Decoding Cyber Insurance: What Policies Really Cover (and What They Don’t)

by Amber Worth | Jul 16, 2025 | Cybersecurity, Education, News

For small businesses navigating an increasingly digital world, cyber threats aren’t just an abstract worry, they’re a daily reality. Whether it’s phishing scams, ransomware attacks, or accidental data leaks, the financial and reputational damage can be severe. That’s why more companies are turning to cyber insurance to mitigate the risks.

Not all cyber insurance policies are created equal. Many business owners believe they’re covered, only to find out (too late) that their policy has major gaps. In this blog post, we will break down exactly what’s usually covered, what’s not, and how to choose the right cyber insurance policy for your business.

Why Is Cyber Insurance More Crucial Than Ever?

You don’t need to be a large corporation to become a target for hackers. In fact, small businesses are increasingly vulnerable. According to the 2023 IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, 43% of all cyberattacks now target small to mid-sized businesses. The financial fallout from a breach can be staggering, with the average cost for smaller businesses reaching $2.98 million. That can be a substantial blow for any growing company.

Moreover, today’s customers expect businesses to protect their personal data, while regulators are cracking down on data privacy violations. A good cyber insurance policy helps cover the cost of a breach but also ensures compliance with regulations like GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA, which makes it a critical safety net.

What Cyber Insurance Typically Covers

A comprehensive cyber insurance policy is crucial in protecting your business from the financial fallout of a cyber incident. It offers two main types of coverage: first-party coverage and third-party liability coverage. Both provide different forms of protection based on your business’s unique needs and the type of incident you’re facing. Below, we break down each type and the specific coverages they typically include.

First-Party Coverage

First-party coverage is designed to protect your business directly when you experience a cyberattack or breach. This type of coverage helps your business recover financially from the immediate costs associated with the attack.

Breach Response Costs

One of the first areas that first-party coverage addresses is the cost of managing a breach. After a cyberattack, you’ll likely need to:

Investigate how the breach happened and what was affected
Get legal advice to stay compliant with laws and reporting rules
Inform any customers whose data was exposed
Offer credit monitoring if personal details were stolen

Business Interruption

Cyberattacks that cause network downtime or disrupt business operations can result in significant revenue loss. Business interruption coverage helps mitigate the financial impact by compensating for lost income during downtime. It allows you to focus on recovery without worrying about day-to-day cash flow.

Cyber Extortion and Ransomware

Ransomware attacks are on the rise, and they can paralyze your business by locking up essential data. Cyber extortion coverage is designed to help businesses navigate these situations by covering:

The cost of paying a ransom to cyber attackers.
Hiring of professionals to negotiate with hackers to lower the ransom and recover data.
The costs to restore access to files that were encrypted in the attack.

Data Restoration

A major cyber incident can result in the loss or damage of critical business data. Data restoration coverage ensures that your business can recover data, whether through backup systems or through a data recovery service. This helps minimize disruption and keeps your business running smoothly.

Reputation Management

In the aftermath of a cyberattack, it’s crucial to rebuild the trust of customers, partners, and investors. Many policies now include reputation management as part of their coverage. This often includes:

Hiring Public Relations (PR firms) to manage crisis communication, create statements, and mitigate any potential damage to your business’s reputation.
Guidance on how to communicate with affected customers and stakeholders to maintain transparency.

Third-Party Liability Coverage

Third-party liability coverage helps protect your business from claims made by external parties (such as customers, vendors, or partners) who are affected by your cyber incident. When a breach or attack impacts those outside your company, this coverage steps in to defend you financially and legally.

Privacy Liability

This coverage protects your business if sensitive customer data is lost, stolen, or exposed in a breach. It typically includes:

Coverage for legal costs if you’re sued for mishandling personal data.
It may also cover costs if a third party suffers losses due to your data breach.

