While most people were off for the weekend, a majorinsurance player was fighting for its life. The Erie Insurance cybersecurityevent, discovered on a Saturday, serves as a stark warning for everyagency:
Hackers don't take the weekend off.
When Erie confirmed a massive network outage triggered by an"information security event," their team had to act fast to containthe threat. But for many smaller agencies, a Saturday breach isn't discovereduntil Monday morning—when it’s already too late.
Erie Insurance had to take drastic measures that anybusiness owner would dread:
• Total System Shutdown: Portals were taken offline to stop the spread.
• Customer Blackout: No logins, no claims processing, and no access to documents.
• SEC Involvement: A Form 8-K was filed, confirming the incident was "material" to the company’s health.
• Law Enforcement: Federal agencies were brought in to investigate the source of the attack.
Red Flag for Your Customers: During outages, hackersoften launch phishing scams, pretending to be your agency asking for"emergency payments." Erie had to warn customers specifically aboutthis—a PR nightmare.
Erie Insurance had to take drastic measures that anybusiness owner would dread:
Erie isn't just dealing with a technical glitch; they arefacing a regulatory storm. In 2026, the scrutiny is higher than ever. Potentialviolations include:
• FTC Safeguards Rule: Investigation into inadequate security controls.
• NY DFS 23 NYCRR 500: Critical if theyservice any New York customers.
• State Privacy Laws: CCPA (California) and the SHIELD Act (New York).
• HIPAA & PCI DSS: Risks to health policy data and credit card information systems.
These violations often result in multi-million-dollarfines and long-term brand damage.
One vulnerability can lead to a company-wide audit that lasts months. If your agency were in Erie’s shoes, you would face: Weeks of lost productivity while systems are scoured.
1- Extended Downtime: Weeks of lost productivity while systems are scoured.
2- Exorbitant Costs: Forensic investigations and legal fees starting in the tens of thousands.
3- Mandatory Notifications: You must tell every customer their data was compromised.
4- Free Credit Monitoring: Providing up to 3 yearsof monitoring for every client (costing you $100-$200 per person/month).
Stay Ahead of the Threat
You don't have to be a giant like Erie to be a target, butyou do need their level of protection.
Motiva Networks specializes in securing insurance andmortgage firms before the breach happens. Our CEO, Walter, is a Certified Compliance Instructor who understands exactly what regulators (and hackers) are looking for.
Don’t wait for a "Saturday Surprise." Scheduleyour free Cybersecurity Review today:
