One survey found that 62% of small business executives are concerned about cybersecurity and IT risks. And yet, nearly 90% of small- and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. don’t use data protection for company and customer information.¹
Business owners are also required to protect their customers’ personal information. In 47 states, and the District of Columbia, businesses are required to notify individuals of security breaches involving personally identifiable information.²
As evidenced by news of large-scale data breaches, online hacking has become another form of risk that businesses now face everyday. Like many risks, businesses can insure themselves against the financial damage a cyber-attack may inflict.
Cyber liability insurance may cover a range of risks, including:
- Data Breach Management: Pays expenses related to the investigation, management, and remediation of an incident, including customer notification, credit check support, and associated legal costs and fines.
- Media Liability: Covers third-party damages such as website vandalism and intellectual property rights infringement.
- Extortion Liability: Reimburses for expenses associated with losses arising from a threat of extortion.
- Network Security Liability: Covers costs connected with third-party damages due to a denial of access and theft of third-party information.
Cyber liability insurance is fairly new so expect a wide divergence of coverage and costs. It may be purchased separately, or as a rider to your current business insurance policy. Be prepared to comparison shop to get a better understanding of coverage and costs.
Small business owners might also keep in mind that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” There are steps you can take to protect your business from becoming a cyber victim.
Consider steps to protect your data.
- Maintain robust malware detection software and keep existing software updated.
- Train employees not to open links contained in emails from unknown senders. Research shows that 80% of security-related incidents are caused by employee behavior.¹
- Encrypt your important data, such as bank account information, customer credit card numbers, etc.
- Perform a security audit.
As obvious and simple as these precautions may sound, some businesses fall victim to cyber-attacks because of their failure to take them.
- The Guardian, January 21, 2015
- National Conference of State Legislatures, 2015
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