Texas‑Specific Tech, Data, Privacy, and Security Rules — How a Managed Service Provider Like TodoSecure Can Keep Your Small Business Compliant

Why Texas Matters

Texas is home to more than 250,000 small businesses, and while the Lone Star State does not yet have a single, sweeping consumer‑privacy statute comparable to California’s CCPA, it does impose several industry‑specific and statewide obligations that affect virtually every organization that handles technology, data, or customer information. Ignoring these rules can result in hefty civil penalties, costly breach remediation, and lost customer confidence.

Below is a concise, Texas‑focused guide that outlines the key legal requirements and shows exactly how a managed service provider (MSP) such as TodoSecure can help you meet—and stay ahead of—those obligations.

1. Core Texas Data‑Protection Requirements

Requirement	What It Means for You	How TodoSecure Helps
Texas Business and Commerce Code § 521.001 (Data Breach Notification)	Must notify affected Texas residents and the Attorney General within 60 days of discovering a breach involving personal identifying information (PII).	TodoSecure monitors your network for suspicious activity, detects breaches early, and prepares the legally required notification letters so you meet the 60‑day deadline.
Texas Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act (ITEPA) §§ 521.051‑521.058	Requires reasonable security procedures to protect PII and mandates that businesses retain records of security measures for at least two years.	TodoSecure implements and documents industry‑standard security controls (encryption, MFA, patch management) and supplies you with audit‑ready reports for regulator review.
Texas Health‑Care Information Act (THCIA) – for health‑related businesses	Mirrors HIPAA’s privacy and security rules; imposes breach‑notification and data‑protection duties on entities handling protected health information (PHI).	TodoSecure configures HIPAA‑compliant email, storage, and backup solutions, and signs Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with any cloud services you use.
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) – required whenever you accept credit‑card payments.	Enforces encryption, network segmentation, regular vulnerability scanning, and quarterly self‑assessments.	TodoSecure sets up and maintains PCI‑validated point‑of‑sale (POS) environments, runs quarterly scans, and assists with the SAQ (Self‑Assessment Questionnaire) submission.
COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) – applies if you collect data from children under 13, regardless of state.	Obtain verifiable parental consent before gathering any personal data from minors.	TodoSecure adds age‑gate mechanisms and consent‑capture workflows to your website, ensuring COPPA compliance without extra effort on your part.

Bottom line: In Texas, the law focuses heavily on reasonable security practices, timely breach notification, and proper documentation. An MSP that continuously monitors, updates, and records those controls removes most of the compliance burden from your shoulders.

2. Federal Laws That Still Apply in Texas

Even though Texas lacks a broad consumer‑privacy act, the following federal regulations still govern many small businesses:

Law	Scope	Key Obligations
FTC Safeguards Rule (under the Gramm‑Leach‑Bliley Act)	Any entity that handles “consumer report information” (e.g., credit‑reporting, loan applications).	Written information‑security program, employee training, risk assessments, and incident‑response planning.
HIPAA (if you handle PHI)	Healthcare providers, insurers, and their business associates.	Administrative, physical, and technical safeguards; breach notifications; BAAs.
GLBA (Gramm‑Leach‑Bliley Act)	Financial institutions and affiliates.	Protect nonpublic personal financial information; provide privacy notices.
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)	Educational institutions receiving federal funds.	Secure student records; limit disclosures.
COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)	Websites/apps directed at children < 13.	Parental consent, clear privacy policies.

TodoSecure’s service suite is designed to satisfy these federal standards simultaneously, so you don’t need separate solutions for each law.

3. The Practical Compliance Checklist for Texas Small Businesses

✅	Action	Frequency	TodoSecure’s Role
1	Map all data you collect, store, and transmit (customer names, emails, payment info, health data, etc.).	One‑time, then annually	TodoSecure conducts a rapid data‑inventory scan and delivers a visual map you can reference for privacy notices.
2	Create or update a privacy notice that explains what data you collect, why, and how you protect it.	Immediately, review yearly	TodoSecure drafts a Texas‑friendly privacy statement and adds it to your website footer.
3	Sign Data‑Processing Agreements (DPAs) with every cloud or SaaS provider.	Before onboarding each vendor	TodoSecure negotiates DPAs on your behalf and stores them securely for audit purposes.
4	Enable Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) on all admin and remote‑access accounts.	Ongoing	TodoSecure configures MFA across Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and any VPN solutions you use.
5	Encrypt data at rest and in transit (email, file storage, backups).	Ongoing	TodoSecure deploys end‑to‑end encryption for Proton Mail, Proton Drive, and any other services you rely on.
6	Patch and update software within 30 days of vendor releases.	Monthly	TodoSecure runs automated patch management and sends you a concise status report.
7	Back up critical data (minimum weekly, retain for 90 days).	Weekly	TodoSecure manages encrypted off‑site backups and performs quarterly restore tests.
8	Develop a breach‑response plan that includes Texas‑specific notification steps.	Immediately, test annually	TodoSecure writes the response playbook, assigns roles, and conducts tabletop exercises.
9	Train employees on phishing, password hygiene, and data‑handling policies.	Annually (or semi‑annually)	TodoSecure delivers interactive security awareness modules tailored to Texas SMBs.
10	Monitor for compliance gaps (e.g., missing BAAs, outdated policies).	Quarterly	TodoSecure performs a compliance health check and flags any gaps before they become violations.

4. How TodoSecure Acts as Your Ongoing Compliance Partner

1. Continuous Threat Monitoring – 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) watches network traffic, endpoint logs, and cloud activity for indicators of compromise. Early detection reduces breach impact and helps you meet the 60‑day notification window.

2. Managed Patch & Update Service – Automated patch deployment across Windows, macOS, Linux, and third‑party applications eliminates the “forgotten software” risk that regulators often cite as unreasonable security.

3. Secure Cloud Migration & Management – Whether you move to Proton Mail, Proton Drive, or another encrypted platform, TodoSecure handles configuration, encryption keys, and ongoing access reviews.

4. Regulatory Documentation & Reporting – We generate the exact paperwork the Texas Attorney General, FTC, or PCI Council expects: breach‑notification letters, risk‑assessment summaries, audit logs, and compliance dashboards.

5. Incident‑Response Playbooks Tailored to Texas Law – Our playbooks embed the 60‑day breach‑notification timeline, required content for Texas residents, and pre‑approved language for public statements.

6. Vendor Risk Management – TodoSecure evaluates third‑party SaaS providers against Texas and federal security standards, ensuring every partner you work with meets the same bar you do.

7. Scalable Pricing for Small Teams – Packages start at a modest monthly fee, covering core services (MFA, patching, backup, monitoring) and optional add‑ons (PCI‑DSS validation, HIPAA‑ready environments) as your business grows.

5. Quick‑Start Roadmap (First 30 Days)

Day	Milestone	What You Do	What TodoSecure Does
1‑3	Kickoff & Data Inventory	Share a list of apps, devices, and data types you handle.	Conduct an automated discovery scan and deliver a data‑flow diagram.
4‑7	Policy Drafting	Review a draft privacy notice and acceptable‑use policy.	Incorporate Texas‑specific language, obtain your approval, and publish on your site.
8‑14	Security Baseline Setup	Grant temporary admin access (or use a secure delegation method).	Deploy MFA, enable disk encryption, configure firewall rules, and set up backup schedules.
15‑21	Vendor & DPA Review	Provide contracts for any SaaS tools you use.	Negotiate DPAs, sign BAAs where needed, and store all agreements in a central repository.
22‑30	Testing & Training	Participate in a short phishing simulation.	Run a simulated breach drill, verify breach‑notification workflow, and deliver a compliance health report.

After the first month, you’ll have a solid compliance foundation, and TodoSecure will continue to monitor, maintain, and improve your security posture.

6. Final Takeaway

Operating a small business in Texas doesn’t mean you have to become a legal expert or a full‑time security engineer. By focusing on reasonable, documented safeguards, meeting the state’s breach‑notification timeline, and partnering with an experienced MSP like TodoSecure, you can:

• Avoid costly fines from the Texas Attorney General or federal regulators.

• Protect customer trust by demonstrating proactive privacy and security practices.

• Free up time to concentrate on growth, knowing your data and technology compliance is in capable hands.

Ready to get started? Reach out today for a complimentary compliance health check, and let TodoSecure turn your tech stack into a compliant, resilient asset for your Texas‑based business.