Main Street Industry News - August 2014

INSIDE The Best States for P&C Sales »9 Agent Average Salaries & the Best & Worst Jobs in the U.S. »10 2013 Wedding CostDisasters & Insurance »15 Ransomware — The New Cyber Threat »20

Cover Photo Credit: Jared Zimmerman - roadtrip89, Nebaska

August 2014 | Published Monthly

Insuring the Midlands Since 1891 Andy Kraus, CPCU Regional Director of Agencies 800-742-7433 akraus@fmne.com

Did you know that PIA has figured out a way to make selling flood insurance easier?

PIA has entered into an exclusive partnership with Floodbroker.com which allows PIA members’ clients and prospects to learn about their flood risks and request a quote for flood insurance from their local, participating PIA member agency.

Floodbroker has automated the process of obtaining a flood insurance quote through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and makes this technology available to participating PIA member agents through their very own agency-branded, flood insurance microsites.

Agents direct their clients and prospective insureds to their Floodbroker microsite where they can learn what flood zone they are in and request a flood insurance quote. After answering a few simple questions the quote is emailed to their agent who completes the sale offline using their agency’s regular flood insurance carrier.

Even in cases where an actual quote cannot be generated online, the prospect can still submit the information they have input into the form so that their agent can get back to them and continue the flood insurance sale offline.

Learn more about this program at www.pianet.com/floodbroker.

Not a PIA member? Please consider joining the association that arms agents with the tools they need to succeed. Contact us for a membership application or visit us online at www.pianet.com/joinpia.

National Association of Professional Insurance Agents 400 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2353 www.pianet.com | membership@pianet.org | (703) 836-9340

Top Stories

The Best States for P&C Sales | 9 The results are in on insurance sales for 2013.

Insurance Among Least Trusted Industries | 9 Insurers — those of the life and health variety — are among the least trusted businesses in the country.

Agent Average Salaries & the Best & Worst Jobs in the U.S. | 10 The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks jobs and wages and that sort of thing. It Dangerous Driving — When We Shouldn’t be Behind the Wheel | 11 A survey from CarInsurance.com takes a different spin on dangerous driving.

Natural Catastrophes — Texas Leads U.S. so Far in 2014 | 13 The report of the first half of 2014 catastrophe losses have published for the United States.

The Insurance Agency Employment Crisis | 14 Business Insurance has been doing a series of stories on the age of the industry and possible solutions.

2013 Wedding Cost Disasters & Insurance | 15 Travelers Insurance makes wedding insurance their business.

Question Answered — ObamaCare Exchange Rates to Rise Considerably | 16 The debate has been boiling the last couple of months and finally some answers are starting to emerge.

ObamaCare — One Business Perception Survey | 17 Cherry Bekaert Benefits Consulting did a survey of employers to determine their take on the Affordable Care Act and how it is impacting their business decisions.

ObamaCare — 300,000 Need to Prove Residency | 17 To get tax credits to purchase insurance under the Affordable Care Act and the all-important government help with that purchase a person must be able to prove their are legal residents of the U.S. or citizens.

Special Report: Cyber Security — A Seriously Growing Problem | 18 So much to cover. So little space and so little time.

Ransomware — The New Cyber Threat | 20 Hacking on a corporate level is becoming an everyday occurrence.

PIA NE IA Events Upcoming Events Calendar 2014 | 24

Advertisements Wanted, For Sale and Opportunities | 27 Contact us to place a classified ad.

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 4

Education

Register Online for PIA NE IA education: Click here or call (402) 392-1611

CIC

Certified insurance counselors

“The value of a product can be measured by how often it is used. The National Alliance programs and

participant levels grow every year

due to public recognition of the quality product being offered.

Up-to-date, practical and “shovel ready” analysis of forms, products and industry trends keep The National Alliance programs at the top of the list when considering continuing education tracks. There is no better value on the street.”

Kevin J. Brady, CIC Vice President Artex Risk Solutions, Inc.

We’d love to hear your story! Please e-mail us at MyStory@scic.com

W h a t

a r e

t h e y

s a y i n g ?

3104 0410

402.392.1611 877.898.5723

www.PIANEIA.com www.TheNationalAlliance.com/career

As an insurance professional, answering questions and problem solving for

new clients your biggest client potential clients

is an important part of your profession.

If a client asks about

rental car coverage business coverage in the home changes on insurance forms

would

you have the answers? You will.

The most successful training program for insurance professionals Register at www.PIANEIA.com or call 402-392-1611 3335 0311

Prepares You.

Find your sweet spot for Growth & Profit ...

