This October, in honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, attention turns toward Indiana, the Hoosier State, which joined a growing list of American states in passing comprehensive consumer privacy laws this year. As professionals in the legal sphere and large enterprises, this wave of cybersecurity and data privacy legislation is vital to your operations.
According to a recent publication on JD Supra, Indiana’s new privacy law, slated to become operative from Jan 1, 2026, follows the trend of tightening data protection regulations seen elsewhere around the nation. Like its counterparts, this law stipulates that businesses must establish reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security practices to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of personal data.
The workings of this law paint a clearer picture of the growing importance of cybersecurity measures in every business setup. The potential for business implication due to lapses in cybersecure processes could be immense. As such, businesses may now have to demonstrate that they do more than just respond to breaches and threats; they are expected to actively build and maintain infrastructures capable of protecting personal data.
However, what the law classifies as ‘reasonable’ security practices is a grey area. Several factors may influence this, including the nature and size of the organization, the amount and types of data they handle, as well as the cost of implementing the required security measures.
In conclusion, the advent of Indiana’s law underlies the global trend recognizing the significance of data protection and cybersecurity. For corporations and law firms currently outside of its jurisdiction, it may foreshadow more stringent legislation to come in their own territories. With cybersecurity laws becoming more nuanced and detailed, it’s important for professionals to stay abreast with the changing landscapes of data privacy laws. As we move deeper into the Cybersecurity Awareness Month, may it serve as a reminder for all of us to revisit our cybersecurity practices.