Are you sure your business is safe online? The must-haves for digital security

Data protection and digital security can make or break a business. 28 January is Data Protection Day in Europe and although we fully support this awareness initiative, every day should be Data Protection Day in your business.  

Why? Data is a precious resource, requiring the highest standard of protection. Falling victim to cyberattacks that endanger the privacy and security of that data can seriously damage trust in a business and ultimately hold back its success.  

With over 60 brands in the team.blue ecosystem, supporting millions of small and medium businesses (SMBs) with digital tools and services, we’ve witnessed the many different data challenges and security risks digital businesses come across – and helped eliminate them so entrepreneurs can stay focussed on growth.  

The Foundation: Your Data Protection Responsibilities 

Every business that collects customer data bears significant responsibility — and liability — for protecting that information. As cybersecurity specialists supporting team.blue brands and the millions of SMBs we work with, we've identified several essential steps that SMBs should take to stay safe online:  

1. Choose a secure Digital Partner

Select digital service providers with strong security systems in place. To ensure this,  look for ISO 27001 certification – a globally recognized standard for managing information security risks - and audit reports based on SOC2 or ISAE 3402/3000 – which means an independent third party has verified security controls. These indicate robust security practices that will protect your business and customer data. 

2. Implement Privacy-First Tools 

SMBs need more support to manage a successful digital home and use it as the springboard for growth than just tools for hosting websites and registering domains. Essential privacy tools for 2025 include: 

• Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) for cookie handling and privacy preferences 
• Multi-language privacy policies that adapt to visitor location 
• GDPR-compliant data processing records 
• Cookie consent banners with granular control options 
• Privacy-friendly analytics alternatives to Google Analytics 

Find out more about privacy tools from our leading compliance brands iubenda, consentmanager, complianZ, Really Simple SSL and CookieFirst. 

3. Maintain Regular Backups 

Cyber threats continue evolving, making data backup crucial. To mitigate potential risks, small and medium business need to choose a provider they can trust to keep data safe – for example, suppliers that provide automated backup solutions and data storage across multiple locations. This ensures business continuity even if primary systems are compromised.  

For ease and peace of mind, businesses should always ensure their digital services suppliers can guarantee best-in-class data back-up and protection. 

Looking Forward - Emerging Trends and Regulatory Changes  

For SMBs, navigating the complex landscape of data privacy and other e-compliance regulations can feel overwhelming. The right technology partner should offer tools that are straightforward to implement and easily tailored to specific SMB needs, handling different languages and local requirements across Europe and beyond. This frees up entrepreneurs to focus on growing their business with confidence, knowing their compliance needs are being handled expertly and – importantly – that their data is safe. 

So what should SMBs look out for this year? 

1. European Regulations 

• The EU's Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER), which aims to strengthen the resilience of critical entities against a range of threats such as cyber threats, now impacts digital service providers, including hosting companies. This means stricter security requirements for infrastructure supporting online businesses – SMBs should ensure their supplier has made the necessary changes. team.blue brands such as Combell have already implemented these new requirements.  
• The NIS2 Directive, which looks to enhance cybersecurity across the EU, requires institutions and businesses, including digital services providers such as team.blue, to adopt technical, operational, and organizational measures to manage cybersecurity risks, as well as notify relevant national authorities of significant incidents. This regulation will raise the bar for the level of cybersecurity practices you should look for in a digital supplier.

2. U.S. Privacy Laws 

• 2025 brings new state-level privacy regulations: 
• Iowa Consumer Protection Act strengthening data breach notifications 
• Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act introducing consumer rights 
• Nebraska Data Privacy Act focusing on data minimization 
• New Hampshire and New Jersey implementing comprehensive privacy frameworks 

Future-Proofing SMBs 

SMBs can stay ahead by: 

• Implementing automated compliance monitoring 
• Choosing providers that proactively update their tools and processes for new regulations 
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments 
• Continuous employee training on data protection best practices 

Conclusion 

This Data Protection Day, SMBs should take time to review their security measures and ensure they meet current standards. Data protection isn't just about compliance— investing in security tools and practices with the highest standard will build customer trust and safeguard future growth.  

As a trusted digital partner to millions of SMBs, we will continue to provide the tools and expertise entrepreneurs need to navigate an ever-evolving complex regulatory landscape, protect against cybercrime and succeed.