STEP ONE Take a snapshot of your agency with our calculators

STEP TWO

Identify areas of opportunity for growth

STEP THREE

Use our turnkey tools to get there

Closing the Gap for Growth and Profitability is adaptable and customizable from start to finish. These new Partnership tools are designed to help agencies close the gap – to maximize growth and profit.

Available online at http://agency-growth-profit.com

The PIA Partnership is a group of insurance companies that share resources and work closely with PIA National to conduct research and develop tools and resources designed to benefit professional independent insurance agents.

Current PIA Partnership companies include: Central Insurance Cos. Encompass Insurance Erie Insurance Hanover Insurance Group Harleysville Insurance Liberty Mutual Insurance MetLife Auto & Home

Motorists Insurance Group Progressive Insurance Selective Insurance Group State Auto Group The Hartford Travelers

IS YOUR E&O X-DATE HERE? PIA for Nebraska and Iowa PIA Association for Nebraska and Iowa is committed to focusing its resources in ways that cast the most favorable light on its constituents. We are dedicated to providing the type of programs, the level of advocacy, and the dissemination of information that best supports the perpetuation and prosperity of our members.

We pledge to always conduct ourselves in a manner that enhances the public image of PIA and adds real value to our members.

SUBSCRIBE or comment Professional Insurance Agents NE IA Attention: Editorial Main Street Industry News 920 S 107 Avenue, Ste. 305 Omaha, NE 68114 Email: office@pianeia.com Ph: 402-392-1611 www.pianeia.com

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Top Stories

The Best States for P&C Sales

Insurance Among Least Trusted Industries

The results are in on insurance sales for 2013.

The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) — according to Business Insurance — says it was the best year since 2008. A recovering economy and fewer catastrophes are why.

The I.I.I. also listed the best states for insurance sales and the states that saw the most increases in premiums in 2013. Quoting A.M. Best statistics, net income jumped 54.7% to $43 million over the 2012 figures.

All states saw increases but some states saw better sales than others: • North Dakota led the way with premium expansion of 58.4% between 2007 and 2013. That’s more than double the second place state.

• South Dakota was second best with a 25.4% increase.

• Oklahoma was third at 24.5%.

• Nebraska fourth with 21% • Iowa is number five at 19.2%.

• Kansas is six with 17.6%.

The only PIA Western Alliance state on that list is Alaska with a 13.2% hike in net income between 2007 and 2013.

By the way, domestic oil production is the key to the big increases seen in North and South Dakota. n Photo credit: thinkpanama - Handshake

Insurers — those of the life and health variety — are among the least trusted businesses in the country. Or so says a recent Harris Poll.

Just 7% of those surveyed say they trust their health insurance company and 10% feel the same about their life insurers.

The least trusted firms in the U.S. are giant oil and tobacco.

The insurer statistic represents a 2% trustworthiness drop for life and a 4% fall for health insurers. Consumers also had answers for Harris on insurers. About a third — just over 34% — think health insurers ought to be more regulated by government. Only 6% say there should be less regulation.

Which industries do health and life insurers beat in the poll? Not many. Telemarking and social media firms have 6% approval rating.

Giant oil hit 4% and tobacco companies are a pathetic 3%.

Hospitals and online search engines are the most trusted.

By the way. Of the 19 industries Harris polls every year, the public perception of 18 of them fell in 2013. And who didn’t drop? Tobacco. It stayed at that pathetic 3% referred to earlier. n Photo credit: Artem Popov - Trust

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 9

Top Stories

Agent Average Salaries And the Best & Worst Jobs in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks jobs and wages and that sort of thing. It does so for 820 professions. The industry is fairly well-paid and agents and brokers do well in some states and not so well in others.

The top pay for an insurance agent — an interesting note if you’re interested in moving — is in Normal, Illinois and it’s $115,160 on average.

The lowest paid agents are found in Puerto Rico and they make about $34,000 a year.

Nationally the average is $63,610 and it’s up quite a bit from the $47,450 agents made in 2011.

The career website CareerCast recently tallied up the Bureau of Labor Statistics figures and came up with the 10 best and 10 worst careers in the country.

Ten best in order: • Mathematician • University Professor (tenured) • Statistician • Actuary

Underwriters make more at an average of $70,100. Claims adjusters do about the same at $62,300 and appraisers bring home $63,100.

• Audiologist

Here are the PIA NE IA state Average salaries:

• Computer Systems Analyst

Iowa Nebraska

$52, 880 $53,050

When you combine salary and stress levels, actuaries — with an average $93,680 income — have one of the nation’s best jobs. It dropped to number four in 2014. Last year being an actuary was number-one.

