Retail businesses are in the cross hairs of hackers, according to a recent report from Trustwave, a provider of data security and payment card compliance solutionto businesses.
Retail businesses – specifically the cardholder data they possess – were the primary target of cyber criminals in 2012, says Trustwave. About 45% of the company’s investigations were in the retail sector, followed by food and beverage (24%), and hospitality (9%).
“Cyber could very well be the largest part of the exposure picture for these retail businesses,” says John O’Connor, Vice President of Strategic Product & Platform Development for Travelers Insurance.
What makes the retail industry so appealing to cyber thieves? The sheer volume of payment cards used in these businesses make them obvious targets. Also, stores are relatively easy targets because they tend to focus primarily on customer service, rather than data security.
Widespread reporting of costly and embarrassing data breaches have made retailers increasingly aware of the exposures they face when storing customers’ data and swiping their credit cards.
Although hackers are targeting retailers of all sizes, smaller firms are particularly vulnerable because they often find it more difficult than their larger counterparts to keep their systems secure and to afford the heavy costs of notifying their customers about data breaches.
One insurance agent said, “A lot of these businesses aren’t the types that can absorb these costs. A data breach is one of those things they might not think about – but it can shutter their doors if it happens.”
The good news: our agency can help you protect you against these risks by offer a variety of comprehensive, competitively priced Cyber Liability policies. Just give us a call.
Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) in the workplace are all too common – and a single accident can cost you thousands in medical payments and lost productivity.
To help businesses reduce STFs, Brian Roberts, Director of Workers Compensation and Ergonomics for CNA Insurance, has developed this six-point strategy, based on Japanese workplace practices:
Sort. Organize and straighten the workplace to make sure that aisles and walkways are free of trip and fall hazards.
Set in order. Analyze the efficiency of motion and workflow on the job (for example, review employee walking patterns and chart the results).
Shine. Eliminate all forms of contamination – such as dirt, fluids, or liquids – that could cause bone-breaking slips. This includes assessing floor surfaces for wear and pitting, and “transition points” (from concrete to tile, tile to carpet, carpet to marble, etc.) and eliminate or alter them. Make sure that you have the right floor cleaning products and that your maintenance staff understands how to use them properly, if they have limited English skills.
Standardize. Organize the workplace by prominent postings of such “visual management” tools as signs and warnings of potential STF hazards.
Keep lights clean. Dusty and dirty lights obscure lighting conditions, which increases the risk of STFs.
Sustain. Maintain the progress that you’ve achieved through the other strategies in order to make these improvements systemic and long-lasting.
Scurich Insurance Services safety management experts would be happy to recommend expert who can help you create – and maintain – an “STF-free workplace.” Feel free to get in touch with us at any time
A man was killed Saturday morning when he lost control near state Highway 152 in Watsonville and crashed into a power pole, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The man, a 31-year-old Watsonville resident, was driving west on Holohan Road around 10:20 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle for an unknown reason, according to the CHP.
The vehicle went off the southern edge of the road and struck a wooden power pole, causing the vehicle to spins several times before it came to rest in the westbound lane.
August 3 and August 4, 2013 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Historic downtown Watsonville Free admission!
The Poster for the 2013 Watsonville Strawberry Festival has just been released. Watsonville resident Priscilla Martinez won the poster contest with her entry entitled ” Berry Sweet Ride.”
Check out the video below to see what you can expect in 2013.
The admission free festival is located in historic downtown Watsonville around the City Plaza on Main, Peck and Union Streets. Parking is available less than 2 blocks away in the civic plaza parking garage. The garage entrance is on Rodriguez Street and the fee is $5. More parking information
When it comes to buy Homeowners insurance in California, it’s easy to become confused by the wide variety of deductibles out there. If you’re stressing out over picking the right deductible, these basic guidelines can help you make a wise decision:
Homeowners often choose a deductible on their property as a percentage of its “insured value.” If this value is $100,000 and you choose a 2% deductible, you would pay the first $2,000 of any claim. Bear in mind that the dollar value of this percentage deductible will vary with any change in the insured value. The higher this value, the higher your deductible.
A split deductible gives homeowners the option of selecting a dollar value for different types of hazards. For example, you might choose to pay the first $500 of a fire damage claim, but only the first $300 for a loss from vandalism or theft. This lets you set priorities based on what types of damages you believe are most likely to occur. For example, if you live in an area that’s prone to fire or hailstorms, you might select a higher deductible for these potential hazards.
The size of the deductible depends on your circumstances and the type of policy you purchase. Choosing a higher deductible will reduce your premiums significantly. If you’re confident that you can afford small-scale claims (between $250 and $500), increasing your deductible will mean that you’ll pay a far lower premium that will coverage big-ticket losses (say, $1,000 and up).
According to the Insurance Journal, the California agency investigating a deadly pipeline explosion and the City of San Bruno are set to propose major fines they say Pacific Gas & Electric Co. should pay for its negligence leading up to the blast.
The City of San Bruno says the utility’s shareholders should pay no less than $1.25 billion for violations regulators say PG&E committed before the 2010 explosion.
City officials say that would let survivors know the California Public Utilities Commission is serious about preventing another pipeline disaster. The San Bruno blast killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.
Commission investigators and consumer advocates will also file their own fine proposals Monday, and PG&E will file its proposal later this month.
A CPUC judge is expected to make a final decision about how much to fine PG&E later this year.
Scurich Insurance Services are very concerned about their neighbors and their safety. Contact them today to see how to protect your home and its contents with a policy that fills your needs.
