By Bryan Johnson, IT Director at 做厙勛圖

Having a consistent, secure and reliable digital presence is a must for any business. Without it, you will be hard-pressed to convert new customers or maintain a competitive edge. Of course, this presents interesting challenges, especially for small businesses, as you���ll need to decide on the best approach for your IT needs: make an in-house, full-time hire, partner with a managed service provider or outsource specific needs to a contractor.

Why is IT support necessary?
It can be tempting to skimp on IT resources. But in 2026, even small agencies rely on cloud apps, e-signature tools, remote access, email and file-sharing platforms that need to be managed safely. Cybersecurity concerns alone justify seeking IT support, from phishing and business email compromise to ransomware, wire fraud and tech-enabled scams. For industries like title insurance, the need for IT help has additional urgency, as agents routinely deal with sensitive consumer and transaction information.

Having an IT expert pays off in other ways as well. From staying up to date on the latest trends to keeping your systems properly updated, managing backups, access controls, user training and incident response planning, dedicated technology professionals can bring exceptional value to any title agency.

Contractor vs. employee
Let���s discuss some of the big differences between a contractor and an employee. While pay and taxes are critical ways in which they diverge, perhaps even more substantial is the issue of autonomy. Employees are hired with the understanding that the work they perform will be done per the direction of the company. Contractors, on the other hand, typically have far more control over when, where and how the work gets completed. In 2026, agencies may also consider a managed service provider, or MSP, which can offer ongoing monitoring, help desk support and cybersecurity services without requiring a full-time hire.

To hire or to contract? That is the question.

So, should you hire an IT expert or simply contract with a firm or individual? Ultimately, it depends on your agency���s needs. Contracting with a professional or working with an MSP can carry significant financial benefits, helping you save money on everything from health insurance to vacation time, but other questions are equally important to consider:

• How urgent are your IT needs?
  • Making a full-time hire often takes considerably more time than contracting a professional. Can your projects wait, or do you need to move immediately? Keep in mind that the market for qualified IT, cloud and cybersecurity talent remains competitive, and it can take time to find someone with the right mix of technical, security and title industry knowledge.
• Do you need continuous support or project-based assistance?
  • Do your systems and operations require continuous IT support, or does it make sense to hire on an ���as-needed��� basis as projects pop up? Quite often, businesses have one-off projects that require highly specialized skill sets, such as cloud migration, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace administration, backup and recovery testing, security assessments or data engineering. In those cases, it may not make sense to hire someone full-time.
• Can you absorb the losses if you make a bad IT hire?
  • The cost of making a bad hire can be significant once you factor in recruiting, onboarding, disruption and lost productivity. Hiring a contractor or MSP lowers those stakes considerably, as these relationships are typically temporary or service-based.
• What are your concerns about regulation and liability?
  • Because title insurance is a heavily regulated industry, you must consider regulatory obligations, liability and vendor oversight when bringing in technology contractors. That includes how they protect customer information, manage access, document controls, support compliance obligations and respond if something goes wrong. You should also think about how long it will take a contractor to understand your workflows and get up to speed.
• Are your security basics covered?
  • At a minimum, your IT team should be able to help you with fundamentals like multi-factor authentication or passkeys, patching, endpoint protection, secure file sharing, tested backups, basic monitoring and clear policies for any AI tools your team uses.

No two businesses are the same

As with any other aspect of a business, no two companies are the same when it comes to IT. What is straightforward for one firm might be more complicated for another. What���s universal, however, is the need for high-quality technology professionals who can help agencies stay secure, efficient, compliant and profitable. By approaching the decision strategically and weighing all relevant considerations, agencies can find a solution that works for their business.

The post In-House Or Outsourced IT? appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

By Bryan Johnson, IT Director, 做厙勛圖

Whenever you start a new initiative, few things feel worse than having to guess your return on investment (ROI). Planning, designing and launching a program can be costly, which makes it essential to have key performance indicators (KPIs) in place before you go live. That advice goes double when it comes to AI pilot programs. As an emerging technology, it can be difficult with AI to know what you should even be tracking. We���ll cover both topics in this blog. That way, when you���re ready to launch your program, you can feel confident that it has been well worth the effort.