Regulatory Defense

Cyber incidents often come under the scrutiny of regulatory bodies, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or other industry-specific regulators. If your business is investigated or fined for violating data protection laws, regulatory defense coverage can help with:

Coverage may help pay for fines or penalties imposed by a regulator for non-compliance.
Mitigating the costs of defending your business against regulatory actions, which can be considerable.

Media Liability

If your business is involved in a cyberattack that results in online defamation, copyright infringement, or the exposure of sensitive content (such as trade secrets), media liability coverage helps protect you. It covers:

Defamation Claims – If a data breach leads to defamatory statements or online reputational damage, this policy helps cover the legal costs of defending the claims.
Infringement Cases – If a cyberattack leads to intellectual property violations, media liability coverage provides the financial resources to address infringement claims.

Defense and Settlement Costs

If your company is sued following a data breach or cyberattack, third-party liability coverage can help cover legal defense costs. This can include:

Paying for attorney fees in a data breach lawsuit.
Covering settlement or judgment costs if your company is found liable.

Optional Riders and Custom Coverage

Cyber insurance policies often allow businesses to add extra coverage based on their specific needs or threats. These optional riders can offer more tailored protection for unique risks your business might face.

Social Engineering Fraud

One of the most common types of cyber fraud today is social engineering fraud, which involves phishing attacks or other deceptive tactics designed to trick employees into revealing sensitive information, transferring funds, or giving access to internal systems. Social engineering fraud coverage helps protect against:

Financial losses if an employee is tricked by a phishing scam.
Financial losses through fraudulent transfers by attackers.

Hardware “Bricking”

Some cyberattacks cause physical damage to business devices, rendering them useless, a scenario known as “bricking.” This rider covers the costs associated with replacing or repairing devices that have been permanently damaged by a cyberattack.

Technology Errors and Omissions (E&O)

This type of coverage is especially important for technology service providers, such as IT firms or software developers. Technology E&O protects businesses against claims resulting from errors or failures in the technology they provide.

What Cyber Insurance Often Doesn’t Cover

Understanding what’s excluded from a cyber insurance policy is just as important as knowing what’s included. Here are common gaps that small business owners often miss, leaving them exposed to certain risks.

Negligence and Poor Cyber Hygiene

Many insurance policies have strict clauses regarding the state of your business’s cybersecurity. If your company fails to implement basic cybersecurity practices, such as using firewalls, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), or keeping software up-to-date, your claim could be denied.

Pro Tip: Insurers increasingly require proof of good cyber hygiene before issuing a policy. Be prepared to show that you’ve conducted employee training, vulnerability testing, and other proactive security measures.

Known or Ongoing Incidents

Cyber insurance doesn’t cover cyber incidents that were already in progress before your policy was activated. For example, if a data breach or attack began before your coverage started, the insurer won’t pay for damages related to those events. Likewise, if you knew about a vulnerability but failed to fix it, your insurer could deny the claim.

Pro Tip: Always ensure your systems are secure before purchasing insurance, and immediately address any known vulnerabilities.

Acts of War or State-Sponsored Attacks

In the wake of high-profile cyberattacks like the NotPetya ransomware incident, many insurers now include a “war exclusion” clause. This means that if a cyberattack is attributed to a nation-state or government-backed actors, your policy might not cover the damage. Such attacks are often considered acts of war, outside the scope of commercial cyber insurance.

Pro Tip: Stay informed about such clauses and be sure to check your policy’s terms.

Insider Threats

Cyber insurance typically doesn’t cover malicious actions taken by your own employees or contractors unless your policy specifically includes “insider threat” protection. This can be a significant blind spot, as internal actors often cause severe damage.

Pro Tip: If you’re concerned about potential insider threats, discuss specific coverage options with your broker to ensure your policy includes protections against intentional damage from insiders.

Reputational Harm or Future Lost Business

While many cyber insurance policies may offer PR crisis management services, they usually don’t cover the long-term reputational damage or future business losses that can result from a cyberattack. The fallout from a breach, such as lost customers or declining sales due to trust issues, often falls outside the realm of coverage.

