Sensational Ways of Protecting Your Business in 2020

In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever to know the potential cybersecurity risks that could harm your business or brand as well as for entrepreneurs to have fundamental knowledge on the right online safety and security protocols. In the following article, we discuss simple ways to protect your business this year and beyond.

Running a company in today’s digital environment comes with all kinds of cybersecurity challenges and issues, and this is something you as the manager or owner need to make sure you get right. Think about the different elements that play a part in helping to improve your company and make it more of a success in the future. This is something that you need to work on right now, and it is going to have a major impact on the future of the company.

Knowing Cybersecurity Risks and How to Prevent Them to Protecting Your Small Business

Cybercrime is such a massive issue in the world of modern business that you need to make sure you take decisive action. There are so many ways in which your business may be at risk digitally, and this is one of the reasons why cybersecurity is an absolute must. You need to know what it takes to protect your company, and one of the best ways of doing this today is to make sure you think about having cybersecurity measures in place to protect against that. Try to hire IT experts to take charge of this for you and ensure that you do as much as you can to improve cybersecurity measures right now. Protecting your business from cyberattacks and ransomware issues is critical to building trust with customers. Assure your customers that their financial and personal information is safe and secure.

Hiring an Attorney with the Right Expertise and Experience to Protect Your Business

Make sure you think about how you can protect the future and reputation of your brand. This means looking after the public persona and perception of your company, and there are a lot of ways you can go about achieving this. Make sure you look at doing what you can to hire a business attorney. You can protect your business from negative publicity as well as legal action by making sure you have a skilled and professional business attorney to hand. The right attorney can also handle all intellectual property issues.

Ensuring Your Business Has the Right Password Protection

It is also important to do as much as you can to password protect your files and equipment. This is something that is so simple, but it can actually be more important than you might think. So, you are going to need to factor in the best possible ways of utilizing password protection all across the company.

It is important to use complex passwords. Password protecting your devices, your network, and your files is so important. We recommend using passwords with at least 17 characters and updating them every three to four months to prevent your accounts from being hacked. In fact, we change and update our passwords every three months to ensure our emails, devices, and other important digital tools remain secure.

Using a Secure Server to Prevent Cyberattacks and Malware Issues for Online Safety and Security

One of the best ways to prevent cyberattacks and malware issues is to make sure you use a secure server so that you can be sure your business data and information is protected. Dell, Lenovo, and other PC companies sell affordable options.

Making Sure to Disaster-Proof Your Premises

The company is not just at risk from cybercriminals and malpractice suits, unfortunately. You also need to understand that improving and protecting your business also involves disaster proofing the premises as much as possible to prevent injuries. Make sure you do as much as you possibly can.

Earthquake retrofit contractors can play a massive part in the process of protecting your business premises and protecting them from harm. Natural disasters to protect your business against:

·       Tornadoes

·       Earthquakes

·       Landslides

·       Tsunamis

·       Lighting

·       Volcanic activity

·       Hurricanes

·       Fires and floods

Here are other types of disasters to consider when it comes to protecting your business:

·       Hardware failure – failed hardware issues can lead to downtime and team lost productivity.

·       Online security breaches – online security breaches can expose your customer’s personal data to hackers.

·       Social media hijacking – if your Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram page is hacked and the hacker posts a derogatory comment or photo to your account, this can cause huge reputational issues for your company. We had our Twitter.com account hijacked several years ago, and it took more than a week to attain control and fix all of the problems this person caused.

·       Software corruption – if your company’s software programs are corrupted and you haven’t backed up the data, this can lead to huge issues with lost files.

·       Malware/ransomware attacks – viruses and worms can cause huge issues such as data theft, corruption, or permanent data loss for your small business so it’s important to have the right firewalls and cybersecurity protection on all devices—both in the office and at home.

·       Robberies/burglaries – upscale businesses such as jewelry stores and high-end retailers are at a higher risk of being burglarized so it’s important to have the right safety protocols in place. These include security cameras, a security system, and an insurance policy in the event that thousands of dollars in merchandise is stolen.

Developing and Implementing Health & Safety Training for All Employees

Health and safety training is one of the most important things you can use to improve your company. Protect the future of the business by making sure you think about how you can improve your staff training and health and safety. Protecting your business and ensuring you are focused on looking after the brand is more important than anything else. There are a lot of things that play a part in helping you protect your company, and health and safety training is an important way of being able to do this. 

There are many things you are going to need to think about when it comes to improving and protecting your business from cybersecurity attacks and other safety issues. Preventing cyberattacks and other issues should be at the forefront of your mind.