Before you define your metrics, define your program

Before you define your metrics, ensure your AI pilot program itself is on solid ground. Begin by running it through the SMART goal test. Is it Strategic, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound? If not, assessing ROI will be tough if not impossible. A strong AI pilot must:  

• Improve a specific workflow
• Address the needs of a specific business unit
• Align with your larger business objectives
• Improve upon a defined baseline
• Have a definite start and end date
• Stand up to measurement and scrutiny

If you can���t honestly check these boxes, head back to the drawing board. If you can, then you���re ready to measure what matters and decide if your AI pilot has paid off.  

Quality over quantity

Once you are confident in your program���s fundamentals, the most important thing is to resist overmeasuring. If you try to track a million metrics, you can quickly lose the plot. A far superior approach is to adopt the old adage of quality over quantity���that is, track only what is essential to determine whether your program improved a workflow without adding new risks.

Score your program with a three-prong approach

The best way to do this is to put together a simple scorecard that looks at three things:

1. What were the outcomes?
   These are the top results related to your program���s goal, which could be if the program:
   1. Improved turnaround times
   1. Increased closed files per person per week
   1. Reduced file reworks or changes

• What were the risks?
  It is just as important to score for drawbacks, as any good title agent knows errors. Examine any of the following if they are relevant to your overarching goal:
  • Did the program increase error rates?
  • How often did issues escalate?
  • How many fixes were needed? ��
    
    
• What was the adoption rate? ��
  Finally, look at how widely folks inside your organization adopted the program and its associated AI tools. You don���t want to skip this step. Even the best AI program in the world will fail long-term if people resist using it. Review:
  • Weekly active users
  • Task completions
  • Edit rates, that is, how often did the AI tool trigger human intervention

Once again, you don���t need to tackle every one of the sub-bullets I have included here. The point is simply to put your AI program through these three main criteria. Once you do, you���ll have a strong view of whether it is a net positive or net negative for your organization.

Onward to AI success!

In a recent article, ALTA���s CEO wrote that ���more than 90% of title and escrow professionals have adopted generative AI in at least one form.���[i] This is a stunning statistic that suggests where the industry is headed. But adoption alone does not tell us anything particularly useful about the ROI of an AI pilot. Getting a clearer picture of AI���s value within your agency requires a more holistic view. Pair your AI tool with clear goals and a definite baseline, and deploy a simple scorecard to track outcomes, risks, and adoption rates. That���s the ticket for separating real business wins from white noise. And once you do that, AI becomes more than a shiny new tool. It turns into a driver of sustained success.

[i]

The post What Makes an AI Pilot Program a Success? appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

By Bryan Johnson, IT Director, 做厙勛圖

2026 is finally here, and with the new year comes the opportunity to try something different. And in my view, there is no better goal than launching an AI pilot program if you haven���t already. As you likely know, AI is quickly reshaping how people work today. To keep pace with your competitors, it is wise to give serious consideration to how you can begin automating your operations. Of course, like so many other things, this is easier said than done. After all, AI is complicated. What workflow to focus on? How to implement it? What are the safety considerations? These are all important questions to address well before you launch your program. In this blog, I will try to address each one so you can launch your pilot program swiftly and without undue worry.

Start with a few questions

AI doesn���t need to be used everywhere at your agency, but chances are it could be used somewhere. To begin identifying areas for optimization at your agency, ask yourself a few questions about how your team works. Consider the tasks that are 1.) high volume, 2.) include repeatable steps, 3.) are relatively low risk and 4.) are easily measurable.

Some examples of tasks that might meet these criteria are:

• Document intake and review ��� AI can help organize and summarize documents, so staff can then review faster. Treat this action as a first pass. A human must still confirm accuracy and make any final decisions.
• Customer communication and service – You can also deploy AI to draft responses to common questions and turn notes into updates, enabling your team to reply more consistently and quickly.
• Commitment and exception support – AI can assist with drafting commitments and exceptions from approved templates and standardized language. Your team, however, must still review and finalize all commitments and exceptions.

This list is not meant to be comprehensive, merely reflective of the type of routine, repeatable and measurable tasks that AI excels at taking on. By using the four criteria I���ve outlined below, you���ll find other workflows that could serve as the basis of your pilot program.