Pro Tip: If your business is especially concerned about brand reputation, consider investing in additional coverage or crisis management services. Reputational harm can have far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond the immediate financial losses of an attack.

How to Choose the Right Cyber Insurance Policy

As cyber threats continue to evolve, so too must your business’s protection. The right policy can be a lifesaver in the event of a breach, but not all policies are created equal. When selecting a cyber insurance policy, it’s important to understand what your business needs and to choose a policy that specifically addresses your risks. Let’s break down the steps to ensure you’re selecting the best coverage for your organization.

Assess Your Business Risk

Start by evaluating your exposure:

What types of data do you store? Customer, financial, and health data, all require different levels of protection.
How reliant are you on digital tools or cloud platforms? If your business is heavily dependent on technology, you may need more extensive coverage for system failures or data breaches.
Do third-party vendors have access to your systems? Vendors can be a potential weak point. Ensure they’re covered under your policy as well.

Your answers will highlight the areas that need the most protection.

Ask the Right Questions

Before signing a policy, ask:

Does this cover ransomware and social engineering fraud? These are growing threats that many businesses face, so it’s crucial to have specific coverage for these attacks.
Are legal fees and regulatory penalties included? If your business faces a legal battle or must pay fines for a breach, you’ll want coverage for these costly expenses.
What’s excluded and when? Understand the fine print to avoid surprises if you file a claim.

Get a Second Opinion

Don’t go it alone. Work with a cybersecurity expert or broker who understands both the technical and legal aspects of cyber risk. They’ll help you navigate the complexities of the policy language and identify any gaps in coverage. Having a pro on your side can ensure you’re adequately protected and help you make the best decision for your business.

Consider the Coverage Limits and Deductibles

Cyber insurance policies come with specific coverage limits and deductibles. Ensure that the coverage limit aligns with your business’s potential risks. For example, if a data breach could cost your business millions, make sure your policy limit reflects that. Similarly, check the deductible amounts, these are the costs you’ll pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. Choose a deductible that your business can afford in case of an incident.

Review Policy Renewal Terms and Adjustments

Cyber risk is constantly evolving. A policy that covers you today may not cover emerging threats tomorrow. Check the terms for policy renewal and adjustments. Does your insurer offer periodic reviews to ensure your coverage stays relevant? Ensure you can adjust your coverage limits and terms as your business grows and as cyber threats evolve. It’s important that your policy evolves with your business needs.

Cyber insurance is a smart move for any small business. But only if you understand what you’re buying. Knowing the difference between what’s covered and what’s not could mean the difference between a smooth recovery and a total shutdown.

Take the time to assess your risks, read the fine print, and ask the right questions. Combine insurance coverage with strong cybersecurity practices, and you’ll be well-equipped to handle whatever the digital world throws your way. Do you want help decoding your policy or implementing best practices like MFA and risk assessments? Get in touch with us today and take the first step toward a more secure future.

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Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

Top 6 Smart Office Trends to Adopt for an Improved Workflow

by Amber Worth | Aug 12, 2024 | Education, Productivity

The office landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Gone are the days of sterile cubicles and monotonous routines. Today’s smart offices are hubs of innovation. They’re designed to empower employees, optimize workflows, and foster collaboration.

This shift is driven by technology. Including smart features that seamlessly integrate into the physical workspace. But with so many options available, where do you begin?

Here are the top six smart office trends you should consider adopting. They can power productivity and boost employee satisfaction.

1. Internet of Things (IoT) Devices

Connected Office Equipment

IoT devices are revolutionizing the workplace. These devices connect office equipment, allowing them to communicate and operate more efficiently. For example, smart printers can alert you when they need more paper or toner. Smart coffee machines can ensure a fresh brew is ready when you arrive. IoT devices help automate mundane tasks, saving time and reducing stress.

