Fusco & Orsini Insurance Services

Insurance Agency in San Diego, California

Call or Text: (858) 384-1506 EMAIL: hello@foagency.com
REQUEST QUOTES HERE

Blog

The Benefits of Employee Benefits

Benefits packages are a cost-effective way for you to bring value to your employees and boost productivity and retention.

Unemployment is at an all-time low and there are more jobs available than candidates to fill them. You’re under pressure to hire quickly, even though you should give yourself adequate lead time to properly review candidates. To make matters more difficult, just when you find the right person, they may decide to take a position with a company that has a more competitive benefits package.

If you’re a small business owner, you may be feeling even more pressure. Many small- and medium-sized businesses don’t have the team or resources to skillfully hire.

We can relate. We, too, started as a small locally-owned team. Over the years, we grew our company and our expertise in employee benefits so that we could help other HR teams feel confident about their employee recruiting and onboarding process.

That brings us to benefits.

Sure, ping pong tables and bean bag chairs look cool in an office, but are they really benefits? Here’s a quick overview of what keeps employees around: competitive benefits packages.

Benefits packages are a cost-effective way for you to bring value to your employees and boost productivity and retention. Here are a few things to consider when offering employee benefits as part of your compensation package:

Create customizable benefits packages: If you tailor a package to meet an employee’s needs, it’ll carry more weight than just monetary value. As such, a bigger salary but weaker benefits package offered by another company won’t be as attractive.

Include health and wellness: If you include health insurance and dental and vision coverage, you will have employees who are equipped to take a proactive role in managing their health. Plus, a healthy employee means a reduction in absenteeism due to illness. Healthy employees are more likely to be productive employees, too.

Additional benefits to you as the employer:

Benefits will cost you some money upfront but are likely to save you long-term.

Group rates and lower payroll taxes: The value you present to employees with benefits, especially health insurance plans, can be monetarily equal to a raise in salary for them while costing you less due to group rates and lower payroll taxes.

Salary savings: Offering tailored, valuable benefits packages can help lower top employees’ expectations for salary. Many employees are willing to accept good benefits in lieu of a slightly higher salary.

In summary, benefits packages are a cost-effective way for you to bring value to your current and prospective employees and boost productivity and retention.

Our team is ready to help you develop a strategic benefits package that meets your budget and presents attractive options to your employees. We can also give you educational materials that you can share with your employees as you launch your new or improved benefits package.

Contact us at 858-384-1506 or schedule a meeting with our employee benefits specialist, Ray. Ray has 18 years of employee benefits insurance consulting and account management experience – so he’s your guy!

Here’s Lookin’ at You, Sun

Construction Worker in the Sun. Caucasian Worker in His 30s Wearing Red Safety Helmet.

Tips to beat the heat this summer

You don’t have to be a detective to see the sun is packing heat. And that means some potential for danger … unless you get clued in and put in place some protective measures this summer.

There are approximately 330 heat-related deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Add to that the numerous illnesses and injuries – from heat stroke to sunburns – and it can sure change the tone of your summer vacation.

There are steps you can take to minimize the possibility of injuries, including:

  1. Wear light colors and be sure your clothing is loose fitting to keep your body temperature down.
  2. Cover your head if you work outdoors or plan to take in a ball game or another activity in the summer sun. Avoid putting your face or neck in direct sunlight.
  3. Drink more water than at any other time of year. Medical professionals recommend 8 ounces every half hour.

Once you’re aware of the effects of spending time in the sunshine, you can meet the threats out there with a healthy measure of prevention. That means your plans for getting work done outdoors or catching some waves will turn out just fine – as predicted. It’s the best way to keep the mysteries where they belong – in your summer reading material.

Fourth of July Safety Setbacks

How to Celebrate Safely

If childhood memories of 4th of July festivities include such harmless fun as swimming holes and homemade ice cream, feel free to revive those traditions this year. But if you intend to “have a blast” (literally) until dawn’s early light, you’d be wise to take a few things into consideration.

Burn in the U.S.A.

The “rocket’s red glare” is a patriotic concept, but not when it’s the red glare of police lights because of illegal rockets you’re setting off in the backyard. If your city regulations forbid personal fireworks – heed the law.