BTW, actuary is the only insurance job to be considered one of the 50 best jobs in the U.S. Underwriters are 67 and insurance agents sit at 158.

The criteria used to determine which jobs are best flows along these lines: physical demands, work conditions, income level, stress and the prospect of being hired. n

• Dental Hygienist • Software Engineer • Occupational Therapist • Speech Pathologist

The 10 worst in order: • Corrections Officer • Firefighter • Garbage Collector • Flight Attendant • Head Cook • Broadcaster • Taxi Driver • Enlisted Military Personnel • Newspaper Reporter • Lumberjack

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 10

Top Stories

Dangerous Driving

Photo credit: Kate Sumbler - asleep at the wheel

When We Shouldn’t be Behind the Wheel

A survey from CarInsurance.com takes a different spin on dangerous driving. The website asked 2,000 drivers about times they drove when they really shouldn’t have been driving.

Driving while sleepy was the number-one answer and 68% said they have driven a vehicle while drowsy.

When pushed 60% of those surveyed said driving while sleepy ought to be illegal.

By the way, it is in two states: New Jersey and Arkansas.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said one in eight fatal crashes involves someone driving while sleepy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agrees. Its

statistics show drowsy driving is involved in 100,000 crashes each year. In those accidents 71,000 people are injured and 1,500 are dead.

We all know we shouldn’t drive while sleepy but we do anyway. Education efforts are now happening in a bunch of states on driving drowsy but David Harkey — who heads up the University of North Carolina Highway Research Center — says that’s not enough.

“Education alone is not the solution. We have seen too many safety issues where such a solution does not work. Campaigns that include both a public education component combined with high-visibility enforcement have been shown to produce results, for example ‘Click It or Ticket’,” he said.

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 11

Top Stories

Most scary is learning the majority of those surveyed drove sleepy anyway. Here are the other top reasons:

• 17% drove with a flat tire • 10% drove a vehicle whose door had to be held closed

• 53% said it was when they had a bad headache

• 7% drove with their children or a child not in a car seat

• 35% said they were sick enough to be in bed but drove anyway

• 6% drove a car filled with exhaust fumes

• 23% drove when they were less drunk than a friend

• 5% drove with no driver’s seat or on a driver’s seat that was broken

• 16% when they needed glasses or contacts and weren’t wearing them • 15% drove under the influence of narcotic pain meds • 6% had their arm in a cast

And how many times in the last 12-months did they drive when they shouldn’t have been driving or who drove vehicles that should not be driven?

• 46% said once or twice

Driving when you shouldn’t also includes being behind a wheel in horrible weather conditions or when a vehicle isn’t safe to drive. Of those same 2,000 people: • 61% said they drove with the check engine light on • 32% said they drove when they couldn’t see because of ice or snow on the windshield • 26% have driven without windshield wipers • 21% drove vehicles with a speedometer that doesn’t work • 19% drove with a horn that didn’t work

• 11% said three or more times • 3% more than 10 times Looking at driving when they shouldn’t drive in more detail, 79% said they did not drive when others suggested they give up their keys. Just 21% ignored that advice and that 21% gave their reasons why: • 21% had to go to work • 13% had to go home • 4% had to go to the doctor • 3% had to pick up their children n

• 18% have been behind the wheel of a vehicle whose headlights didn’t work

When We Shouldn’t be Behind the Wheel

Dangerous Driving August 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 12

Top Stories

Natural Catastrophes Texas Leads U.S. so far in 2014 Losses are lower but the number of incidents is slightly above the 10-year average. The first half of the year saw 20 catastrophe events. The average is 18.6. Three of the 20 events were for more than $1 billion and another seven — like the ones in Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania — topped $250 million.

• 63% of the losses — or $6 billion — were from personal claims.

• 20% were auto losses.

The report of the first half of 2014 catastrophe losses have published for the United States.

Verisk Analytics’ Property Claim Services’ Q2 2014 Catastrophe Review said Texas leads the U.S. in cat losses in what is being considered an average year.

• 17% were commercial losses.

The largest second quarter event was from wind and thunderstorm event that caused more than $1.5 billion in damage in 11 states in midMay. Here are the final 2nd Quarter figures.

Texas losses hit $1.8 billion with $1.4 billion of them happening in the second quarter.

STATE

LOSSES 2014

Texas

$1.8 billion

Overall, the PCS report said there were seven catastrophe events in Texas in the first half.

The three are from wind and thunderstorms.

