New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants insurers, along with other companies, to explain the safeguards they use to ensure their customers' information is protected from cyber threats. In letters mailed to companies like Aetna, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana and UnitedHealth, Cuomo requested information regarding their cyber security safeguards, information technology management policies, and governance and internal control policies related to cyber security.
"The extraordinarily sensitive health, personal, and financial information that New Yorkers entrust to their insurance companies is a virtual treasure trove for hackers," Cuomo said yesterday in a statement. And Benjamin Lawsky, superintendent of financial services noted that "cyber security at insurance companies is something that often gets overlooked, but it's far too important to get caught in a blind spot. We need to make sure that those insurance records are protected from hack attacks that could put New Yorkers at risk." Statement