Chapter 601

601.95(7) (7) “Licensee” means a person licensed, authorized, or registered, or a person required to be licensed, authorized, or registered, under chs. 600 to 655, other than a purchasing or risk retention group that is chartered and licensed in another state or a person acting as an assuming insurer that is domiciled in another state or jurisdiction.

601.95(8) (8) “Multifactor authentication” means authentication through verification of at least 2 of the following types of authentication factors:

601.95(8)(a) (a) Knowledge factor, including a password.

601.95(8)(b) (b) Possession factor, including a token or text message on a mobile phone.

601.95(8)(c) (c) Inherence factor, including a biometric characteristic.

601.95(9) (9) “Nonpublic information” means electronic information in the possession, custody, or control of a licensee that is not publicly available information and is any of the following:

601.95(9)(a) (a) Information concerning a consumer that can be used to identify the consumer, in combination with at least one of the following data elements:

601.95(9)(a)1. 1. Social security number.

601.95(9)(a)2. 2. Driver’s license number or nondriver identification card number.

601.95(9)(a)3. 3. Financial account number or credit or debit card number.

601.95(9)(a)4. 4. Security code, access code, or password that permits access to a financial account.

601.95(9)(a)5. 5. Biometric records.

601.95(9)(b) (b) Information or data, other than information or data regarding age or gender, in any form or medium created by or derived from a health care provider or a consumer that can be used to identify the consumer and that relates to any of the following:

601.95(9)(b)1. 1. The physical, mental, or behavioral health or condition of the consumer or a member of the consumer’s family.

601.95(9)(b)2. 2. The provision of health care to the consumer.

601.95(9)(b)3. 3. Payment for the provision of health care to the consumer.

601.95(10) (10) “Publicly available information” means information that a licensee has a reasonable basis to believe is lawfully made available to the general public from federal, state, or local government records, widely distributed media, or disclosures required by federal, state, or local law.

601.95(11) (11) “Third-party service provider” means a person other than a licensee who contracts with a licensee to maintain, process, or store nonpublic information or is otherwise permitted access to nonpublic information through its provision of services to the licensee.

601.95 History History: 2021 a. 73.

601.951 601.951 General provisions.

601.951(1) (1) Exclusive state standards. This subchapter establishes the exclusive state standards applicable to licensees for data security, the investigation of a cybersecurity event, and notification of a cybersecurity event or unauthorized access to nonpublic information to the state government and consumers.

601.951(2) (2) Exceptions to applicability.

601.951(2)(a) (a) This subchapter does not apply to a person who is an employee, agent, representative, or designee of a licensee and who is also a licensee to the extent that the person is covered by the information security program of the other licensee and the other licensee has complied with this subchapter on behalf of the person.

601.951(2)(b) (b) A licensee affiliated with a depository institution that maintains an information security program in compliance with the interagency guidelines establishing information security standards as set forth pursuant to 15 USC 6801 and 6805 shall be considered to meet the requirements of this subchapter, provided that the licensee produces, upon request of the commissioner, documentation satisfactory to the commissioner that independently validates the adoption by the affiliated depository institution of an information security program that satisfies the interagency guidelines.

601.951(2)(bm) (bm) A licensee affiliated with a broker, as defined in 15 USC 78c (a) (4), or dealer, as defined in 15 USC 78c (a) (5), that maintains an information security program in compliance with the requirements of the financial industry regulatory authority that address information security standards shall be considered to meet the requirements of this subchapter, provided that the licensee produces, upon request of the commissioner, documentation satisfactory to the commissioner that independently validates the adoption by the affiliated broker or dealer of an information security program that satisfies the financial industry regulatory authority’s requirements.

601.951(2)(c) (c) A licensee affiliated with a legal entity established pursuant to the federal farm credit act of 1971, 12 USC 2001, et seq., that maintains an information security program in compliance with the farm credit administration’s guidance and regulations establishing policies and procedures to address data security and integrity shall be considered to meet the requirements of this subchapter, provided that the licensee produces, upon request of the commissioner, documentation satisfactory to the commissioner that independently validates the adoption by the affiliated legal entity of an information security program that satisfies the farm credit administration’s guidance and regulations.

601.951(2)(d) (d) This subchapter, except for s. 601.954 (1), does not apply to a licensee who is subject to and governed by 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164 and who maintains nonpublic information in the same manner as protected health information under 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164.

