Protect a Website Against Harmful Attacks

More and more crime is happening online and you may find that your business is at risk. Hackers do not just target large companies. In fact, they may be attracted to smaller companies as they seem to be easier targets. With this in mind, it is worth learning some of the ways that you can better protect your website against harmful attacks that can leave it and your business at risk.

Protect Your Sensitive Data

We live in a world that is very reliant on data. Companies are collecting more and more of it and customers are increasingly aware and nervous of this. This makes it increasingly important that any data is protected properly, a breach will remove any trust your customers have and that is incredibly difficult to rebuild. So, you should ensure that any sensitive data that you are collecting is encrypted. Not only this, but you should try to analyze where threats are likely to come from as this will help you to close the door on them.

Make Cybersecurity Training a Priority

Hackers often look for points of entry that are the weakest. While you may be clued up on all things cybersecurity, the same may not be true of your staff members. Therefore, it is important that you make cybersecurity training a priority. Not all staff members are technically adept, but they can be taught the basics such as how to identify phishing emails, etc. Also, they should be trained on how to create strong passwords, as well as the importance of changing them on a regular basis. Thousands of passwords are cracked on a daily basis and this can open the door to a whole host of other problems for a business.

Keep Your Antivirus Software and Firewalls Updated

You need to have fully up-to-date antivirus software and firewalls, otherwise, the vulnerable parts of your business can be ruthlessly exposed. Therefore, it is important that you invest in strong systems in the first place. Once you are happy with them, it is also essential that they are kept updated. While it may seem irritating, you should schedule the updates as required. These are designed to keep hackers out based on their current means of accessing your important data and files. As well as this, you should choose a VPS web hosting service that offers maximum protection.

Detect and Prevent Bot Access

We have all seen bot protection software such as CAPTCHA. You should consider putting something like this in place on your own website. This will help to keep them away from your site where they could potentially cause harm to it.

Run Penetration Tests

If you simulate cyberattacks on your own business, it will help you to see where the potential threats are coming from. This way, you can close the door on them more easily. It is important that you run these on a regular basis to keep up with the changes in the world of hacking that are constantly occurring.

Protecting your website against harmful attacks will keep your business safe and more likely to keep running with minimal issues for a long time to come.

Things to Consider When Hiring Security Services for Your Business

Security is an integral part of any business to protect assets and employees from any incident.  Hiring a security guard to be the lookout for every aspect such as people getting in and out of the building and obtaining their details can go a long way to protecting your business.

As such, security guards have become essential to prevent theft and other situations that can hinder overall security. This is why it's crucial to be sure you are choosing the best security for your company. Consider the following tips when selecting a security company.

Reputation

Find out the level of reputation of a security company by doing extensive research. You can research on the internet and see what other clients think about the security company. Also, be sure to find out how the company handles complaints. Further, request customer references from the company to see if the services they received were satisfactory.

Licensed and insured

A security guard must be appropriately licensed, insured, and bonded. While it may seem like a basic requirement, it would help to confirm. As a client, you must ask for state authorizations, insurance policies, and bonding documents when conducting the interviews. Also, confirm that the licenses and training are up to date. The security guard company must also be insured.

Patrol management

Security companies might not be able to provide effective without an efficient patrol management system. However, most clients don't consider the kind of patrol management system a security company uses during the hiring process. So, be smart and ask about it.

Experience

Longevity matters when looking for security services. A reputable company with years of experience is likely to have better security standards than newcomers in the sector. An experienced security company is also likely to have established contacts with local authorities, be familiar with local security issues, and know how to handle these issues.

Besides, a security company that has been in business for a long time is likely to have a considerable number of reviews and referrals to add to its credibility.

Response time

Apart from preventing criminal activities, responding to emergencies should be a priority to professional security companies. They should offer round the clock dispatch service and have a reliable patrol system to respond to incidences as fast as possible.

Training

While there isn't a legal requirement for security guards' education, they should be adequately trained. Training helps security guards handle any security situation and guarantee that your business is safe.

It could also be best to consider hiring specialized security, especially when you run a business with a considerable number of employees to handle situations such as strikes. The same goes if your company has important persons that need specialized security for their safety.

Communication

You and your security partner will be working together to protect your business. If the security company can't communicate on security-related matters on your business, it could be lagging on its service.

Great communication is a vital aspect to look for in any business contract, and it's especially crucial when looking for a security partner.

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.

Is Your Business Properly Protected?

