ACT is evolving and reimagining our work group model! Historically, ACT has facilitated multiple work groups focused on key industry issues, creating tools like best practice recommendations, advocacy, and educational materials. These resources represent a significant amount of the content currently on our web pages. While they remain valuable assets for assisting agents in forming their technology strategy, our future-forward strategy includes reconceptualizing our workgroup model and our areas of focus.
ACT is pivoting our traditional focus from specific tactical/transactional issues and workflows to more strategic and emergent topics. Our four pillars of Data, Connectivity, AI, and People/Culture and their associated "Letters to the Industry" are the framework for the next generation of work groups.
We have and will continue to benefit from volunteer participation by our key stakeholders: agents & brokers, carriers, technology providers, and other industry associations and user groups. Our appreciation for these volunteer efforts is immeasurable.
Ready to Join a Work Group?You don't have to be a tech expert to join! We highly value input from all industry stakeholders, especially agents as their insights are crucial to our mission of support. Sign Up Here
We would love the opportunity to meet with you to discuss our future plans
or any technology topics impacting the independent agent distribution channel. We are here to help! Feel free to reach out: act@iiaba.net
Legacy Projects: Honoring our Past Work Groups
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Past Work Groups [1]
This work group launched in-person May 2023 at Accelerate, Powered by NetVU in Austin, TX.
Our recurring, virtual meetings for the group to work on resources and tools to help independent agents stay in front of the industry technology issues that the future holds began in July.
Members from all areas of the industry - agents, carrier staff and technology providers are all welcome! Gathering the thoughts, ideas and needs of all will make this a success.
If you are interested in joining - please email us at act@iiaba.net or complete this brief interest form.  Workgroup Overview Narrative - Future Trends.pdf
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This work group has generated excellent tools around security and privacy for agents and brokers. The group investigates emerging security issues and determines what guidance we need to provide our IA distribution.
Prior projects have included the creation of resources like the 'Agency Security Issues Pocket Guide and supporting Reference Guide to aid agents in setting their security strategy. These guides cover topics such as data encryption, updating security plans, data breaches, and laws, issues with mobile devices, texting, and others. ACT also partnered with the Center for Internet Security, offering free 'Cyber Hygiene' toolkits for agents. The group also created an additional resource to assist agents with understanding and taking action on emerging ADA & Accessibility challenges, including the alarming volume of compliance lawsuits against independent agent websites.
One of the more significant accomplishments of the group was the release of a online version of the 'Agency Cyber Guide 3.0'. This resource addresses security regulations from entities like Gramm-Leach-Bliley, NYDFS, and the NAIC. The Guide provides descriptions and resources for regulations, including a downloadable template to create an Agency Cybersecurity Policy, as well as a matrix of cybersecurity service providers. The current focus of the workgroup is to re-think this cyberguide and offer the plentiful resources in a new format that will provide agencies the information they need to know/do, tools and resources to help when planning that strategy and ways to stay current beyond ACT.
Click here to view the Agency Security Issues Pocket Guide. Click here to view the ADA/Accessibility Resource web pages.
Click here to view the supporting full Summary Reference Guide. Click here to access the ACT/CIS 'Cyber Hygiene' toolkits. |
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Past Work Groups [2]
This ACT work group was created to address the significant need for education and openness around API opportunities in our distribution channel. We are bringing together reps from carriers, vendors, agencies, as well as state associations to develop a level of understanding on this issue. Areas we will work to define:
How does each stakeholder define 'API'?
What will different levels of success look like?
How does each stakeholder work openly with others?
What areas can/should ACT impact?
2022 Strategy UpdateBased on discussions in API work group meetings, our goal is to develop an 'API Partner Security Guide' to provide background for discussion between development partners.Working drafts of 'Data Protection' and 'Security SLA' sections are available:
Background and discussion points are available below:
Work Group Chairs
Duke Williams (EchoSage and SimplyEaserPayments), and TBA
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