September 5, 2023
Steve Ricci
There are sources out there saying that in 2023, cybercrimes could cost businesses $10.5 trillion and that the average cost of a business email compromise attack is $130,000. The stats go on and on, but the chilling bottom line is that we are vulnerable to costly cybercrimes every day.
What can we do to be proactive and guard against the threat as best we can? It starts with making sure, from the top all the way down in our operations, that our staff is educated. One quick and easy way to start our cyberthreat education is by utilizing RentalU — the American Rental Association’s (ARA) online education and training platform. Login at RentalU, type in “cyber” in the search field and you’ll find resources like:
Cybersecurity Basics — Part of ARA’s Prioritize Safety Series, this short video covers the different types of threats in the digital world, the problems that they can cause and how to prevent them.
Importance of Cybersecurity in Your Rental Business — A recording of an ARA-hosted webinar that shares information on cybersecurity awareness. The webinar was presented by staff from Network Coverage, a technology solutions provider with a national presence that has partnered with ARA to provide members with a first line of defense.
How to Survive a Data Breach: A Practical Guide — This is a video course that lays out methods of preparing for and responding to a data breach, incorporating lessons learnt from recent breaches.
Essential Cybersecurity Best Practices — A downloadable document with tools you can use to determine if your business’s cybersecurity practices are up to standard.
All of these are free to you with your ARA membership. I encourage you to utilize them to help make your business less susceptible to those out there in the cyber realm who have made it their mission to steal from the likes of you and me.
I also encourage you to take a moment to read the feature story in this month’s In Your Region. It’s a terrific interview with Emmett Long, an ARA Insurance agent based in Georgia who serves many rental operators throughout that region. Emmett has some interesting and helpful takes on preventing cybercrime in a rental business.
Until next time,
Steve Ricci, ARA Region Eight director
Bigfork Rentals
Bigfork, Mont.
406-837-2404
steve@bigforkrentalsinc.com
