A cartoon frog wearing a blindfold leaps off a cliff toward a group of open-mouthed crocodiles waiting in the water below, symbolizing a risky or uninformed decision.

Look Before You Leap: Assessing Third-Party App Risk

By Bryan Johnson, IT Director, Alliant National Title Insurance Company Aristotle supposedly once said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Although the ancient philosopher died nearly 2,000 years ago, his statement remains highly relevant to how businesses should approach security issues today, particularly regarding third-party applications. Digital apps …

A businesswoman in a suit and sunglasses walks confidently with a briefcase, followed by faded shadow versions of herself—illustrating the concept of an "IT Shadow" and unseen or duplicative activity in the business world.

Do You Have A Shadow IT Problem? Here’s Why You Need A Plan

Even when there is no malicious intent, unsanctioned applications can cause major problems for your agency By Bryan Johnson, IT Director, Alliant National Title Insurance Company Have you heard of shadow IT? The term conjures images of masked criminals poking around on your server or installing dangerous devices. Yet shadow IT is usually more mundane, referring to applications installed without …

Wooden figures stand around arrows pointing in different directions, symbolizing outsourcing and workflow paths.

6 Key Considerations When Outsourcing Your IT Needs

There are some important questions to ask when you entrust your IT needs to a third-party Millions of businesses in the U.S. today outsource part or all their IT needs to a third party such as a managed service provider (MSP), and it is not difficult to understand why. Working with an MSP can deliver big benefits for a company, …

What Title Agencies Should Know This Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Use this year’s spooky season to assess your strategies and ward off the specter of cybercrime. For many people, October is associated with ghosts, goblins, tricks and treats. But for those involved in IT, it represents something equally scary: the unpredictable cybersecurity landscape facing businesses today. You see, October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time for title …

Protect Your Sensitive Data With Client-Side Encryption

As any seasoned title insurance professional will tell you, real estate transactions are complex beasts, requiring different stakeholders to share personal information sometimes across great distances. This presents massive challenges, especially at a time when data breaches seem more common than ever. What can an independent agent do to protect personal and proprietary information? Technologies like client-side encryption (CSE) offer …

Which Cloud Model Is Right For You?

Public, private, or hybrid—what suits your agency best? Once a novelty, cloud networks now personify the modern workspace. Businesses leveraging cloud deployments typically enjoy enhanced flexibility and productivity. Moreover, with the rise of remote work, the cloud has become crucial in attracting and retaining valuable talent. However, maximizing the benefits of your cloud network depends on selecting a deployment model …

How To Build a Cybersecure Culture  

Protect your business by taking a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. Sometimes the cybersecurity landscape can feel a bit hopeless, especially when you look at recent data. News headlines are abuzz about breaches. Major companies across the economy are routinely victimized by hackers. Municipalities are open targets. Despite millions invested in security solutions, attacks seem to continue with unrelenting frequency. It …