Firefighters need Cyber Liability Insurance to protect against cybersecurity threats that could harm their department. You have clients who work in fire departments who rely on computer systems and technology to serve and protect their communities. However, without adequate protection, digital systems can become a liability. Your job as an insurance agent is to remind your clients that cyber liability is essential to protecting valuable information. Cyber liability insurance protects departments from the financial consequences of a data breach, but to fully protect the department, cybersecurity needs to be understood by all firefighters.
The Risks: Why Fire Departments Need Cyber Liability Protection
In the U.S., there are about 2,000 cyberattacks every day. Cyberattacks directed at fire departments can leave departments without fire software integral to daily operations. One attack can jeopardize a fire department’s ability to save lives and property or compromise secure data. If your client’s fire department does not take preventative action, they will face liability for any information that gets out. Firefighters must know the risks, and your role is to educate them on why cyber liability protection will help them.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scammers utilize email and text messaging to trick unknowing victims into providing personal information. For instance, a scammer may create a message like a credit card, bank, retail, or other site asking for an online payment. When you click on the email, it will take you to a legitimate-looking login. However, when you use your login information, the website records it.
Fire departments often receive emails from scammers who mimic the federal government, non-profit organizations, and mutual aid agencies.
IoT Device Hacking
Cyber liability can protect against the hacking of IoT devices. These are devices that transfer data over a network without human interference. Cyberattackers target these devices to retrieve sensitive medical information.
Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is one of the most common and well-known security breaches. Likewise, it works by encrypting hard drives and denying access to critical files. The developers will ask for a ransom to decrypt the files or allow you to reaccess the system. Ransomware can spread through phishing emails or malicious attachments.
The Solutions: Cybersecurity for Firefighters
Fire departments require cybersecurity, general liability, and cyber liability for protection. Additionally, there are steps that a fire department can take to reduce the risk.
Establish a Cybersecurity Policy
Your clients must establish a policy that covers various cybersecurity practices. The policy should include expectations and what to do if a breach happens.
Protective Services and Data
All fire departments require security software to protect the network. Your clients must utilize automated security updates to keep your system up to date. Additionally, they should differentiate access to different types of data. Firefighting supervisors should limit user access so that employees and volunteers can only access the information necessary to perform their jobs.
Explore Cloud-Based Systems
Cloud-based systems allow you to keep your information off of your physical servers. Most hackers target physical servers, so no matter what, if you have a cloud-based server, you will have backups of your information. Explain this to your clients and provide them with the details of what it entails.
Train Your Team
Data breach often occurs due to errors. Firefighters need to train their team on various cybersecurity threats, plus the team’s role in protecting digital information. They should invest in training opportunities to protect your department from cyber attackers.
Cyber Liability Protects Fire Departments
Cyberattackers are a threat to fire departments and other emergency responders. Cyber liability insurance is one component of cyber protection. A comprehensive solution, however, includes protective services, training, and cybersecurity policies. Do your best to provide your clients adequate cyber liability coverage to protect their sensitive information.
About Provident Fire Plus
At Provident Fire Plus, we offer custom-tailored packages to best protect firefighters and volunteer firefighters. We understand the risks that emergency response teams are subjected to on a daily basis, and have worked to serve these dedicated professionals for over 87 years. For more information about our products and policies, we invite you to contact our experts today at (855) 201-8880.