Health care providers had a rough start this year. Hackers have already attacked multiple hospitals, forcing them to pay a ransom to get their files back, including patient records and billing information.

While this is harrowing news, the truth is, most of the time these breaches can be prevented simply with education and training. In fact, human error is responsible for 52 percent of security breaches.

Your clients, who are usually human resources professionals, stand as one of the primary lines of defense against these attacks, as they manage sensitive information that hackers want.

It's no secret that as a benefits broker, your job now includes human resources, and cybersecurity issues are no longer just for property and casualty brokers.

Corporate email, unmanaged devices, and social media accounts are all vulnerable to attacks. These attacks most often come through infected email that carries malware, ransomware, and other viruses, all of which are programs created to damage or disable your devices.

Often these emails appear to be harmless, and they can even be created to look as if they are from a member of your company.

If unchecked, these security risks will only continue to increase. So how can you help your clients mitigate these risks and protect their sensitive information? Here are four ways you can help your clients create a safer and more secure environment:

Stay current on the trends

Your clients rely on you to be a trusted advisor. One way you can do this is to keep an eye on the current cybersecurity trends happening across different industries. Subscribe to cybersecurity publications like Dark Reading and SC Magazine to see if there are any threats that might affect your clients, like the ransomware attacks. Inform your clients if there are any threats they should be aware of and include cybersecurity tips and trends in your regular communications.

Educate your clients

Provide educational resources and programs that will teach your clients how to spot potential threats, especially since they deal with sensitive information. On top of that, stress the importance of connecting with their information security provider to learn how hackers may try to access HR systems. Many security providers will also offer training, not only for the IT department, but also for employees company-wide.

Offer a webinar

When it comes to creating a security strategy, your clients often won't know where to start. One way you can give them a comprehensive overview is to offer a webinar on cybersecurity best practices for small businesses. Walk your clients through the best practices, threats and trends they should be aware of. This training will help your clients to better protect their company and its sensitive data.

Create a mobile device action plan

Mobile devices can be difficult to manage, and because of this, they can create serious security and management hurdles, especially if they hold confidential information or if the devices can access the corporate network outside of the office. To mitigate this risk, create a mobile device action plan that you can share with your clients. This plan should include requiring that employees password protect their mobile devices and install security apps like Avast or Bitdefender. Also, be sure it includes recommended reporting procedures in case any mobile devices are stolen or lost.

The world of cyberattacks and cybersecurity is constantly changing, and there is no one guaranteed way of ensuring your clients will never get targeted. However, by educating them and keeping up to date on the latest in security practices, you can help keep your clients' sensitive information safe and secure. And anything you can do to make HR professionals more productive and successful will further embed you as their trusted advisor.

Instant Insights /

4 ways brokers can help their clients mitigate security risks

More From HR Executive

Related Stories

Recommended For You