Eight years ago, on March 1, 2017, the New York Department of Financial Services enacted its landmark cybersecurity regulation covering financial services companies, 23 NYCRR Part 500, known as “Part 500.” Part 500 was the first state regulation to enumerate, in great detail, the elements of a cybersecurity program that a covered financial service company […]
Board Governance & Cyber Risk Management
UK Government Publishes Cyber Governance Code of Practice for Boards and Directors
On April 8, 2025, the UK government published the Cyber Code of Practice (the “Code”) to support board directors in governing cybersecurity risks. The Code is available online. The UK’s data protection regulator is actively investigating and, in some instances, fining companies for personal data breaches caused by cybersecurity issues. It is therefore more important […]
UK’s Data Protection Regulator fines a UK SaaS provider ~$4 million following a ransomware incident
On March 26, 2025, the UK data protection regulator (the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”)) fined Advanced Computer Software Group Ltd (“Advanced”) £3.07 million (approximately $4 million). In 2022, Advanced suffered a ransomware incident that put the personal data of 79,404 people at risk. In its penalty notice, the ICO found that Advanced failed to implement […]
European Commission Moves to Extend Free Flows of Personal Data to the UK
On March 18, 2025, the European Commission proposed to extend its adequacy decision in favor of the United Kingdom (‘UK’) for an additional six-month period. This would allow free flows of personal data from the EU to the UK to continue until December 2025. The existing adequacy decision – which was adopted in 2021 in […]
Belgian Data Protection Authority Issues Updated Guidance on Direct Marketing Rules
On March 10, 2025, the Belgian Data Protection Authority (BDPA) updated its 2020 guidance on the processing of personal data for direct marketing purposes (see the updated guidance here in French and in Dutch). The BDPA reviewed its original guidance to help companies from all sectors navigate applicable EU privacy and data protection law requirements […]