As a small business owner, you may believe your company is just too small to be hacked; however, with the number of cybersecurity breaches rising, small businesses are at an increased risk today more than ever.
Hackers may steal employee information, customer credit card numbers, and other valuable information from your computer systems, taking advantage of the lower security environment of many small businesses. To see how many NH small businesses have been impacted by a data breach, you can look at the extensive list of security breach notifications on the NH Department of Justice website.
If your business is one of the more than 100,000 small businesses in New Hampshire, here are six reasons why you need cyber liability insurance to protect your company from an expensive cyber-attack:
While business liability insurance can cover a broad range of risks, like protecting your company from lawsuits due to personal injury or property damage, it will most likely not protect you if your information is compromised. This protection requires a separate cyber insurance policy.
When information within your company is compromised, you are required by law to promptly notify those affected or potentially affected, including clients, prospects, and employees. Ideally, you will also pay for identity theft monitoring for affected persons for at least a year for PR reasons. The government may also levy fines and penalties, which vary depending upon the state(s) where you operate the business, where your clients are located, or where your employees live. These costs can add up quickly and are potentially devastating for your business. Data loss could also cripple your ability to conduct business until the system is restored, impacting your bottom line even further.
Short of the neighborhood kid's lemonade stand, any small business that stores valuable information, including social security numbers, credit card data, or essential business information, is at risk. If a hacker perceives your NH small business as an easy target, he or she will not hesitate to steal whatever info has potential value.
It would be hard-pressed to operate a competitive business without a computer system, network connection, or online presence. If you use technology, it's essential to take precautions. Using anti-virus and malware software, as well as frequent password changes, can help protect your business up-front, while NH cyber liability insurance will help protect you if your business's data is compromised.
It is also essential to have a written office policy to inform employees how best to utilize company mobile equipment like laptops, mobile phones, and tablets. All employees should know what can and can not be sent and worked on over an unprotected network.
The risk of an attack goes down if you take precautions against it. The first step is being aware that you are at risk. Using secure passwords, changing them frequently, and keeping software up-to-date may make your company harder to attack. Your cyber liability policy may receive discounts if you consistently adhere to safe usage practices.
Like any natural disaster, there is only so much you can do; still, disaster can strike. It is comforting to know that you can have many expenses covered by a cyber-attack with a cyber liability policy. This can include notification and credit protection for affected parties, data restoration, forensic investigation, lawsuit costs, business interruption, and other expenses.
The New Hampshire economy thrives on small businesses - and so do hackers. As attackers get increasingly sophisticated and steal information from highly protected government agencies and large corporations, it is easy to see how small businesses may be an easier target. With the cost of an attack so high, cyber insurance can help protect you and your business from financial devastation. Contact HPM Insurance today for a quote!