601.951(2)(e) (e) If a licensee ceases to qualify for an exception under par. (a) to (d), the licensee shall have 180 days to comply with this subchapter.

601.951(3) (3) Agreements between parties. Nothing in this subchapter shall prevent or abrogate an agreement between a licensee and another licensee, a 3rd-party service provider, or another party to fulfill any of the requirements under s. 601.953 or 601.954.

601.951(4) (4) Private cause of action. This subchapter may not be construed to create or imply a private cause of action for violation of its provisions or to curtail a private cause of action that otherwise exists in the absence of this subchapter.

601.951(5) (5) Rules. The commissioner may promulgate rules that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.

601.951 History History: 2021 a. 73.

601.952 601.952 Information security program.

601.952(1) (1) Implementation of program. No later than November 1, 2022, a licensee shall develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive written information security program based on the licensee’s risk assessment under sub. (2) and consistent with the conditions of sub. (3) (a). The program shall contain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for the protection of the licensee’s information systems and nonpublic information. The licensee shall design the program to do all of the following:

601.952(1)(a) (a) Protect against threats and hazards to the security and integrity of the information systems and nonpublic information.

601.952(1)(b) (b) Protect against unauthorized access to and use of nonpublic information and minimize the likelihood of harm to a consumer from the unauthorized access or use.

601.952(1)(c) (c) Establish and periodically reevaluate a schedule for retention and disposal of nonpublic information and establish a mechanism for the destruction of nonpublic information that is no longer needed.

601.952(2) (2) Risk assessment. The licensee shall conduct a risk assessment under which the licensee shall do all of the following:

601.952(2)(a) (a) Identify reasonably foreseeable internal and external threats that could result in unauthorized access to or transmission, disclosure, misuse, alteration, or destruction of nonpublic information, including nonpublic information that is accessible to or held by 3rd-party service providers of the licensee.

601.952(2)(b) (b) Assess the likelihood and potential damage of the threats identified under par. (a), taking into consideration the sensitivity of the nonpublic information.

601.952(2)(c) (c) Assess the sufficiency of policies, procedures, information systems, and other safeguards to manage the threats identified under par. (a) in each relevant area of the licensee’s operations, including all of the following:

601.952(2)(c)1. 1. Employee training and management.

601.952(2)(c)2. 2. Information systems, including the classification, governance, processing, storage, transmission, and disposal of information.

601.952(2)(c)3. 3. Processes for detecting, preventing, and responding to attacks, intrusions, and other system failures.

601.952(3) (3) Risk management. Based on the risk assessment under sub. (2), the licensee shall do all of the following:

601.952(3)(a) (a) Design an information security program to mitigate the identified threats, commensurate with the size and complexity of the licensee, the nature and scope of the licensee’s activities, including its use of 3rd-party service providers, and the sensitivity of the nonpublic information.

601.952(3)(b) (b) Implement the following security measures, as appropriate:

601.952(3)(b)1. 1. Place access controls on information systems.

601.952(3)(b)2. 2. Identify and manage the data, personnel, devices, systems, and facilities that enable the licensee to achieve its business purposes, taking into consideration the relative importance of the data, personnel, devices, systems, and facilities to the business objectives and risk strategy of the licensee.

601.952(3)(b)3. 3. Restrict physical access to nonpublic information to authorized individuals only.

601.952(3)(b)4. 4. Protect, by encryption or other means, nonpublic information being transmitted over an external network and nonpublic information stored on a portable computer or storage device or media.

601.952(3)(b)5. 5. Adopt secure development practices for applications that are developed in-house and utilized by the licensee.

601.952(3)(b)6. 6. Modify information systems in accordance with the licensee’s information security program.

601.952(3)(b)7. 7. Utilize effective controls, which may include multifactor authentication procedures for employees accessing nonpublic information.

601.952(3)(b)8. 8. Implement regular testing and monitoring of systems and procedures to detect actual and attempted attacks on, or intrusions into, an information system.

601.952(3)(b)9. 9. Include audit trails within the information security program that are designed to detect and respond to cybersecurity events and to reconstruct material financial transactions sufficient to support the normal operations and obligations of the licensee.

601.952(3)(b)10. 10. Implement measures to protect against the destruction, loss, or damage of nonpublic information due to environmental hazards, natural and other disasters, and technological failures.