Tips For Running A Secure Business

Do you have what it takes to run a successful business? Are you aware of the operations that go into running a safe and secure business in today’s age of cyberattacks and fraud? Continue reading to see what protocols need to be in place for you to run a safe and secure business.

Running a business for any founder or entrepreneur can be an awesome career experience. And many people refer to their business as their ‘baby’ because it means so much to them! From spinning new product/service ideas, drawing up strategy plans, developing marketing blueprints, and applying for funding, running a successful business that you can be proud of, it is an amazing journey, despite all of the headaches and issues that come along with it. Creating your own innovative spaces and making your ideas a reality is an incredible feeling like no other.

However, any business owner will tell you that success is a double-edged sword. You are calling all the shots, meaning that if you make a big mistake, it will be your responsibility to troubleshoot why it happened and to fix it. This isn’t always easy.

You manage your own team, meaning that if there’s conflict or issues between employees or between an employee and their supervisor in the office, you are the first port of call to sort it out. You also have the business’ spending at your fingertips and are accountable for all financials and financial statements; if went over budget or making costly hiring mistakes, the business could take a but hit. If there is a security breach or cybersecurity issue in your business, your entire operation can be compromised. Simply put, being an entrepreneur and running a successful venture means there is a lot at stake. 

Here are some tips for running a secure business!

Outsourcing Your Cybersecurity, Network, and Information Security Needs to an External Company

Have you ever been a customer of a company that had a security breach? Throughout the last several years, Target, Adobe, and Equifax all suffered security breaches. These are global corporations with some of the best security infrastructure protocols in place. If cyber attackers can cause issues with these companies, then small businesses are at a much higher risk.

In fact, research shows that every 39 seconds, there is a breach of web security online. And you are likely not a cybersecurity expert. Your area of professional expertise lies in running the daily operations of your business - but in this day and age, running your company means having watertight cybersecurity to prevent attacks. If you run any kind of online operation—whether it’s a software company, digital publishing venture, an e-commerce store, or a membership website, you need to contact a cybersecurity company such as Office 365 to help you achieve your intended security needs. 

These types of companies will ensure your business operates safely and within the guidelines of your specific location. Without efficient and effective cybersecurity operations, you cannot operate a successful business. Consumers will simply not trust your business if without online security.

To start the process yourself, here are some simple ways to protect your business while looking for an outsourcing company:

·       Develop a handbook of the best security processes and procedures

·       Have a working firewall in place for your internet/wi-fi connection

·       Ensure you have a mobile device action plan in place

·       Back up all important data in the event your servers go down

·       Ask your employees change their passwords every few months 

Understanding the Legality of Your Business and the Documents Involved

Depending on where you live, there are different legalities to how your business should be run. From e-commerce, to taking payments and collecting taxes, to the distribution of products, there are guidelines and laws that must be adhered to. If you do not fully understand these laws, you could be faced with a lawsuit, a huge fine, and even in extreme cases a criminal charge.

It is advisable to contact lawyers in your local area in order to ensure you are operating your business within the law of your town, state, and country. If you have never dealt with legal documents such as contracts, articles of incorporation, sole proprietor forms, or partnership agreements, understanding the language in each can be difficult and confusing. To ensure you understand the terms of each legal document, it’s best to find a lawyer that specializes in that area. A simple Google search can yield the right results.

Setting the Record Straight and Keeping Your Files Organized

As a business owner, it is imperative that you have your legal, insurance, financial, and administrative records in order in the event the government requests certain documentation. Your tax forms and payments, your employee payroll records, and your insurance policies--absolutely everything must be organized. Hiring a trustworthy, reputable accountant or tax professional to help you with these tasks will save a lot of time and headaches down the road. You never know when a missed bill or misunderstood tax form can cause issues or result in late fees or penalties. Given this, keep your records orderly, and stay on the right side of the law to ensure you’re prepared for any situation. You care about your business - don’t let it go to waste on financial corner-cutting or incorrect tax reporting. Be smart and be in the know to ensure your business is compliant.

How to Protect Your Online Business from Cyber Attacks

Whether you’re about to launch a startup, or you’re a long-established company, if you operate any part of your business online, it’s crucial that you’re aware of what cyber-attacks are and the measures to take to ensure your company is protected and secure. External attacks can cause devastating consequences for your business, so to avoid your personal data being stolen, it’s important that you stay up to date on how to keep your business safe. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are a few ways things you can do to keep your online business protected from cyber-attacks.

Understanding Malware and the Problems It Causes

When it comes to protecting your online business, it’s crucial that you’re aware of what malware is and how it can cause devastation to your operation. Malware is a malicious piece of software that’s designed to damage a network or PC without your consent or knowledge. To shield your company from malware, there are several measures that you should take. Firstly, make sure that you have a firewall in place which can act as the first line of defense to minimize exposure.

