Cybersecurity Laws and Regulations: Why Do They Exist?

By Dr. Andre Slonopas  |  12/11/2025

Let’s face it – data breaches happen all the time. No matter the industry, cyber threats keep knocking at the door.

From healthcare organizations to retail giants and federal agencies, many organizations have felt the sting of major cybersecurity incidents. These incidents aren’t just isolated blips anymore; they’re signals that our security practices and control frameworks need more than a check-box approach.

When a breach hits – when cardholder data, electronic patient records, or consumer personal info ends up in the wrong hands – it forces regulators to step in. The European Union-wide data privacy legislation in Europe, also known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) triggered waves of change.

In the U.S., state laws under acts like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the patchwork of breach-notification statutes responded in kind. Every time we hear about a mass incident or weak technical safeguards, lawmakers double down on compliance requirements and risk-assessment expectations.

That means if your customer data or third-party vendor supporting critical infrastructure gets hit, you must act – and fast. Many states require organizations to report security incidents “in the most expedient time possible, without unreasonable delay.”

In California, if you’re handling the data of its residents and a breach happens, you might need to notify both the affected individuals and the Attorney General, depending on the scale.

That isn’t just a formality. These breach-notification laws aim to restore trust and build transparency. When organizations disclose what happened, what information was exposed, and what they’re doing about it, it helps everyone – impacted individuals, regulators, and the organization’s own risk-management team.

In short: you don’t just face the risk of data loss. You face the consequences of how you managed (or didn’t manage) your cybersecurity program and security controls.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was built to protect patient privacy. It’s the rulebook that tells healthcare organizations how to keep their customer data safe, especially information such as medical histories and electronic health records. At its core, it’s about data protection – who can see patient information, how it’s stored, and how it’s shared.

The healthcare sector has become a favorite target for hackers. Why? Cyber threats follow value, and few things are more valuable than detailed medical data.

Unlike credit card transactions, which can be reversed, stolen health records can’t be replaced. They’re used for identity theft, insurance fraud, and blackmail. That’s why federal agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services keep pushing for tighter cybersecurity practices and stronger security measures.

Compliance under HIPAA isn’t just about paperwork. It’s about real protection – data encryption, access control, and regular vulnerability testing.

That means running a proper risk assessment, training staff, and using security controls that actually work. A comprehensive information security program matters just as much as having the right policies on paper.

When things go wrong – and they sometimes do – the cost is steep. Non-compliance with cybersecurity regulations can lead to massive fines, public scrutiny, and damaged trust. The federal government and law enforcement agencies are taking these cases more seriously now, treating poor risk management as a direct threat to national security.

For healthcare providers, good cyber defense programs aren’t just about passing audits. They’re about protecting people’s lives and dignity.

The General Data Protection Regulation

The GDPR changed everything. It set the gold standard for information protection and privacy worldwide.

When the GDPR went into effect, it forced companies – not just in Europe, but across the globe – to take privacy seriously. It made clear that data security isn’t optional anymore; it’s part of doing business.

At its heart, GDPR is about control. People must give clear consent before their personal information is used. They have the right to see it, correct it, or have it deleted – the famous “right to be forgotten.”

The GDPR also sets strict security guidelines for how information systems handle and store data, especially across borders. That includes how third-party risk management works when data moves between vendors and partners.

Its impact reaches far beyond the EU. The U.S. looked to GDPR when it was shaping data privacy laws like the California privacy law.

Even federal agencies and financial institutions had to rethink how they manage cybersecurity practices, conduct security audits, and respond to data breaches. You can see traces of GDPR in nearly every new cybersecurity regulation or federal law aimed at accountability.

GDPR raised the bar for everyone – governments, the private sector, and cybersecurity professionals alike. It tied managing compliance directly to reputation and trust.

Ignore it, and you face harsh penalties and public backlash. Follow it, and your organization’s security posture becomes stronger, clearer, and far more transparent. GDPR didn’t just change policy; it redefined the meaning of data safeguarding itself.

Data Privacy Laws

Privacy laws aren’t just a trend anymore – they’re the new global rulebook. From Europe to Asia to the U.S., data privacy laws keep spreading as cyber threats grow more aggressive. What started with the European data protection framework has now evolved into a web of local and regional cybersecurity laws meant to protect personal data from misuse, leaks, and corporate carelessness.

In the U.S., the California Consumer Privacy Act kicked things off. It gave California residents the power to know who’s collecting their data, why, and how it’s being used.

Other states quickly followed with their own versions of this act, creating a patchwork of federal and state laws that businesses must now navigate. These laws force companies to rethink how they gather and store personal information, as well as how transparent they are about their security practices.

For global companies, it’s a constant balancing act. One country may focus on consent and access, while another is concerned with retention and deletion.

That makes managing compliance complicated, especially when information systems handle millions of records across borders. Ignoring one regulation can trigger fines, investigations, or worse – legal consequences under federal law or state enforcement.

These rules aren’t just for the private sector, either. Financial institutions, federal agencies, and even critical infrastructure providers must follow evolving security standards to avoid data breaches and protect digital assets.

As cybersecurity regulations tighten, compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties. It’s about proving your data security program deserves public trust.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Data Breaches

Key infrastructures like power lines are often what people think of when they hear the phrase “critical infrastructure.” That’s not all, though. Critical infrastructure includes everything that makes modern life possible, including:

• Power plants
• Roads
• Water systems
• Hospitals
• Phone lines

Immediately and widely, bad things will happen if these critical infrastructures don’t work. That’s why keeping them safe isn’t just a technical matter; it’s also a matter of national security.

Cyberattacks on these infrastructures have become incredibly common in recent years, which is very scary. Attacks on hospitals, pipes, and utilities showed how easily broken operating technology can be.