Smart Lighting and Climate Control

Smart lighting and climate control systems can adjust based on occupancy and time of day. These systems use sensors to track the environment and make adjustments. This ensures optimal comfort while reducing energy costs. Employees work better in a well-lit, comfortable space. Automating these adjustments improves office efficiency.

Enhanced Security

IoT devices can also enhance office security. Smart locks and cameras provide real-time monitoring and control. You can grant access remotely or receive alerts if something unusual occurs. This provides peace of mind and ensures your office remains secure.

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning

Personalized Workspaces

AI can create personalized workspaces. It learns employees’ preferences and adjusts settings accordingly. This includes desk height, lighting, and even digital workspace layout. Personalized environments improve comfort and productivity.

Virtual Assistants

AI-powered virtual assistants help manage tasks and schedules. They can set reminders, book meetings, and provide information on demand. Virtual assistants like these streamline daily activities. This allows employees to focus on more critical tasks.

Predictive Maintenance

AI can predict when office equipment will need maintenance. This reduces downtime and ensures everything runs smoothly. Predictive maintenance extends the lifespan of equipment and prevents unexpected breakdowns.

3. Collaborative Technologies

Unified Communication Platforms

Unified communication platforms integrate messaging, video conferencing, and email. This simplifies communication and ensures everyone stays connected. Platforms like these reduce the need to juggle several apps and streamline workflows.

On average, employees waste nearly 4 hours each week reorienting after an app switch.

Digital Whiteboards

Digital whiteboards enhance collaboration during meetings. They allow team members to share ideas in real time, regardless of location. Digital whiteboards save and share notes instantly, improving meeting efficiency and follow-up.

Project Management Tools

Project management tools keep everyone on the same page. They track tasks, deadlines, and progress. These tools provide visibility into project status. This helps ensure nothing falls through the cracks. By using project management software, teams can work more efficiently. As well as meet deadlines consistently.

4. Remote Work Solutions

Cloud-Based Services

Cloud-based services enable remote work. They allow employees to access files and applications from anywhere. This flexibility is crucial in today’s work environment. Cloud services also provide robust security and backup solutions, ensuring data remains safe.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

VPNs secure remote connections. They encrypt data and protect against cyber threats. VPNs ensure that employees can work safely from any location. Implementing a VPN is essential for maintaining security in a remote work setup.

Video Conferencing Tools

Video conferencing tools promote communication with remote teams. They provide face-to-face interaction, which is vital for team cohesion. High-quality video and audio ensure effective communication. These tools also offer features like screen sharing and recording, enhancing their utility.

5. Smart Furniture

Ergonomic Designs

Smart furniture includes ergonomic designs that promote health and productivity. Adjustable desks and chairs can be customized to fit each employee. This reduces the risk of injury and improves comfort. Ergonomic furniture is an investment in employee well-being.

Integrated Technology

Some smart furniture integrates technology, such as wireless charging and built-in sensors. Desks with integrated charging stations keep devices powered without clutter. Sensors can remind employees to take breaks or adjust their posture. These features contribute to a more efficient and healthy workspace.

Modular Furniture

Modular furniture offers flexibility. It can be easily reconfigured to fit changing needs. This is ideal for dynamic work environments. Modular furniture supports collaboration. I can also be adapted as teams grow or projects change.

6. Data Analytics

Performance Metrics

Data analytics tools track performance metrics. They provide insights into productivity, workflow efficiency, and employee satisfaction. By analyzing this data, managers can make informed decisions. This leads to improved processes and better resource allocation.

Space Utilization

Analytics can also optimize the use of space. Sensors and software track how office space is used. This information helps in designing more efficient layouts. Optimizing space reduces costs and creates a more functional work environment.

Predictive Insights

Predictive analytics forecast trends and potential issues. This allows businesses to proactively address problems before they escalate. Predictive insights can improve everything from inventory management to employee scheduling.

