What is Secure Digital Storage? For anyone who is in business today, data is one of the most important assets. It’s also one that criminals are only too happy to steal. Or try to. Because of that, protecting your data needs to be a high priority. Putting a lock on your storeroom office isn’t enough. Having passwords on employee computers isn’t enough. Having a firewall on your network isn’t enough. And hoping that nobody will be interested in your data is definitely not enough. So what does secure digital storage look like in 2021? Let’s look at four factors. Security Protocols For Secure Digital Storage For firearms dealers, the customer data collected on Form 4473 needs to be captured and then stored securely. Gun and pawnshop owners need to understand the sensitivity of the information they work with and take responsibility for their role in keeping it safe. If they’re using security protocols that aren’t compliant and stringent, including both document and storage encryption, they are putting their customer data at risk. Stringent security protocols include: Keeping firewalls up-to-date Organizing users by security level Proper key management Continuous monitoring and auditing Thorough staff training that doesn’t create unnecessary roadblocks to doing their work Secure E4473 Online Account Creating a secure E4473 online account is the easiest way to keep your data safe. Our 3-step account setup includes an admin email account verification and remote login security. Our system allows you to have complete control who can access your data at an employee level and protects your data from being accessed locally on office computers and in age-old filing cabinets. Not to mention our system allows for remote secure login from any computer that has internet access so that your account can be monitored even when you’re not in the office. Strict Password Protocols Few people remember this now, but in 2013 Adobe had a data breach caused by weak password protocols. It was big and embarrassing. Weak passwords are an easy way into your records and therefore are a very important part of overall data security. “According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, compromised passwords are responsible for 81% of hacking-related breaches.” Among other things, secure passwords are long, but not necessarily complex, and should be protected by hashing before they’re stored. Make sure any system you use has strict password protocols. Protection From Cyber Attacks Effective protection from cyber-attacks requires continuous monitoring of hacker’s actions and constant upgrades to your security protocols based on this knowledge. Sophisticated protection includes identifying the user’s network, device, and actions. Even the rate at which they are typing can be an important indicator of potential fraud. E4473 is the first solution on the market to offer ATF-compliant Digital Storage. Our goal is to increase the safety and security around firearm transactions while helping to alleviate errors and time wasted. When you use E4473, you can have confidence that you are using the most up-to-date protocols for secure digital transactions and storage.
Do legal gun purchasers have a right to anonymity? In light of the second amendment, that would seem to be a rhetorical question, but some gun control lobbyists have been arguing for years that making records of gun owners public will reduce crime. Personal identity protection and the storage of private data are critical issues for firearms dealers and their customers. Currently, gun ownership privacy is still protected by the federal government and Congress has enacted privacy-protective legislation in order to preserve second amendment rights. The 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act did several important things related to private personal data: It repealed certain recordkeeping requirements for the sale of ammunition. It prohibited the ATF from centralizing or computerizing firearms purchase records. It reduced criminal penalties for recordkeeping offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. It forbade the ATF from keeping a registry directly linking non-national firearms act firearms to their owners. Form 4473 and Privacy Most of the private information that a firearms dealer collects is on ATF Form 4473. Currently, the information gathered on this form is protected and its transfer is highly restricted. In addition to completing the 4473, FFLs must also record the sale in their transaction log. A dealer must keep this log the entire time he is in business and is required to surrender the log to the ATF when he retires. Form 4473 contains the customer’s name and address, the background check transaction number, the gun’s serial number, and answers to questions about his or her eligibility to purchase a gun. The dealer must keep the Form 4473 for twenty years and is subject to inspection by the ATF. Many believe this record-keeping system creates an informal national firearm registration and that makes 2A supporters cautious. While it is not centralized, it is important to note that the information of a gun purchaser is held by the retail dealer. Since licensed sellers, manufacturers and importers are responsible for recordkeeping, private data is only as secure as the storage and maintenance systems in which it’s held, which is something to think seriously about if there are concerns about personal identity protection for firearms transactions. Personal Identity Protection Now and In the Future Beyond the Federal level, states vary considerably in how they prioritize privacy and regulations. Recently, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia introduced the “Gun Owners Privacy Act” (GOPA) which would prevent the government from unlawfully compiling and storing data from background checks on gun owners and further strengthen Federal regulations. Because firearms are a divisive topic in the United States it’s difficult to predict what regulations, or lack thereof, will come into play in the future. What gun owners and FFLs can do now, is ensure that their privacy and that of their customers is protected. The best way to do this is with secure electronic transactions and storage that guarantee 100% compliance such as E4473. E4473 eliminates the liability and hassle of paper records. It offers unmatched data security & consumer personal identity protection and operates with a five-star security protocol, including document encryption, storage encryption, and two-factor authentication. E4473 provides bulletproof security and privacy, reducing liability for FFLs, and providing a better experience for customers.
