Dec 20, 2017   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for Businesses for 2018

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann is offering 10 resolutions to help Pennsylvania businesses protect themselves and their customers in 2018.

"Governor Wolf and I want Pennsylvania businesses to succeed, thrive, and continue to provide the necessary fuel for our commonwealth's economy," said Secretary Wiessmann. "In the midst of a technology revolution that is changing the business models of many sectors of our economy, these 10 resolutions provide positive, proactive steps businesses can take towards achieving their goals in the New Year."

Secretary Wiessmann's 10 Top Resolutions for businesses for 2018:

    1. Protect your business and customers by getting serious about
       cybersecurity. Deliberate cyberattacks and cyberthreats pose substantial
       risk to Pennsylvania's financial infrastructure and national security.
       Secretary Wiessmann recently issued guidance to businesses on
       cybersecurity:
       www.dobs.pa.gov/Documents/Secretary%20Letters/All%20Business/Cybersecurit
       y_Letter_11.13.17_FINAL.pdf
    2. Research how to start up or expand your business by raising capital
       through a securities offering. In Pennsylvania, selling shares of your
       company or making a debt offering requires either that you register your
       sale or seek an exemption. Learn more about this issue:
       www.dobs.pa.gov/Documents/Publications/Brochures/CorpFin10.17.pdf
    3. Renew your state license on time. Renewal deadlines can vary by license
       type. Learn more about the requirements for financial services providers
       at: www.dobs.pa.gov/Businesses
    4. Learn how to protect your clients from elder financial abuse. The
       department offers nationally recognized Senior $AFE and Elder Investment
       Fraud and Financial Exploitation (EIFFE) Prevention Programs to business
       groups. Contact us at informed@pa.gov to learn more about you and your
       employees can protect your customers from this crime.
    5. Learn about how the Equifax breach could affect your business and
       customers. The Equifax data breach will affect businesses and consumers
       for months and even years. Businesses can take several steps to protect
       themselves and their customers, including performing due diligence on
       contracts they may have with Equifax and other companies that handle
       confidential customer information. Learn more:
       www.media.pa.gov/pages/banking_details.aspx?newsid=182
    6. Protect your business from email phishing scams. An area of growing
       cybersecurity concern for businesses is the occurrence of business email
       scams or business email compromise. Learn how your employees can protect
       company information:
       www.dobs.pa.gov/Documents/Publications/Handouts/Business%20Email%20Scams.
       pdf
    7. Protect your customers from card skimmers. Card skimming is a serious
       offense that that not only affects businesses and their customers, but
       has also been known to have links to international organized crime. Learn
       about the multi-agency effort to combat skimmers and what you can do:
       www.media.pa.gov/pages/banking_details.aspx?newsid=178
    8. Learn how to help your clients affected by the opioid epidemic. Financial
       services professionals are on the front line of the opioid crisis due to
       the high costs associated with addiction and treatment. Learn more how to
       help: www.dobs.pa.gov/Documents/Publications/Brochures/Opioid%20Guide.pdf
    9. Call your regulator with questions. The department works to ensure that
       the firms we supervise understand the rules under which they are expected
       to operate and help them navigate Pennsylvania and federal regulatory
       structures. Call 1-800-PA-BANKS to connect with your regulator.
    10. Become more well-informed about the marketplace. Secretary Wiessmann and
        her staff meet with business groups to discuss regulatory issues and
        industry trends, Contact her office at dobssecretary@pa.gov.

Business groups interested in department presentations can make inquiries at informed@pa.gov. Anyone can contact the Department of Banking and Securities at 1-800-PA-BANKS or 1-800-600-0007 to ask questions or file complaints about financial transactions, companies, or products. Members of the public are also invited to connect to the department through Facebook and Twitter, or subscribing to the department's newsletter.

Media contact: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities