The FTC Safeguards Rule, formally the Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information (16 CFR 314), was revised in 2023. It applies to non-bank financial institutions including auto dealerships, mortgage brokers, payday lenders, tax preparers, real estate appraisers, and travel agencies arranging financing.
The rule covers non-bank financial institutions, a broad group that includes auto dealerships, mortgage brokers, payday lenders, tax preparers, real estate appraisers, and travel agencies arranging financing.
It requires a comprehensive information security program with a qualified individual, risk assessment, access controls, encryption, MFA, change management, and incident response.
Official source: https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/safeguards-rule
ThreeShield's CISSP- and CISA-certified assessors run the FTC Safeguards Rule engagement, and Lavawall® collects the technical evidence continuously, so your posture is current the day an auditor, insurer, or client asks for it, not just at renewal.
| FTC Safeguards Rule requirement | Lavawall® collects | ThreeShield delivers |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authentication status | ✓ Continuously | — |
| Patch and vulnerability posture | ✓ Continuously | — |
| Encryption at rest and in transit | ✓ Continuously | — |
| Access and audit-log review | ✓ Continuously | — |
| Risk assessment and scoping | ⚑ Platform data | CISSP/CISA-led |
| Policies, procedures, and evidence package | — | Written by ThreeShield |
It does if you are a US non-bank financial institution, such as an auto dealership, mortgage broker, payday lender, tax preparer, real estate appraiser, or travel agency arranging financing. We confirm scope in the first call, at no charge.
A gap assessment against the FTC Safeguards Rule usually takes a few weeks. Closing the gaps and standing up the evidence takes longer, and that is where most of the work sits, so the total depends on your starting point. Because Lavawall® is already collecting the technical evidence while we work, you do not restart from zero at reassessment.
Yes. Many clients begin self-serve on Lavawall®, then bring in ThreeShield for the assessment, the policies, and the sign-off once they know where the gaps are. The three engagement models below are meant to be moved between.
ThreeShield meets you at your current security maturity. Every level includes Lavawall®.
For lean IT teams and cost-conscious organizations with internal security capacity
Expert guidance alongside your team, ideal for MSPs and organizations with some internal IT capacity
Full compliance delivery, managed end to end by ThreeShield
Choose your engagement model: DIY via Lavawall®, supported by ThreeShield's CISSP/CISA team, or fully done-for-you. Every model includes continuous monitoring, so you stay compliant between audits.
Book a Scoping CallDIY · Supported · Done-for-You