Despite the growing awareness about cyber threats, many myths about cyber security still persist. Ready to separate fact from fiction? Here are some of the most common cybersecurity myths.

Myth #1 — Too much security diminishes productivity.

Some business owners worry that increased cyber security protocols will make it difficult for employees to access what they need to do their job. However, in reality, not having adequate cyber security protocols may have long-term and catastrophic consequences for your business. Many preventive measures require little hassle on the part of employees.

Myth #2 — Cyberattacks are only executed by external perpetrators.

Wrong! Insider threats are on the rise and should be a cause for concern for all businesses. Insider threats can include employees, vendors, contractors and business partners and be either a simple case of negligence or can be malicious in nature. A recent survey revealed that insider threats are responsible for more than half of all data breaches. All companies need to have plans in place to help prevent these types of attacks.

Myth #3 — Cybercriminals only attack large businesses.

Small and medium-sized businesses may wrongly assume that their data isn’t attractive to hackers. But these operations are among the most susceptible to cyberattacks. An Accenture survey revealed that hackers went after small businesses nearly half of the time. Unfortunately, only about 14% of these businesses were prepared to act defensively in such a situation.

The lesson: No matter the size no business is immune from hacking attempts and malicious attacks. Hackers don’t discriminate when it comes to their victims. So, don’t let the size of your business determine how valuable your data is or how secure your assets are.

Myth #4 — Cybersecurity and cyber insurance is too expensive

Even though the headlines paint grim stories, some companies still wonder if cybersecurity programs are worth the cost. Data security is frequently overlooked and many organizations respond reactively when they have no other option.

Just how expensive is such a mistake? Consider the fact that the average cost of a data breach in 2021 is $4.24 million, the highest in the last 17 years. This statistic doesn’t even take into account reputational losses and customer losses from a breach. One thing is for certain: The cost of a good cybersecurity plan and coverage is far less than dealing with the consequences of an attack.

Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common. They can affect both small and large businesses. And many times, criminals gain access to a company’s computer network by the careless action of an employee. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your company’s workers understand their responsibilities to help keep your computer system safe and secure. Start the process by:

Helping them understand the risk. It’s estimated that 60 percent of small businesses fail within six months of a cyber attack. Studies also show that nearly 90 percent of all cyber attacks could have been easily prevented. For many companies, the problem is malware. That’s malicious software designed to gain access to a network, find sensitive data and possibly steal that data. There are various types of malware, including spyware, viruses, worms and other types of malicious code that infiltrate a computer. Once malware is installed, it can allow hackers to extract private and sensitive data from your customers.

Providing training. Talk to your employees about the risk and train them to not click on links or open attachments to e-mails they are not expecting. This is one of the most common ways hackers gain access to a company’s computers. Employees also should always allow work devices to automatically install updates, which often contain important safety updates. They should also know other important ways to protect their employer’s computer systems. Well-trained employees are the first line of defense against a cyber attack.

Using strong passwords. Long and strong passwords with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols are ideal. Set a specific timeline — such as every three months — for changing company passwords. Here are some tips for creating strong passwords.

Avoiding personal use of company computers. Consider requiring employees to refrain from checking their personal e-mail accounts, using social media channels and surfing the Internet using company computers and devices.

Prohibiting the installation of outside programs on work computers. If a computer contains company information, you’ll want employees to avoid downloading any programs or apps on it.

Being vigilant. When outside the office, never leave work devices unattended and make sure your employees aren’t, either. Password-protect your phone or tablet and log off or lock your screen every time you step away. Use two-factor authentication. Verifying your identity twice before accessing an account can dramatically reduce the odds a hacker can gain access to sensitive information.

Backing up files and data regularly. It doesn’t matter whether you use cloud storage or external hard drives. It’s important to have a backup in the event of a ransomware attack.

We’ve all been there – bumper to bumper, facing seemingly endless brake lights. Whether you live in a small town or a big city, gridlock can happen just about everywhere. And it often happens when you’re trying to get somewhere fast. So how can you stay safe when traffic is at its worst? Here are some tips that can help:

Plan ahead: If possible, allow extra time for driving when traffic, for whatever reason, is expected to be heavy. You will be less likely to tailgate, weave across lanes of traffic, or vent frustration on other drivers when you aren’t pressed for time. Again, your smartphone can be a useful tool to help you find the best route based on traffic conditions.