A good internet router will already have a firewall installed, so it’s important that you have it switched on. While it may not provide complete protection, having a firewall should be your first port of call. Secondly, it’s important that you install the best security software which will help add an extra layer of protection to your PC or network. MACs generally have great firewalls and virus protection.

Write Your Policy

Regarding online fraud and crime, the size of a company is irrelevant. Many hackers are targeting smaller businesses, especially if they have no in-house IT support. Therefore, it’s crucial that you create a policy that your employees can adhere to. There are various things that your policy should include, such as educating your workforce about email safety, sharing turn-ons and turn-offs, as well as enforcing consequences should the policy not be followed correctly.

Use Strong Passwords

Whether you like it or not, passwords are used by most small business networks, so it’s important that you create strong passwords to reduce the risk of a cyber-attack or theft. The more characters and keystrokes that you use, the stronger your password will be. It’s best to start out strong and use as many characters as possible, as well as embedded numbers.

Also, make sure that you regularly change your passwords, and educate your team on the importance of keeping them safe. If your employees write down passwords or store them on their smartphones, this could be putting your business security at risk. If you want the strongest of passwords, refrain from using any words at all. Instead, use a combination of numbers, special characters, and letters.

Beware of Social Media

In today’s world, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram dominate the internet. Even if you’re not the most tech-savvy person and would rather steer clear of social media, the chances are some of your employees will be members, therefore, empowering your team with the best guidelines and practices can help minimize cyber-attacks.

To ensure your company is protected, make sure that you establish who can speak on behalf of the business. If you use social media platforms to run your company, you need to stress to your employees not to share any confidential information, otherwise, you could be putting yourself at risk. There are other measures that you can take too, such as only adding contacts who you trust, and avoiding clicking on unexpected links from people who you do not know.

Speak to Your Employees

You may find it surprising to learn that up to 80 percent of all data loss is due to human error. Regardless of how much experience you or your team have in business, no one is perfect, so to reduce the risk of employees sending out sensitive or confidential information, it’s crucial that you hold regular meetings with your employees to teach them all there is to know about cybersecurity.

Like with any business, each member of the team needs to work together and co-operate effectively to succeed. Letting your team know what types of data and information is confidential, as well as the potential problems that can occur from sharing such details, can make a big difference and ensure your employees are warier with what they share.

Secure Wi-Fi Network

While we all use Wi-Fi networks, you need to know that they are not always safe to use. To reduce the risk of any potential security threats, it’s important that you encrypt your Wi-Fi network. Also, make sure that you change your Wi-Fi password regularly, especially if you have a guest network for your clients and customers, as you can never be too sure on whether their devices have been compromised.

Email Security Best Practices

Every day, millions upon millions of emails are sent out by businesses, however, what you may find surprising to learn is that only 50 percent of the content is legitimate, with the rest falling into the spam category. This means that a high number of emails you receive could be infected. Cybercriminals are always one step ahead, so if you receive an email from a contact you don’t recognize, it’s always best to ignore it, especially if it includes a malicious attachment. Virus protection programs usually detect whether an email contains malicious content. The last thing you want to do is open an infected email, as you are essentially giving ransomware permission to hack into your computer system. Always be wary when receiving emails, and make sure to check the address before taking further action.

Choose a Secure Hosting Service

For your online business to thrive and stay successful, you need to make sure that you pick a secure hosting service for your website. Instead of picking the first provider you see, it’s best to conduct some research into whether they are reputable and reliable. Hackers are always on the lookout for loopholes that they can exploit, so if you’re using your website to process payments and checkout processes, you need to ensure that they are safe and secure from cyber threats.

Keep Software Up to Date

As the head of the business, you need to make sure that your software is kept up to date. If you are relying on old pieces of software, you may not realize the danger you could be putting yourself in when it comes to hackers and cyber threats. It’s important that you regularly update your software programs which can make it more difficult for hackers to access your computer website and network.

Undergo Training

Now that you have a better understanding of what security measures to put in place to help protect your business, you may find it useful to undergo training to ensure you retain the information and to keep your company safe and secure. An online tool like findcourses.com can help you find a range of cybersecurity training programs that can teach you the knowledge you need to keep your business protected from hackers and data leaks.

Understanding the risks of malware, writing a policy, using strong passwords, as well as undergoing training to teach you more on cyber threats are just a few things you can do to protect your online business from a cyber-attack. Also, as the head of the business, make sure that you relay all these tips to your employees so you can ensure your company’s personal data is kept protected and secure.