The ALS Group Risk Management Articles

We manage more than a quarter billion dollars of premiums for a diverse range of clients around the globe. 

Close-up of a computer keyboard's internal circuit board with a small padlock placed on it, surrounded by visible keys like Ctrl, Shift, Esc, Delete, and End—symbolizing the importance of cyber risk assessment.

Navigating Cyber Insurance: A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Business

In today’s digital landscape, cyber threats are ever-present and complex. At The ALS Group, we prioritize mitigating these risks through strategic risk management. A key component of our strategy involves navigating the intricate world of cyber insurance. We simplify the process of selecting the right cyber insurance policies, integrating them seamlessly into your business’s defense mechanisms, ensuring your assets and reputation are well-protected.

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A hand interacts with a digital screen that displays "Cyber Security" crucial elements often addressed by risk advisory firms in Florida.

How to Defend Against Cyber Attacks

At The ALS Group, we are acutely aware of the evolving threats in the digital landscape, and swatting represents a particularly malicious form of cyber-attack with real-world implications. As a risk advisory firm, our mission is to illuminate the dangers of such activities and provide strategic risk mitigation strategies to safeguard businesses and individuals alike.

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Red padlock with the word "Ransomware" in white over a blue background filled with binary code.

CISA/FBI Holiday Cyber Advisory

As air travel for the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend spiked to pre-pandemic levels and AAA estimates over 53 million people will hit the road this holiday, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and FBI issued an advisory yesterday, warning critical infrastructure partners that malicious cyber actors tend to strike during holiday weekends. “Although neither CISA nor the FBI currently have identified any specific threats, recent 2021 trends show malicious cyber actors launching serious and impactful ransomware attacks during holidays and weekends.” This advisory, once again, emphasizes the importance of organizations being vigilant and taking proactive measures to minimize the risk and impact of a potential cyber-attack, which, based on 2021 trends, seems

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A green road sign with the bold text "CYBER CRIME" stands out against a cloudy sky background

OFAC Advisory Makes Paying Cyber Extortion Ransom Illegal

Cyber Extortion Ransom Illegal Ransomware continues to be a major issue for companies regardless of size. It may be hard to believe, but the reason for this lies with the victims. The quickest and most often used resolution to the attack is to pay the ransom. While paying the ransom may resolve a problem for an organization, it encourages cyber criminals to continue the attacks. To combat it, OFAC, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, issued an Advisory in October 2020 stating that paying the ransom to a malicious actor in a ransomware event could land a company in hot water; and by hot water

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A person sits at a desk with their head in their hands displaying a ransomware message highlighting the severe consequences of cyber risk.

Top Ransomware Prevention Tips to Safeguard Your Business

Five Tips to Help Prevent Ransomware Attacks As businesses become more aware of the dangers posed by cyber-attacks and ransomware, they are enhancing their IT security tools and practices. However, cybercriminals constantly evolve, devising new tactics to breach systems and steal valuable data. Compounding the issue, the costs associated with cyber breaches are rising. According to Ponemon’s 2019 Cost of a Data Breach study, breaches originating from malicious cyber-attacks were not only the most common but also the most expensive. Here are five updated tips to help protect your organization from ransomware and other cyber threats: 1. Strong Passwords Are Not Enough—Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) While strong passwords are essential,

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A person sits at a desk with their head in their hands displaying a ransomware message highlighting the severe consequences of cyber risk.

Top Cyber Risks of 2024

Ransomware attacks have surged in recent years, becoming one of the most devastating cyber threats to businesses of all sizes. With new tactics evolving rapidly, it’s no longer enough to rely on outdated security measures. In 2024, businesses must adopt a more proactive and layered approach to cyber defense. At The ALS Group, we offer expert advice on protecting your business from ransomware through prevention and risk management strategies. Why Ransomware Is a Growing Threat Ransomware attacks have increased in complexity and frequency. Cybercriminals no longer just target large corporations—they are increasingly going after small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which often have weaker security infrastructure. With the rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service

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A glowing green padlock icon is embedded within a digital circuit board design, symbolizing cybersecurity and data protection.

Ransomware Demands Spike Due to Pandemic

As companies had to quickly pivot and implement a remote work plan (a lot of them did not have such a plan in place) due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they became more at risk for a cyber attack and/or breach due to the vulnerabilities they did not even know they had. As a result of this there has been an uptick in the success rate of cyber attacks in the United States. Coalition Inc., a cyber insurance provider, recently released their H1 2020 Cyber Insurance Claims report that noted a decrease in the frequency of ransomware claims however, its policyholders have experienced a 100% increase in average demands from

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A risk management consultant typing on a laptop at a desk, with papers, a pen, earphones, and a plant in the background.

The Unknowns of IT

  Most CEOs or CFOs are probably not Cyber Security experts, but are entrusted to ensure the company runs efficiently and profitably. In today’s business IOT world, having a safe and secure network is a large part of keeping the business operational. This includes ensuring that all cyber related risks are minimized as much as the budget will allow. Cyber related issues that threaten the company’s income are scary for sure, but perhaps the most frightening aspect of keeping your network and data secure are the “unknowns” of IT.

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A close-up of a keyboard with code and digital data projections overlaying the image.

Will Homeowner’s Insurance Cover a Cyber Attack on Your Personal Information?

These days, with most of us stuck at home and doing the majority of shopping and banking online, the risk of cyber criminals hacking into our networks to get to our bank accounts and/or personal information is greater than ever. While we have made considerable advances in cyber-security, so have the cyber criminals which is one of the reasons we are starting to see insurance policies that protect personal information in the event of a breach. The market for this type of insurance is still new, but it can be quite inexpensive to add cyber protection to homeowner’s policy if the insurer who wrote the policy provides it. 

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Our areas of expertise include:

  • Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
  • Cyber Security & Cyber Liability Insurance
  • Construction Management
  • Customized Risk Management Assessments (RMAs)

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