Like many people, I often find myself in a reflective mood at the start of the new year. The days are getting longer, and the prospect of renewal is in the air. One area that I naturally like to focus on during this period is cybersecurity. As someone who has been in this field for a long time, I know that achieving success and keeping fraudsters at bay requires constant vigilance, as well as a dedication to continual improvement of your cybersecurity strategy. Let’s discuss some resolutions you can make for the new year. Hopefully, you’ll find them helpful for strengthening your own security posture in the months ahead.
Resolution #1: Protect your emails
Reacclimating to work after the holidays can make reviewing your cybersecurity posture feel even more overwhelming. Focusing on specific cybersecurity vulnerabilities, however, can make the project much more manageable. Of all the ways that criminals can attack your agency, email is one of the most common. Phishing and business email compromise are two particularly insidious schemes that have long threatened the title insurance industry. A good starting resolution for 2025 is to ensure your organization’s email communications are secured.
Resolution #2: Don’t wait to deploy multi-factor authentication
In one of my most recent blogs, I wrote about the importance of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and how these technologies are becoming ever easier to manage and deploy. Modern MFA technologies offer invaluable benefits for title agencies, enhancing digital security without compromising productivity. This blog provides helpful insights into how MFA can support your agency’s operations while keeping threats at bay. At Alliant National, we have embraced MFA technology across our operations, and other industry professionals may find it worthwhile to integrate it into their security suite as a valuable enhancement.
Resolution #3: Implement Zero Trust architecture
U.S. President Ronald Reagan once famously said, “Trust, but verify.” While this was perhaps good advice for Cold War relations, when it comes to digital security, you must never trust and always verify. One of the best ways to do this is with Zero Trust architecture. Zero Trust protects sensitive client information by making sure access is restricted only to those who truly need it. On top of that, Zero Trust is essential for compliance, which is a big benefit for a heavily regulated industry like title insurance. It is for these reasons that Zero Trust architecture is an important resolution for any title agency to adopt in 2025.
Resolution #4: Automate your backups
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, a catastrophic cyber event will still occur. When that happens, you want to be sure that your most important files, data and systems can be recovered and restored as fast as possible. Establishing reliable and effective backup procedures ensures your organization can bounce back quickly. They minimize downtime, prevent data loss and maintain customer trust. Leveraging a multi-tiered backup strategy that combines on-premise servers and secure cloud environments is the best way to make sure your bases are covered. With this approach, you can turn a potential disaster into a manageable situation, making automated backups a valuable addition to your resolution list.
Resolution #5: Consider your contingencies
Given the risks, it is never a bad idea to invest in additional protections for your agency and clients. One of the best ways to do this is by considering a fraud prevention tool like Alliant National’s own SecureMyTransaction, which vets transaction stakeholder ID documents with cutting-edge AI technology. Another strategy would involve obtaining cyber insurance to protect yourself from breaches and advanced cyberattacks like ransomware. Each provides critical safeguards for your agency’s operations, allowing you to focus on ensuring transactions go off without a hitch.
Make your resolutions count in 2025
They say the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and despite our best efforts, the promises we make at the beginning of the year can quickly fall by the wayside. Thankfully, resolutions are a bit easier to stick to if they involve cybersecurity, as the consequences of not doing so can be severe. I hope these resolutions can provide you with some good guidance for setting cybersecurity priorities for your own organization. When your security strategy is well-organized, you can operate more effectively on behalf of your clients and strengthen your market position in the process.
From AI to advanced analytics, here are the trends that can reshape your IT stack for the better.
With 2024 almost behind us, IT planning is ramping up for many companies. The technology landscape continues to evolve rapidly. Emerging technology like AI is proliferating at an ever-faster clip, and even tried and true workflows are becoming more complex to manage. Considering all these developments, it can be difficult to know which trends your agency should focus on. Let’s work together to get our bearings and make sure your agency kicks off 2025 without a hitch.
AI, AI and more AI
AI continues to dominate IT discussions, and for good reason. One area where we expect to see an increased use of these technologies is fraud detection and identity verification. With fraud and other forms of fraudulent activity continuing to rise, agencies require an easy way to detect and deter this activity. AI-powered tools such as our own SecureMyTransaction meet that need by using cutting-edge technology to confirm stakeholder identities, protect transaction integrity, and reduce agency risk.
Regulatory compliance needs
In the new year, compliance will be a key focus, driven by data privacy fears and the acceleration of automation technologies. Title agencies can take advantage by adopting new platforms that optimize compliance workflows for local, state, and federal regulations. These tools leverage AI to monitor compliance in real time, automate reporting and auditing processes, and integrate seamlessly with other agency technologies.
Advanced analytics and BI
With a dynamic industry like title insurance and real estate, the contours of the market are always in flux. Naturally, this means there is a powerful application for advanced analytics and business intelligence technologies on the agency level. Modern solutions are equipped with features designed to enhance operational efficiency and elevate customer experiences. With the right analytics capabilities, agencies will be well-equipped to conduct powerful risk analyses, track team performance, boost pipeline efficiency, and gain new insight into closing times and transaction volumes.