Select and design your use case

Now that you have a few possible business areas where you could apply AI the next step is to choose one and assign a single team to manage it. It is equally important to define in advance how you���ll measure results. But to do that properly means you need to also be crystal clear as to what you���re trying to achieve. Is it cutting down on back-and-forth emails? Reducing the time it takes to review an order? Whatever you decide, just be sure you do it ahead of time to ensure that your AI program is adding value rather than creating new issues.

Establish your safety guardrails

With your team, goal and metrics established, the next step is to create clear guidelines around what the tool is and is not allowed to do. Remember that your AI program should act as a helper���never as a decision maker.

Begin by defining what data goes into the tool. Sensitive customer information should rarely be fed into an AI program unless the program is highly secure and approved for business use. And even then, you should only input what is necessary for the task at hand. It���s also good practice to sanitize your data in advance of uploading. Consider removing data points like account numbers, names or other personal identifiers entirely.

Put human intelligence at the heart

Don���t forget to also develop your AI review and approval process, as human intelligence needs to be fully looped into your pilot program. Before launch, define what stage of the process should trigger human review. To be safe, you can likely allow AI to draft, summarize or suggest, but human staff must always verify accuracy, apply critical judgment, consider nuance and make any final calls.

That goes double with any practice that could have an impact on customer coverage, brand trust or regulatory compliance. To make things easier for your agency, consider putting together a ���review checklist��� that can be applied every time you use AI. Verifying names and dates, cross-checking document accuracy and ensuring all legal requirements are met are all steps that deserve a spot on your checklist.

And as a rule of thumb, your most sensitive workflows should probably not be outsourced to AI, at least not at this current stage.

Define your red lines

As an added precaution, it is wise to define what your red lines are when it comes to AI���especially given the sensitive nature of title work. This list should go beyond your general data security practices outlined above, and they must be disseminated to your full staff to ensure that everyone is on the same page and to avoid costly, AI-related mistakes.

For instance, it is best practice to never allow AI to:

• Send messages directly to customers,
• Generate final title commitment language, or
• Touch anything related to wire transfers.

These red lines are intended not to create any unnecessary burdens or roadblocks to operational efficiency, but to protect you and your agency from blowback, data leaks and reputational harms.

Take the first step and enjoy the benefits In this still very new year, you are likely already thinking about how you can improve your agency���s operations and make headway on your business goals. AI can be an ally in this journey, and when thoughtfully applied, can enhance how you work and offer long-term competitive advantage. But as with any emerging technology, you never want to leap before you take a hard look at what you are trying to achieve and how you can accomplish your objectives safely. Launching a pilot program can be enormously helpful in this regard. And by leveraging the operational framework we���ve outlined here, you���ll be ready to maximize AI���s benefits, minimize potential harm, and create the conditions for lasting success.

The post Your AI Pilot Program Guide appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

By: Bryan Johnson, IT Director, 做厙勛圖

With the new year upon us, it���s time again for my annual roundup of tech trends to watch in the months ahead. After over 20 years in software development and IT, I can safely say that technology best practices are changing all the time���often with blazing speed. It���s essential for businesses to stay aligned with the latest developments. By following these recommendations, you can do just that and ensure your technology stack fires on all cylinders in 2026.

Make 2026 the year you get AI right

While the constant stream of AI coverage has become overwhelming in the last few years, don���t tune it out. AI really can have a transformative effect on your business. Many have already recognized its potential, with three in four companies using AI to optimize at least one business function.[i] In 2026, this trend will only accelerate, with more businesses adopting AI agents to:

• Automate production workflows bysearching and summarizing documents, generating emails and tracking deadlines, all of which can accelerate closings.
• Boost security by flagging anomalies, verifying identities and maintaining communication, which enhances trust.
• Support compliance by using AI to check disclosures and maintain audit logs.

If you haven���t started using AI yet, you don���t need to be intimidated. To get started, just pick one or two high-volume, low-risk tasks where you can test out a pilot program. Assign a staff member to ���own��� the program, choose your tool and define your metrics of success. After 30 days, if you like what you see, you can expand the program. If not, simply retool and try something else.

