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Travelers Institute to Host Cybersecurity Event in Mississippi to Help Small Businesses Tackle Cyber Risks
[March 23, 2018]

Travelers Institute to Host Cybersecurity Event in Mississippi to Help Small Businesses Tackle Cyber Risks


The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV), today will hold its Cyber: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Restore? educational symposium in Southaven, Mississippi, in collaboration with SouthGroup Insurance Services, Southaven Chamber of Commerce, Horn Lake Chamber of Commerce and Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce. Thought leaders from the public and private sectors will share insights into the most common cyber threats, including data breaches, malware and phishing, all of which can damage a small business's bottom line and erode customer trust.

According to the Travelers Risk Index, 44 percent of small business owners surveyed listed cyber risks as a top concern. While preparation is critical to effectively respond to a cyber incident, only 11 percent reported having a cyber-response plan in place.

"Cyber criminals know that small businesses may not have the resources for internet security tools and protocols," said Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute and Executive Vice President of Public Policy at Travelers. "Understanding vulnerabilities ad what can be done to mitigate them is more important than ever, as cyber threats can put a small business' sensitive information and reputation at risk."



Timothy S. Marsh, Special Agent, Counterintelligence/Cyber Program, Private Sector Coordinator, Memphis Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, will deliver the keynote address and join a panel discussion moderated by Woodward. The following panelists will also participate:

  • Edrich Louw, Account Executive, Private and Nonprofit Liability, Bond & Specialty Insurance, Travelers
  • Ryan Loughlin, Partner, Data Privacy and Network Security Practice, Mullen Coughlin

"Risk management planning is critical in today's connected world," said Ronnie Tubertini, President, SouthGroup Insurance Services. "Small businesses can be easy targets for cyber scams, and we are pleased to join with the Travelers Institute to help small business owners better understand how to create an effective cyber response plan in which all their employees play an important role."


Visit the Travelers Institute website for more information on the Cyber: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Restore series.

About the Travelers Institute

The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., engages in discussion and analysis of public policy topics of importance to the insurance marketplace and to the financial services industry more broadly. The Travelers Institute draws upon the industry expertise of Travelers' senior management, as well as the technical expertise of many of Travelers' underwriters, risk managers and other experts to provide information, analysis and solutions to public policymakers and regulators. Travelers is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance for auto, home and business. For more information, visit travelers.com.


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