Contact Us for Help Optimizing Your Technology

Adopting smart office trends can transform your workplace. By integrating these trends, businesses can create a more productive work environment. Stay ahead of the curve and embrace these innovations to improve your workflow.

The future of work is smart, and the time to start is now. Need some help from our IT optimization experts?

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Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

Websites … the forgotten attack vector

by Amber Dev | Nov 9, 2023 | Education, News, Uncategorized

In September 2023, someone hacked Pizza Hut … Do you think they were after a few free pizzas? Probably not. They were looking for client data. So, what’s that got to do with your website?

Websites … the forgotten attack vector

For the moment, lets assume the best scenarios where your website doesn’t even contain client data.

What’s the risk? …

- A hacked website might contain code that can compromise a client (or your) computer by executing malicious code in their environment.
- Cybercriminals take control of your website posting deceptive content which may compromise your integrity
- Content modifications may redirect clients to inappropriate or competing sites
- Loss of control of your own website
- Defacing, deleting, or otherwise ruining the website
- Using your resources and/or domain name to send illicit emails

Here’s my top 10 tips on how to protect your business by protecting your website …

Protection Factor #1: Website Hardening

Daily Security scans for infections or component vulnerabilities.
Daily backups and historical recovery positions.
Web application firewalls and global edge security
Regular health checks

Protection Factor #2 – Patching & Updates

Plugins, themes & content management core components need to be updated regularly. No Update Available? … No, this does not mean the plugin is safe. It simply means there’s no update.
Also check that your hosters are updating database engines and scripting technologies behind the scenes.

web security issues and solutions feature 940x588 1

Protection Factor #5 – SSL Certificates are a neccesity, not a nice to have

The little lock icon ! You MUST have this. Purchase a secure socket layer certificate. This will protect your data, protect your clients and boost your SEO rankings. Have an expert recommend the right type of certificate for you.

Protection Factor #6 – Smart Passwords + 2 Factor Authentication

Like all passwords, your website passwords must be secure and complex. Turn on multi-factor authentication where possible. Change usernames from default or simple forms to something more complex. Weak usernames can be as much a threat to your security as weak passwords.

Protection Factor #9 – Securing submission forms

Structured query language (SQL) injection as well as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)s are techniques used by hackers to compromise your data and your website. Validation of form fields to remove symbols capable of executing queries can limit your exposure to these attack vectors.

Protection Factor #3 – Ownership

Don’t leave your site in the wrong hands. Ensure that people who have access and control over your website are knowledgeable and experienced at site protection. This is often not the case with marketing and designer resources.

Protection Factor #4 – Minimalistic Access Approach

Give people, even internal staff, access only to the parts and components they need. For example, if they just add and edit content then don’t let them install plugins. If they only write blogs then don’t let them add new pages.
Apply this theory to ALL data in your business.

Protection Factor #7 – Web Application Firewall

Sitting between your website and the world, this additional layer reads all data passed and blocks hack attempts and filters out unwanted traffic like spammers and malicious bots.
This is a critical factor that can, and should, be provided by your hosting layer.

Protection Factor #8 – Secure Web Hosting

Check the security features offered by your hoster …

Does the web host offer a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)? SFTP.
Is FTP Use by Unknown User disabled?
Does it use a Rootkit Scanner?
Does it offer file backup services?
How well do they keep up to date on security upgrades?

Protection Factor #10 – Backup Often

Give yourself a fast recovery position. Determine if onboard backups are sufficient. You may choose to keep a copy off the main hosting server and in your own hands (recommended).

Step #1 … Cyber Protect your Email

by Amber Worth | Aug 25, 2023 | Education, News

Unveiling the benefits of DKIM, DMARC & SPF to protect YOU!

