Business Management
Malicious Data Breaches Increased 55% in 2020
The number of malicious data breaches increased 55% from 2019 through 2020, driven by several high-profile breaches, according to Advisen data. This spike reverses the downward trend in the previous few years, as bad actors searched for more lucrative options—namely ransomware. Time will tell if the spike in malicious data breaches during a period dominated…
Read MoreGoing for the Gold: Ransomware Attacks at an All-Time High
From the department of “records we didn’t want to see broken” comes this bit of news: The 4th quarter of 2020 brought a new high in the number of ransomware attacks. As you probably know, the sudden shift to a work-from-home (WFH) environment as a result of the pandemic created a huge range of security…
Read MoreThe American Rescue Plan’s COBRA Subsidy: Questions Answered
Among its many other provisions, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) included a subsidy for continuing health care coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). The ARPA subsidy covers 100% of COBRA and state mini-COBRA premiums from April 1st through September 30 of 2021, for certain individuals whose work hours were…
Read MoreYour Commercial Property Insurance Rating: How to COPE
Rating commercial properties for insurance purposes is complex work done by experienced underwriters. While you’ll probably never need to have that level of knowledge, a basic understanding of how properties are rated is useful, especially if you’re considering multiple options for the next location of your business. Let’s take a look: The first decision an…
Read More2021 ACA Reporting – Draft Forms Released
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released draft versions of several 2021 forms related to reporting required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Here’s a brief overview: The forms apply to Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6066. Draft forms 1094-B and 1095-B will be used by providers of minimum essential coverage (MEC). Those include…
Read MoreHR Hotline – Real People, Real Answers
In a recent post we discussed our HR and Compliance Portal, our online portal for convenient access to resources on safety, compliance and much more (read about it here). While this portal is a vast and searchable resource, sometimes you need a little personal guidance, especially when it comes to matters of Human Resources. Chances…
Read MoreReporting Workers’ Compensation Claims: Act Quickly
There’s often some confusion over the proper steps to take when a workplace injury occurs. Here’s a look at what needs to happen in the event of an injury. The most important overall consideration is time. You’ll obviously want workers to promptly seek medical attention, but follow-up interviews and reporting should be done quickly also.…
Read MoreCommercial Auto Insurance Trends for 2021
If your company has vehicles on the road, you’ve probably experienced premium increases even if you’ve maintained a good safety record. In some cases those rate increases have reached double-digit percentages, a frustrating state of affairs for any organization. The central issue is that the commercial auto segment has been unprofitable for insurers for much…
Read MoreMore Hackers to Worry About: Ransomware-as-a-Service
The huge spike in ransomware attacks on businesses over the last year has multiple causes, many rooted in the pandemic. Plenty of businesses scrambled to set up a work-from-home (WFH) model in a big hurry, leaving a trail of security flaws. There have been ample social-engineering opportunities for hackers also, ranging from phony texts about…
Read MoreDeepfakes: What They Are and Why Your Business is at Risk
If you’ve recently scrolled through your Facebook feed and been startled to see a famous movie scene, but with your friend’s face in place of the actor, you have an idea of what deepfake technology can do. A deepfake is essentially a sophisticated forgery of an image, video or audio clip, done using artificial intelligence…
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