If you're running any kind of business then there's no doubt that it probably means a great deal to you. Your business is likely the result of years of hard work and labor in the pursuit of something that you really care about. Because of that, the idea of something bad happening to your business is something that you would really rather not think about at all.

However, if you avoid thinking about the kinds of things that could go wrong in your business, that's a serious mistake. After all, there are so many risks to your business out there that if you're not making sure that you're taking all of the right precautions to avoid them, you're leaving your business vulnerable. With that in mind, here are just some of the things that you should be doing to protect your business as much as possible.

Hire an attorney

Staying on the right side of the law is always an essential part of a business and something that a lot of business owners take for granted. However, this is a mistake. Sure, you would never knowingly engage in any illegal activity but business laws can be complex and are often changing all the time. From drug testing laws to the current laws around employee wages, you want to be sure that you're always within the confines of the law no matter what. Often the best way to do this is to hire an attorney who can help you stay fully within all necessary legal limits. They can provide plenty of legal counsel and support in the unlikely event that you do get into some kind of legal trouble, but they can also help to ensure that you never end up in that situation in the first place.

Take precautions when introducing new elements

Growth is one of the most crucial parts of any business. This is especially true in the fast-paced modern world. Without growing and pushing forward, your business risks stagnating and falling behind the competition. However, one of the most common mistakes that a lot of business owners make is that they don't think about growing their business in a sustainable way. If you're just adding new elements to your business without giving it all that much thought, then you could end up doing more harm to it than good. The truth is that the more you push your business forward, the more important it becomes to be careful. Introducing things like new technology or new products to your business can be incredibly beneficial but it's important to consider if they're actually right for your business in the first place.

Invest in security measures

All business owners know how important security is and yet it still often seems to end up getting neglected all too often. A lot of the time this is because security is kind of invisible when it's working. If your security measures are up to scratch and working properly, it's actually pretty easy to start to take them for granted. Now, the comfort that your security measures bring is a positive thing but it's important not to let that level of comfort go too far. Never let it reach the point that you forget why you have your security measures in the place in the first place. Whether it's securing the physical premises of your business or making sure that everything is fully protected and backed-up when it comes to the digital side of your business, the right security measures are some of the most important things that you can invest in when it comes to your business.

Create a positive culture within the business

There is no doubt how important your employees are to your business in general. But you shouldn't forget about what a difference they can make to how well protected your business is. Of course, that's only the case if they're fully conscious about safety and security in your business as a whole. The best way to make sure that this is the case is to create the most secure and positive culture possible in the workplace. From simple things like making sure that all of your employees have secure passwords set up and encourage them to back up their data and work as often as possible. Not only that but by creating a culture of security at work, you reduce the risks that your employees pose to your business. If they are all fully aware of the importance of protecting the business, it's far less likely that they could end up leaving in vulnerable, either by mistake or on purpose.

Be responsible

As much as it can often feel as though you're protecting your business from many things coming from the outside world, it's just as important to remember that you have the potential to put your business at risk just as much as anyone else. This is particularly true when it comes to how you present yourself publicly. The things that you say and do will massively impact the perception of your business so make sure that you're being as careful as possible about how you publicly present yourself can make a huge difference when it comes to keeping your business protected.

No matter what, there are always going to be risks to your business. That's just a fact of life and something that you have to come to terms with pretty quickly. But with this advice, at least you're going to be in the best possible position to create a suit of armor for your business that will help you to defend against those risks and dangers as effectively as possible. The key is to make sure that you stay vigilant when it comes to protecting your business. As soon as you become complacent and start to take your business's success for granted is the moment that you leave yourself open to things going seriously wrong. If you're ever in doubt, the best thing that you can do is to lean in the direction of being overly cautious rather than taking too many serious risks.

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 Handle Hazmat Packages

Ever received a package in the mail that didn’t arrive the way it was supposed to? Maybe there were some dents or a few tears, or even worse, the package itself sustained damage. This is all well and good for standard packages, but things get a bit dicier when the package contains hazardous materials.

A skull and crossbones may come to mind when you hear the term ‘hazardous materials,’ but in reality, many of the products and items we use daily would fall under this category: paint, cleaning supplies, bleach, etc. They vary widely in danger and chemical composition, which is why their shipping labels must stand out from other shipping labels. Otherwise, a lost package may break open and contaminate other packages--and this is just one of the potential disasters.

Chances are you’ve never shipped or received hazardous materials in the mail, but hey, you never know where life might take you. Today, we’re going to break down the process of shipping hazardous materials: how to contain the materials themselves, how to label the packages, and how to remain compliant with federal transportation regulations.

