Inspired by the Pocket and Summary Guides recently published by ACT,the Mass Agent Now Podcast talks to two of the individuals who helped create these agent resources. Welcome Ron Berg, Executive Director of the Agents Council on Technology (ACT) at IIABA and Steve Aronson, local Mass Independent Agent, President & CEO of Aronson Insurance in Needham, who serves as the Security Issues Chair on ACT.  Steve and Ron were kind enough to answer the following questions in short time we had together. 1. We know it’s a threat to big box retailers and national banks...but is cyber security a real threat to independent insurance agencies - most of which are very small businesses? What are "hackers" looking for and are they finding it in small businesses?  2. Can you tell me briefly what ACT is and what the these resource guides have been designed for? 4. If you feel like your agency is in compliance with existing regulations like the MA laws, HIPPA, and Gramm-Leach-Bliley...is that enough? 5. For those that haven’t given this much thought yet….Where should agents start when getting their data security house in order? (general education, strong passwords, internet policing, virus protection software, eliminating personal devices?) Steve and Ron both share the most helpful resource they think that is listed in the guides. Resources Discussed in this episode:

ACT: Agents Council for TechnologyACT's Planning & Security SectionPocket GuideSummary GuideMintz-Levin - State Data Security Breach Notification Laws  ID Federation / Signon Once (Password Protection)