It doesn’t matter whether you are a huge corporation or if you are the newest start-up company on the block because website threats and even data theft can strike at any time. They can also cause massive disruptions to your company. If you want to protect yourself then you need to try and make sure that you have the right procedures in place.
Write a Strategy
Businesses of all sizes need to make sure that they have a formal strategy in place. You need to keep it up to date and you also need to make sure that you are always a step ahead if possible. This will help you to avoid making any rash decisions and it will stop you from being in the heat of the moment, which could end up making things worse. Keep everything updated and close to hand if you can. There’s no point in putting a lot of effort into things, only to find that your documents end up gathering dust.
Protecting Against Malware
Try and ward off any threats if you can by securing your network and your PC. Malicious software can cause you to lose out on huge amounts of data and it can also swarm on unprotected machines without you even being aware. It’s essential that you do your part to protect yourself and that you also use firewalls. Having PC protection is also crucial- this could involve keeping your emails clean with antispam or even having a process in place where employees change their passwords on a regular basis. If you haven’t done so already, now would be the time for you to explore business CCTV installation, because keeping your physical premises secured is just as important as keeping your digital space secured.
Keep your Wireless Network Secure
If you have a wireless network then you need to be careful. Hackers will be waiting to pounce on this without any prior warning. If you have an encryption key then this may flummox people who might not be too tech-savvy, but if you are the target of a hacker, then they will be able to move past this with ease. If you want, you can strengthen your router by having the strongest setting and you can also turn off broadcasting. This will make your network invisible.
Make Processes Easier
The main reason for data loss is the human beings that work for us. Humans are more likely to make a mistake while handling data than a machine or robot is. This is why RPA is so important because machine learning makes data and processes quicker and safer. Think of it as a software layer that watches your employees work, spots patterns, makes common calculations, stores relevant data to projects and tasks, and then takes on several tasks at once. You might be thinking, “What is RPA?” It’s called Robotic Process Automation. It can do some of the ‘white collar’ tasks such as writing invoices, HR forms for employee holidays, and creating email templates for various clients. It’s also brilliant for onboarding to create and implement automated onboarding programs for new or existing employees.
Safeguard Your Data if You Can
Even something as simple as changing your password can help you to fortify all of your data. Sure, passwords can be annoying to remember, but at the end of the day, the more complex they are, the better. Make your passwords 8 characters long in total and also make sure that you embed numbers. You also need to make sure that they are not easily guessed. Password managers can come in very handy here, so make sure that you explore them if you can as this will save you a lot of time and energy in the future. It will also make it easier for you to stay on top of things.
Backup Your Data Often
Most small business owners are not high-tech savvy so it’s best to seek out a friend or hire a professional. New working norms, like remote offices, will require effective and reliable cloud backup services to help automate the process of backing up your data. According to PC Magazine:
The past year has seen rapid changes for IT professionals in charge of data backup. Instead of being in full control of local storage resources, backup has become a remote operation that has both its management consoles and target storage resources in the cloud. That means a new degree of data protection has become critical to supporting day-to-day business. Even companies still requiring local, on-premises backups have had to pivot their strategy since most of the workforce has left the building and along with them their data. Where cloud backup was once mainly for small businesses that needed a fully managed service, it’s now an important consideration for businesses of all sizes.
The Best Cloud Backup Services for Business, Gadio Sevilla, March 31, 2021
