And more sophisticated products have become cheaper, too. Until recently, system-lockdown technology required serious tech knowledge and a fat checkbook. My lawyer and my public-relations person installed it on their computers. Most experts say this isn't a minute too soon. In the near future, getting quality business insurance could depend on what kind of security precautions are in place.
Many insurers now require risk-assessment audits before they'll cover computer systems.
And these insurers' requirements will likely rise. In the end, security is driven by the insurance industry. That also will be a major motivator for every business, large or small, to become educated about what's available and affordable in computer security. If nothing else, it will help them select services or products whose workings may be hard to understand but that are increasingly a mandatory cost of doing business in a networked world. Salkever writes about security issues for BW Online in New York.