digital umbrella protecting virtual laptop

digital umbrella protecting virtual laptop3 Simple Cyber Liability Insurance Tips For Small Business

Cyber liability insurance is important for small businesses because it can protect your business from financial loss in the event of a cyber-attack or data breach.

These types of incidents can be costly to deal with and can even force your business to close its doors for good if not handled properly.

Cybersecurity liability insurance can cover the costs associated with responding to a cyber-attack or data breach, such as legal fees, regulatory fines, and the cost of providing credit monitoring services to affected customers.

Additionally, having cyber liability insurance can also help your business recover more quickly from a cyber-attack or data breach by providing access to expert guidance and support.

We’ve been in this business long enough that we’ve learned a lot. If you run a small business, here are some basic tips for getting started with cybersecurity liability insurance that we have found helpful – hopefully, they will help you too:

  1. Understand your cyber risks.
  2. Implement adequate cyber security protections.
  3. Work with a trusted advisor.

1. Understand Your Cyber Risks

The first step in obtaining cyber liability insurance is to understand the specific risks that your business faces.

This can help you to determine the type and amount of coverage that you need, and ensure that your insurance policy provides adequate protection against the potential losses and liabilities associated with a cyber incident.

Every business owner today knows, it is necessary to protect their organization’s sensitive data from cyber threats with robust cybersecurity services and good cyber coverage.

Whether they act on that instinct of survival or not, that’s a different story.

Here is a list of the most common risks and concerns all small businesses face when it comes to protecting their data…

Top Cybersecurity Risks For Small Business:

Ransomware

Malicious software, or “malware” that encrypts your data and demands a large payment in exchange for the decryption key. Without the key, you can’t get access to your data.

A major concern to you because if you fall victim, it can be financially damaging. The average ransom small businesses have to pay is over a million dollars.

Hackers know most small businesses don’t see themselves as a target, and therefore have little to no network security in place. Don’t be a sitting duck.

Cyber security insurance can help small businesses manage the financial risks associated with Ransomware Attacks, by covering the costs of recovery and providing financial protection.

Business Interruptions

A data breach can cause significant interruptions to your business’s operations, including loss of access to your critical files and systems, loss of productivity, and potential loss of revenue.

The true cost of downtime involves much more than just paying the ransom demanded by the attackers, you also have to factor in the revenue you’ll lose from being down, days or even weeks!

Most businesses that are down for 10 days or more end up closing their doors due to bankruptcy within 6 months.

Reputation Management

Experiencing a data breach can have devastating reputational consequences. Your clients may see you as being unable to protect their sensitive information.

People only do business with people they TRUST.

Loss of reputation can lead to your clients leaving in droves into the arms of your competition because they no longer trust you, causing further harm to your bottom line.

Regulatory Compliance

Being aware of the ongoing regulatory compliance requirements when it comes to cybersecurity and data protection for your specific industry is crucial.

Make sure that your cybersecurity practices and data breach insurance coverage are and remain compliant with the specific requirements that apply to you.

Avoid paying huge fines and other potentially crippling penalties by getting a third-party cybersecurity services expert to verify your network security remains compliant with the latest regulations.

 

2. Implement Adequate Cyber Security Protections

Before shopping around for data breach coverage, ensure that you have the proper protections in place that will save you money on your cyber liability insurance premium.

There are many different cybersecurity protections that businesses can implement to protect themselves against cyber threats. Some of the key protections that businesses should consider include:

Firewalls:

Firewalls are a key line of defense against cyber attacks, and can help to prevent unauthorized access to a company’s networks and systems.

Antivirus and malware protection: Antivirus and malware protection software can help to detect and prevent malware infections on a company’s systems.

Security awareness training:

Providing regular security awareness training for employees can help to educate them about the importance of cybersecurity and reduce the risk of phishing, social engineering attacks, and other types of human error.

Strong passwords and password management:

Implementing strong password policies and using a password manager can help to protect against password-based attacks.

Encryption:

Encrypting sensitive data can help to protect it in the event of a data breach, and can also help to comply with data privacy regulations.

Regular backups:

Regularly backing up important data and systems can help to minimize the impact of a cyber-attack or other disaster, and enable businesses to quickly restore access to their critical assets. Especially when onsite and cloud backup redundancy.

2 Factor Authentication Enabled:

Turning on 2FA for your Microsoft account, and other important logins can stop hackers cold in their tracks, even if they get their hands on your login credentials.

 

It’s important to note that no single cybersecurity protection is foolproof, and businesses should implement a range of protections to provide comprehensive coverage.

It’s also important to regularly review and update these protections to ensure that they remain effective against the latest threats.

Don’t get denied cybersecurity insurance because of an incompetent cybersecurity firm.

 

3. Work With A Trusted Advisor

The scary truth is, one of the worst things that could happen to your business is getting hacked. What’s even scarier is finding out AFTER you got hacked that you were not protected by your IT company like you thought you were.

Cybersecurity can be complex and overwhelming, especially for small businesses. Working with a trusted advisor, such as a cybersecurity firm or consultant, can help you understand your risks and implement effective cybersecurity practices to protect your business.

Ask a cybersecurity expert to help you review and fill out your cyber security insurance documents to provide detailed information and help lower your premium.

Although insurance policies are in place to protect you in case of a cyber incident, your claim can still be denied if the insurance company determines you did not have the proper protections in place.

Insurance companies will find any excuse to deny your claim, and POOF! There goes all the money you’ve paid in premiums toward cyber liability insurance…All for nothing.

Furthermore, Information Technology (IT) Firms can lie or be incompetent thinking they’re doing a good job when in reality, they’re leaving your data exposed to cyber threats.

Get a trusted third-party cybersecurity services firm to assess your network security to be 100% certain your business has the necessary protections in place, so you don’t get denied coverage.

 

Assess Your Network Security Before The New Year

If you need cyber liability insurance or are renewing your current policy and don’t want to get denied due to inadequate cybersecurity, look no further.

Juern Technology is the only TRUE Cybersecurity Services Firm in Southern Texas that doesn’t outsource any of the important pieces and can prove it.

At Juern Technology we have our own Security Operations Center (SOC) and Network Operations Center (NOC).

Ready to assess your risk and plug the holes in your network security? Book A FREE 15-Minute Consult or give us a call at (210) 245-6900 to learn how we can help you save money on cyber liability coverage.