On March 27 and 29 the losses were $375.8 million. April 2 through 4 was even more destructive at $761.2 million. The June 12 and 13 losses hit $361.8 million.

Illinois

$737 million

Pennsylvania

$677 million

Missouri

$493 million

Nebraska

$459 million

Colorado

$390 million

Georgia

$383 million

South Carolina

$351 million

Ohio

$315 million

Iowa

$305 million

After Texas the biggest losses were found in Illinois at $737 million and Pennsylvania with losses of $677 million.

In all 36 states reported catastrophes with losses and the total hit $9.5 billion. The PCS report says that is close to the 10-year average of $9.7 billion.

Source: PropertyCasualty360.com

Photo credit: State Farm - Home destroyed by tornado in Granbury, TX

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 13

Top Stories

The Insurance Agency: Employment Crisis Business Insurance has been doing a series of stories on the age of the industry and possible solutions. Insurance agencies are facing an employment crisis. That statement isn’t a surprise to the more observant of agency owners or agency managers. A recent McKinsey & Co. report says the average age of today’s insurance agent is 59. When you do the math it appears that at least a quarter of the agents in the nation will be retired by 2018.

That means 25% of the industry’s producer workforce will be gone.

The magazine focuses on a MarshBerry study of the problem — and by the way, it agrees with McKinsey & Co. — and concluded that three young producers need to be hired today for every one that is currently employed. That is the only way to balance the workforce by 2018.

moving away from selling to problem-solving and people-helping. Recruiters need to change the notion that this is a sales job and move recruitment toward a career philosophy.

“Messages need to avoid a focus on selling insurance, as this was the most common reason why millennials were not interested in working in the insurance industry. Also, the messaging needs to combat the image of a boring industry,” the study said.

There’s another solution, too, says Sharon Emek who heads Working at Home Vintage Employees. That’s telling Millennials that they can work from home or from another remote location. A flexible work place is very enticing to this group.

In other words — agencies need to get to work.

“This data makes it clear that agencies cannot afford to continue to do business as usual when it comes to hiring new producers. The most relevant agencies of the next decade will not only hire aggressively in the short-term, they will work to improve their retention in the long-term to ensure success,” the MarshBerry researchers concluded.

Here’s the biggest problem Business Insurance found with the three for one theory.

Millennials — those born in the early 1980s to 2000 — have a negative view of insurance as an industry and as a career. Or so says a survey done by The Institutes and the Griffith Insurance Education Foundation.

Most — the report says — find insurance “boring.”

We know it isn’t but they don’t. The study concludes that agencies must find a different sales angle when recruiting. That means

Photo credit: www.audio-luci-store.it - university student group

In an interview with Business Insurance, Emek said, “If they know they’re working for an agency that offers the opportunity to have a career with flexibility, you will definitely have more young hires. It’s a good opportunity for young people to be mentored by aging workers with institutional knowledge, while having them stay engaged with the industry as long as possible.” n

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 14

Top Stories

2013 Wedding Cost Disasters & Insurance Travelers Insurance makes wedding insurance their business. There are others who do it but no one else keeps tab of wedding disasters as well as selling insurance for said disasters. And there are a lot of claims resulting from those disasters most of which — 34% — are related to problems with the venue.

By the way, Travelers calls its plan the Wedding Protector Plan. We thought we’d let you know in case you’re getting married, or in case you’re the father of the bride, or in case you happen to sell insurance which — our guess is — most of you do.

Another by the way before we get into statistics. TheKnot.com is a wedding site and it says the average cost of a wedding in 2013 was a staggering $29,858. And over $13,000 of that goes to the venue.

Wow! That’s a lot. And with that, here is Travelers’ list of wedding glitches and the kind — if you had insurance — you’d be filing a claim over: • 36% — were caused by the vendor • 23% — had to call off the event because of the weather • 19% — had serious damage done at the wedding and the resulting party • 16% — saw nuptials cancelled because of illness and/or injury • 6% — fit in the nebulous category of “other” n

Photo credit: Max Klingensmith - Wet bride and groom

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 15

Top Stories

ObamaCare Question Answered

ObamaCare: Exchange Rates to Rise Considerably The debate has been boiling the last couple of months and finally some answers are starting to emerge. The question is how much will the ObamaCare health insurance exchange — or marketplaces as they’re called — rates rise?

Some say not much. Others say too much. And it turns out both may be correct.

states will see premiums stay pretty much level or even dropping.

The average monthly premium for an individual will average $384 before federal subsidies.

Others Surveyed: Indiana

15.4%

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute looked at preliminary data from 27 states and the District of Columbia and found the average will be 7.5% for 2015.

