Does Your Business Meet Federal and State Compliances? Here’s How We Can Help

It’s one thing to lock the front door at night and another to make sure every window, back door, and side entrance is secure, too. That’s what compliance feels like in today’s digital world: covering every entry point before someone tests it. Federal and state regulations keep shifting, and the penalties for falling behind are rarely small.

Cybercrime isn’t slowing down either. Statista projects a $6.4 trillion global increase in cybercrime costs between 2024 and 2029. The risk is playing out in real time for businesses across every sector. The question is less “Do we need to comply?” and more “Are we doing enough to stay compliant as the rules change?”

In this article, we’ll walk through key compliance standards, like the FTC Safeguards Rule, CMMC, PCI DSS, HIPAA, SEC rules, and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and explain how we can help you meet them without drowning in red tape.

Why Compliance Matters More Than Ever

Compliance isn’t just an item on your quarterly checklist. It’s a safeguard for your customers’ trust, your reputation, and sometimes your ability to operate at all. Laws and regulations are written to protect sensitive data, whether it’s payment card numbers, patient records, or government contract details. In some cases, they align closely with federal cybersecurity performance goals designed to help organizations strengthen their defenses.

The consequences of ignoring those requirements can be severe. Fines in the six- or seven-figure range are not unusual, and the damage to your reputation can linger long after the penalty is paid. Even small businesses aren’t immune, as many compliance rules apply regardless of company size if you handle certain types of data.

The triggers are everywhere. If you process card payments, PCI DSS applies. Handle health records? You’re under HIPAA. Offer certain financial services? The FTC Safeguards Rule could be on your plate. Work on a defense contract? CMMC certification isn’t optional. And with regulators stepping up enforcement, waiting until “next quarter” to act can be a costly gamble.

Key Federal and State Compliance Standards Your Business May Face

Every framework has its own focus, but there’s more overlap than you might think. Understanding what’s out there and what applies to you is the first step toward building a sustainable compliance plan.

FTC Safeguards Rule (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)

If your business is considered a “financial institution” under the FTC’s broad definition, you’re required to create and maintain a security program that protects customer information. That means: 

• Naming a qualified person to manage it
• Performing documented risk assessments
• Encrypting customer data
• Requiring multi-factor authentication
• Securely disposing of old records

The most recent update adds breach notification rules, making timely reporting part of compliance.

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)

This one applies to Department of Defense contractors and subcontractors. Its goal is to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and it’s layered: different levels of certification depending on what kind of work you do.

Many of its requirements overlap with other frameworks like NIST, PCI DSS, and HIPAA. If you fall under more than one, mapping those requirements can save time, money, and frustration.

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

Any business handling payment card data has to meet PCI DSS standards. This applies to e-commerce as well as physical transactions. It covers the following: 

• Securing networks
• Encrypting transmitted data
• Keeping anti-malware protection current
• Controlling who can access cardholder information
• Testing systems for weaknesses

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

HIPAA applies to any organization handling Protected Health Information, from hospitals to small clinics and even certain third-party service providers. Understanding the best practices for improving HIPAA compliance can make meeting those requirements far easier.

It’s built on three types of safeguards: administrative, technical, and physical. It includes breach notification requirements.

SEC Cybersecurity Rules

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s cybersecurity rules require public companies, investment advisers, and brokers to disclose material cyber risks, as well as significant incidents, in a timely manner. These rules are about ensuring transparency in how organizations manage cybersecurity threats. Even though the rules are aimed at the financial sector, they signal a broader shift in regulatory thinking. 

Increasingly, regulators expect businesses of all kinds to have clear policies, active risk monitoring, and honest reporting. The underlying message is simple: Cybersecurity is a governance issue, not just an IT matter, and it belongs on every boardroom agenda.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is widely respected as a practical blueprint for improving an organization’s security posture. Although it isn’t a legal requirement for most companies, it provides a well-structured approach built around five key functions: 

• Identify
• Protect
• Detect
• Respond
• Recover

These functions help organizations create a balanced defense: 

• Addressing threats before they happen
• Responding effectively during an incident
• Restoring operations quickly afterward

Its flexibility allows businesses in different industries to tailor it to their size, resources, and risk profile. Many organizations also find that adopting NIST principles streamlines their path to meeting other compliance obligations more efficiently.

Strengthen Your Compliance Posture with Expert Help

The hardest part about compliance isn’t knowing what the rules are. It’s keeping up when they change and making sure every safeguard stays in place. Most frameworks share common ground: controlling access to data, encrypting sensitive information, testing systems, and preparing for incident response. The challenge is doing all of that consistently while running your business.

At Unbound Digital, we start by understanding your operations: what data you handle, which systems you use, and where your potential vulnerabilities lie. 

From there, we help you:

• Assess your current compliance posture against the frameworks that apply to you.
• Map overlapping requirements so you’re not doing twice the work to meet the same goal.
• Implement the right safeguards, whether that’s encryption, access controls, or multi-factor authentication.
• Monitor continuously so you’re ready for audits and can adjust when regulations change.

When done right, compliance shifts from being a reactive scramble to a strategic advantage. Clients and partners see it as proof you take security seriously, and that trust can open doors just as easily as it protects them.

Let’s cut through the complexity, put the right safeguards in place, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Contact us today to schedule a compliance assessment and take the first step toward a stronger, more secure future.