These days, safety is less about locking physical doors and more about protecting yourself online and ensuring our digital data is essentially locked away. Small businesses can be easy targets for digital thieves and those wanting to cause a nuisance for others. Data breaches can result in fines. Furthermore, digital attacks can lead to your business capital being stolen. Continue reading for the steps we feel are important for small businesses to take in order to ensure they are digitally safe.
Technological Equipment
The forgotten laptop on the train or the stolen cell phone in the street, both of these scenarios could have devastating consequences for your small business. Having a secure pass code or facial recognition activated will help you to protect the data you have stored on these devices. Password protecting files and folders can also help. However, there are many cases where these have been hacked quite simply. Keep your devices either on you or stored away safely. Be sure to maintain an up to date inventory of all the equipment and software your business has invested in.
Online and Network Security
Having up to date and sufficient malware and virus protection throughout your network is imperative. One small virus could lead to huge consequences for you. It is also possible to restrict access to certain websites in order to reduce the risk of being exposed to malware. Furthermore, it is advisable to create a company policy relating to software updates to ensure everything is recent and doing its job. Reducing the use of removable data storage devices, such as USB sticks and CDs can support you in lowering the risk of viruses attacking. Network security is imperative. Using a third party like IT Support Company Tampa can be helpful. Not only can they manage all of the IT within your business and ensure it runs smoothly, they can also offer consultancy and 24/7 support when something does go awry.
Social Media
Social media is a vital part of business these days. Many enquiries arrive via this medium and it is an excellent, largely free way to reach existing and potential clients. However, it does have its downsides with regard to cyber security and it is vital to take steps to ensure you safeguard yourself as much as possible. Giving a large number of people access to social media accounts can make it difficult to make sure that passwords and sensitive information is kept on a need to know basis. If seven people have access and use their work devices and personal cell phones to access, this only increases the risk of data being breached. It would be wise to restrict access to just one or two people and add social media related statements into their contracts to lessen the risk and only allow access via work devices. It is vital to have a detailed and up to date policy regarding social media use for your business. Make sure that training on this happens on a regular basis and that everyone is coming from the same place.
