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For American companies who do business in Europe or who process the personal data of EU residents, the world of data privacy and security is about to get much more complicated. While U.S. privacy law is unsettled, with rapidly proliferating state and federal laws and regulations and uncertainty as to how strictly they will be enforced, the rules in the European Union are tough and about to get much tougher.

Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing may uncover areas where hackers can break in, but what if they are already there?

In the last few years, hackers and cyber criminals have become much more sophisticated in how they steal private information, which has led to massive data breaches. These data breaches not only cost an organization hundreds of thousands of dollars in fixes and possible fines, they can ruin a long-established reputation in a matter of hours. Putting in place a robust IT security program will help protect the personal information you maintain from being stolen and misused.

Based on the voices of 2,650 successful business owners across Europe, Asia, the United States and the Middle East, the Global Entrepreneur Report examines the characteristics and motivators of Elite Entrepreneurs with a total net worth of $40 billion. They are highly motivated, resourceful and skillful in the art and science of entrepreneurialism. When looking deeper in the characteristics of what makes an entrepreneur distinct, patterns emerge and are clearer to see when considering the entrepreneurs by their generation, gender, or even by their practice of entrepreneurialism.

Anyone who has participated in the acquisition or sale of a company will recognize the typical path of a deal: from flirting to tough questions to hard bargaining to—finally—handshake. Inevitably, however, the road detours from the exhilaration of accord to the anxiety of suspicion. The buyer wants assurance that all the seller's promises are true and that there are not going to be any surprises once the acquisition is consummated.

Employers and employees have a lot to think about and keep track of when it comes to health benefits. One of the most obvious, but often troublesome issues, is telling employees just what those benefits are. Employers who provide health benefits are required by law to tell employees what the available benefits are and to do so in plain terms that are easy to understand. Enter the Summary Plan Description (SPD), which must be delivered to employees every new plan year.

The private business you started years ago has grown steadily and you’re now considering taking it public. Going public is a significant milestone that can offer many financial benefits. But an initial public offering (IPO) also materially changes a company’s risk profile and adds significant exposure to the personal assets of its directors and officers. Ensuring you have comprehensive directors and officers liability (D&O) insurance in place will be critical to all involved.

There are few issues in family business that create more conflict and tension than the employment of family members. The complexities involved and the breakdowns in communication and trust can contribute significantly to the alarmingly high rate of failed intergenerational transitions in family business. The good news is that there is a way for families to better position themselves to overcome those challenges by looking at the 10 most common mistakes family members make when it comes to hiring (and firing) for their business.

No matter what stage of the business cycle you are in, you should always have a defined strategy for your business operations and potential exit. For many family business owners, the sale of their business will be the single largest transaction of their lives. Yet many enter this transaction not fully prepared. To ensure you maximize your sale, there are eight key items to consider before commencing a business sale, beginning with understanding what your business is actually worth in the marketplace and knowing the difference between the business value and the enterprise value.

Tremendous forces are radically reshaping the world of work. Economic shifts are redistributing power, wealth, competition and opportunity around the globe. Disruptive innovations, radical thinking, new business models and resource scarcity are impacting every sector. Businesses across the world are beginning to understand that they need a clear and meaningful purpose, and mandate for the decade ahead if they are to attract and retain employees, customers and partners.