FLORIDA INFORMATION
PROTECTION ACT.
The Florida-specific data-protection law every business operating in the state must meet — reasonable security measures, 30-day breach notification, secure disposal of records, and AG penalties up to $500K per breach.
FS § 501.171. No long-term contracts — 90-day notice. Local team in Ocala, FL.
SIX OBLIGATIONS
EVERY FL BUSINESS HAS.
Reasonable Security Measures
FS § 501.171(2): "reasonable measures to protect and secure data in electronic form containing personal information." What "reasonable" means evolves — the AG has interpreted it through NIST CSF, the CIS Controls, and prevailing industry standards.
30-Day Breach Notification
Notify affected individuals within 30 days of discovery (extendable by 15 days if law enforcement requests). Notify the FL Department of Legal Affairs if 500+ Floridians are affected. Faster than the federal HIPAA / FTC clocks in many cases.
Required Notice Content
Notice must include date of breach, description of data exposed, contact info, and steps consumers can take. If 1,000+ Floridians affected, you must also notify nationwide consumer reporting agencies.
Secure Disposal of Records
Customer records containing personal information must be disposed of securely (shredding, erasure, destruction). Vendor third-party disposal counts but you remain accountable for the process.
Civil Penalties
Up to $500,000 per breach event for violations. The Florida AG can also recover costs and obtain injunctive relief. Penalties compound for repeat violations.
Definition of Personal Information
FL-defined PI is broader than federal: includes SSN, driver's license, financial account + access codes, medical info, health insurance ID, biometric data, online account credentials, and email + password combos.
FIPA APPLIES TO
EVERYONE.
FIPA-READY
BEFORE THE BREACH.
Reasonable Security Baseline
We implement and document the NIST CSF / CIS Controls baseline that the AG and your insurance carrier will recognize as "reasonable measures" in 2026.
Breach Response Plan
A written incident-response plan that hits the 30-day FIPA clock — discovery procedures, notification templates, AG contact path, ready before you need it.
Secure Disposal Process
Documented secure-disposal procedure for records, devices, and backups. Vendor management for any third-party disposal partners — chain of custody preserved.
BE READY BEFORE THE BREACH.
FIPA reasonable security baseline + breach-response plan — under one local team.
Talk to a Simply IT specialist about FIPA readiness — no obligation.
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