Don’t follow too closely: Ever heard of the three-second rule? When the vehicle in front of you passes a stationary object, begin counting. You should reach the same object no sooner than three seconds after the vehicle in front of you. (Four or five seconds is even better!) It’s tempting to tailgate when traffic is moving slowly so that other drivers can’t slip in front of you. But following too closely to other vehicles remains a top source of accidents nationwide, at all times of the year.

Minimize distractions: If you plan to drive on congested streets, make sure that your attention is on the road. Avoid talking on a cell phone, sending text messages, eating messy foods, or putting on makeup in the car. Your chances of being involved in a crash will drop considerably by taking those steps. Multitasking behind the wheel dramatically increases your chances of an accident.

Avoid rubbernecking: Just as there are distractions inside a vehicle, there can be distractions outside a vehicle as well. Don’t let your attention wander when passing a crash scene or anything else that’s happening outside your car.

Relax: Don’t take unnecessary risks to shorten your commute by a few minutes. You could end up spending a lot more time beside the road. Instead, take it easy, be courteous, and know that you’ll get to your destination safer and less stressed.

At Accurate Protection, we offer commercial auto insurance — and so much more. We work directly with our clients, helping them to identify risks unique to their organizations and providing a plan for reducing or eliminating exposure.

The hiring process poses a number of risks to any organization. As a business owner, you have many legal responsibilities under federal employment anti-discrimination laws. You’ll also want to make sure you’re not asking prohibited questions or discriminating against a job applicant based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information. You also want to make sure you’re handling pre-employment screening and inquiries correctly.

That’s why we have assembled a detailed, multi-part education program for our clients called “Work Smart,” filled with documented smart business practices in every area, including hiring. Companies can use this information to build more risk-proof activities and procedures, avoiding potential business risks such as asking prohibited questions during the application process.

When hiring, the ultimate goal of course is to find an employee who is a good fit for your business. No doubt you’ve found some qualities that have worked well within your organization. Beyond skills and education, here are four qualities that research shows that employers should consider looking for while assessing a job applicant:

Adaptability. Change is constant. Look for evidence the applicant can adapt to changing times. Do they view challenging times as opportunities to grow and succeed or are they afraid to take risks? Do they manage change or do they seem to avoid it? Are they annoyed by day-to-day hassles and problems or do they approach them with a cheerful attitude? Are they immobilized by obstacles or do they find a way around them?

Initiative. Do previous employers say the job applicant has a history of volunteering for projects and/or assignments? Does the applicant’s resume suggest he or she seeks out opportunities? Or does he or she do just what is required to get by? In today’s world, you want bright employees with a great work ethic and a can-do attitude.

Empathy. A job applicant may be intelligent, but do they have emotional intelligence? Do they work well with other people? People who regularly seek out opportunities to help other people can be valuable additions to most any team.

A positive attitude. Positive people view challenges as opportunities to learn, adapt, and succeed. Workplace research shows that positive attitudes can be contagious among co-workers, so it’s vital to add enthusiastic and upbeat people to your company.

Cyber attacks on small businesses and organizations are becoming increasingly common. It’s one of the top risks of doing business today. That’s why it’s so important to keep your company’s computer system safe and secure.

Online attacks are costly to address. It’s estimated that 60 percent of small businesses and organizations fail within six months of a cyber attack. Studies also show that nearly 90 percent of all cyber attacks could have been easily prevented with some simple safeguards.

For most companies, the problem is malware. That’s malicious software designed to gain access to a network, find sensitive data and steal that data. There are various types of malware, including spyware, viruses, worms, and any type of malicious code that infiltrates a computer. Once malware is installed, it can allow hackers to extract private and sensitive data whenever they wish.

Some of the best ways to prevent malware from being installed on your computer system are the most simple. Don’t click on links or open attachments in e-mails that you aren’t 100% sure are legitimate. This is one of the most common ways hackers gain access to a company’s computers. Generally be wary of e-mails containing attachments. If you are suspicious of what you are being asked to view or install, don’t do it. Scan a disc or flash drive before using it; it too can unknowingly contain malicious code.

Long and strong passwords with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols are important, too. Set a specific timeline — such as every three months — for changing company passwords. Consider requiring employees to refrain from checking their personal e-mail accounts and social media channels using company computers and devices. If a computer contains company information, you’ll want employees to avoid downloading any programs or apps on it without your permission.