Zero trust = fewer security issues

I���ve talked about zero trust a few times on this blog, but it remains a critical security protocol for agencies to adopt in 2026. For a while now, the cybersecurity field has basically adopted ���Murphy���s law.��� We assume data breaches are a matter of when���not if. This framework is smart because it prioritizes protecting identities and data when these inevitable breaches occur.

Agencies would be well advised to align with this security approach, as the data shows, breaches are becoming far more common. Sixty-five percent of organizations were, in fact, hit by a ransomware attack in 2024.[ii] If you are ever unlucky enough to be one of those statistics, you can mitigate the fallout if you have highly stringent security protocols in place, such as:  

• Universal MFA adoption for email, production software, escrow platforms, remote access and cloud tools. Collectively, this reduces the likelihood of a stolen password compromising your entire operation.
• A strong ���Zero Trust��� mindset, which assumes every device, user and connection could be compromised, and that users should only be given the minimum access required to do their jobs.
• Thoughtful, cautious third-party controls that treat every IT vendor, platform and integration as a potential attack vector. To safeguard against potential vulnerabilities, agencies should ask vendors for security documentation, avoid shared logins, limit vendor access and make sure incident-response expectations are baked into any contracts.

Once you have security controls like these set up, you���ll be in a strong position to prevent wire fraud and reduce downtime. You���ll also demonstrate to stakeholders that your agency is taking cybersecurity seriously in 2026.

Go ���digital first��� in 2026

Perhaps the most substantive IT change over the past few years in the title industry has been the normalization of all-digital closings. Remote online notarization (RON) usage, for example, has dramatically surged, with one study showing an astounding 40% increase.[iii] Agencies that stay current with these shifting expectations will gain in 2026. Not only is it a great competitive differentiator, but digitizing your operations can also improve your operational efficiency, strengthen compliance and even expand your customer pool.

Just like with AI, digitizing your process doesn���t need to feel overwhelming. You can begin by tackling just one closing with one customer. Work with your IT team and/or provider to confirm what RON or e-signing tools you have at your disposal and how you can use them compliantly. Then, chart out your process and implement it.

Don���t forget to compile data on how digitalization impacted your turn times, what pain points you encountered and what feedback you received from your customers. That last part is arguably the most important, as you will need it to iterate for future improvement.

Be open to opportunity

The poet Edith Lovejoy Pierce once wrote, ���We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called ���Opportunity,��� and its first chapter is New Year���s Day.��� I think this is a good way to sum up what I���ve been trying to convey with this blog. We���ve covered just a few of the ways to improve your agency���s technology stack in 2026, and by extension, how you deliver for customers and grow your business. If you���re open to experimenting with new technologies and laying the groundwork for more secure systems, you can seize these opportunities as the holidays end and the new year begins. Rest assured, your customers will thank you for it.

[i]

[ii]

[iii]

The post Level Up Your IT Game In 2026 appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

From AI and analytics systems to cybersecurity and compliance tools, there���s a lot to appreciate in our current tech landscape.

Like many folks, I always think about what I am thankful for around this time of year. It���s a long list, ranging from my health and family to my coworkers and the many agents we serve across the country. One other thing I deeply appreciate is the many tech innovations that have made it easier for us to pursue our industry���s priorities while also staying safe online. In honor of the approaching holidays, I thought I would share some of my favorite tech tools and applications that are helping agencies complete their essential work.

Cybersecurity advances

If you are a regular reader of mine, then you know I during October���s annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The subject is so important to those in title, however, that it merits mention here as well. There are several recent advances that deserve attention. AI-powered security tools are making it simpler to detect tampered deeds, altered IDs and forged income or asset documents. Secure portals, multi-factor authentication and powerful wire verification methods are also lowering risk. None of this replaces rock-solid procedures and training, of course. But thanks to technology, title professionals can spend more time serving customers and a little less time worrying about bad actors targeting their transactions.