Tennessee

13.8%

Kansas

13.6%

Vermont

12.6%

That’s a lot. And some states will be doubledigit. Only one state — and it’s surprising — is going to see an average rate decrease. That’s the state pegged as the biggest ObamaCare disaster of them all — the PIA Western Alliance state of Oregon.

Arkansas

11.7%

Iowa

11.5%

Virginia

11.5%

North Carolina

11.3%

Nebraska

10.7%

The decrease is estimated to be an average of 2.5%.

Georgia

7.5%

Florida

7.4%

In pockets of some states PWC found huge swings positive and negative. For example in the PIA Western Alliance state of Arizona some people will see a huge drop of 23%. In Nevada producers will have to explain why those using Time Insurance will see a 36% hike.

Maryland

7.1%

New York

6.9%

Connecticut

5.1%

Kentucky

4.7%

Michigan

4.6%

States seeing the highest rate increases — PWC said — are seeing them because of the increase of the elderly and sick who have purchased insurance. So-called “healthier”

Colorado

3.6%

Maine

1.7%

Delaware

1.3%

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 16

Top Stories

ObamaCare

One Business Perception Survey

ObamaCare

300,000 Need to Prove Residency

Cherry Bekaert Benefits Consulting did a survey of employers to determine their take on the Affordable Care Act and how it is impacting their business decisions. Most say it is driving the cost of medical plans they provide to employees to a higher level and it is affecting business decisions, hiring costs and other benefits for employees.

• 83% say ObamaCare will continue to push medical plan costs upward.

• 25% say they are now hiring just part-time employees because of ObamaCare.

• 14.5% are thinking about going the part- time employee route.

• 25% are looking at dropping plans for their employees.

While some are claiming insurance prices are slowing, the Cherry Bekaert Benefits survey contradicts that.

• 25.7% say they have already reduced what they’re spending on health care for employees.

• Things being dropped or seriously reduced are dental, vision and life benefits.

• Most say the ACA has a negative impact on their business.

• 73% say it has a negative impact on profits.

The bottom-line is most employers say they are taking one of two actions to control costs: A) reducing benefits or B) increasing employee participation in those costs.

And the Cherry Bekaert Benefits survey finds the transfer of costs to employees a direct contradiction to the ultimate goal of ObamaCare since health insurance will be more costly and will have less benefits. n

To get tax credits to purchase insurance under the Affordable Care Act and the all-important government help with that purchase a person must be able to prove their are legal residents of the U.S. or citizens.

There are 300,000 people who haven’t given the government that documentation and if they don’t by September 5th they’ll lose their ObamaCare coverage on September 30th.

Here’s the set-up. In May the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said close to one-million people did not provide that proof. Since then 660,000 of them have come up with that proof leaving a little over 300,000 undone.

CMA’s new director Marilyn Tavenner said, “We want as many consumers as possible to remain enrolled in marketplace coverage, so we are giving these individuals a last chance to submit their documents before their coverage through the marketplace will end.”

Another one-million people haven’t provided proof of their income which they need to do to continue to be eligible for the tax credits. At this point the CMS hasn’t said how many of them have been cleaned up or how many are left needing to provide that proof. n Photo credit: asknicola.blogspot.com

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 17

Top Stories

Special Report Cyber Security

A Seriously Growing Problem So much to cover. So little space and so little time.

Most experts will tell you it’s not if your company — or you as a person — will be hacked and have your stored, private information and that of your clients, compromised.

It’s when.

A report a couple of weeks ago from Hold Security says a Russian gang has stolen 1.2 billion Internet logins and passwords and more than 500 million email addresses from 420,000 websites.

U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin said the problem — obviously — is growing. “The threat is real, it is here, and it is not going away. The list of threats out there is significant and it is expanding.”

He says in spite of all of the publicity for the attacks at Target, eBay and other major corporations, we are just not prepared as a companies and individuals for these attacks.

This report — and conclusion from the 9/11 Commission’s report on the 10th anniversary of its original terrorism report — agrees.

“We are at September 10th levels in terms of cyber preparedness. Companies’ mostsensitive and patented technologies and intellectual property, U.S. universities’ research and development, and the nation’s defense capabilities and critical infrastructure, are all under cyber attack,” the commission said.

Insurance has been thrust front-and-center into the cyber security debate and cyber insurance — other than maybe pet insurance — is the fastest growing insurance line in the world. And cyber insurance grows to more prominence and importance every day.

Target last week said it reached its coverage peak of $90 million for the attack it experienced during the holidays last year. The cost to the company is said to hit $235 million so it’s losses will be tremendous.