For starters, there are unique labels for shipping hazardous materials. These labels are brightly colored and diamond-shaped, which makes it easy to distinguish hazardous packages from non-hazardous packages. These labels comply with the United Nations’ dangerous goods identification system, but differences in design and color may differ slightly from country to country. This uniform labeling system also makes a broken package spill easy to clean up, ensuring greater personal and public safety.

However, it’s not just enough to have the labels on there. You must include the name of the shipper, ID number, the scientific name of the product, special permits for packaging, environmental handling, consignment information, and marine pollutants. Whew! That’s quite a mouthful. All of this information will make it much easier to handle your hazardous material package with the care it requires. Furthermore, they’re necessary to remain compliant with federal transportation regulations, which have changed recently.

The Department of Transportation has recently implemented some changes to its policies concerning the shipment of hazardous materials. The DOT requires that all packages containing hazardous materials must have a label on them (just not on the bottom) and must be near the shipper’s name on the package’s surface. Some speculate that this is to cut down on time spent identifying and assessing the package, but ultimately it is to promote public safety.

Not all hazardous materials are created equal, though. FedEx, for example, lists accepted hazardous materials and prohibited hazardous materials for shipment. Approved hazardous materials include flammable liquids and solids, non-flammable gases, oxidizers, organic peroxide, radioactive material, and corrosive material. Prohibited hazardous materials include most explosives, materials that are dangerous when wet, spontaneously combustible materials, infectious substances, and poisonous gases, and other toxic materials. FedEx also lists the appropriate labels for these materials on their website for anyone curious about how to ship hazardous materials correctly.

Fun fact: Alaska and Hawaii prohibit the shipment of aerosols, nail polish, and paints. These are three great examples of everyday items that are classified as hazardous materials.

Depending on the hazardous item you want to ship, you might have to take a few extra steps. For example, some explosives require additional information, such as EX numbers (explosive identification numbers issued by the DOT), national stock numbers, or product codes on your packaging or shipping labels. Many of these extra steps require affixing labels to the package explicitly stating that the item being shipped complies with federal transportation regulations. Many times, the label will look something like this: “This package conforms to 49 CFR 173.13”.

There are a few labeling exemptions for hazardous materials. According to FedEx’s website, “packages shipped as a Limited Quantity may be exempt from the labeling requirements, those shipped under a DOT special permit may also be exempt from labeling requirements, and those prepared under 49 CFR 173.13 do not require a diamond-shaped hazard label.”

There are plenty of websites that can provide you with the correct hazmat labels for shipping hazardous materials. HazmatPac, for example, can even do custom labels for unusual or uncommon hazardous materials. 

So with all of this talk about hazardous materials, what are some of their defining traits?

HazmatPac’s definition is “[a] dangerous good is any solid, liquid or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment.” Various federal committees oversee the shipping and handling of hazardous materials. The DOT has classified nine types of dangerous materials. They are divided according to their key features and chemical compositions. For international shipping, HazmatPac recommends checking the transportation regulations of the country to which you’re shipping your package. Non-English-speaking countries may require extra attention, such as using the local language for an address.

Should your package suffer any accidents or spills mid-transit, dangerous goods call centers like Chemtrec are ready to assist you in handling the crisis. Their staff members must undergo extensive hazardous materials training and certification before helping any customers. This training boosts their combined decades’ worth of experience as EMTs, first responders, firefighters, hazardous material specialists, and military explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians.

With over six million Safety Data Sheets in their library, Chemtrec has built an expert network of toxicologists, doctors, chemists, and hazardous materials pros that collaborate with them to provide the most up-to-date information to customers. They also cater to a global clientele with interpreters for over 240 languages.

Chemtrec also specializes in handling hazardous materials accidents or spills. Shippers and handlers can use their handler information network, incident report service, and crisis response and communication. However, they also offer non-emergency services.

The world of hazardous chemicals is much more sophisticated than it appears. The shipping industry may be much more chaotic without such careful attention to some of these dangerous materials. Thankfully, many businesses in the industry take their work seriously, cooperate with federal standards, and overall strive to help people streamline their hazardous materials shipping experience.

How Do Solo-Entrepreneurs Protect Their Business?