AI applications

Although AI undoubtedly complicates the IT and security landscapes on one hand, it is also giving agencies important tools to streamline operations and protect critical systems and data. Whether you want to automate routine tasks or flag and respond to security incidents in real time, AI is quickly becoming indispensable in our field. I���m super grateful for how these emerging technologies are lightening the heavy loads of many of my peers and empowering agencies to focus more on service and relationship building.

Compliance technology

Similarly helpful are the advances we are seeing in compliance and RegTech. I don���t have to tell you that our industry carries some complex reporting and compliance requirements. FinCEN Geographic Targeting Orders. BOI-related workflows. TRID disclosures. Privacy laws. Simply put, there is a lot to keep in mind when trying to operate a compliant and successful agency. Yet technology innovation is gradually cutting the time and effort involved in satisfying these obligations. There are tools available now for automatically collecting required data during intake and pre-closing, before generating and storing compliant reporting. With the right tech tools, it has also become easier to run OFAC/sanctions checks and flag issues in real time. All in all, these technologies are streamlining workflows and eliminating clunky manual processes that slow transactions and stymie profitability.

CRMs

In addition to improving agency efficiency and security, technology is also making it far simpler to promote your business and engage with customers. Customer relationship management software (CRMs) is one such example. CRMs provide greater visibility into where your business comes from and offer features geared toward nurturing long-term customer relationships. With a solid CRM in place, you can integrate it with your title production system, automatically log files and initiate status updates. These systems reduce missed opportunities, create organized customer pipelines and unify the work of different departments by providing a single source of truth.

RON and eClosings

Even before the pandemic, customer expectations across industries had been moving decidedly in a digital-first direction. Our industry has slowly adapted to meet this evolving trend, with states across the country gradually moving to allow for remote online notarizations and eClosings. Customers and agencies alike have benefited from this cultural and legislative shift. With RON technology, stakeholders can sign documents via secure audio-video sessions, complete with credential checks. Agencies gain better and more auditable notary logs as a result and reduce the risk of fraud with high quality identity verification technology.

Thanks to technology and title agents like you

Title insurance can be challenging field, which is why I���m thankful for the technology advances on this list. Because of these innovations, it has become far easier for agencies to pursue their business goals and do more with less. Of course, technology is only as useful when implemented. So, I must also extend my gratitude to all the agencies investing in their operations and creating better and more secure experiences. Through your efforts, our industry is far better off, as are the customers and communities who rely on us.

The post The Tech Tools I Am Most Thankful For appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

By Bryan Johnson, IT Director, 做厙勛圖

What exactly is success���s secret sauce? Well, Malcolm Gladwell would say that repetition is the key. The writer and public intellectual once famously claimed that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master something. I don���t know if that specific number is accurate or not, but I do know that repetition is integral to a successful cybersecurity posture for any business. One thing that makes cybersecurity so tough to get right is that an effective strategy hinges on many moving parts. Not only do you need the right technical solutions, you also must ensure employees understand the risks and practice secure habits online. Having standardized, repeatable processes can go a long way toward mitigating this complexity and keeping your business safe from harm. From my perspective, these are the top three you should focus on at your agency.

1.) Review system updates

Keeping your systems, programs and applications religiously up to date is one of the best ways to avoid compromising your business���s security. Although it seems like it should be common sense in 2025, many companies still do not do this consistently. A recent study, in fact, showed that nearly 8 out of 10 companies are running on some form of outdated technology, which can lead to significant consequences. System updates often include critical security patches. If left uninstalled, your company can become a prime target for advanced malware and cyberattack strategies. Not to mention, leaving application updates uninstalled can mess with your compliance goals and damage your firm���s reputation.

Now, I���ve been in this game for a long time. I know that keeping your systems continually updated can be an annoying and, if you���re not careful, time-consuming process. According to one report, your average small- to medium-sized business (SMB) utilizes an average of 58 applications, with many requiring continuous updates.[i] That makes it essential to stay on top of this process to ensure that your team is always running the latest versions of their solutions and tools. 

2.) Review security logs

Just as important as frequently updating your systems is diligently reviewing your security logs. The average organization these days is generating more data and utilizing more network endpoints than ever before, which makes this a particularly important process to run in 2025. Some people don���t know this, but often cyber incidents aren���t immediately obvious. It���s not as if an attack happens and suddenly you���re facing a glitching computer screen or an ominous message shaking down your business for all it���s worth. Most incidents begin in a subtle and almost imperceptible fashion, which is where the utility of checking your logs comes into play. By turning this into a routine activity that you do every week, you���ll be better positioned to spot potential abnormalities and take swift action on worrisome issues before they balloon into a crisis.

