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. 

letters of the alphabet with the word liability. concept of liability.

Reducing General Liability Costs

Frequency and severity of the General Liability (GL) claims are on the rise, which is partially due to what any consider the abuse of the legal system as society continues to become more and more litigious. Many businesses are concerned with reducing increasing GL claims leveled against them, particularly within litigation. This is especially poignant in construction claims. A recent article, written by Mike Myers, Head of Construction at Safety National, discusses some of the cost drivers that are leading to increases, focusing on litigation costs.ENR April 29, 2024 Page 38 (bnpmedia.com) According to Myers, there are three major contributing factors for increased severity: To combat these as well as

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The Risk Management Plan – Identification & Measurement

This is the second chapter in a series of articles focused on strategies that should be part of any company’s risk management plan to, effectively, manage the Total Cost of Risk (“TCoR”). Our previous chapter on the subject introduced basic concepts in risk management: including risk identification and risk impact, Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”), and how to, better, forecast and be prepared for “risk events”. This paper will focus on ways in which a company can capture and measure the impact of their major risks using a risk register. By creating a risk register, an organization will have a more structured framework to capture and measure the financial impact of

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Risk management diagram

Enterprise Risk Management and Total Cost of Risk – Concepts that Align

As insurance procurement becomes more difficult, the industry is inherently requiring an organization to be more thoughtful and responsible for managing its own risk. Gone are the days when underwriters will broadly accept risks that are not well understood or managed by an organization. The concept of risk and insurance is not a “one-dimensional” purchasing strategy but rather a process that an organization should embrace to determine what the most material risks are that could affect their organization and what the financial impact could be of those risks. The result can provide a basis for an organization’s risk appetite1 and how accepting or avoiding risks aligns with the organization’s strategic

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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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Close-up of a file tab labeled "Risks" in a filing system, highlighting the importance of risk management services.

There’s Value in Measuring the Total Cost of Risk (TCoR)

Businesses face a wide range of risks that can impact their operations, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Understanding and controlling these risks is crucial for staying competitive and positioning a company for growth. One essential tool for achieving this is by measuring the Total Cost of Risk (TCoR).

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Managing Risks and Opportunities

Managing Risks and Opportunities

The idea for this blog was conceived by Marshall Ma, who joined The ALS Group as a Risk Management Intern and now provides support on client accounts as Technical Analyst, based on the Chinese ideogram for “crisis”. It just happens that Marshall is fluent in Mandarin and is passionate about risk management. She is an Enterprise Risk Management Graduate and Lecturer at Columbia University. While at Columbia, Marshall spent a lot of time working on campus educating her peers and supporting industry outreach. She also participated in risk assessment and mitigation for the campus’ internal Career Design Lab.

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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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