U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 18

Top Stories As noted at the beginning of this report, it’s not if you’ll be hit but when.

who worry about privacy issues in government data breach sharing.

ABI is a research company and one of many doing cyber danger studies. It recently released a report titled Cybersecurity Technologies Market Research. The report said these people are getting very, very good and as their skills improve, the danger increases.

Whether the two bodies can get together and agree on one bill is anybody’s guess.

The growing number of attacks means there is now a tremendous market for data loss prevention products. The industry will make $1.7 billion this year and it will likely increase by leaps and bounds next year and into the future.

ABI said in 2013 over 800 million records were compromised in theTarget eBay, Target, AT&T, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn — and others — data breaches. And those are the ones we know about.

A lot of breaches are never reported and the consumers involved are not notified and do not know their identities, passwords and personal information has been compromised.

The problem has reached the stage where many are insisting on government action. The U.S. House and Senate have passed cyber security bills that are similar and that are getting agreements by those

At two cyber security meetings in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, cyber security was a hot topic. The bottom-line from speakers is that government needs to do more. There were suggestions of requirements for detailed reporting on cyber breaches like those required for deadly diseases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the need for stress tests like Dodd-Frank is requiring for banks.

Another suggestion is for insurers to set “reasonable” prices for cyber insurance.

Insurance price — as you know — is set according to the risk. When it comes to cyber risks risk managers are on top of it. An organization called Data Breach Today said more than 750 million files were hacked last year.

It’s 50 million less than the ABI stats we quoted earlier.

So is it 750 million or 800 million? Or does it matter? It’s a lot.

Crawford & Co. did a study of the six highest cyber risks:

Internal IT Enterprise:

That is hardware, software, servers and people and process related to them. Dependence and interconnectedness of businesses and corporations, banks, joint ventures, industry associations and more is the issue.

Outsourcing and Contracts: IT and cloud

providers, human resources, legal and accounting services, consultants, etc. mean risks for sharing cyber attacking bugs.

Supply Chains: This is

self-explanatory. Firms that work together share the risk of infecting each others systems.

Disruptive Technology:

New technology or existing technology that is not well understood. These are things like the Internet of Things, smart grids, embedded medical devices and so on.

Employees not understanding them can lead to mistakes that lead to cyber attacks.

Upstream Infrastructure: Disruption to business and economies and society from hacking.

Attacks on financial systems, telecommunications and electricity are a high risk for risk managers.

External shocks: These are risks outside of the system and that are out of

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 19

Top Stories the control of an organization.

Things like an international conflict, malware etc.

One of the most seriously easy ways for malware to get into a business’ server and computer system is USB devices like thumb drives, a computer mouse or keyboard.

Security expert for SR Labs in Berlin Karsten Nohl said, “You cannot tell where the virus

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware which restricts access to the computer system that it infects, and demands a ransom paid to the creator(s) of the malware in order for the restriction to be removed.

came from. It is almost like a magic trick.”

Once a computer gets infected through that source — Nohl added — it then does others. “Now all of your USB devices are infected. It becomes self-propagating and extremely persistent. You can never remove it.”

And that leads us to a

warning from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about a new malicious software. It attacks point-of-sales systems and is called Backoff.

It steals information from payment cards like credit cards or debit cards and is very difficult — if not impossible — to detect by your anti-virus system. n

Ransomware

The New Cyber Threat Hacking on a corporate level is becoming an everyday occurrence.

All of us worry about our identity being compromised at the places we shop and at our doctor’s office and those of other medical providers.

Shopping online at places like eBay is a worry. And on it goes.

Then there’s our personal and business computers. Hackers working their way through our firewalls or getting to us through infected emails and websites are also a concern. We have anti-virus protections and spyware stuff to discourage and destroy the infections but they continue to be a constant battle.

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 20

Are you ready for the latest — and maybe greatest — of the infections that can hit your computer and your personal life? It’s ransomware and is a highly profitable business model for hackers.

Here’s how it works. The hacker — or hackers — gain control of your computer with CryptoLocker or a similar program. Once the program is set the hacker gains control of your all files, photos, applications, data, etc. You cannot access anything.

You’re given a message telling you to deposit a set amount of money in a PayPal account or something similar or all of your stuff will be destroyed and you’ll lose it forever.

Top Stories

The hackers ask for $500 or $1,000. You pay or lose.

Most pay.

A group of IT professionals were surveyed by the security trainers KnowBe4.

Almost half knew of someone who’d experience such an attack. In January KnowBe4 said 66% of IT professionals were worried about increasing attacks.

