Data security

Everyday users worry about their privacy, so how much more should business users be concerned?

A new report says risk managers must balance internal and external volatility in the year ahead.

A.M. Best downgrades Canal Group, affirms Manulife.

The industry considers salivating over the huge China market, but it does so at the expense of our security.

Looking to recoup taxpayer money used to bailout financial institutions, the Obama administration is proposing a “responsibility fee” on large financial institutions, possibly including insurers. Levied on the debts of financial firms with over $50 billion in consolidated assets, the fee is intended to deter financial companies from overleveraging themselves.

Though relatively unfazed by the financial crisis, a continuing soft market will present problems for property/casualty insurers, a new report finds.

A.M. Best, Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor's announced ratings updates. The following are some of the most recent:

Fond du Lac, Wis.-based Society Insurance, a provider of commercial insurance to Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Indiana, implemented Denver-based Valen Technologies Inc.’s UnderRight predictive analytics underwriting solution to improve its pricing strategies and profitability. Society is now using UnderRight for its workers’ compensation line of business to positively impact the company’s combined ratio by enabling improved underwriting decision consistency and efficiency.

The good news is there are signs of economic improvement. The bad news is A.M. Best is maintaining its negative rating outlook on the life/health industry.

Trust representing homeowners asks for compensation for damages due to mold exposure.

S&P withdraws its A+ FSR of Nationwide Life Insurance Co. of America and Nationwide Life & Annuity Co. of America, and Moody's assigns ratings to the multi-issuer, multi-seniority shelf registration of The Travelers Cos. Inc.

As usual, the federal government chooses a sledge hammer to swat a fly, which means we all get squashed.

With the change from Bermuda to Ireland, the global insurance broker expects to see economic benefits that will help ensure continued global competitiveness.

The MGA’s new business, Goss Reinsurance Brokers Inc., will operate as a specialty reinsurance broker for medium to small insurance carriers, captives, self-insurance funds, risk retention groups and other similar specialty insurance operations.

A mixture of new technologies and business imperatives are causing insurers to redefine the boundaries of data security.

Howard Schmidt will be responsible for orchestrating cybersecurity activities across the government and coordinating efforts to better protect private information networks.

Out-of-state residents are charged with insurance fraud after providing false information.

A.M. Best, and Moody’s Investors Service released ratings updates. The following are some of the most recent:

Auto insurers hoping to keep rates under control can look forward to a happy new year. As Jan. 1, 2010 quickly approaches, Illinois, Kansas, New Hampshire and Oregon are all preparing to enforce stronger laws regarding cell phone use and texting, says Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).

Aon Corp. launched Aon Broking, a broking strategy for clients of the firm's retail brokerage operation. The new strategy is designed to ensure that Aon Risk Services’ clients benefit from the broking resources Aon provides, and gain access to solutions and markets for their specific needs.