Cyber Security for Small Businesses

Consider the role that technology plays in your business. Would it be damaging if a hacker gained access to your human resources data? What about your customer information? Or even your product and pricing information? If you think about it, cyber security should be as much a part of your daily operations as technology is.
May 11, 2016 | Business
By: Sarah B.
Sarah B. came to Acuity this year with a background in retail. She studied Interior Architecture in college and completed an online business education program through Harvard Business School. She also has a wide range of commercial insurance experience and has earned her Associate in General Insurance (AINS), Associate in Insurance Services (AIS), and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designations. This made her the perfect addition to the Acuity Mercantile team. If she could travel anywhere in the world, she would return to Italy. She spent three weeks there during college studying architecture and design and has wanted to go back ever since.

Similar to a safety or loss control plan that you would use in case of a tornado or fire, you should have a plan to protect your business from cyber threats, because a cyber security loss can be just as damaging as a tornado or fire.

 

First, be sure you work with an expert you can trust—someone who not only understands your business and the cyber threats that it faces, but also how to protect it from damages and mitigate these threats. Know some basics about cyber security techniques. For example, keep your network segmented, so that if someone does hack your human resources files, they cannot also get to your customer information. Also, as I am sure you have heard, point of payment is important, both physically and electronically. While EMV is a more secure transaction, it is not the only thing retailers need to do to be secure. EMV is not a substitute for encryption and tokenization.

 

Developing technology has always and will always require additional security, part of that should be insuring your business for cyber security risks. Acuity has done research and provides cyber coverages that protect you against events such as:

 

  • An unauthorized person gaining access to your computer systems
  • Malware attacks
  • Loss of devices, such as laptops, cell phones, or USB flash drives
  • Identity theft suffered by key employees

 

While it may be tempting to ignore cyber security because it seems intangible, it should not be taken lightly. Becoming numb to the effort it takes to have a secure cyber presence can leave you susceptible to attacks and liabilities. If you think you are not at risk, do not forget about the human resources information you have, which includes people’s identities that could be sold by hackers, and your product and pricing information, which could be valuable to competitors, local or not. Those are just a couple examples. Be sure to consult with a cyber security professional and make sure your bases are covered.

By: Sarah B.
Sarah B. came to Acuity this year with a background in retail. She studied Interior Architecture in college and completed an online business education program through Harvard Business School. She also has a wide range of commercial insurance experience and has earned her Associate in General Insurance (AINS), Associate in Insurance Services (AIS), and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designations. This made her the perfect addition to the Acuity Mercantile team. If she could travel anywhere in the world, she would return to Italy. She spent three weeks there during college studying architecture and design and has wanted to go back ever since.