No matter the size of your summer camp or youth-serving organization, the reality is you’re at risk of a cyber-attack.
Every day, small businesses and nonprofits around the country are facing serious data breaches.
At Chalmers Camp Insurance, we offer cyber insurance. We are well aware of the risks associated with cyber-attacks, and we never want your organization to have to deal with one.
You may be thinking to yourself: “No one wants what we have. We operate a summer camp! Why would anyone attack us?”
Here’s the truth:
Cyber criminals don’t care who you are or the amount of data you have. They only care about accessing your information for their benefit. Even if they aren’t stealing your data to sell it, they may encrypt your data and hold it for ransom, preventing you from running your organization until you agree to meet their demands.
Cyber insurance is of utmost importance, but it’s also essential to take proactive steps to protect your business. With the right security protocols, you reduce the likelihood of something significant happening.
Start by ensuring that your network access points are secure.
All user accounts should have multi-factor authentication enabled, along with strong passwords. If your camp has a network of five or more computers, consider buying a network firewall. They can be pricey but network firewalls provide a decent level of coverage for an entire network.
Install anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware software.
This loss control technique is the easiest and most effective way to increase security at your business. Make sure to install the software on each computer in your network—computers that don’t include these types of software are much more likely to be exposed and can possibly spread malware to other computers in the network. There are a host of viable options for each type of software, ranging in price from free to an annual subscription. Be sure to keep the software as up-to-date as possible.
Encrypt your data.
No firewall is perfect. If a hacker manages to get through your firewall and into your network, your data could be a sitting duck. Encryption will make the data unreadable to a hacker. Consider using an encryption program to keep computer drives, files and even email messages safe from harm.
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
A VPN allows employees to connect to your camp’s network remotely. VPNs eliminate the need for a remote-access server, saving companies lots of money in remote server costs. In addition to these savings, VPNs also provide a high level of security by using advanced encryption and authentication protocols that protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. If your camp has employees who work from home or away from the office in the offseason, a VPN is an effective way to minimize cyber risks.
Implement an employee password policy.
One of the most overlooked ways to keep your camp safe is instituting a password policy. A password policy encourages employees to change work-related passwords every three months. The policy should encourage the creation of easy-to-remember, hard-to-guess passwords that include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Let your employees know that they should not write passwords down and leave them out in the open. If they are having trouble remembering passwords, many password-keeping programs are available for download.
Back up data regularly.
Important data should be backed up daily and in multiple locations, one being off-site. In addition to being safe from cyber risks, off-site data would not be exposed to physical attacks, like a fire or tornado. Also, restrict access to backed-up data. The public should never have access to it. If the data is tangible, keep it in locked filing cabinets in a locked room, and only issue keys to those who absolutely need them.
Update your software often.
We understand that it’s the kind of task that is easily dismissed, but the older the software and operating system are, the more likely a hacker will be able to find a way in.
Train your team!
We can’t emphasize this enough. Technology and cyber risks often change quickly. We recommend offering in-depth cyber security training programs every year and educating your colleagues about best practices often.
Develop a business continuity plan.
If the worst should happen and your camp suffers a data breach or similar attack, you should have a business continuity plan in place. The plan should identify potential cyber risks, along with the recovery team at your company assigned to protect personnel and property in the event of an attack. The recovery team should conduct a damage assessment of the attack and guide the company toward resuming operations.
We Are Your Loss Control Expert
Keeping your data safe from cyber risks requires constant attention. Chalmers Insurance Group has the resources and know-how to help you identify potential risks and keep your camp running smoothly in the event of an attack.
Call us at 800-360-3000 today for a conversation. We are your camp’s risk management partner.