Direct Talk

When I raise cybersecurity with clients, I often hear some version of the same response. “Why would a hacker bother with us? We run a print shop.” Others tell me they run a restaurant, a machine shop, or a mental health practice. It is an understandable reaction, and it is exactly the reaction cybercriminals count on. Small businesses are attractive targets precisely because they are small. Most do not have an IT department, a security budget, or anyone whose job is to watch

This month I have been writing about risk management. Last week I wrote about liability waivers, which protect your business from claims by the customers and participants you serve. This week I want to look at the risk you take on in contracts with other businesses, where these two clauses decide who pays when something goes wrong

f you run a fitness studio, offer adventure activities, or provide any service where customers might get hurt, someone has probably told you that you need a liability waiver. And they are right. But here is the thing most business owners miss: a liability waiver is only as good as the paper it is written on. A poorly drafted waiver, or one used in the wrong situation, can leave you completely exposed. So let's talk about when these documents actually protect you and when they