These attacks aren’t just random hacks; they’re planned cyberattacks that could hurt countries and even put lives in danger. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) steps in to help with such attacks. Having clear cybersecurity performance goals helps businesses figure out how to protect themselves and report cybersecurity events in the best way possible.

To help make things more resilient, the Department of Homeland Security has also pushed for stricter computer rules. As a result, the public and private sectors must now work together to survive. Companies can find risks faster and stop failures from spreading by sharing danger information under laws like the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA).

Noncompliance is still a weak link, though. Some businesses are behind the times and don’t follow privacy rules until there is a breach that forces them to change.

It’s very clear that these systems can’t afford to be lazy. Now is the time to make your defenses stronger before the next digital earthquake hits. Currently, the National Institute of Standards and Technology is working on new security standards.

The Federal Information Security Management Act

The 2002 Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) sits quietly behind much of how the federal government protects its data. It doesn’t make headlines, but it shapes how federal agencies, contractors, and even vendors handle their information systems.

At its core, FISMA is simple. Organizations need to:

• Protect government data from cyber threats
• Stay compliant with cybersecurity laws
• Provide proof of their protection and compliance

FISMA was built on one truth: security isn’t a one-time job. It’s a cycle. Agencies are expected to monitor, assess, and adapt – again and again.

Continuous oversight, regular risk assessments, and well-documented security controls form the backbone of this process. It’s the difference between saying you’re secure and actually living it every day.

But FISMA isn’t just another federal law collecting dust on a shelf. It connects to a much bigger story – a push toward structured accountability.

Think of it as part of the same movement that birthed the EU data protection law in Europe or the California’s consumer data law in the U.S. Each of these laws and regulations share a common goal: to make data protection measurable, enforceable, and real.

Behind all the frameworks and acronyms are people – analysts, auditors, and cybersecurity professionals – working to keep our digital infrastructure safe. They test systems, patch weaknesses, and chase compliance deadlines.

It’s not glamorous work, but it matters. Because when cybersecurity incidents hit and data breaches ripple through networks, we depend on these standards to hold. FISMA keeps that promise – quietly, methodically, and purposefully.

Building Strong Cybersecurity Programs

A strong cybersecurity program isn’t built overnight. It grows out of structure, culture, and a bit of humility – knowing that cybersecurity threats never really stop evolving.

Good programs don’t hide behind paperwork or fancy dashboards. They live in the everyday habits of people, in how leaders make decisions, and in whether teams stay curious enough to keep learning.

Governance is where it begins. That involves clear roles and real accountability. Someone has to own the risk, not just manage it on paper.

The best programs build layers – policies, security audits, and continuous checks that mean something. Regular reviews catch small cracks before they turn into cyber incidents.

But even the smartest systems fail without awareness. Employees are the first line of defense – and sometimes the weakest.

Training should feel practical, not like another dull compliance video. People should understand why phishing matters or how to report cybersecurity incidents before things spiral. It’s about building instinct, not just following rules.

Most mature programs lean on standards created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These organizations guide homeland security, financial institutions, and private-sector teams toward consistent security practices. These standards help align goals across industries, whether it’s to:

• Protect cardholder data
• Safeguard networks
• Reduce non-compliance risks

Leadership is everything. Compliance starts at the top.

When executives treat security as a shared responsibility, people follow. When they don’t, breaches follow. A great cybersecurity program doesn’t just guard systems; it shapes the organization’s mindset, one decision at a time.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is one of those quiet but powerful laws that shaped how financial institutions handle personal data. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t make front-page news. But behind the scenes, it keeps banks, lenders, and even insurance companies accountable for how they collect, store, and share customer information.

At its core, GLBA is about respect – for privacy, for transparency, for trust. It requires institutions to explain their data practices and give people control over how their information is shared.

The Federal Trade Commission oversees the GLBA, making sure those promises aren’t just mere marketing lines. When companies slip or cut corners, the cost of non-compliance can be steep, both financially and reputationally.

GLBA also ties neatly into broader industry digital security standards, including those standards found in the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Together, they form a kind of invisible shield, protecting sensitive data – such as credit details, financial histories, transaction records – from exposure or theft. For consumers, including California residents who already benefit from tough privacy laws, that means more layers of defense.

GLBA isn’t only about paperwork and policies. It’s about culture. It’s a reminder that protecting data is protecting people.

To stay ahead of threats, financial institutions must invest in real safeguards:

• Encryption
• Monitoring
• Modern operational technology

Because when you protect payment card information or secure customer data properly, you’re not just following the law. You’re keeping a promise.

It’s not just about memorizing standards or passing certification exams. It’s about understanding why those standards exist – why a single weak password or unchecked update can ripple through an entire system.

Cybersecurity isn’t just a job field anymore – it’s a calling. Every regulation, every framework, every late-night patch or audit points back to one truth: we’re protecting people’ privacy, work, and trust. That’s the heart of it.

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity at AMU

For adult learners interested in improving their cybersecurity knowledge and learning useful skills such as critical thinking, American Military University (AMU) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity.

In this program, students will learn how cybersecurity regulations connect to real lives and how the homeland security network depends on vigilance, as well as how every cyber incident tells a story worth studying.

Courses taught in this program include networking concepts, hardening operating systems and red and blue team security. Other courses include securing databases, cryptography concepts, information security and IT security planning and policy.

This degree program features five concentrations, so that students can choose the concentration best suited to their professional goals:

• Wireless and mobile security
• General
• Critical infrastructure
• Digital forensics
• Privacy and surveillance

For more information about this B.S. in cybersecurity, visit AMU’s information technology degree program page.