obligations
- Government contractors: CMMC, NIST 800-171
- Education: FERPA for student records
Building a Compliance Program
1. Understand Your Obligations
- Identify which regulations apply to your business
- Understand the specific requirements of each
- Consider contractual obligations from customers and partners
2. Assess Your Current State
- Conduct a gap analysis against requirements
- Document existing policies and controls
- Identify areas needing improvement
3. Implement Controls
- Technical controls (encryption, access controls, monitoring)
- Administrative controls (policies, procedures, training)
- Physical controls (facility security, device management)
4. Document Everything
- Written policies and procedures
- Evidence of control implementation
- Training records
- Incident response documentation
- Risk assessments and remediation plans
5. Maintain and Monitor
- Regular reviews of policies and controls
- Ongoing training for employees
- Periodic audits and assessments
- Continuous monitoring where required
Common Compliance Mistakes
- Assuming compliance does not apply to small businesses
- Treating compliance as a one-time project instead of ongoing program
- Focusing only on technical controls while ignoring policies and training
- Not documenting what you do
- Ignoring vendor and business associate requirements
Compliance can feel overwhelming, but it does not have to be. Contact TechNet New England for help understanding your compliance obligations and building a practical program.