3.) Run security trainings

While it may come last, keeping your team current on the latest security changes, challenges and best practices is no less important than the other points on this list. In fact, it may be the most important way to ensure the safety of your entire operation. The data is clear on what can happen if you don���t take this seriously, with some reports listing human error as the origin of 95% of data breaches.[ii]  

There are a lot of best practices for running successful cybersecurity trainings. The most critical principle, though, is that they need to be mandatory and consistent. Remember, a strong, solid cybersecurity posture always requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. It only takes one user to click on a phishing email or mishandle a system password and the whole thing can fall apart.

And so, while it is never easy to add another standing meeting to the calendar, especially for busy title insurance folks, establishing a consistent, habitual training schedule is non-negotiable if you want reliable security.

It���s not as easy as 1, 2, 3, but��� With something as complex as cybersecurity, can you ensure success by simply making the above-mentioned processes a habitual part of your routine? Not by a long shot. Almost nothing in our digitally connected world is so simple that it can be solved with a mere three-point list. That said, practicing these processes on at least a monthly basis is a great way to be ahead of the curve. They will ensure that you have the latest security patches installed, incidents are caught early, and team members are aware of the latest cyber risks and how to avoid them. And that will put you on a defensive footing that may not be bulletproof, but is certainly better than many organizations out there.

[i]

[ii]

The post Make Cybersecurity Simpler: Three Habits For Better Business Security In 2025 And Beyond appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

By Bryan Johnson, IT Director, 做厙勛圖

Installing an IT update can be an exciting process, delivering potential improvements in security, performance, compliance and more. Despite these benefits, it is always important to remember that IT updates can also carry risk���downtime being one of the most serious among them. So how can you ensure that your system gets the updates it needs without crashing? Well, it just requires taking a few steps ahead of time. Follow along and we���ll soon have you executing with confidence.

Reasons for downtime

You may be wondering why something that seems small like an IT patch or update can cause something major like system downtime. And I wish I had an easy answer. Fact is, there are many things that can go wrong when making a significant change to your IT stack. Let���s explore some of the most common ones:

• Compatibility problems: One of the most common issues that you can run into with a security update is a compatibility problem. Upgrades can often introduce new features that may or may not be compatible with your existing setup. If the new elements don���t play well with the old, you can experience a system crash as a result.
  
  
• Misconfigurations: Another common thing you run into with updates is misconfigurations. When firewalls or authentication processes are too restrictive, users can accidentally get locked out of systems they need access to. Furthermore, misconfigurations can block your apps from talking to each other, such as your e-signature tool not being able to connect to your closing software.
• File corruption: A third issue to keep on your radar is file corruption. You may not know this, but files can become corrupted for all sorts of reasons, which can then lead to bigger problems for your IT systems down the line. Some of the most common ways files become corrupted include interrupted downloads, storage issues, or interference from malware and antivirus software.
• Resource strain: It is also important to remember that security updates are resource intensive processes and that they can cause other aspects of your IT set-up to slow down or stop entirely. If your agency is operating in a shared environment like a public cloud network, servers can also become overloaded and applications time out.
• Human errors: Of course, human error is also frequently the culprit behind many of the issues that can pop up with security upgrades. Even well-intentioned IT specialists can occasionally make a scheduling mistake, apply incorrect settings or skip the testing stage. Yet all can lead to major technology issues for agencies.

The best offense���

You���ve likely heard the expression that the best offense is a good defense. It���s a good saying to keep in mind when carrying out necessary security updates. By being proactive ahead of time and taking precautionary steps, you can stop a lot of the abovementioned problems before they start. Here, we���ll discuss what this looks like in each case.  

1. First, with compatibility issues, treat your staging environment like your best friend. By testing every update there first, you can catch many problems before they impact live systems or sites. A rock-solid IT asset inventory can also be helpful. It will give you a comprehensive understanding of what operating systems, browsers and applications you���re running. This ultimately makes spotting potential issues much easier.
   