As digital threats continue to evolve, safeguarding your email infrastructure has become a top priority. The implementation of DKIM, DMARC, and SPF protocols provides multiple beneﬁts, including increased email authenticity, protection against phishing attacks, preservation of brand reputation, and enhanced email deliverability. By adopting these robust security practices, you can ensure the integrity of your email communication, foster customer trust, and fortify your organization against cyber threats. Embrace these technologies and empower your email system with the much-needed protection it deserves.

Enhance Email Deliverability

Ensure Email Authenticity and Integrity

Implementing DKIM, DMARC, and SPF protocols not only bolsters security but also improves email
deliverability rates. Since email recipients increasingly trust messages authenticated by DKIM and
aligned with DMARC and SPF policies, your emails are more likely to land in the recipient’s inbox rather
than being ﬂagged as suspicious or sent to the spam folder. By maintaining a positive reputation
through consistent authentication and alignment, your organization’s emails are recognized as
legitimate, reaching your intended audience effectively.

DKIM, DMARC, and SPF collectively establish a robust system for verifying the authenticity and integrity
of emails. DKIM employs cryptographic signatures, which are added to outgoing messages, to validate
the sender’s domain. Upon receipt, the recipient’s server veriﬁes the signature with the sender’s public
key, thus ensuring that the email has not been tampered with or forged during transmission. As a result,
DKIM safeguards against malicious manipulation and impersonation.

Safeguard Brand Reputation & Customer Trust

Shields Against Phishing Attacks:

Domain spooﬁng, where attackers impersonate reputable organizations, can cause signiﬁcant damage
to a brand’s reputation and erode customer trust. Implementing DKIM, DMARC, and SPF protocols
acts as a robust defense mechanism against these spooﬁng attacks. DKIM’s cryptographic signatures
authenticate the sender’s domain, making it incredibly challenging for attackers to impersonate your
brand convincingly. DMARC provides domain owners with detailed visibility into who is sending emails
claiming to be from their domain, facilitating swift action against impersonators. SPF further mitigates
domain spooﬁng by verifying that emails originate from authorized servers.

Phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, often tricking recipients into sharing
sensitive data or clicking on malicious links. By implementing DMARC and SPF, you fortify your email
infrastructure against these fraudulent practices. DMARC allows domain owners to specify strict
policies for emails that fail authentication. It enables organizations to instruct receiving mail servers
on how to handle such messages, including quarantining, rejecting, or delivering them to the recipient’s
spam folder. Additionally, SPF ensures that only authorized email servers can send messages on behalf
of your domain, minimizing the risk of phishing attempts by unauthorized individuals.

5 Cyber Security Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Day

by Amber Worth | Mar 29, 2021 | News, Education

Cyber Security should be a top priority for business leaders today. Companies are facing increased risks of their data, or that of the customers, being broadcast to the world. Along with the risk of fines, is the more pressing concern of damage to your business reputation. More now than ever, we are seeing governments around the world stepping in to create legislation to protect consumers. This increased protection increases the burden on business. With a few steps in the right direction and minimal extra cost, you can meet your duty of care. Here are some of the key cyber security mistakes that have the potential to bring your company to its knees.

Cyber Security Mistakes

Cyber Security has now entered the mainstream, and it’s time businesses make it a priority. As a matter of course, it’s time for your business to adopt an active security strategy. This strategy should consist of a couple of steps. Firstly, your organisation needs to assess the data you have on your network, and what you are exposing to the wider internet. Use strong security software and services to assess the data and to ensure that only people who should have access to that data can do so. Don’t make it easy for the wrong people to access your company information. Also, you need to understand how secure your system is.

Mistake 1 – Not Encrypting Data

Encryption of data is a vital step in protecting data from hackers. And, one of the easiest ways to prevent data loss. Let’s face it, nobody wants to think about losing their data or credit cards, so it’s important you consider encryption. But, when was the last time you read up on the ins and outs of encryption? It might take a little bit of effort to find a good encryption solution, but you should make it a priority. Don’t have the time? Ask us and our team of experts will be more than happy to assist.