Running a business is challenging in its own right. However, for solo entrepreneurs, the challenges can be enhanced by their solitary position. When you are an independent professional trying to keep your business afloat by yourself, you need to be the strategist, the administrator, and the employee, all at the same time. While there is a fair amount of tasks and essential jobs that can be outsourced, you still need to oversee every business process. As such, business protection can be overlooked for the benefit of more pressing projects. 

However, protecting your business from cyber threats is especially important in times just as now, where the global pandemic has forced many companies to interact remotely with their customers. When your interactions and work happen online, you can’t afford to ignore the risks of mishaps for your brand. Here are some tips for solo-entrepreneurs to manage risks and sail their companies safely through the troubled waters of the pandemic situation. 

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Protect your confidential data 

The online world can be a dangerous area. Hackers are a significant threat to small businesses. Therefore, if you are new to a remote business concept, you need to make sure you’ve got everything to keep your data secure. The first and most obvious line of security is to give your work device the best support against cyberthreats, such as using an antivirus solution and using secure cloud storage for your data. You can consider reaching out to experts and outsource your cybersecurity. A managed service provider can monitor your business online and offer increased protection. Additionally, solo-entrepreneurs also need to add identity protection for all transactions performed online. As you need to purchase additional solutions to move your activities online, ensuring nobody can steal your financial data is a no-brainer. 

Protect your ideas

With millions of businesses offering similar services or products, you need to differentiate your brand from the crowd. An original idea can open the door to a new market and help you reach out to a broad audience. But innovative and creative ideas are tricky to find. That’s because ideas are so valuable that other businesses can sometimes steal them. You need to protect your intellectual property through trademarks, patents, and copyrights, depending on the type of content. Copyright applies to written documents, while a trademark can be used for your brand name, catchphrase, or product name. 

Protect your reputation

As a solo-entrepreneur, you can’t hide behind a brand. You are the personality of your business. Therefore, managing your professional reputation in the market can help your brand growth. The first place to start is Google. When you Google yourself, you can find out what others think of your business or of yourself, and many spot weaknesses that can be rectified.

Another excellent place to observe and manage is social media. Claiming your business accounts online will stop others from impersonating you, and it provides you with a platform to communicate with your audience. Not every solo-entrepreneur needs a reputation manager. However, if things are getting too tough, you can reach out to experts for help. 

Protecting your business online in the age of COVID-19 is challenging. But it is indispensable to keeping your business alive and supporting your customers as effectively as possible. Stay safe, stay online, stay virtually protected.

4 Totally Necessary Security Features For Your New Business Premises

Hotels For 18 Year Olds

Such is the industry today that you might not think you need an office for your business. Plenty of entrepreneurs prefer to go rogue and work from home, coffee shops, or even the local library. However, if you decide to invest in a corporate office, co-working space, or an executive suite, you should factor in IT and physical location security. Making your office the safest possible place for you and your staff is issue number one, yet bosses can let their standards slide. Allowing people into the office that aren’t welcome might turn out ugly, which is why there are specific security features in which you’ll want to invest.

Here are the four most significant ones.

A Receptionist with a Complete Reception Area

Receptionists or reception areas may sound old-fashioned and outdated, but they are excellent at keeping unwanted guests out of a location as well as keeping the building safe. The reason is simple: they have eyes on everyone who enters and exits the premises and act as a security buffer. Therefore, they can stop anyone they deem to be suspicious and ask them for a couple of non-intrusive questions to determine whether they belong in the office. The incredible thing is that by doing their job, it doesn’t make people feel uneasy or mistreated. As long as the person is polite and welcoming, nine out of ten guests will gladly sign-in, adhere to office policies, and interact positively.

Access Control

A more sophisticated option is to install an access control system in your workplace. By doing this, anyone without the right clearance wouldn’t be able to get in the main door, never mind into the hub of the office. Your employees, on the other hand, merely need to bring a retractable key chain with their I.D and the door will slide open. As far as security and accessibility in one go, access control technology is at the top of the tree for small to medium-sized companies, as well as big ones. There’s no reason to rely on alarms and deadbolts any longer!

Door Chimes

Okay, maybe you don’t have offices, but you have a shop in which you do the majority of your business. In this case, the two options above aren’t suitable. You require a security feature that’s effective that doesn’t turn-off customers. The last thing shoppers want to do is have to press a button to buy their bread and milk! Thankfully, humble door chimes are on hand to help. Placed above the main entryway, they sound every time the door opens and shuts, alerting you to new customers. So, you’ll know when somebody has arrived and exited without investing in fancy gadgets.