   
2. Next, to reduce misconfigurations, it is always a good step to maintain a clear update checklist so you can roll back changes if needed. And to reduce the possibility of errors, use configuration management tools to enforce correct settings. As an added precaution, communicate clearly with whoever owns the application being affected by an update. This will ensure alignment and that proper testing is carried out.

• Moving on, you can mitigate the prospect of file corruption by verifying the integrity of files ahead of installation with prebuilt tools like Powershell (for Windows users) and Terminal (for Mac users). These tools generate a special code called a ���checksum,��� which you can compare with the code provided by the file publisher. If the two codes match, the file is safe; if they don���t, the file is broken or corrupted.

• Navigating possible resource strain requires paying close attention to your servers. This is especially important in a public cloud environment, where they may already be under heavy load. In some cases, it may also be wise to temporarily scale up your cloud resources to handle an update���s workload and stagger updates rather than applying them at once.

• Lastly, avoiding human error requires taking steps like standardizing the update process to ensure alignment amongst staff and that all steps are executed correctly. Part of that includes designating clear roles and responsibilities and requiring reviews before pushing updates live.

Staying on the cutting edge Given all this, it���s natural to approach IT updates with hesitation. But it isn���t necessary with a little planning and preparation. The problems that can arise during a critical update are no joke; that���s true. But like so many things in IT, getting ahead of potential issues is the key to success. We���ve covered the top five ways to do just that. And by following them to the letter, IT updates can be transformed from an anxiety-provoking exercise to an opportunity for seamless business improvement.

The post IT Insights: Avoiding Downtime During Updates appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

Aristotle supposedly once said, ���It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.��� Although the ancient philosopher died nearly 2,000 years ago, his statement remains highly relevant to how businesses should approach security issues today, particularly regarding third-party applications. Digital apps are essential to workplace productivity and profitability in 2025, but that doesn���t mean we can take anything an app vendor says at face value. Rather, businesses that wish to maximize the benefits of their applications while minimizing risk need to deploy a strategic, thoughtful process. Here���s how you can do that in three easy steps. 

1.) Initial screening process

Properly vetting a third-party application���s security begins with an initial screening of needs and capabilities. Start by asking yourself a simple question: Is there an actual business need here for this application? Once established, you can start figuring out what the application is (cloud service, browser extension, etc.), which data sets it will touch (financial, personal customer information, etc.) and who is going to end up using it (internal-only versus customer-facing). Answering these questions early helps you gauge risk and define the safeguards you���ll need.

2.) Security, privacy and data access review

Following your initial screening, check if the application you���re considering adheres to reputable security and privacy frameworks like SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. These certifications show that the app provider follows industry best practices for controls, monitoring and governance. Don���t stop there, though. To cover all your bases, you will also want to review an app���s:

• Penetration test results
• Privacy policy
• Encryption practices
• Data storage and access processes

Finally, round out your investigation by examining whether the app meets any relevant regulatory requirements such as those stipulated in the GDPR, CCPA or HIPAA. For a data heavy industry like title insurance, these expectations should be largely non-negotiable.

3.) Internal governance and continual monitoring

Once you collect and review this information, you can proceed with implementing your app. However, that doesn���t mean you should consider the project complete. Whenever you launch a new IT initiative, there is always the possibility that something may go awry. Continual monitoring can help you quickly remediate any problems that arise with your app down the line. To make this process easier, take the time to determine who owns the relationship with the application vendor ahead of time. Then, establish a process for keeping tabs on updates, misuse, and security vulnerabilities. Performing this due diligence before launching the application can prevent future headaches.

Get the answers you need   

To wrap this all up, I want to leave you with another quote from Aristotle, who said, ���The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.��� I think this goes to the heart of what this blog is discussing. Vetting third-party app risk undoubtedly requires effort, but the rewards justify the work involved. And by following the three steps outlined here, I promise you���ll get the answers and results you need. 

