Agents Council for Technology Releases Agency Cyber Guide

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 2 -- Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America issued the following news release:

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's Agents Council for Technology (ACT) has released the 'Agency Cyber Guide 1.0' which addresses cybersecurity regulations and provides corresponding compliance resources.

"ACT has created the 'Agency Cyber Guide' to help address one of the highest priorities for every agent and broker: keeping customer data protected," says Ron Berg, ACT executive director. "Having to communicate to customers that their private information has been breached can cripple a business and incur thousands of dollars of costs and penalties. With such high stakes in mind, the ACT Security Issues Work Group has complied this resource for Big 'I' members."

The Agency Cyber Guide is offered at no cost to independent agents and brokers. Some individual regulatory resources listed are also free, such as an updated Agency Cybersecurity Policy template - which agencies can download, brand and be in compliance for having a written security policy. ACT will monitor the changing cybersecurity regulatory environment and update the guide as needed.

Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big "I") was founded in 1896 and is the nation's oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of approximately a quarter of a million agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance--property, casualty, life and health--as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.

The Agents Council for Technology (ACT) was established in January 1999 by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or 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. For more information about ACT visit www.iiaba.net/act.

ACT members include:

Industry associations and consultants: AAMGA, ACORD, CSIO, IIABA, Insurance Brokers Association of Canada, NAPLSO, Angela Adams Consulting Services, Red Barn Consulting, Steve Anderson Consulting;

Technology providers: Applied Systems/IVANS, AssureSign, Citrix Sharefile, CoreLogic Insurance Solutions, Duck Creek Technologies, EZLynx, HawkSoft, ITC, InsureSign, My Insurance Videos, North American Software Associates, Simply Easier Payments/EchoSage, Strategic Insurance Software, Vertafore/QQ Solutions;

User groups: Applied Client Network, InStar Users Group, National Association of S.I.S. Partner Agents, Inc., NetVU, Nexsure User Group;

Carriers: Allstate IA, The Berkley Companies, Central Insurance Companies, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, CNA, Columbia Insurance Group, Dryden Mutual Insurance Company, EMC Insurance Companies, The Hanover Insurance Group, The Hartford, Kemper Preferred, Liberty Mutual Insurance, The Main Street America Group, Merchants Insurance Group, MetLife Auto & Home, Motorists Insurance Group, Nationwide Insurance, New York Central Mutual Insurance, Penn National Insurance, Progressive, Safeco Insurance, Selective Insurance Company of America, State Auto, Travelers, West Bend Mutual and Westfield Insurance.