Cyber Security Month

Include banking info in the retainer. If changes are requested, always call to confirm, and tell your clients to do the same.

Business email compromise and Phishing are the most common causes of financial loss. They are lucrative because they take advantage of the human element, which is a lot easier for cyber criminals to exploit. If you receive new or updated payment instructions, always verify any change in banking or payment instructions—especially if it comes via email. Cybercriminals often impersonate vendors or executives to trick you into sending funds to fraudulent accounts. These requests often stress urgency and are becoming harder to spot and decipher with the introduction of AI.

Before sending a wire:

• Call a verified contact (using a known phone number, not one in the email).
• Double-check email addresses for subtle misspellings.
• Slow down—most wire fraud happens when people feel pressured to act quickly. This is a common tactic of cyber criminals.

Update software regularly to patch security vulnerabilities, back up data daily, and test recovery procedures regularly.

“Be sure that MFA has been implemented at all 3 levels: ie. at all user end-points (workstations and laptops in the office), VPN (remote access), and privileged access users).

Whether or not a Company’s network is Cloud-based or otherwise). Cyber insurers do not differentiate”.