601.952(3)(b)11. 11. Develop, implement, and maintain practices for the secure disposal of nonpublic information in all formats.

601.952(3)(c) (c) Designate at least one employee, affiliate, or outside vendor as responsible for the information security program.

601.952(3)(d) (d) Stay informed regarding emerging threats and vulnerabilities and implement safeguards to manage the threats and vulnerabilities.

601.952(3)(e) (e) No less than annually, assess the effectiveness of security safeguards, including key controls, systems, and procedures.

601.952(3)(f) (f) Include cybersecurity risks in the licensee’s enterprise risk management process.

601.952(3)(g) (g) Utilize reasonable security measures when sharing information, taking into consideration the character of the sharing and the type of information shared.

601.952(3)(h) (h) Provide personnel with cybersecurity awareness training that is updated as necessary.

601.952(4) (4) Program adjustments. The licensee shall monitor, evaluate, and adjust the information security program under sub. (1) consistent with changes in technology, the sensitivity of the nonpublic information, internal and external threats to nonpublic information, and changes to the licensee’s business operations, outsourcing arrangements, and information systems. If a licensee identifies areas, systems, or processes that require material improvement, updating, or redesign, the licensee shall document the identification and remedial efforts to address the areas, systems, or processes. The licensee shall maintain the documentation for a period of at least 5 years starting from the date the documentation was created and shall produce the documentation upon demand of the commissioner.

601.952(5) (5) Incident response plan. As part of its information security program, a licensee shall develop an incident response plan to promptly respond to, and recover from, a cybersecurity event that compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of nonpublic information, the licensee’s information systems, or the continuing functionality of any aspect of the licensee’s business or operations. The incident response plan shall be in writing and address all of the following:

601.952(5)(a) (a) The goals of the incident response plan.

601.952(5)(b) (b) The internal process for responding to a cybersecurity event.

601.952(5)(c) (c) The identification of clear roles, responsibilities, and levels of decision-making authority during and immediately following a cybersecurity event.

601.952(5)(d) (d) The external and internal communications and information sharing during and immediately following a cybersecurity event.

601.952(5)(e) (e) Requirements for the remediation of identified weaknesses in the information systems and associated controls.

601.952(5)(f) (f) The reporting and documentation of a cybersecurity event and related incident response activities.

601.952(5)(g) (g) The evaluation and revision of the incident response plan following a cybersecurity event.

601.952(6) (6) Oversight of 3rd-party service provider arrangements. If applicable, no later than November 1, 2023, a licensee shall exercise due diligence when selecting any 3rd-party service provider. The licensee shall make reasonable efforts to require a 3rd-party service provider to do all of the following:

601.952(6)(a) (a) Implement appropriate administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect and secure the information systems and nonpublic information that are accessible to or held by the 3rd-party service provider.

601.952(6)(b) (b) Report a cybersecurity event under s. 601.954.

601.952(7) (7) Oversight by board of directors. If a licensee has a board of directors, the board or an appropriate committee of the board shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:

601.952(7)(a) (a) Require the licensee’s executive management to develop, implement, and maintain the information security program under sub. (1).

601.952(7)(b) (b) Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of the information security program.

601.952(7)(c) (c) Require the licensee’s executive management to report, at least annually, all of the following information to the board:

601.952(7)(c)1. 1. The overall status of the information security program and the licensee’s compliance with this subchapter.

601.952(7)(c)2. 2. Material matters relating to the information security program, including issues relating to risk assessment, risk management and control decisions, 3rd-party service provider arrangements, and security testing.

601.952(7)(c)3. 3. Recommendations for modifications to the information security program.

601.952(8) (8) Annual certification to commissioner. Beginning in 2023, a licensee who is domiciled in this state shall annually submit, no later than March 1, to the commissioner a written certification that the licensee is in compliance with the requirements of this section. The licensee shall maintain all records, schedules, and data supporting the certification for a period of at least 5 years and shall produce the records, schedules, and data upon demand of the commissioner.

601.952(9) (9) Exemptions.

601.952(9)(a) (a) This section does not apply to a licensee who meets any of the following criteria:

601.952(9)(a)1. 1. Has less than $10,000,000 in year-end total assets.

601.952(9)(a)2. 2. Has less than $5,000,000 in gross annual revenue.

601.952(9)(a)3. 3. Has fewer than 50 employees, including independent contractors, who work at least 30 hours a week for the licensee.