The guide, which is downloadable for free from TechInsurance.com, offers tips on how to strengthen security to prevent data breaches as well as tips for what to do when a data breach occurs. In addition to explanations of simple steps businesses can take to boost security, the guide includes checklists for preventing, responding to, and recovering from data breaches.

It also includes a summary of data breach laws around the country, which are regulated at the state level. The guide proves timely: a recent study found that 29 percent of businesses incorrectly believe their cyber exposures are covered under an existing insurance policy.

Ted Devine, CEO of TechInsurance, notes that the need for the guide became clear when the team was analyzing numbers from the TechInsurance Market Index (TIMI), which showed that IT professionals face their biggest risk exposure from clients, who may sue if they're unhappy with a professional's work.

A client may also sue if an IT professional's work enables or fails to prevent a data breach on the client's network. "We kept saying in our articles, 'Teach your customers about data security,'" said Devine. "But the reality is, these guys are one- and two-person shops. They're freelancers. They don't have time to sit their clients down and explain why it's important to update their software and limit network permissions. Now they can just say, 'Hey, security's important, here are the details.'"

Devine added that the guide minimizes risk for everyone: small businesses, the tech professionals who serve them, and the insurance companies that underwrite policies for both groups.

The Small-Business Owner's Guide to Identity Theft Prevention and Data Security is available for free download here: www.techinsurance.com/resources/customer-education/.