Exterior Lighting

Finally, please don’t underestimate the usefulness of outdoor lighting. Thieves hate brightly-lit spaces as it gives them fewer places to hide while doing their undercover work. As a result, burglars are more likely to target nearby businesses that don’t have huge lights shining overhead. So, installing lights strategically around the property could make your company, store, or office less of a target. The energy bill might be high, but you can leave them on all night to ensure cameras and passers-by can see thieves trying to case the building.

Can you think of any more that are must-haves for your business?

Staying Cool When Disaster Strikes Your Business

One of the most important things about running a business is being able to keep your cool. Everybody, no matter what industry they worked in, has enough boss-related horror stories to fill several volumes of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. These bosses may be successful, but how their reactions impact their employees is anything but. 

If you can stay cool, calm, and collected when unexpected disasters strike, you will be better prepared to deal with them as soon as possible. There’s no point in letting the pressure get to you, and even if it does, you shouldn’t let your employees know this to ensure everybody remains calm. 

To give you an idea of what to do, here are some of the most common disasters founders will face when running their business.

IT Failures

With companies relying on computers and technology more than ever before, it’s easy to fall into a routine of expecting everything to work first, second, and one-hundredth time around. However, as useful as computers can be for day-to-day operations, they are not always perfect. 

Your business will encounter IT failures at some point, and these failures can range from cybersecurity breaches to server downtime to disappearing data to systems just not working at all. This throws a cyber-wrench in the works and can disrupt the workday immediately. 

Without computers and mobile devices, your business may not be able to function, and if your business cannot function, then you could lose out on contracts, clients, money, and precious time. However, you can be ready to overcome these problems by working with companies such as Charles IT that will be prepared to attend to your needs at a moment’s notice, no matter what time of day to ensure the downtime is minimal. 

Losing Your Star Player

Operational disasters are another thing you should be wary of, and one of the critical operational disasters that can affect business, both large and small are losing your star player. This employee could be your best seller, your motivational manager, or someone who helps bring positivity to the office. 

Whenever you lose this player, you immediately recognize a shift in the atmosphere. It’s the opposite of when you lose a toxic employee who brought everybody down. However, while large businesses can often make adjustments relatively seamlessly due to a broader pool of personnel, it is not as simple for small businesses. 

The star will need to give their notice, which is typically two weeks, but sometimes as long as a month before departing, and this will provide you with the chance to vet potential candidates whether you promote from within or bring in someone from elsewhere. If possible, get them started early to work with the departing employee for a few days so that any bumps in the changeover process are flattened. 

Marketing Mishaps

No matter how slick or forward-thinking your marketing department is, there is always a chance that there will be some marketing mishaps along the way. These mishaps can include a lack of research, failing to find a unique selling point, or ignoring the needs of the customer. This can also include an issue when your company is featured in the press—perhaps your company name was spelled incorrectly. Another significant issue is when companies try to jump on new internet trends and miss the mark entirely, sometimes even delivering an offensive campaign. 

They say that there’s no such thing as bad publicity, and as long as they are talking about you, it should be considered a success. However, these mistakes can wreak havoc on your personal reputation and business image, and while people have shorter memories than most due to the frantic 24-hour news cycle, it can still be hard to recover. 

Before launching any campaign, make sure that the plan is seen by everyone who could offer advice and decide whether this campaign is the right one for your business. Doing this will make you more prepared for any backlash, but with the right eye, that backlash should never arrive. So the lesson here is to be smart and prevent issues or crises from emerging in the first place.

Late or Non-Existent Stock

If yours is a business that sells a product rather than service, then there is always the fear of late or non-existent stock affecting orders, both current and future. These supply errors are another thing that can ruin your reputation, even if it is nobody’s fault. 

The most obvious solution is to ensure you have an abundance of stock that will prevent any orders from missing their delivery date. However, this can lead to having too much of this stock, which can leave you with boxes of potentially useless products you will find hard to shift. 

Instead, consider being in constant communication with your suppliers and make arrangements in the event of a missed delivery. You can work out the best way to reimburse or compensate customers, while also ensuring you understand where the missing stock is and when it will arrive. 

Something Kinda Natural

Natural disasters or Acts of God, are something you hope never affects your business or anyone for that matter. However, depending on where your business is based, natural disaster threats, whether a storm, hurricane, or flood, among other issues, may always be present. 

These disasters can prevent your employees from getting to work, or they can cause blackouts and severe damages to your office. It’s important to have a contingency plan to overcome these disasters when they happen to ensure you do not lose any time. 

