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Industry Alert: Cyber Security Resources for Businesses

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The month of October is recognized as Cyber Security Awareness Month, designed to raise awareness about cyber security and staying safe online. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation reminds all Florida businesses to engage in smart cyber security practices and to take steps to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a cyber incident.
Typically, the purpose of a cyber breach is to steal or exploit information. As we have seen in recent months, large companies are targets of cyber attacks. But small businesses are not immune, potentially because they may have less security than a large company and they likely hold more digital information than an individual. Ensuring compliance with best practices for cyber security and reducing your risk is the best way to ward off a cyber threat.
If your organization is impacted by a cyber breach, make sure you understand your obligations to consumers under Florida’s Information Protection Act. The Florida Information Protection Act of 2014 was passed to better protect Floridians’ personal information by ensuring that businesses and government entities take reasonable measures to protect personal information and report data breaches to affected consumers.
Below are some resources to assist businesses in creating a cyber security policy and action plan.

  • The Federal Communications Commission offers helpful cyber security tips to protect your business, including training employees and creating back-up copies of important data.
  • The Federal Communications Commission also offers an online tool to help create a customized cyber security plan.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration offers a free web-based course about securing information in a small business.
  • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers downloadable resources about protecting your privacy and staying safe online.
  • The National Cyber Security Alliance offers a framework for identifying and prioritizing online risk.

Industry Alert: Check Cashing Compliance

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The Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) reminds all check cashers to be fully aware of and adhere to the requirements of Chapter 560, Florida Statutes.
Check cashers are reminded to comply with all reporting and record-keeping requirements and to ensure strict adherence to their anti-money laundering programs. Chapter 560, Florida Statutes, requires businesses operating as check cashers to develop, implement and maintain an effective anti-money laundering policy and to report suspicious activity to the OFR. Florida law also requires check cashers to maintain all books, records and other information necessary for determining compliance, as well as file all reports timely, and include information as specified in administrative rule.
In addition, when cashing checks in excess of $1,000 or cashing corporate checks, a check casher has additional compliance responsibilities, including entering information into Florida’s check cashing database. Compliance with these requirements is essential to preventing check cashers from becoming a conduit for criminal activity. We encourage check cashers to review and fully understand compliance requirements. The OFR supports check cashers who comply with the law and provide important services to Floridians. The OFR routinely examines all check cashers to ensure they are complying with Chapter 560, Florida Statutes.

For more information, please contact the OFR’s Customer Service Help Line at (850) 487-9687.