What do customers want in a gun purchase experience? According to discussions in various online forums like The High Road, a large part of it is excellent service, including speedy and hassle-free firearm transfers. While the cost of the gun is always an important factor, small gun shop owners (LGS) can compete without offering bargain-basement pricing or extensive inventory if they can offer a great experience. Contrary to popular belief, aggravation is not an inescapable part of buying a firearm. FFLs who want to be successful will pay attention to the following five strategies for increasing sales and profits. Build a Firearms Community Building a memorable experience in your store is important. Celebrate the culture and convictions of the firearms enthusiasts in your community — whether it’s bagging a bear, drinking coffee in the blind, flushing upland birds, or calculating the wind effect on the range. Spend time with them when they come to the shop: hang out, make friends, and be welcoming. If they’re not there to shoot the breeze, get them in and out quickly. It also helps to be active in the local community and have a mobile or direct mail communication strategy so that you can stay in touch between visits. Differentiate Yourself from the Competition Your shop is probably not the only one within driving distance of your potential customers, and just about everyone has access to the internet. To differentiate yourself, begin by asking what your community values. Can you offer training classes, gunsmithing, accessories, optical equipment, or faster, hassle-free paperwork? For example, if you can lessen or remove the friction in the transfer process, you’ll quickly develop loyal, repeat customers. You have the expertise—you know things your customer doesn’t. How can you make your knowledge available to them and become recognized for that? Know Your Customer Whether you’re aware of it or not, you have a niche, so become an expert in it. Do your best to know the laws regarding firearms in your area, not just the ones pertaining to FFLs. For example, do you live in a “stand your ground” state or one with a “castle doctrine”? How old do people need to be to carry a handgun? Can employers prevent employees from having firearms in the parking lot? What are the unique hunting laws in your state? (In Kansas, game birds may only be taken in flight.) Due to ATF-required record-keeping, specifically the 4473 Form, you already have quite a bit of information about your customers. Consider developing some high-level buyer profiles to boost your marketing efforts. Offer Excellent Service Service is the differentiator between firearms retailers, whether they are big-box, online, or local gun stores. Excellent customer service includes useful information, respect, patience with questions, and fast turnaround times. For people who know what they want, the longest wait is likely to be processing the 4473, with wait times increasing in proportion to the number of people in the store. One customer described his experience this way: “Well, the rifle the guy brought out was damaged with a big ding that had taken the finish off the top of the receiver. But by that time the second guy had left and had to get called back. Another wait. The second rifle looked OK so I was allowed to start on the Form 4473 on the computer. After completing the NICB [sic] check the clerk had to call another guy back a third time to double-check that all the Ts had been crossed and the Is dotted properly and I was finally allowed to pay and leave. The entire process took about 2 hours from the time I entered the store.” Don’t let this happen in your store. People are inclined to pay a little more for great customer service, including knowledge of gun laws and how to deal with NICS and the BATFE. And finally, you don’t want most of the time people spend in your store to be filling out the 4473. Stay ATF-Compliant for Firearm Transfers There is a lot of misinformation circulating about completing Form 4473 as part of a firearm sale. Some of it comes from the fact that workers at the sales counter often don’t have the same level of knowledge as the FFL. That in itself is aggravating enough, but when that lack of knowledge or confusion about the process causes customer frustration, LGS sales are negatively affected. Even worse, if the knowledge gaps create areas of non-compliance, the firearms dealer’s license could be revoked. For example, you don’t want one of your employees handling Form 4473 to the customer as if it was their receipt, and yes, this has happened. The ATF is very clear about how the Form 4473 process is supposed to take place. If you’re ever audited, the IOI will be looking at it with a microscope. Your job is to balance the needs of your customers with the requirements of the ATF. It’s possible to accomplish both of these goals at the same time and do it better than the competition. The E4473 platform allows your customers to breeze through Form 4473 while keeping you 100% compliant with ATF regulations. Fast track your firearm sales with E4473.
In August 2020, datasets containing over 240,000 records of the Utah Gun Exchange website were posted openly on a popular hacking forum. While the stolen databases didn’t contain any financial records, they did contain email addresses and hashed passwords. Many people hope and even believe that a data security breach won’t happen to them. The reality is that a data breach can happen to almost anyone and when it occurs, the ramifications are widespread. That’s why it is essential for firearms dealers to use security-centric software that focuses on complying with ATF security regulations. Firearms sales grew at an unprecedented pace in 2020. In addition to brick and more sales, more and more firearms dealers bring their products online. Whether on or offline, firearm sales must be compliant with state and federal laws, including data storage and security. At E4473, we believe that data security is the most important issue facing firearms dealers in 2021 and following; in part because the ATF requires it but also because, even in the absence of regulations, your reputation demands it. Since the ATF digital requirements are the minimum standard with which you must comply, let’s take a closer look. Firearms Acquisition and Disposition Record Storage ATF Requirements: Transactions must be completed entirely in a digital environment, in accordance with ATF Ruling 2016-2 and Form 4473s must be saved in an unalterable format. Electronic firearms acquisition and disposition records may be stored on a computer server or device owned and operated by the licensee provided that the server is located within the United States or its territories. E4473 Features Meet & Exceed: E4473 operates with a five-star security protocol, including document encryption, storage encryption, and two-factor authentication. E4473 offers the ultimate solution, capturing customer data, and storing the information securely on our remote servers. Data Security ATF Requirements: A filter or wall must be created to make sure that Form 4473s for completed transactions are stored separately from Form 4473s where the transaction was not completed. Each licensee must maintain its stored e-Form 4473 on a separate/partitioned database that cannot be intermingled with another licensee’s. E4473 Features Meet & Exceed: Our 24/7 monitoring service is included with each of our digital storage packages to protect against attacks. All data, for every E4473 user account is stored within a secured, separate database so that data from separate accounts can’t be intermingled. Data Backup ATF Requirements: The system must back up its stored Form 4473s upon the completion of a transaction. When a transaction is stopped before completion, the system must save the partially complete Form 4473. The storage system must back-up the stored e-Form 4473 on at least a daily basis to protect the data from accidental deletion or system failure. E4473 Features Meet & Exceed: Our databases are backed up on a daily basis. During the completion process, the E4473 intake system prompts users to click “Save & Close”. If a user cancels, they’ll get the following warning, “You’re about to cancel, are you sure?” E4473 uses many layers of high level security to validate and verify that your data is protected. Using E4473 to complete Form 4473 ensures that you are both fully compliant with ATF regulations and secure from criminals who want to steal your data. E4473 is the first solution to offer FFLs unmatched data security now and into the future. When you use E4473, data security is one thing you can check off your list with confidence.
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