But if you live in an area that allows you to buy, sell and use fireworks, have fun – but be cautious. You don’t want to be responsible for starting a blaze. Keep a water bucket or garden hose nearby while igniting and watching them light the sky. Don’t place fireworks in your pockets and be sure to dispose of them properly. Soak the fireworks and their packaging in water before discarding them in the trash. 

Freedom isn’t Accident-Free

If your neighborhood residents are allowed to set off personal fireworks which means you’ll be lighting up a Roman candle, a box of sparklers or a Piccolo Pete, be extremely careful. Remember that there’s a risk of burns, blindness and other possible injuries when you handle fireworks.

A couple of the worst offenders are bottle rockets and the seemingly tame sparklers. You can injure your fingers while twirling the long wands in the air because they burn at high temperatures. Plus, unfortunately, we tend to let kids handle sparklers when they’re too young to heed safety precautions.

There are several effective ways to minimize the possibility of a 4th of July emergency:

  • Point fireworks away from people, houses and vegetation.
  • Don’t try to relight a dud, which is a firework that doesn’t ignite the first time.
  • Never handle fireworks if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
  • Wear safety goggles.

Stars & Scrapes

Celebrating outdoors with friends can mean fun in the sun. But sometimes mishaps turn a great day into a disaster. Consider the following rules:

  • Hire or assign a lifeguard if swimming is a part of the party. Drownings often occur during group events, as no one assumes responsibility to keep a watchful eye.
  • Use insect repellant to prevent insect bites and cover your skin with sunblock to minimize burning.
  • Monitor grills at all times to keep little ones from burning fingers. Keep individuals at least 3 feet away from the barbecue.

In all likelihood, it will be an incredible nation’s birthday as always. But taking the time to go over details can make doubly sure it’s a safe holiday and leaves you with only memories of a good time.

After all, remembering the 4th of July should include signing the Declaration of Independence, not signing an incident report!

Mimosas: Not Just for Breakfast Anymore

If you thought a mimosa was just a half-OJ, half-champagne combo to accompany brunch, you probably limited its importance to Easter, Mother’s Day and bridal showers also.

But, believe it or not, this tangerine-tinted aureate laureate actually owns a day on the calendar – May 16th – National Mimosa Day.

Defining the idea that “simple is elegant,” a mimosa can be as straightforward as equal parts orange juice and champagne, which is possibly how it’s become such a go-to cocktail for labor-intensive occasions.

Want something more colorful? Use blood oranges, a fruit originating in Sicily and Spain, and chill the prosecco!

Recipe for Blood Orange Mimosa

from The Food Network

1 bottle Prosecco

1 ½ Cups fresh blood orange juice

1 Tablespoon super-fine granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons Grand Marnier orange liqueur

Chill the Prosecco. Combine fresh blood orange juice with sugar and orange liqueur and stir. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. To serve, pour into the bottom of champagne glasses and slowly top-off with ice-cold Prosecco.

If you own a bar or restaurant, National Mimosa Day gives you the opportunity to pour it on for your customers with some of your own impressive combos. It has all the ingredients of a party day, but keep in mind – there’s no bigger party pooper than finding out – when it’s too late – that your booming bar business is underinsured.

Fusco & Orsini offers bar and restaurant coverage for the unforeseen, from a natural disaster to a customer relations accident. There are tremendous liabilities involved when you’re in the food and beverage business, and you need to have appropriate insurance coverage.

By letting Fusco & Orsini handle damage control, you can stick to the work of wine tasting, meal planning, and supervising servers, while we take care of mishaps involving equipment, legal issues or property damage. Email/text Mike on our team at mike@foagency.com or 858-384-1506 to get started!

There’s no better time to make it a brunch to remember, and here’s to your customers sipping citrus on National Mimosa Day, when the only thing that’s bubbling over is the champagne.

 

 

Cyber Actors Exploiting Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

In a public service announcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that remote administration tools, such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), as an attack vector has been on the rise since mid-late 2016.

What does this mean for you?

Simply put, this means your identity, login credentials and other sensitive information can be compromised.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommend businesses and private citizens review and understand what remote accesses their networks allow and take steps to reduce the likelihood of compromise, which may include disabling RDP if it is not needed.

