ALEXANDRIA, VA, May 25, 2021—The Big “I" Agents Council for Technology has released the Agency Cyber-Readiness Self-Assessment, now available online as a supplement to the Agency Cyber Guide 3.0.
Agencies can now use the self-assessment tool to determine where they stand on cyber readiness, including vulnerabilities, best practices, and compliance with the ever-growing list of regulations and legislation surrounding cybersecurity compliance. The assessment helps clarify an agency's preparedness through a brief series of questions, directing back to key resources in the Agency Cyber Guide 3.0 to solve pain points.
“There's certainly no shortage of confusion around cybercrime, and it can be difficult to have a clear understanding of where your agency stands when it comes to cybersecurity," says Ron Berg, ACT executive director. “However, it's critical agencies have thorough knowledge of their responsibilities and operations to remain a trusted choice for their clients. This resource will make it much easier for agents to assess their cyber-readiness position and develop a strong cyber-hygiene strategy."
The self-assessment tool is housed on the Agency Cyber Guide 3.0 homepage, along with other tools for agencies to take action on cybersecurity. ACT provides insights, education, real resources and more to help independent agencies address workflow and technology issues.
Founded in 1896, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I") is the nation's oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing more than 25,000 agency locations united under the Trusted Choice® brand. Trusted Choice independent agents offer consumers all types of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products—from a variety of insurance companies.
The Agents Council for Technology (ACT) was established in January 1999 by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I") to provide a candid, action-oriented forum to address the critical workflow and technology issues facing the independent agency system. ACT helps participants understand the perspectives of the other stakeholders in the process and provides excellent networking opportunities with the participants who are shaping the future for the industry on these issues.
ACT members include:
Industry associations and consultants: ACORD, CSIO, IIABA, Insurance Brokers Association of Canada, Angela Adams Consulting Services, Steve Anderson Consulting, WSIA
Technology providers: AgencyKPI, Agency Revolution, Agentero, Applied Systems/IVANS, AssureSign, CoverWallet for Agents, CyberClearSafe, DAIS, Duck Creek Technologies, EZLynx, GloveBox, HawkSoft, Indio Technologies, ITC, Insurance Agent Mobile Application, Levitate, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Neilson Marketing Services, North American Software Associates, Rigid Bits, SimplePin, Simply Easier Payments/EchoSage, Strategic Insurance Software, Vertafore, Veruna, Xanatek, XDimensional Technologies
User groups: AgentLynx by EZLynx, Applied Client Network, the HawkSoft Users Group, NetVU, the Nexsure User Group, Partner XE User Community
Carriers: Allstate IA, The Berkley Companies, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, CNA, Columbia Insurance, Dryden Mutual Insurance Company, EMC Insurance Companies, Encompass, Encova Insurance, Grange Insurance, The Hanover Insurance Group, The Hartford, Hartford Steam Boiler, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Main Street America Insurance, Merchants Insurance Group, MetLife Auto & Home, Nationwide Insurance, New York Central Mutual Insurance, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group, Penn National Insurance, Progressive, Safeco Insurance, Selective Insurance Company of America, Travelers, Utica National Insurance Group, Western National Insurance and Westfield Insurance