Security measures also are important. Install anti-virus/malware software, firewalls and anti-ransomware, keep it up to date and run regular scans. Don’t let updates to your operating system, browsers and plugins pile up. Updates often address security vulnerabilities that have been discovered, so it’s important those are completed in a timely manner. Additional essential security measures include using multi-factor authentication to confirm multiple factors verifying their identity prior to accessing a network or system and coupling this with an endpoint detection and response to maintain visibility into all endpoints. From there best practice Is to use segregated/ air-gapped backups and test off-site or cloud backups routinely.

For many of us, working remotely is the new norm, and studies show most employees love working at home at least part of the time.

Yet allowing employees to work at home can expose your company to risks that you don’t encounter when your workforce is physically located at your company’s facilities. At Accurate Protection, we specialize in working with companies to better manage ever-evolving risks. That’s why we wanted to share with you some great ways employers can better manage the liability risks of remote workers:

Create a telecommuting policy. Setting clear work-at-home guidelines and communicating them to employees can help prevent misunderstandings. Make it clear that you have the right to rescind their work-from-home privileges at any time and for any reason. Have all employees review and acknowledge your company’s telecommuting policy.

Re-evaluate your insurance coverage. Make sure your insurance program effectively addresses the unique risks of having some of your employees working remotely. (We can help with that.)

Make sure employees are using secure wi-fi. All of your employees should be using private and secured Wi-Fi networks while working remotely. Using an unsecured network — public wi-fi — can put your company’s private information at risk.

Make sure employees are using devices that are secure with up-to-date firewalls and anti-virus software. This applies to laptops, tablets, and smartphones. It’s your responsibility to keep your customer and client information safe.

Use secure virtual meeting rooms. Make sure that private conversations and presentations cannot be monitored by unauthorized third parties.

Make sure you’re complying with federal wage and hour rules. To avoid violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers should require non-exempt employees working from home to record the time they work each day and stick to the hours they should be working each day. Non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay whether they are working at your company’s facility or at home, so it’s important that employees know they must adhere to their normal working hours and that they are prohibited from working additional hours without your approval.

Make sure you’re classifying workers correctly for workers compensation insurance. When employees switch to working from home, some workers compensation insurers may want to change classification codes. As an employer, it’s important to know that you could be potentially be held liable if an employee is hurt on the job and employees may be eligible for workers’ compensation if they are hurt while working at home.

We’re here to help your company better manage its risks.

When you hear the words “business plan,” you probably immediately think about mission statements, corporate goals, sales quotas and marketing KPIs. While these are all invaluable in terms of pieces of the business to plan for to ensure success and continuity, there are businesses that fail to plan in crucial areas. Namely, emergency and contingency planning.

No matter the size or age of your business, here are some of the most important questions to ask to ensure that there are no gaps in your planning.

  1. Do you know what your insurance covers? Many businesses will hire a firm to ensure that they have the minimum insurance in place to legally do business or instruct them to find a plan that will keep them under budget. Insurance is one area you don’t want to scale back your budget for. While it may seem like a lot to spend on a service you hope to never need, if you need it and don’t have it, could your business survive it? Assess your coverage amounts regularly and make sure they still match the size of your staff and the size of your sales growth.
  2. Do you have an emergency plan in place? Hopefully you have all the appropriate liability insurance and property insurance, as well as worker’s compensation plans, but do you conduct regular safety meetings? Cybersecurity procedures and training? Fire drills? CPR training? These aren’t traditionally thought of as part of the business plan, but they are a crucial part of having a well-prepared business. Understanding how these areas can affect your business can help you organize and plan for a more secure future.

Our services can help you plan for and even potentially prevent just about any threat. We can protect your assets and your business, plus help you and your employees understand the importance of planning beyond quarterly goals for the health and success of your business long-term.

Our business is protecting your business. We have the expertise to ensure business assets are protected.