The post Look Before You Leap: Assessing Third-Party App Risk appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

By Adam Mohrbacher

It will probably come as no surprise that Abraham Lincoln, famously known as ���Honest Abe,��� once said, ���Reputation is like fine china: Once broken it���s very hard to repair.��� Although Lincoln lived in the 19th century, his words have never been more relevant to how we live in the 21st. For many businesses, success in our digital first economy is won and lost on the strength of their online reputation. One study, for instance, reported that more than half of consumers will increase their spending with a brand they feel connected to, and more than 3 in 4 will buy from them over a competitor.[i] With such huge stakes in play, reputation management needs to be an organizational priority. But in the hustle and bustle of running an agency, who has the time for one more task? That���s where new developments in AI can help. Businesses can now utilize AI-powered tools to seamlessly monitor, analyze and respond to online chatter at scale. Here are some of the top ways these applications ensure your reputation stays pristine and your business profitable.

What goes into your online reputation?

Before we start discussing specific AI applications, however, we must clarify what we mean by ���online reputation.��� Most people know all about the importance of online reviews for influencing buying decisions; but that barely scratches the surface. Your business���s search engine presence, for example, is also deeply important to how your firm is perceived. Social media plays a similarly influential role, as does your company���s website. Then, there is a whole host of third-party listing services like the Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce and directories like Yellowpages and Yelp. All these need to be proactively managed if you want to safeguard your reputation online.

Monitor in real time

Given such scale and complexity, using AI to help with reputation management makes obvious sense. Today���s AI applications can help agencies monitor brand mentions and sentiment in real time. Tools such as Brand24, Meltwater and Mention utilize AI algorithms to scan social media feeds, online forums and review sites, and then catalogue any mentions of your brand by positive, neutral or negative sentiment. Armed with this information, agencies can then respond instantly to important online conversations.  Addressing feedback or answering customer queries in a fast, efficient and proactive way reflects positively on your brand.

Compiling and analyzing data

AI-assisted reputation management goes far beyond simple monitoring and response. Applications such as Talkwalker and Reputation are all capable of scraping the web and providing users with actionable, long-term insights. Once deployed, these natural-language models go to work summarizing and auto-tagging online content about a business���s brand. After that, they cluster it into clear themes so you can quickly spot recurring customer pain points and areas where your business already excels.

Real-time dashboards show immediate shifts in sentiment, while predictive modules forecast where complaints or compliments may spike. Agencies also have the option to use these tools to benchmark their brand against competitors and show whether a dip is industry-wide or specific to them. All-in-all, these AI applications foster deeper consumer analysis and faster course corrections.

Fast, efficient crisis communication

Of course, sometimes despite your best efforts, events occur that can cause harm to your brand. Wire fraud. Vendor failures. Persistent bad reviews. Regulatory violations. All of these can imperil your reputation and damage your long-term profitability. One of the best ways to mitigate any fallout is by having a good crisis communication plan in place. Better yet? Having a good crisis communication plan in place that is augmented by AI.

These agents are invaluable in a crisis scenario for numerous reasons. First, as mentioned, AI excels at monitoring online commentary in real time. If there is ever a spike in negative sentiment, they can alert you to trigger your crisis communication plan. Many of these AI programs can also push out automatic updates across your various online platforms, enabling you to take control of the narrative, ensure messaging consistency and reduce staff fatigue.

Lastly, AI programs can tailor content and optimize your online presence to recover and rebuild trust after the initial crisis scenario has passed.

AI is key to a resilient brand

In the day-to-day grind, prioritizing reputation management can be an uphill battle. Yet a strong brand is always a cornerstone of a successful business. Protecting it requires diligently tracking online conversation across the internet, proactively responding to feedback and mitigating potential crises before they fully emerge. With the rise of AI, it has never been easier for even thinly stretched teams to make that possible. By automating routine tasks, collecting valuable insights and mitigating crisis fallout, these tools enable you to stay on top of your brand with less stress and greater consistency. And that���s a ticket to long-term growth if there ever was one.

[i]

The post Safeguard Your Brand���s Reputation With AI appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..

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. 做厙勛圖���s new identity verification and fraud prevention tool, , 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.

The post What What Should You Expect For Multi-Factor Authentication In 2025 And BeyondWhat appeared first on 做厙勛圖 Title Insurance Co..