Mistake 2 – Not Patching Software

As threats become more sophisticated, malware and vulnerabilities become better understood. But cyber security measures have not kept up with this rapid evolution. Even in today’s hyper-connected world, we still need security measures that are easy for a business to put in place, but still, be secure, and, work across many platforms. In addition, being able to identify emerging threats quickly and remediate them proactively is paramount. The easiest way to secure many environments at once is to keep your operating systems and software patched and up to date. When left unpatched, any small change, like a new virus or bug can cripple your entire enterprise.

Mistake 3 – Not Monitoring for Threats

Cyber Security is no longer something of the dark ages. The companies that invest the time and money to create an effective program have already become overnight successes. They have increased customer confidence, decreased risk, and hopefully averted disaster. Yet despite this, so many companies today still spend more time defending their network, than actually monitoring for new threats. As businesses, many do not consider cyber threats a priority, yet in reality, they are simply the cost of doing business. The right cyber security program should track every aspect of your business to identify the threats in your environment, proactively prevent attacks, and protect your assets from falling into the wrong hands.

Mistake 4 – Not Using Multi-Factor Authentication

This is the term given to a range of procedures which need a customer to present identification to access their account. These include SMS codes, authentication emails or even an MFA app. But, despite using the same technology, they are not always the same. This is one of the easiest and most effective solutions in protecting your customers’ data. Because you need to enter your one-time code to access a business’s accounts, this also applies to those outside of your network. When you call your bank they ask you to verify your account. This is a form of customer facing multi-factor authentication. Methods like this can protect you and your customers from ever having to worry about who can get access to their data.

Mistake 5 – Not Understanding the Risk

Technology is advancing at an incredible rate, and companies that lack an understanding of how to protect data, end up doing the complete opposite. An organisation that owns and protects its data and has planned the detection of and response to a breach will be in a far better position than those that do not. Understand that risk management is a multi-phase process. By taking the time to understand the value of your data and the data of those who interact with you, you can begin to build a comprehensive plan to protect it. There are three major elements to any plan: physical, operational and cybersecurity. Physical protection – are the physical systems that carry information. These are things like electronic filing cabinets, server rooms and communication systems. Operational protection – is the plans, processes, and procedures you have in place around your data and team. Cyber Security protection – are the tools, the software and the hardware tracking your data both inside and outside of your environment.

Data Security is Important!

by Amber Worth | Mar 2, 2021 | News, Education

Equifax settle for $US700 million for their 2017 data breach!

Has IT ever told you data security is important? For more than 20 years we have been hearing how important encryption will be for data and why it will benefit companies not just from a privacy point of view, but also for a security.

Governments around the world have been slowly waking up to the ever-increasing threat, largely due to the increase in breaches of people’s personally identifiable information. These breaches have increased identity fraud and theft, they have been known to put lives in danger and sadly, in many cases, have been met with toothless threats and a punishment of “just don’t do it again!”.

Thankfully, in the last 3 years, with input from lobbying groups and industry bodies, we have seen the creation and implementation of GDPR (in Europe) and the NDB Scheme (in Australia) to combat this very real risk. These measures and guidelines have given government bodies a very real ability to deliver harsher punishments to organisations found to be handling our data in ways that would be considered risky or that put our personal information at threat.

This week the first of these cases has finally been tested in the best of ways and resulted in a big win for us all. Equifax, the global credit monitoring organisation agreed to pay a settlement of $US700 million which stemmed from a 2017 data breach that exposed the information of over 150 million people. This was one of the largest identified data breaches in history and the largest at the time by an organisation.

At Ambient iT we welcome such a heavy punishment and look forward to this new environment where our data is considered with the appropriate respect and value it deserves. If you are worried that you may not have the appropriate measures in place to protect you or your clients data, or you simply want the peace of mind knowing that you have done the best you can, get in touch with our team and we will work with you to help keep your data protected and secure.