May 10, 2026
The July 1st Countdown: Is Your Central Ohio Township Ready for the HB 96 Audit?
While the headlines this week are dominated by the Canvas breach impacting BGSU and other schools during finals week, there is a much quieter, but equally critical, deadline looming for local leaders.
On July 1, 2026, the final phase of Ohio House Bill 96 will go into effect. This law isn't just another suggestion; it’s a mandate that requires every "political subdivision" in Ohio to have a documented, framework-aligned cybersecurity program in place.
The "Big Three" Compliance Pillars
As we get closer to the July 1st deadline, your organization should be able to answer "Yes" to these three questions:
Do we have a formal, written plan for keeping our sensitive information safe?
If we get hacked, do we know exactly who to call and what steps to take within a week?
Do we have a legal plan in place for what to do if a hacker locks up all our files and demands money?
The "Sentinel" Perspective
At Buckeye Sentinel, we specialize in the defensive architecture that these new laws require. Cybersecurity is about ensuring that the records are protected by the same rigor we apply to enterprise-level defense.
Don't wait for the auditor's knock. Let’s get your infrastructure "July 1st Ready" today.