New data laws affect all businesses
A local business is partnering with the Malden Chamber of Commerce to ensure local businesses aren't caught violating the state's newest data privacy laws.
Local business owner Paul Murphy, President of Paul T. Murphy Insurance, is offering a free one-hour workshop led by Paul Troisi of Troy Security Solutions to business owners who want to learn more about the regulations, known as 201 CMR 17.00. The law, which went into effect on March 1, requires all businesses that handle personal information to develop and implement a data security plan to safeguard the information from theft.
Although the law mandates compliance by all businesses as of March 1, many local storeowners are unaware that it even exists, said Malden Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ted Coates.
“The biggest problem is nobody knows about it,” he said. “There haven't been people calling and that's worrying.”
Other businesses assume they are already in compliance, something Murphy thought before he was approached by someone with knowledge of the law.
“I had no idea,” he said. “But then I got a little paranoid.”
Murphy hired Troy Security Solutions to develop a data security plan for his company, which he has added to the employee handbook and implemented in all day-to-day operations. Other businesses might not go that route, he said, but the workshop should help dispel some common misperceptions about the regulations, which carry a fine of up to $50,000 fine for businesses not in compliance.
“You've got to be able to prove you're compliant,” said Murphy, who now keeps receipts to show that all copies of customer records are properly disposed of. “No one wants to get sued for anything.”
The workshop, which will be held at Eastern Bank on the evening of April 22, is free of charge for Malden Chamber of Commerce members and costs $15 for non members. Call the chamber at (781) 322-4500 for more information.
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