Today that figure is 88%.

The bottom-line is that traditional ways to keep these people out are not working.

Email attachments — say 47% of the IT pros — is your weakest link and the best way for the ransomware people to get to you.

KnowBe4 CEO Stu Sjouwerman said most of the attacks are coming

from the Russian mob.

“Our study shows the overwhelming majority of IT pros think the criminals behind ransomware should be prosecuted and sent to jail for a long time. We agree, but U.S. law enforcement has no jurisdiction in eastern Europe, where these criminals are largely free to commit their crimes.” n Photo credit: Trend MICRO

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 21

Earn Your CE Credits Without the Expense of Travel and No Test Required!

How It Works:

Step 1: – Register.

Step 2: – At date/time of Webinar, click link provided in email invitation.

Step 3: – Enjoy the presentation. Verify attendance when prompted.

August IA NE or IA NE or NE or NE or NE

Why It’s Great:

Earn CE without the expense of travel.

Earn CE without having to take a test.

Earn CE while participating in a live (not pre-recorded) presentation.

2014 8/6: Inherently Flawed: Patches 8am- 11am IA 8/12: BIP(idy), BOP(idy), BOO(ze) 12pm- 3pm 8/14: Changes to the Homeowners 10am- 12pm IA 8/15: National Healthcare Reform 8am- 11am IA 8/18: CYBERTECH 12pm- 3pm IA 8/19: Ethics for Insurance Pros.

8am- 11am 8/21: Seven Ways to get Sued 8am- 11am 2hr courses certified for 2 CE hrs 3hr courses certified for 3 CE hrs Your Price:

September NE or IA 9/4: National Healthcare Reform Nebraska 9/12: E&O & The Legal & Ethical Duties Iowa 9/22: ISO General Liability NE or IA 9/23: Business Income NE or IA 9/25: Ethics for Ins. Pros NE or IA 9/25: Social Networking NE or IA 9/26: It’s Personal

2014 8am-11am 8am-11am 12pm-3pm 10am- 12pm 8am-11am 12pm-3pm 8am-11am

2-Hour $25/Member Course $40/Non-Member 3-Hour $35/Member Course $56/Non-Member

Register at www.pianeia.com or call PIA at 402-392-1611

PIA NE IA Events

Upcoming Events Calendar 2014 For information and to register Click Here or call (402) 392-1611.

Date

Topic

State

Location

August 12, 2014

BIP(idy), BOP(idy), Boo(ze): Turning 3 Mundane Coverages into Magic

Nebraska

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

August 12, 2014

CPIA 2: Implement for Success

Des Moines

Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale

August 12, 2014

BIP(idy), BOP(idy), Boo(ze): Turning 3 Mundane Coverages into Magic (IA)

Iowa

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

August 13, 2014

CPIA 3: Sustain Success

Omaha

Omaha Marriott Hotel

August 14, 2014

Changes to the Homeowners Program

Iowa

Webinar: 10:00AM - 12:00PM

August 14, 2014

FMO: Personal Line Claims, Cyberliability & Ethics

Grand Island

MidTown Holiday Inn

August 15, 2014

National Healthcare Reform (NE)

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

August 15, 2014

National Health Care Reform

Iowa

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

August 18, 2014

CYBERTECH- Recognizing and Insuring Electronic Risk

Nebraska

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

August 18 - October 10, 2014

MERG: Commercial Lines Coverage Basics

Online

Online Course

August 18, 2014

CYBERTECH- Recognizing and Insuring Electronic Risk (IA)

Iowa

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

August 18 - October 3, 2014

MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation

Online

Online Course

August 19, 2014

Ethics for Insurance Professionals - A (NE)

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

PIA NE IA Events

August 19, 2014

Ethics for Insurance Professionals

Iowa

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

August 21, 2014

CISR: William T. Hold: Advanced Learning Seminar

Des Moines

Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale

August 21, 2014

Seven Ways to get Sued and How to Avoid Them

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

September 4, 2014

National Healthcare Reform (NE)

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

September 4, 2014

National Health Care Reform

Iowa

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

September 5 - October 31, 2014

MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation

Online

Online Course

September 9, 2014

2014 Annual Scholarship Golf Outing - Golf & Dinner Registration

Ashland

Iron Horse Golf Club

September 9, 2014

2014 Annual Scholarship Golf Outing Dinner ONLY Registration

Ashland

Iron Horse Golf Club

September 10 - 12, 2014

CIC: Life & Health Institute

Lincoln

Holiday Inn Lincoln Downtown

September 10, 2014

CISR: Insuring Personal Residential Property

Des Moines

Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale

September 12, 2014

E&O and the Legal & Ethical Duties of Agents/Brokers

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

September 15 - October 24, 2014

MERG: Personal Lines Coverage Basics

Online

Online Course

September 17 - 19, 2014

CIC: Commercial Casualty Institute

Cedar Rapids

DoubleTree Hilton

September 22, 2014

ISO General Liability - 2013 Revisions

Iowa

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

September 23, 2014

Business Income - How Much is Enough?

