Compliance & Governance
Documented policies, WISP creation, identity management (M365), and audit-ready controls mapped directly to FTC Safeguards Rule and DOL EBSA requirements.
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For DOL & FTC Regulated Firms
Is your firm audit-ready — or just hoping no one looks?
DOL and FTC regulators now require documented cybersecurity programs. The question isn't whether they'll check. It's whether you'll be ready.
TPAs, RIAs, financial planners, and plan sponsors that handle retirement plan data or non-public financial information face enforceable obligations under DOL EBSA Cybersecurity Guidance and the FTC Safeguards Rule (GLBA).
This isn't optional. The DOL launched its cybersecurity audit initiative in 2021 and actively cites firms for deficiencies. FTC Safeguards Rule enforcement is ongoing. Gaps found by auditors cost far more to remediate than proactive compliance.
Regulatory Requirement
What Regulators Expect You to Have in Place
These aren't suggestions. DOL EBSA and FTC Safeguards Rule examiners use checklists like this during audits. Gaps are cited as findings — and findings have consequences.
Written security program & designated oversightA current Written Information Security Plan (WISP), documented policies, and a named individual with formal responsibility — not just a job title on a slide.
Annual risk assessments with documented mitigationWritten risk assessment output tracking identified risks and specific remediation steps — updated at least annually and after material changes.
MFA & encryption across all sensitive systemsMulti-factor authentication enforced for every user and system touching client or plan data. Encryption required at rest and in transit — no exceptions.
Continuous monitoring for threats & suspicious activityActive logging and alerting across cloud, M365, endpoints, and third-party systems. "We have tools" is not the same as "we would detect a breach."
Documented & tested incident response planNamed roles, escalation paths, and notification timelines in writing. Must be exercised — a tabletop drill at minimum. An untested IRP is itself a compliance gap.
Annual cybersecurity training for all employeesDocumented completion records required. Covers phishing, social engineering, and handling of non-public financial information — not a generic video with no attestation on file.
Vendor security reviews for all data-access providersEvery vendor touching client data requires a documented security assessment and written agreement. Required under FTC Safeguards Rule — common audit finding when missing.
Tested backup & verified disaster recoveryBackups that have never been restored are not compliance-ready. Recovery must be tested, timed, and documented — with defined RTO and RPO targets an auditor can review.
Common Gaps We Find When We First Engage
Policies on paper, untested
Written policies exist but haven't been reviewed or operationally enforced in 2+ years.
No vendor review process
Third-party tools access client data with no documented security review or contract clause.
MFA gaps on legacy systems
Some staff or legacy systems excluded from MFA — exactly what auditors and attackers look for.
IRP never exercised
A written incident response plan exists but no drill has been conducted and roles are undefined.
Unverified backups
Data is being copied somewhere, but actual restoration has never been tested or timed.
Not sure where your organization stands? We'll walk through this list with you — honestly — in 30 minutes.
Request a complimentary DOL/FTC Readiness Review →What's at stake for regulated firms
The consequences of non-compliance fall into three distinct categories — and they compound each other.
Regulatory & Legal
DOL Audit Findings & ERISA Liability
DOL EBSA audits can result in formal findings, required corrective action plans, and ERISA liability — including fiduciary breach claims against plan administrators who failed to protect participant data.
Financial & Operational
FTC Enforcement & Civil Penalties
FTC Safeguards Rule violations under GLBA carry civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation per day. A breach affecting hundreds of client records can produce multi-million dollar exposure before remediation costs begin.
Reputational & Commercial
Client Contract Loss & Trust Damage
Plan sponsors and institutional clients increasingly require documented cybersecurity programs as a condition of engagement. A breach or audit finding can trigger contract termination clauses.
How Philotech Closes the Gaps
We specialize in helping TPAs, RIAs, and regulated financial firms build practical, documented programs — not just checkbox compliance.
Business Continuity
Tested backups, verified recovery procedures, rapid failover, and structured incident response — so client data stays protected and you can demonstrate it to auditors.
Integrated SOC (Security Operations Center)
24/7 monitoring, detection, and response across PC and cloud environments — closing the gap between "we have tools" and "we would actually detect a breach."
Designed for firms that face real audits. Governance mapped to FTC Safeguards Rule and DOL EBSA requirements — backed by resilient infrastructure, verified recovery, and enterprise-grade IT operations.
Why regulated firms choose Philotech
Built for the realities of DOL and FTC oversight — practical programs that hold up under examiner scrutiny, not just internal review.
Regulatory Alignment by Design
Controls and documentation structured specifically around DOL EBSA Cybersecurity Guidance (2021) and FTC Safeguards Rule — the frameworks actively cited in financial services enforcement actions.
Practical, Not Theoretical
Programs sized for TPAs, RIAs, and mid-market financial firms — not enterprise-scale frameworks that overwhelm lean teams. Every control is something your staff can operate and your auditors can verify.
Documented, Tested, Verifiable
Every policy, backup, incident response plan, and risk assessment we deliver is tested and documented — because "we have it somewhere" is not an answer that satisfies DOL or FTC examiners.
Philotech is TPA Benchmark's designated IT provider, delivering cybersecurity, compliance, and managed IT services built for regulated financial firms — including RIAs, broker-dealers, third-party administrators, financial planners, insurance firms, and family offices.
Philotech's practices are CEFEX-assessed against industry cybersecurity best practices — independent verification that our governance framework is real and operational, not aspirational.
Complimentary · 30 minutes · No obligation
Schedule a complimentary DOL/FTC Readiness Review
In 30 minutes we'll review your governance posture, identify your highest-priority gaps, and outline what closing them looks like for a firm your size.
- Posture check against all 8 DOL/FTC requirements — with honest gap assessment
- Continuity & recovery readiness — backup verification and RTO/RPO review
- Detection & response capability check — not just whether you have tools
- Prioritized action roadmap specific to your firm — no sales pitch, no obligation
