News headlines routinely feature high-profile data breaches and computer intrusions, with companies working around the clock to contain the damage to their business, their customers and their reputations. But research shows that cyber criminals are also attacking smaller “Main Street” businesses that are often less prepared to prevent and respond to an attack. Since 2015, the percentage of small business respondents who have suffered a cyber attack has tripled, from 4% to 12% this year.1
And it’s not just online businesses that face cyber threats. Any business – regardless of industry – that has access to confidential/personal information is at risk. Examples include retailers that accept credit card payments, service providers that keep track of customer purchase histories, and contractors with access to sensitive customer information.
Cyber threats are everywhere. Share these cyber claim scenarioswith your clients and see below for some steps small businesses can take to safeguard their data.
1. Be aware of phishing schemes. Phishing emails are fake email messages that can be used by criminals and hackers to target credit and identity, gain control of a computer or steal passwords to access businessinformation.
2. Recognize “social engineering.” Social engineers gather pieces of information from many different sources, including social profiles and accounts to gain access to businessinformation.
3. Stay on guard while traveling. Be aware when logging on to business accounts in public places and keep laptops and mobile devices locked away or in your personalpossession.
4. Train employees to understand cyber risks. If a business has two employees or 200, everyone should have a clear understanding of vulnerabilities and cyber threats that could cripple a small business if left unchecked.
5. Protect against data breaches with cyber insurance. The cost of a single breach to a small business and the time it takes restoring the business can reach a substantial amount of money. Protecting a business’s assets with a cyber insurance policy iscritical.
Contact your Travelers Representative to learn more about Travelers CyberFirst Essentials®– data breach coverage designed specifically to protect small businesses. Find out more about cyber trends and insurance options at travelers.com/cyber.
1Travelers Risk Index, 2019.
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