What is Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)?

RDP is a proprietary network protocol that allows an individual to control the resources and data of a computer over the Internet. Cyber actors can inject malware or ransomware into the remote systems – and they are difficult to detect.

What makes you susceptible to an attack?

  • Weak passwords – passwords using dictionary words or do not include a mixture of uppercase/lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters – are vulnerable to brute-force attacks and dictionary attacks.
  • Outdated versions of RDP may use flawed CredSSP, the encryption mechanism, thus enabling a potential man-in-the-middle attack.
  • Allowing unrestricted access to the default RDP port (TCP 3389).
  • Allowing unlimited login attempts to a user account.

How do you protect yourself?

Because RDP can remotely control a system entirely, usage should be closely regulated, monitored, and controlled. The FBI and DHS recommend implementing the following best practices to protect against RDP-based attacks:

  • Audit your network for systems using RDP for remote communication. Disable the service if unneeded or install available patches. Users may need to work with their technology vendors to confirm that patches will not affect system processes.
  • Verify all cloud-based virtual machine instances with a public IP do not have open RDP ports, specifically port 3389, unless there is a valid business reason to do so. Place any system with an open RDP port behind a firewall and require users to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access it through the firewall.
  • Enable strong passwords and account lockout policies to defend against brute-force attacks.
  • Apply two-factor authentication, where possible.
  • Apply system and software updates regularly.
  • Maintain a good back-up strategy.
  • Enable logging and ensure logging mechanisms capture RDP logins. Keep logs for a minimum of 90 days and review them regularly to detect intrusion attempts.
  • When creating cloud-based virtual machines, adhere to the cloud provider’s best practices for remote access.
  • Ensure third parties that require RDP access are required to follow internal policies on remote access.
  • Minimize network exposure for all control system devices. Where possible, critical devices should not have RDP enabled.
  • Regulate and limit external to internal RDP connections. When external access to internal resources is required, use secure methods, such as VPNs, recognizing VPNs are only as secure as the connected devices.

For more information and to view the full public service announcement, click below: 

CYBER ACTORS INCREASINGLY EXPLOIT THE REMOTE DESKTOP PROTOCOL TO CONDUCT MALICIOUS ACTIVITY

Our team is standing by to help you with your cyber security questions and needs. Call or Text: (858) 384-1506 or EMAIL: hello@foagency.com.

Cyber Security Safety Poster for Your Office

Do your part to keep your office safe from cyber attacks! You can download this one-page flyer and post it in your office: 4 Steps to Cyber Security Infographic

  1. When in doubt, don’t click!
  2. Think twice before installing anything on company computers.
  3. Never give out company or personal information to people you don’t know or don’t regularly work with.
  4. Never be afraid to ask for help if you feel like you or your company’s security has been compromised. Speak up!

If you’d like to learn more about keeping your office safe, check out our easy-to-navigate planning guide below!

Cyber Security Planning Guide

Cybersecurity: What is Spear Phishing?

Fishing remains a top U.S. pastime. Sadly, another kind of “phishing” has become popular, too.

Phishing is a type of cyber attack in which hackers disguise themselves as trusted sources online in order to acquire sensitive information. It is a common and simple scam that can put you, your employees and your business at risk. Worse yet, more resourceful criminals are resorting to a modified and more sophisticated technique called “spear phishing” in which they use personal information to pose as colleagues or other sources specific to individuals or businesses.

Have you ever received an email that almost convinced you to urgently help a friend or coworker in need? A spear phishing attack is often disguised as a message from a close friend or business partner and is more convincing than a normal phishing attempt; when messages contain personal information, they are much more difficult to identify as malicious.

The attacks are on the rise. In fact, in a report released by the Internet Crime Complaint Center, it’s stated that there were over 120,000 cyber crime-related complaints against businesses last year, resulting in over $800 million lost.

We don’t want this to be you!

