Why Insurance Agents’ Clients Should Care about Cyber Security Awareness Month

Cybercrime is Growing – That’s Why Cybersecurity Awareness Month is So Important

The #1 Threat 

As digital footprints grow and homes and businesses become more interconnected and cloud-dependent, so does the challenge of keeping personal data safe. 

In fact, cybercrime is now the biggest threat to an individual’s digital life, whether at home or at work. 

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center logged $20.9 billion in reported internet crime losses in 2025, while more than half of Americans have experienced a data breach. It’s not surprising, considering business email compromise fraud alone cost American businesses $3.04 billion in 2025 and today’s hackers can crack a weak password in 1 second. 

Small businesses are especially vulnerable and increasingly targeted. They’re three times more likely to get hacked and experience 350% more social engineering attacks than larger ones. 76% of US organizations experienced payments fraud in 2025, according to the Association for Financial Professionals, with business email compromise affecting 74% of organizations. For many small businesses, an incident like this means they won’t recover. 

“Cyber criminals have more tools than ever,” says Kim. “With AI, they’re faster, more convincing and more scalable. That makes cybersecurity awareness more critical than ever, for everyone.” 

That’s why Cyber Security Awareness Month matters. It’s a reminder for individuals, families and businesses to take back control: to protect data, educate family members or employees and invest in tools that help keep everyone safe online.

Lack of Cyber Awareness and Education 

Despite the rise in cybercrime, many people are still unaware of the risks. 

A concerning 65% of American senior executives revealed they’ve been the target of at least one cyberattack in the past 18 months, while many companies admit they don’t know enough about cybersecurity to protect themselves. 

Part of the problem is security fatigue: 69% of people say they feel overwhelmed by the number of passwords and security steps they’re expected to manage, according to Bitwarden’s 2025 survey, making it easier to tune out the constant warnings about cyber threats instead of acting on them. 

“This lack of cybersecurity awareness makes it easier for cyber criminals to succeed in their attacks, leaving both individuals and companies increasingly vulnerable,” says Melanie Bean, Claims Manager at BOXX. “Most hacks target small businesses, and better preparation and awareness on the topic can lessen the aftermath of the attack,” Bean continues. 

On an individual level, it’s even more alarming. Many internet users don’t use privacy tools to safeguard their personal data. And even though the FBI’s IC3 recorded over 11,000 sextortion reports involving people under 20 in 2025, only 66% of teen cyberbullying victims told a parent about it, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center’s 2025 national survey.

Lack of Cyber Insurance 

Despite rising cyber threats, many American businesses hesitate to invest in cyber insurance, often assuming they won’t be targeted.

Over 40% of insurance agents report clients refuse coverage, believing their data isn’t valuable or that small businesses aren’t appealing to cybercriminals.

Advising Clients to Stay Safe Online: Cybersecurity and Insurance

As cyber threats evolve, so must our cybersecurity awareness, preparedness and defences. Taking cybersecurity measures and getting the right cyber insurance are your clients’ best bet against growing cyber threats. Here are some best practices to safeguard individuals, households and businesses: 

• Training and Awareness: Educate employees and family members on the latest cyber threats, including how to spot and report phishing. Consider prioritizing BOXX’s cyber safety resources, including how to prevent ID theft, deal with cyber bullies and how to avoid romance scams. 
• Strong Password Policies: Nearly 19 billion passwords were exposed in breaches between April 2024 and April 2025 and 94% of them were reused or duplicated across other accounts. The average smart home could be at risk of more than 12,000 hacker attacks in one week. Implement strong password hygiene, use multi-factor authentication and change passwords regularly, using a password manager. 
• Cybersecurity Tools: Invest in cybersecurity tools like VPNs, firewalls and antivirus software to secure both your personal and business networks and devices and regularly keep software updated. 
• All-in-One Cyber Insurance and Protection: Cyber insurance is no longer just an option, it’s a necessity. Whether clients are insuring their homes or protecting their business, policies designed to protect against cyber risks can offer a critical safety net. BOXX helps businesses and individuals predict, prevent, respond to and recover from cyber incidents with always-on Cyberboxx® Assist tools built into every policy. This includes dark web monitoring, attack surface management and 24/7 access to Hackbusters® breach response experts to contain cyber incidents. BOXX’s virtual Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) provides an extra layer of protection for small businesses, acting as your personal cybersecurity team. 

Make Cybersecurity Awareness Month a Priority  

There’s a lot to be anxious about in our digital world as we observe Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2026. But consumers and businesses can fight back by making cybersecurity awareness and resilience a priority. Advising clients to stay informed and invest in the right protection and insurance can help keep their business, home and family safe. 

Becoming cyber aware is the first step. For more insights on how to safeguard your digital world, check out BOXX’s cybersecurity resources.