What Texas SB 2610 Means for Small Professional Services Firms

If you own a small accounting, law, or professional services firm in Texas, you may have recently heard about Texas Senate Bill 2610. Like many business owners, your first question is likely:

Does this apply to us?

In many cases, the answer is yes, even if you are small and do not consider yourself a technology company.

This article explains SB 2610 in plain language, what it requires, and how small firms can approach it without overcomplicating things.

What is Texas SB 2610?

Texas SB 2610 is a state law that requires certain organizations to implement reasonable cybersecurity controls to protect sensitive data.

The law does not mandate a specific toolset or vendor. Instead, it points organizations toward recognized cybersecurity frameworks, such as:

• CIS Critical Security Controls
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework

For most small and midsize firms, this means demonstrating that you have taken clear, defensible steps to reduce cybersecurity risk. You don't need to be perfect; you just need to be intentional and practical.

Why are small firms included?

SB 2610 is not just aimed at large enterprises.

Professional services firms often handle:

• Client financial data
• Legal records
• Tax documents
• Personally identifiable information

Small firms are frequently targeted because they hold valuable data but often have fewer security controls in place. SB 2610 was designed with this reality in mind. It aims to help smaller firms address real threats without unnecessary burden.

What does SB 2610 not require?

This is where many firms get unnecessarily overwhelmed.

SB 2610 does not require:

• Enterprise security teams
• Expensive custom tooling
• Perfect security maturity
• Full compliance with every framework control

The expectation is reasonable security, not perfection. Regulators understand small businesses have limited resources, so you just need to show you're taking responsible steps.

A practical way to think about compliance

For small professional services firms, the most practical baseline is CIS Controls v8 Implementation Group 1 (CIS IG1).

CIS IG1 focuses on foundational controls such as:

• Knowing what devices and users exist in your environment
• Securing endpoints with modern protection
• Using strong identity and access controls
• Backing up critical data
• Applying basic network security practices
• Training users on security awareness

These controls are practical for small teams and map directly to SB 2610 expectations. You don't need a big IT department to get these basics right.

If you want a clearer picture of what “reasonable cybersecurity” looks like in practice for a small professional services firm, we break that down in more detail here.

What "reasonable cybersecurity" looks like in practice

In real terms, a reasonable cybersecurity program usually includes:

• Managed and encrypted endpoints
• Multi-factor authentication for email and critical systems
• Centralized patching and updates
• Modern endpoint detection and response
• Secure backups that are tested
• Basic logging and monitoring
• Documented policies and procedures
• A clear incident response plan

You don't need everything on day one. What matters is having a plan and making steady progress.

A simple self-check for business owners

If you want to quickly sanity check where your firm stands today, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do all users have multi-factor authentication enabled for email and critical systems?
• Are all company-owned laptops and desktops encrypted and centrally managed?
• Do we know exactly where client data is stored and who has access to it?
• Are backups not only running, but also periodically tested for recovery?
• Do we consistently apply operating system and software updates?
• Do we have a written incident response plan, even a basic one?
• Could we explain our security approach to a client or regulator if asked?

If you answered "no" or "I am not sure" to more than a few of these, it doesn't mean you're failing. It simply means your security program has grown organically and now needs some structure. Every successful business owner faces this at some point.

Why documentation matters

One of the most overlooked aspects of SB 2610 is documentation.

It is not enough to say "we are secure." You should be able to show:

• What controls do you have in place
• How they are managed
• Who is responsible for them
• How you respond to incidents

Good documentation turns security from a vague concept into something you can stand behind, with clients, regulators, and your own team.

How Foxtrot 7 Tech approaches SB 2610

Our approach is intentionally simple, predictable, and tailored for small professional services firms.

We focus on:

• Practical security controls that reduce real risk
• Clear alignment to CIS IG1 and NIST concepts
• Flat rate services with no surprise fees
• Plain language explanations, not security jargon

Our goal is to help you meet your obligations without disrupting your business or overwhelming your staff. Our role is to provide structure and clarity around security so you can focus on running your firm, not managing IT complexity.

Final thoughts

Texas SB 2610 does not need to be intimidating.

For most small professional services firms, compliance is about:

• Taking cybersecurity seriously
• Implementing foundational controls
• Documenting what you already do
• Improving steadily over time

If you approach it methodically, SB 2610 becomes a risk reduction exercise, not a regulatory burden.

If you have questions about how this applies to your firm, or want a second opinion on your current IT and security posture, reach out for a straightforward conversation. We're here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.