Though it’s difficult to completely avoid the risk that spear phishing attacks pose, there are ways to prevent further damage to your business. Make sure your employees are aware of these simple techniques:

  • Never send financial or personal information electronically, even if you know the recipient well. It may be possible for a third party to intercept this information, especially if the recipient is later subject to a spear phishing attack.
  • Be cautious when you are asked to divulge personal information in an email. Even if it appears to be from a trusted source, it could be a hacker impersonating another person or group.
  • Only share personal information on secure websites or over the phone. When in a Web browser, you can ensure a website is secure when you see a lock icon in the URL bar, or when an “s” is present in the “https” of a URL. The “s” stands for “secure” at the end of the normal “http”.
  • Some spear-phishing schemes use telephone numbers, so be sure to never share information over the phone unless you initiate the call to a trusted number.
  • Encourage employees to think twice about what they post online. Spear phishing hackers often attain personal information through social media sites. Make sure that employees know how to keep this information private to protect their own security as well as that of your business.
  • Regularly check all online accounts and bank statements to ensure that no one has accessed them without authorization.
  • Never enter any personal or financial information into a pop-up window or a Web browser. Never click on links or open attachments from unknown sources. Even opening a file that seems familiar can give a spear phishing attacker access to personal information stored on your device.
  • Ensure that your company’s security software is up to date. Firewalls and anti-virus software can help protect against spear phishing attacks.

For a printable version of our spear phishing prevention tips, click here.

Cyber Security Planning Guide

Does cybersecurity leave you scratching your head? Grab a cup of coffee and we’ll walk you through it. We promise our easy-to-navigate guide will answer all of your questions.

First, it’s important to acknowledge that businesses of all sizes need to be proactive in order to protect themselves against growing cyber threats. As larger companies take steps to secure their systems, smaller, less secure businesses are becoming increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals.

In our Cyber Security Planning Guide, you’ll discover action items for protecting your company’s data, website, email, mobile phones, facility and more. We’ve also included a glossary to help you understand commonly used terms like skimming, pharming, and phishing.

Please note, our planning guide is designed to help employers protect their business, information, and customers from cyber threats. This guide is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. It is generally recommended that businesses using sophisticated networks with dozens of computers consult a cybersecurity expert in addition to using this cybersecurity planning guide.

To receive a copy of your free Cyber Security Planning Guide, please complete the following form:

Complete to receive your Cyber Security Planning Guide!

If you’d like someone from our team to walk through this guide with you, please call or text: (858) 384-1506.

 

 

 

What’s Your Score? Cyber Risk Exposure Scorecard

Do your employees use their company-issued computers indefinitely without updating the password? Does your organization use cloud-based storage? If so, tune in!

In recent years, cyber attacks have emerged as one of the most significant threats facing organizations of all sizes. The Internet and other network operations have created risks that were unheard of less than a decade ago. When cyber attacks, such as data breaches and hacks occur, they can result in devastating damage, such as:

  • business disruptions
  • revenue loss
  • legal fees
  • forensic analysis
  • customer or employee notifications

It is important to remember that no organization is immune to the impact of cyber crime. As a result, cyber liability insurance has become an essential component of any risk management program.

We encourage you to download our 20-question cyber risk exposure scorecard to understand your level of risk. If you need help completing the scorecard or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or text Ray on our team at (858) 384-1506.

Implement a Cyber Incident Response Plan

Available to Customers that Subscribe to our MyWave Connect Portal

All businesses should be concerned with data protection and plan for cyber attacks.  It’s a known fact that regardless of size, all companies are at risk of a data breach.

The implementation of a Cyber Incident Response Plan is crucial, but many business owners don’t know where to begin.  Clients of Fusco & Orsini Insurance Services that subscribe to MyWave Connect annually have access to our “Cyber Incident Response Plan Creation and Implementation Toolkit.”   The Toolkit, which is 47 pages long and provides a step-by-step guide to plan creation, may be downloaded and customized to the specific needs of each business.

How Do I Subscribe to MyWave Connect?

Contact our employee benefits, risk management and compliance consultant, Ray Ramirez,  by completing the form below.

Contact Us

5095 Murphy Canyon Road
# 200
San Diego, CA 92123
Get directions
Mo,Tu,We,Th 9:00 am – 5:30 pm; Fr 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

CONNECT WITH US

OUR AWARDS

san diego insurance agency
Call Email Claims Text
Translate » Español