Why Small Businesses Need Cyber Insurance

A guest post by Support New York Chair of the Board Member Cowbell Cyber​With cyberattacks, especially ransomware attacks, on the rise, cyber insurance has become more important in helping keep small businesses safe.It is estimated that 43% of cyber attacks are aimed at small businesses, but only 14% of small businesses are ready to defend themselves. Although 88% of small business owners felt their business was vulnerable to a cyberattack, many do not have the resources to protect their company.  Small businesses need to identify and understand common threats to their operations, assess their business' risk exposures, and prepare themselves before a cyber incident occurs. Cowbell's cyber…

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Big I NY Leadership Academy Questions and Answers with Jim Lombardo

​​Q. Can you briefly describe the Leadership Academy?A: It’s an intense 6-day course held over 6 weeks, where future agency leaders and managers hone the skills that will help them develop into the stars who will guide your agency, the independent insurance agency system, and the industry. Q. What skills are you talking about?A: Communication, Goal Management, Motivation, Team Building, Powerful Presentations, The Power of Caring – and more!Q: What if I can’t afford the $2,900 tuition?A: I say, you can’t NOT afford it! And I’m not joking. This is YOUR agency and YOUR future – it’s crucial to invest in that next layer of leadership.…

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Storm Alert

What a week it's been - flooding and now a storm is tracking towards our great state. While we hope for the best, we prepare for the worst. Many lessons were learned during Superstorm Sandy. So, let's use them! Thankfully, we all have more remote systems and backups in place because of the pandemic. With a bit of planning, we can continue to serve customers best no matter what. Not in the current storm track? It's a great time to plan ahead.A few tips on communicating during the storm: Have access to mobile phone numbers for your team with you. Ensure you don't have to log…

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