Cloud-based collaboration and cybersecurity
Since the pandemic, the demand for remote work technologies has exploded. To help navigate this transition, many businesses have adopted cloud-based platforms for communication, collaboration, and cybersecurity. In 2025, these solutions will become ever more tailored and impactful for companies working in the title insurance and real estate fields. These tools benefit agencies with their easy integrations, not to mention AI, productivity, and security features that reduce transaction delays, increase customer confidence, and strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
2025 is the year to put IT front-and-center
For title agencies, achieving market leadership requires more than excellent staff and title production. Establishing the right digital infrastructure is equally important to getting ahead of the competition. AI, cloud computing, advanced analytics—these are all powerful strategies that can help you get there. They will cement a standard of technological excellence in 2025 that will delight existing customers and help you win new ones to boot!
To learn more about how you can begin to strengthen your IT stack with the help of Alliant National’s SecureMyTransaction, visit the solution’s website at securemytransaction.com. There you’ll find blogs, videos, and more that explain how the tool can get you and your team on the cutting edge of digital security.
For over 15 years, multi-factor authentication (MFA) has played a critical role in how businesses operate securely online. The rise of cloud computing, social media, and mobile apps has made MFA essential for many companies—particularly in regulated industries. However, despite its importance, many users find MFA cumbersome due to its reliance on SMS text or authentication apps.
The good news is that significant changes are coming to the MFA landscape. Let’s explore the latest trends for 2025 and beyond, showing you how to leverage these advancements to maximize security while minimizing inconvenience.
Why you should keep up with the MFA evolution
When it comes to cybersecurity, the threat landscape is ever changing. MFA practices continue to evolve as well. Agencies that evolve along with this technology in 2025 will be able to reap the full benefits of advances like biometrics, adaptive MFA and continuous authentication. Let’s look at each one-by-one.
Believe in biometrics
Arguably, the biggest shift coming down the MFA pike is the rise of biometrics. Biometrics is already a big part of many applications. Anytime fingerprints are used to log in, for example, biometrics is at work. Look for these services to proliferate more quickly, and eventually include vocal and behavioral verification capabilities. Title companies can leverage advanced biometrics to improve security and convenience for their teams and customers. These services offer unique layers of protection without the hassles of managing multiple passwords.
Adaptive MFA is advancing
Another development for agencies to watch out for is adaptive MFA. Today’s MFA requires repeated verification, sometimes as often as during every login. Adaptive MFA streamlines this by analyzing the context. It prompts additional verification only when warranted—such as when a change is detected in a login’s location or device. By reducing unnecessary prompts without compromising security, title agencies can offer a smoother, more user-friendly experience.
Continuous authentication is coming
Perhaps one of the most exciting MFA developments that has a clear applicability for title agencies is continuous authentication. Continuous authentication is closely related to adaptive verification. It takes it one step further, however, by working in the background and constantly assessing factors like typing patterns, device usage and location. This allows it to confirm the user’s identity throughout a given session and detect anomalies in real time. Title agencies can use this technology to improve verification and security experiences.
Protecting transactions
In an age of endless cyber threats, adopting the latest MFA technology is critical for agencies seeking the right balance between security and convenience. In addition to MFA, agents need effective solutions to address fraud risks within transactions. Alliant National’s new identity verification and fraud prevention tool, SecureMyTransaction, for instance, provides validation of identity instruments, as well as bank account and business information, helping to move transactions forward with confidence. Title professionals also benefit from detailed audit trails, simplifying compliance and providing added peace of mind.
Achieve reliable and convenient MFA security MFA technology is an effective, albeit inconvenient, security technology. In an era of remote work and complex technology like cloud networks, it will remain an important part of agencies’ security stacks. The encouraging news is that we are on the cusp of new MFA developments that will ensure better security and improved customer experiences. In the end, that will enable the type of smooth, swift transactions that both customers and agents appreciate.
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 agencies to reassess their digital defense strategy. Let’s review some top priorities and best practices to ensure your strategy is working as efficiently as possible.
The undeniable importance of cybersecurity in title insurance
Title agencies are no strangers to handling large amounts of sensitive and personal information, as collecting and transmitting data is key to any successful real estate transaction. However, it can be challenging to know which aspect of your security to focus on, especially with so much information out there about threats, breaches, and solutions. Cutting through this noise requires a careful strategy that aligns with your agency’s specific needs, goals, and risks. For title agencies, this means focusing on solutions that protect sensitive client information, prevent wire fraud and ensure compliance. Let’s dive deeper into how you can ensure you achieve each of these priorities.
