Four ways hackers sneak into your systems — and how to defend yourself Before the proliferation of technology, protecting your business was as simple as pulling a grate down before you left for the day. In this new digital age, things get a little bit more complicated, since criminals have more tools at their disposal to commit their misdeeds. Here are a few common weaknesses exploited by crooks — and how you can protect yourself. Non-secure passwords: With a medium-end graphics card, a would-be intruder can run hundreds of ... December 5, 2013By Aegis Insurance Business and IT Insurance Hackers 0 Comment Read More »
Government may be lacking in IT security training Information is the lifeblood of a wide range of businesses, and the government is no exception. Especially in these sectors, security is critical: employees need to be fully able to make sure that sensitive data is only seen by those with proper clearance. However, we might not be providing adequate IT training entrusted to that task. A recent article in Information Week described the nature of the problem. In it, author W. Hord Tipton describes how ... December 4, 2013By Aegis Insurance Business and IT Insurance Government Lacking IT Security 0 Comment Read More »
You can build a house during the winter — here's how to do it safely Conventional wisdom used to advise contractor's not to build houses during winter months, cautioning that if a roof wouldn't be finished before the snow came, the entire project should wait until the spring. However, like so many other pieces of well-worn wisdom, it's outlived its usefulness. Not only can you build in the cold, it can have some advantages—if you're safe. To be sure, conditions are more difficult. There's less daylight and the bulky clothing workers ... December 3, 2013By Aegis Insurance Contractor Insurance Home Construction, Winter 0 Comment Read More »
Should I get contractor's liability insurance? During the time you're building a structure, it faces a different set of risks than it will after construction is complete. Between unforeseeable acts of nature—like floods and high winds—to human dangers like theft and faulty electrical wiring, there are myriad potential catastrophes from which you might want protection while you're in the construction phase. Contractor liability insurance can help make sure you're protected from dangers, from surprise fires to everyday slips and falls. It can ... December 3, 2013By Aegis Insurance Contractor Insurance Contractors Liability Insurance 0 Comment Read More »
Wide range of electronics vulnerable to intrusion Technological innovation brings with it an unparalleled convenience. Tasks that would take days are the work of minutes. Conversations between people around the world can happen in real time. You can even control your television from your phone. With that progress however, comes vulnerability. From your radio frequency id-powered bus pass to your shiny new Google Glasses, most electronic things you own are the potential target of hackers. If your device plugs into a network somewhere, ... December 2, 2013By Aegis Insurance Business and IT Insurance Electronic Intrusion 0 Comment Read More »
Technology trends moving faster than ever Are technology cycles moving faster these days? It certainly feels like it — there's seemingly a new and better smartphone introduced on a monthly basis. But is that merely the effect of recency bias, or is there valid information to support that notion? According to data compiled by the New York Times and MIT's Technology Review, the impact seems to be real. Consider, also, the relative increases in electricity and telephone usage, as compared with newer devices. It took ... November 26, 2013By Aegis Insurance Business and IT Insurance Technology Trends 0 Comment Read More »
Survey suggests small businesses are unprepared for data loss Last week, AVG Technologies, an Internet and mobile security company, released a survey that suggested that small businesses chronically undervalue their data. Despite the risk of information loss, small and medium businesses (SMBs) questioned didn't prioritize backing up their data. Many also were not particularly concerned with loss of mobile devices. In a lot of cases, the issue is one of implementation. While 75 percent do rely on automated backup systems, a number that indicates that they ... November 20, 2013By Aegis Insurance Business and IT Insurance Small Businesses 0 Comment Read More »
Mississippi business recovers a year after being hit by a van While you can never truly know when a disaster is going to occur at your company, some are more predictable than others. This blog has discussed a number of different incidents where extreme weather ravaged an organization's physical structure. While no one knows what kind of damage storms the likes of Hurricane Sandy will cause, businesses at least know they are coming before they hit. Meteorologists can guess the size of a storm and ... November 18, 2013By Aegis Insurance General Insurance News Business Hit By Van 0 Comment Read More »
Why a disaster recovery strategy requires more than just data backup One of the things businesses fear the most is a loss of important information. If the office building suffers structural damage during a storm or infrastructure is ruined because of a flood, those problems can be resolved. They are not pleasant and aren't necessarily easy to fix, but ultimately infrastructure, carpeting or office furniture can be replaced. Business data, on the other hand, may never be replaced. So, when companies consider disaster recovery plans pertaining to ... November 14, 2013By Aegis Insurance Business and IT Insurance Data Backup, Disaster Recovery 0 Comment Read More »
Keeping your data safe when working with a third-party service provider It doesn't take much for an organization's data to be breached if if isn't careful. Both internal and external forces could compromise the security of a company's information and businesses have to be cognizant of both, particularly when information is in the hands of a combination of the two. Working with outside service providers can be an efficient and cost-effective way to do business. Not only can organizations receive the skilled assistance provided by those ... November 13, 2013By Aegis Insurance Business and IT Insurance Data Safe 0 Comment Read More »
