The possibility of hackers gaining access to your information is unsettling. To actually learn that you have been hacked and your information is in the hands of nefarious individuals will nearly drive you insane. So, what should you do when this happens?

What You Need to Do First

If the organization that holds your personal data is compromised, you must act quickly and take certain steps.

• Seek confirmation that a breach has indeed occurred, and your information is at risk
• Identify the type of breach that has occurred
• Confirm what information (if any) has been compromised
• Find out if the hackers with your data have personal identifiable information (PII)

What actions should you take at every step? Read on for tips on how to respond every step of the way.

Response to Data Breach

Confirm the Breach and Whether Your Data is Exposed

You do not want to panic based on a possible rumor. The first thing you should do is confirm that a breach has actually occurred. You may even receive an email or some form of correspondence informing you that there is a breach. Read more. . .

Today, technology has created a flexible working environment where employees can work from anywhere. Remote working is fast becoming a critical way for businesses to scale and remain competitive.

To facilitate remote working, employees need gadgets. However, providing laptops, tablets, or smartphones for each employee can be costly especially for small businesses and startups.

To counter the costs involved, many companies are opting for the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy. While it is a cost-saving strategy, there are risks involved as seen below. Read more. . .

All computer or mobile device users should have a data backup plan. Unexpected events such as file corruption, hard drive failure or viruses can erase all your data when least expected. For this reason, data backup should be a crucial part of your machine’s usage routine. Some people are intimidated the backup process, making them less diligent than others in the secure storage of their data.

What is Data Backup?

It’s when your computer or device creates copies of your data and stores them in the event of data loss.  While some computer users use cloud backups for their data, others use flash drives or external hard drives. A backup is essentially an insurance policy against catastrophe. Read more. . .

One of the most effective ways of managing your technology needs is to outsource your IT department to a Managed Services Provider (MSP).  This is also the solution for you if you are short on IT staff or if you don’t have an IT department at all.

The advantage of partnering with an MSP is gaining an IT department minus the cost of hiring a full-time team. If you already have an existing IT team, working with an MSP can help take the pressure off your team, eliminating the need for hiring additional staff. This also results in huge cost savings. Read more. . .

Utilizing technology to improve daily tasks is a popular method among many companies. This option is popular for specific industries and insurance is no exception. In ways you may not immediately realize, mobile apps help insurance businesses excel.

Apps are available for almost everything and fortunately, there are numerous kinds which are relevant and helpful to insurance industries. To help give you an idea of the benefits, here are five major reasons apps are helpful.

1. Expansion of Services

Apps can be created by insurance companies to better reach their client base. Or, they can use multi-purpose apps to get in touch and discuss services. Apps allow insurance agencies to expand their outreach and make communication a simple process. And when sales, questions and concerns revolve around efficient communication, everyone benefits. Read more. . .

Spring has come once again and soon enough, so will summer. While everyone is busting out their shorts and tanning lotion, they’re bringing on the tech too. The increase in work from home opportunity makes for an appealing option to work in unique locations. But, amidst all the flowery frolic, it’s easy to forget that while we appreciate the warm weather, hardware is a different story.

Even in spring, there are a few things to do (and not do) as spring rolls around. To help, here’s a quick list of basics to make sure your mobile tech doesn’t turn into a popsicle on the sidewalk. Read more. . .

Too many businesses stay with the first service provider they choose without questioning whether a move would benefit them. Unless something goes wrong and even then, the thought of diving back into the market and researching all of those other vendors can be overwhelming, making it easier to stay where you are.

If you’re thinking of switching providers – and even if you’re not – when was the last time you considered the service your vendor provides? All vendors should supply the basics and if you’re not getting them, why should you stay? Read more. . .