Iowa

Webinar: 10:00AM - 12:00PM

September 23, 2014

Business Income - How Much is Enough?

(NE)

Nebraska

Webinar: 10:00AM - 12:00PM

September 23, 2014

Farm Seminar: Enhancing Your Value to the Agribusiness Buyer & Ethics

Columbus

Holiday Inn Express Columbus

September 24, 2014

CISR: Agency Operations

Davenport Saint Ambrose University

September 25, 2014

Ethics for Insurance Professionals

Iowa

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

September 25, 2014

Social Networking: OMG or E&O?

Iowa

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

September 25, 2014

CISR: Personal Lines Miscellaneous

Marion

Kirkwood Training Center

September 25, 2014

Social Networking: OMG or E&O? (NE)

Nebraska

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

September 25, 2014

Ethics for Insurance Professionals - A (NE)

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 25

PIA NE IA Events

September 26, 2014

It's Personal: Home and Auto Exposures your Insured Won't Tell You

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

September 26, 2014

It's Personal: Home and Auto Exposures your Insured Won't Tell You (NE)

Iowa

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

October 6, 2014

National Health Care Reform

Iowa

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

October 7, 2014

BIP(idy), BOP(idy), Boo(ze): Turning 3 Mundane Coverages into Magic

Nebraska

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

October 7, 2014

CYBERTECH- Recognizing and Insuring Electronic Risk (IA)

Iowa

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

October 7, 2014

BIP(idy), BOP(idy), Boo(ze): Turning 3 Mundane Coverages into Magic (IA)

Iowa

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

October 7, 2014

CYBERTECH- Recognizing and Insuring Electronic Risk

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

October 8, 2014

Commercial Property Issues & Answers

Iowa

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

October 9, 2014

CISR: Commercial Casualty 2

Des Moines

Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale

October 14, 2014

Waivers of Subrogation/Indemnity/ Certificates (NE)

Nebraska

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

October 14, 2014

Waivers of Subrogation/Indemnity/ Certificates

Iowa

Webinar: 8:00AM - 11:00AM

October 15 - 17, 2014

CIC: Agency Management Institute

Omaha

Omaha Marriott Hotel

October 15, 2014

Changes to the Homeowners Program

Iowa

Webinar: 10:00AM - 12:00PM

October 20 - November 28, 2014

MERG: Delivering Quality Service (to the Customer and the Employer)

Online

Online Course

October 20 - December 5, 2014

MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation

Online

Online Course

October 20 - December 12, 2014

MERG: Commercial Lines Coverage Basics

Online

Online Course

October 21, 2014

Seven Ways to get Sued and How to Avoid Them

Nebraska

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

October 22, 2014

Ethics for Insurance Professionals - A (NE)

Nebraska

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

October 22, 2014

Ethics for Insurance Professionals

Iowa

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

October 23, 2014

Patches for the Imperfect Policy - Home, Work & Auto Edition

Iowa

Webinar: 12:00PM - 3:00PM

October 23, 2014

CISR: Dynamics of Service

Marion

Kirkwood Training Center

October 29, 2014

CISR: Insuring Personal Residential Property Davenport Saint Ambrose University

November 5, 2014

CISR: Insuring Commercial Property

August 2014 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 26

West Des Moines

LaMair - Mulock Condon Insurance (LMC)

PIA NE IA Events

November 6, 2014

CISR: Commercial Casualty 1

Marion

Kirkwood Training Center

November 11, 2014

CPIA 3: Sustain Success

Des Moines

Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale

November 12, 2014

FMO: Agency Management & Loss Control

Omaha

Omaha Marriott Hotel

November 12 - 14, 2014

CIC: Life & Health Institute

West Des Moines

Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites

November 17 - January 2, 2015

MERG: New Agency Employee Orientation

Online

Online Course

November 17 - December 26, 2014 MERG: Personal Lines Coverage Basics

Online

Online Course

November 18, 2014

Omaha

Omaha Marriott Hotel

CPSR: Commercial Casualty

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August 2014 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 27