The Privacy And Cybersecurity Challenge For Startups

For those starting a new business, privacy and cybersecurity are typically at the bottom of a long list of concerns. Among the reasons for the neglect, says Baker Donelson attorney Bill O’Connor, are a meager budget, the relentless press of more immediate issues, and “pivoting” – a change in the business model that results in different regulations and new kinds of cybersecurity challenges. Startup founders need to keep in mind that government enforcement, lawsuits, and the reputational costs of a data breach “could sink them,” O’Connor writes, and he advises making privacy and cybersecurity a high priority. Along with the outline of an effective program, this Today’s General Counsel article includes a list of useful resources from a variety of sources, including the Federal Trade Commission and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).