Investing in data protection
Achieving comprehensive data protection means examining and securing potential attack vectors. Let’s take email as an example. Email is one of the top ways in which cyber criminals exploit a business’s defenses and breach critical systems, especially in the real estate industry. Techniques like multi-factor authentication, encryption, mail filters and domain-based message authentication are all non-negotiable if you want to keep your people and agency safe. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. One of the main ways that attackers harm businesses is through human error, which means that any technology solutions you implement must also be paired with security awareness training. These programs are invaluable for training team members on how they can spot suspicious or dangerous email activity and take action to keep systems and data safe.
Protect against wire fraud
Easily one of the most well-known cyberthreats to title agencies is the scourge of wire fraud. Fraudsters frequently target transactions by intercepting wire instructions and diverting funds into their accounts, often with devastating consequences for both title agents and consumers. While encrypted communication channels and stringent verification methods — such as multi-factor authentication and verbal confirmations — are critical to combating this threat, comprehensive verification solutions are equally essential. SecureMyTransaction, developed by Alliant National, is one such solution. It helps agents verify transaction participants and performs both bank account and business verifications. By integrating solutions like this alongside educating clients on best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of human error and safeguard your transactions.
Don’t forget compliance
Closely connected to agency security is the issue of regulatory compliance. Agencies are subject to many industry standards and requirements. You must always be mindful of whether your cybersecurity strategies are in alignment with these obligations. Routine audits of your security practices and activities can provide greater visibility and ensure ongoing compliance, which is essential to avoiding fines. I can’t stress enough how important it is to be proactive rather than reactive with this aspect of your security. Your company’s very reputation hinges on it!
Stay safe during Cybersecurity Awareness Month and beyond
When October comes around each year, there is always a lot to look forward to. The weather is cooler, the air crisper. Jack-o’-lanterns begin showing up on doorsteps. And everywhere leaves are bursting into color. While digging into your cybersecurity strategy may not sound as fun, October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great moment to stop, reflect and recalibrate for a successful year ahead. By taking a hard look at how your agency is handling data protection, wire fraud and regulatory compliance, you can reduce your risk and move into the final stages of the year with greater confidence in your agency’s security. You may still have ghosts, goblins and even mischievous trick-or-treaters to deal with, but at the very least, you’ll know you’ve taken steps to keep cybercriminals at bay.
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 a possible way forward. CSE can reduce your attack surface and limit liability by centralizing key management and strengthening access controls. Let’s see how it can help secure your agency from the threats of both today and tomorrow.
What is client-side encryption?
You have likely heard about encryption and perhaps even use such technology at your agency. After all, encryption technologies have been in place across multiple industries for decades. CSE is a more recent innovation. It offers users greater control over when and where their data is encrypted, and over who can decrypt this information.
How does it differ from traditional encryption?
CSE technology differs from traditional methods of encryption in two key aspects: where the actual encryption occurs and who controls the encryption keys. When using CSE, data is usually encrypted on a user’s local device before being sent to a server or shared over a cloud network. Access to this data is similarly held by the user, which means that the data remains completely inaccessible to a service or network provider.
How CSE can benefit your agency
There are clear security implications for your agency when you choose to implement CSE. CSE can help strengthen defenses against data breaches and other criminal activity. When equipped with this technology, agencies are freed from relying on third-party providers to manage security keys. Even if your network or service provider goes down or is compromised in some way, your data will remain safe and secure. Additionally, CSE gives companies greater control over who can decrypt their data, allowing them to align access permissions with organizational policies or user roles.
For highly regulated businesses like title insurance, CSE may be particularly advantageous. Title agencies are required to meet various compliance obligations, which include taking steps to ensure consumer security and privacy. CSE can directly help with these requirements.
Be future-ready with CSE
CSE doesn’t just have immediate benefits; it can also help your agency prepare for future challenges. For example, data protection laws are expanding throughout the world and the United States, imposing ever-more-stringent regulations on how businesses operate online. Data sovereignty laws are similarly growing, mandating that organizational data stay within a specific geographical location. Lastly, the rise of AI and quantum computing is upending many current encryption methodologies.
CSE holds great promise for agencies looking to navigate these seismic changes. It can ensure data is immediately encrypted at the source where it is created, thus satisfying key data protection provisions. It can empower companies to maintain control over encryption keys and not rely on providers who may be hundreds of miles away. And it provides enhanced security that can help agencies use AI safely while preparing for the next wave of cryptography advances.
Consider CSE for your encryption needs For title businesses, protecting sensitive organizational and customer data is non-negotiable. Encryption has long been the go-to method for accomplishing this goal, but traditional technologies may be insufficient for the changing digital environment. Client-side encryption offers potential advantages by encrypting data right at the source and ensuring that access is strictly maintained. Companies that adopt it no longer need to rely on third parties, can more easily comply with regulations, and are better prepared to leverage emerging technologies. In a competitive business environment like ours, those are benefits worth considering.
This blog contains general information only, not intended to be relied upon as, nor a substitute for, specific professional advice. We accept no responsibility for loss occasioned to any purpose acting on or refraining from action as a result of any material on this blog.
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