You don’t want to put your employees’ health at risk, regardless of how important meetings and launches might be. So if they cannot make it to work, do not force them. Likewise, if the office is damaged, then having Work-From-Home procedures in place will allow everyone to carry on without risking their health. 

A Cool Head In Crisis

Keeping your cool won’t just have benefits for your employees but also for you, too. While you can’t prepare for every eventuality, you can still do everything you can to stay calm when they arise. If you are relaxed, so too are your employees, and this will allow everybody to work together to work out your next move and overcome the disaster - whatever it might be - confidently and effectively.

4 Simple Ways To Improve Your CyberSecurity

The online world opens up so many technology opportunities for businesses; however, there are also risks to be considered. Cybersecurity attacks are by no means uncommon regardless of the size of your business. In order to protect yourself, there are several measures your business should take.

1. Mobile Device Management

Mobile device management (MDM) is a system that enhances the security of your network, no matter from which device it is accessed. It’s become commonplace for employees to use their own devices or work away from the office. While such practices have enhanced productivity, they also require the improvement of security measures.

Using MDM, it’s possible to track and view all of the activities associated with your business network. When you utilize MDM, you can easily update software and security measures across every device-remotely. You can help staff who are having security trouble or access problems. MDM is also useful to remove the data from a device (remotely) if it’s lost or stolen.

For the best use of MDM, companies should also use multiple authentication methods to allow network access. After inputting their password, employees should be asked for a code authentication (received via their phone or email). Other authentication methods include testing biometric traits such as voice or fingerprint recognition, similar to bank or iPhone identification.

2. Security Audit

To improve the security of your business online, a strong security audit is vital. Such a procedure can examine all of your processes and outline where improvements need to be made. A security audit procedure can essentially ‘hack’ your system and provide intelligence on the weak points.

With this knowledge, an IT professional can put improved systems in place. It can be a good idea to invest in an Alpine Security data breach prevention audit. This advanced audit can focus on the management of risk in your security system, detect issues, and respond to threats.

3. Invest in Training

To improve the overall security of your business, you cannot rely on technology alone. The best thing to do is to retrain the staff who are using the technology. Doing so can reduce the chances of human error. Provide your team with cybersecurity workshops and training sessions to help them to learn about best practices online. Such training should also incorporate the best use of social media. Once you’ve had a security audit, you’ll be able to use the information to improve your security policies, then relay this information to your staff.

4. Cybersecurity Insurance

In a worst-case scenario, it can be an excellent plan to have some backup plan. Investing in a cybersecurity insurance policy can provide your business with extra peace of mind. A policy like this will protect your business in the event of a cybersecurity breach, both legally and financially. If any data is stolen, you’ll be covered, plus for any loss of revenue you’ve incurred as a result of the breach. With the right security measures and backup in place, your company can focus on driving financial and operational success.

Keeping Your Business Safe, an Investment Well Worth Making

When it comes to running and growing your own business, your daily tasks most likely consist of fulfilling what your customers needs and ensuring all operations run effectively. From shipping out products to customers, carrying out your services, and marketing your goods, it’s quite probable the security of your company is the last thing on your mind. That’s understandable but it’s necessary to move that to the top of your mind.

But if you sell physical goods or have an office where computers and other technological equipment are stored, then it’s time to up your game and avoid the kind of security breaches that might stop your business in its tracks. In this blog, we take a look at how to boost your security and keep your business airtight.

Staff Security

As well as keeping your goods and products secure, the safety of your staff is more important. Your warehouse teams might have their own name badges and use them to swipe in and out of areas but when was the last time those badges and swipe cards updated? If you don’t have an automatic system in place to send reminders out to renew photographs and update staff details, then consider getting that done. This will help keep your logistics safe.

CCTV and Other Appropriate Equipment

It might feel like you’re spying on your staff but when it comes to security cameras installation, yet having an eye in the sky is going to keep your employees and your goods safe. As much as you trust your staff, if there are any irregularities or you need to get to the bottom of how mistakes have been made, then having a visual record is going to help you to improve your warehouse processes and make for a smoother running operation.

Outside of your working hours, you’ll feel safer knowing that your CCTV cameras are recording what’s going on around the warehouse, particularly if they’re monitored by an outside security company.

Training Your Staff

The best way to stay on top of your security is to have your staff trained and to keep that training up-to-date.

Your team members should stay vigilant and work in a culture where they’re not afraid to report to a team leader something, or someone, they’re unsure about. Create the kind of environment where vigilance is rewarded and staying on top of security issues is part of the everyday process.