We also know that risk management doesn’t stop at insurance. Here are some to consider:

  • Safety Programs: A safe workplace is a successful workplace, and safety is everyone’s responsibility. The best businesses know that they have to make safety training a priority, and our safety program service allows you to customize safety materials that can create a safer, healthier workplace that benefits everyone.
  • OSHA Compliance: OSHA’s standards and practices can change quickly, and our compliance services help you stay on top of the must-know information to be able to prepare for and pass OSHA inspections successfully to help keep your business running with no downtime.
  • Fraud Protection: We can help you learn what policies and procedures your business needs to protect itself from fraud and walk you through the process every step of the way.
  • Communication and Connection: We offer access to extensive business databases that can help you understand and mitigate risks, shape policy and strategy, and communicate to employees with newsletters, posters and more.

As your partner in business, this is just a handful of additional ways we can help your organization beyond insurance solutions. See our other risk management solutions and value-added services here.

If you own a business, it’s important to be clear about what type of behavior is expected of your employees when they get behind the wheel.
At the very least, you’ll want employees to be aware of the need to follow any federal and state driving laws, such as buckling up. Beyond that, you may want to spell out not only safe driving behaviors but what you definitely don’t want them doing while driving. Once you’ve put together a plan, provide each employee with your driving rules and consider having them sign the document to indicate that they understand what’s expected of them behind the wheel. Here are some suggestions:

Wear seat belts. All drivers and passengers must use them. Seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50% for front-seat passengers,

Limit cell phone use on the road. This is a no-brainer, but it’s so important if your employees are driving to customers or work sites. To be safe, you may want to make it clear to employees that they are not to talk on a cell phone or text while they are driving on business. If they need to use the phone, they should safely pull of the road or if your company permits it, use a ‘hands-free’ device. Know that studies show that even a hands-free call can slow your reaction time while driving.

Let voicemail do its work. Let employees know you do not want them to initiate calls while they are driving or answer any incoming calls. Let them know that all incoming calls – even from the boss – go to voicemail while driving.

Ban distracted driving. We all know that texting while driving is dangerous. But distracted driving – from talking on a cell phone to eating or drinking behind the wheel – causes thousands of injuries and deaths each year as well. So does shaving, putting on makeup and combing your hair from behind the wheel.

Promote courteous driving. Aggressive driving can lead to accidents. If your employees drive cars with your company’s name on them, make sure they know that rude driving can also cost your company business.

Risk management is one of the greatest challenges for any business. Yet due to its complexity and the enormous job of running a company, many business owners don’t effectively manage a wide array of risks. That’s where Accurate Protection steps in. We work directly with our clients, helping to identify business risks and providing the resources and insurance coverage needed to mitigate those risks. We don’t only offer commercial insurance, such as auto coverage. We help you integrate the right types of insurance into an effective overall risk management plan.

Effectively managing your company’s risks is a complex yet critical part of operating a successful business today. At Accurate Protection, we help companies solve the risk management puzzle. We work directly with our clients to help identify risks and develop a smart approach to reducing or eliminating their exposures. In addition, our detailed, multi-part education program, Work Smart, gives business owners additional tools to implement or expand their own risk mitigation programs. With more than 30 documented smart business practices in every area. Work Smart helps business leaders develop activities, policies and procedures that can reduce unnecessary business risks.

It’s estimated that two-thirds of all small businesses aren’t effectively managing risks, which can result in devastating circumstances. According to a report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 40% of businesses do not reopen following an unexpected event and another 25% fail within one year after one occurs. Not being prepared could mean the end of your business.

On the other hand, a solid preparedness and risk management plan can dramatically increase the likelihood that your business will survive a major setback. Some risks are difficult or even impossible to plan for, of course. The global pandemic, for example, took much of the global business world by surprise — it’s one of those risks that few of us could have anticipated. But business owners can plan for so many other unpredictable events, such as major Internet or power outages, weather disasters, flooding, wildfires and other location or industry-specific threats.

A quality preparedness plan includes details such as a list of alternative suppliers should something happen to your existing supplier or supplier base and how your company would operate in a disaster. Here are some important questions to ask yourself: Are you following best practices to manage your company’s internal and external risks effectively? Do you have alternative work sites so that you can keep operating if your building is flooded or destroyed by fire? Do you have a way to keep employees informed of a major business problem? Do you have a backup of all important files and documents stored off-site? Is your insurance plan adequate? Are you doing everything you can to reduce unnecessary risks?

We can help you determine the greatest risks to your organization and help you find the most cost-effective ways to mitigate those threats. We don’t sell insurance, we get your business the accurate protection it needs.