Then you’ll know that your business, your goods, and your staff are in safe hands and that you’ve done everything you can do to keep it all safe. You may need to invest a little money to bring your security systems up to date but when the alternatives are a loss of stock or an injury to a member of your team, then that investment makes sense financially as well as ethically. Get it done today for peace of mind tomorrow.

5 Important Ways To Keep Your Business Safe

It doesn’t matter the nature or industry of your business, but keeping it safe all round is of paramount importance. The truth is that there are threats presenting themselves from all angles daily, and if you’re not ready for them, then you can end up losing a lot of time and money trying to get things back on track. In fact, a lack of safety and security could bring your business into a hardship that you really struggle to get out of. So, how do you make sure that your company is in safe hands all of the time, allowing you and your team to feel as secure as possible?

Here are five ideas worth considering to keep your business safe and secure.

#1: Listen to the experts

If you want to keep your business safe, then one of the most important things that you need to do is listen to IT and cyber security experts. Things like cybersecurity, information technology, and virus protection are of vital importance, but you may not understand the ins and outs of it as your IT team or specialist does. Consider their advice, and don’t dismiss the opinions of the experts in this field. If you do, you could live to regret it in the long-run when a security risk presents itself to your business.

If you are outsourcing this part of your business, we recommend choosing some of the best in the business to trust our business to. For example, companies like Securitas Technology have a strong reputation in the business IT market as a reliable option. You need experts who know what they are talking about, and can be counted on to provide the best protection for your business. Choose someone that you are willing to listen to, or your business could suffer for it.

#2: Embrace new tech tools and software

New technology is always being developed for those who want to keep their businesses safe and secure from hackers, fraud, malware, and cyber threats. From ID management services that allow you to see exactly who is coming in and out of your office to new pieces of software that can protect your customer data, the world of tech expands as the capabilities of those carrying out security attacks advances. Stay on top of it, and look into the ways that you can utilize tech.

#3: Get clued in on health and safety

One of the biggest financial threats to a business is ignoring the health and safety regulations that you should be following and enforcing. If one of your employees gets hurt in the workplace and you’re the one who is at fault for not assessing the risks that are present, then, well, you’re probably going to get sued. This is the last thing that an entrepreneur needs to handle. This can leave you in the red financially, but it also makes your office an unsafe place for you and your team.

#4: Protect your data

If your employees are heading off to a new company and they work in fields like social media management, public relations, or marketing, then your data is an absolute gold mine for them. It means that they can tailor ads and posts to people and that they have all of the personal information needed to really pull in customers to their new business. On top of this, it is, of course, illegal in most places. Protect your data and your future as a company. Make sure you have the right protocols in place.

#5: Make sure that everybody is on board

Security and safety are not one-man issues, and if you’re going to be successful as a business owner, then you need to have everybody on board. Outline your policies and courses of action, and be sure that all of your employees know them inside out. You can even ask them to sign an employee handbook or manual. This will mean that nobody is making silly mistakes that could threaten the safety of your business and that everybody is on the same page. Have a meeting, review all safety protocols with employees when they are hired, and make things clear so there are no questions.

Good luck!

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.

4 Reasons Why Friendly Fraud Occurs In Your Business

As you start the path as an online merchant and e-commerce store owner, you will become familiar with all kinds of fraud. One of the more unusual ones is called friendly fraud, which occurs when a customer or client mistakenly reports a legitimate purchase as a fraudulent one and requests a chargeback or refund. While it tends to be an accident, as opposed to malicious chargeback fraud, you can still benefit from learning some of its causes to prevent future incidents. 

Unauthorized card use

Families or other organizations sometimes share the same credit card for a variety of reasons. When there is miscommunication, an individual can make a transaction without the authority of the person in charge, leading to confusion and a chargeback. While this type of incident can happen due to a mistake or carelessness, it can still impact your business, and will inevitably happen as an e-commerce entrepreneur. However, you can prevent this by providing a clear distinction between individual buyers on the billing statement, even if they use the same account. 

Forgetfulness or laziness

People can be busy and sometimes balance so many responsibilities and tasks that they can forget about transactions. Someone's short-term memory can keep up to seven items at a time, which can include details about transactions. While you cannot always improve the customer's memory, you can take measures to prevent these chargebacks and inform the customer about the transaction. Receipts and confirmations through text and email are the fastest ways to notify the individual, along with constant delivery status updates. Text messages and emails can help prevent customers from disputing charges. We like to use emails to keep customers apprised of their purchases.

Confusion between chargebacks and refunds

A common mistake among online purchasers is not knowing the difference between a refund and a chargeback. With a refund, you have control of the transaction and can easily return the funds to the cardholder for any reason. Meanwhile, a chargeback is started by the customer or client and involves the bank, which determines the legitimacy of the request. However, you can pay extra charges, face the false stigma of fraud, and have a strike against you by the bank. It’s not an easy process. Explain to customers the difference and encourage them to seek a refund instead. 

Different billing information

Information on billing statements can sometimes change or contradict other information. Often, the company goes through a rebrand or the billing descriptor is not familiar, intimidating the customer. These adjustments take time, but a chargeback can still occur, even with global networks such as Ethoca. Ensure the company name and other statement information matches correctly to prevent a costly misunderstanding.  This type of fraud may be unintentional, but it can still harm your growing business. Consider the reasons cardholders commit it to find efficient ways to prevent it. 

Has your business experienced any type of friendly fraud? If so, how did you handle it? Drop a comment in the section below.

Simple Ways To Keep The Office Secure

Working in an executive suite, an office or co-working space is commonplace these days, and a large portion of founders and entrepreneurs choose to work in an office or shared working setting with shared/public WIFI and communal office equipment. Compared to other workplaces (such as coffee shops and open-air atriums), an office or shared workspace is a relatively low-risk setting for many different issues. There is generally no heavy machinery, equipment, or working parts, and there is not a risk of fatigue due to being on your feet all day long unless you’re running from meeting to meeting.

Today, we are going to take a look at some of the best ways you can keep the office or shared working safe and secure, and the people who work for you safe too. 

Secure and textured flooring that is maintained often

No one wants to be on the other end of a premises liability attorney lawsuit, and it is important for you to keep the office itself safe for all who work there no matter the position. This means you should make sure that the flooring is secure. Slippery surfaces or cracked tiles are a recipe for disaster and can lead to lawsuits if someone gets hurt. Make sure the flooring is in the appropriate shape for people to walk on day-after-day. If there is an issue, rope it off with tape alerting people not to walk there.

Use an alarm system with cameras

The most important resource you can have for your workplace is an alarm system. No matter how small and unassuming your office may be, there is always a risk that criminals will try to take advantage of the technology and equipment inside and steal it.

A good quality alarm system can be affordable, and it is something that will be incredibly useful for you as an employer. Make sure to think about placing sensors and cameras in every part of the building to ensure that there are no blind spots for robbers to take note of. 

Although alarm systems can be expensive, they are worth the value especially if you house a lot of high-value computers, laptops, and other costly office machinery and equipment.

Change the office locks before you move in

One aspect of buying or renting an office space that you might not consider at first is the locks. If you think about it, when you move into a new office, there is a possibility that there are people out in the world who have a copy of your keys. Perhaps the old tenant or a former disgruntled employee still holds a key? What would you do if an angry employee from the previous tenant broke into your office or worst yet, broke in during the day and threatened your employees?

This is a huge security risk and as a result, you must make sure to change the locks as soon as you start in your new business. 

Install appropriate lighting where necessary

The cover of darkness is the best friend of those who look to rob you, and as a result, it is important that you use light to your advantage wherever possible.

Ensure that the office has lots of natural light as well as light which is bright and unfiltered. And for the protection of your office, make sure to install some solar-powered, motion-sensing lights. As the sun goes down, these will light up whenever someone walks close-by the office. This can be a great deterrent and it will stop robbers from wanting to come and steal from you through fear of being caught. 

Install CCTV to monitor your office

One of the most effective ways to keep the office safe and secure at all times is to install CCTV cameras. CCTV is an incredibly important thing to have in the office and in the home, and it is worth installing this on the inside and outside of the office. Make sure that you cover every blind spot around the perimeter of the office and this will likely be a handy deterrent for you. If you see someone lurking around your office, you will be able to take the appropriate measures to prevent crime. Make sure to download the appropriate app to your smartphone so you can monitor your office on your phone while you’re not there. Having this access will help alleviate fear and anxiety.

Use a laptop lock

One of the things you might not have considered for your office is laptop locks. Most office workers these days have laptops to work remotely, and this means that a whole lot of data can be stored in one place. If you are looking to keep the office and your data safe, you can use a laptop lock which will keep it safe and secure and stop people from trying to steal it.