Newsflash; cybersecurity is a big deal in modern business. In fact, given that the average data breach can cost even small companies as much as $2k, it’s unsurprising that most managers spend significant amounts on overcoming this setback. Add this to the fact that more than half of small businesses can expect an attack at some stage, and it’s fair to say that this is a pressing priority.
Sadly, while the risks speak for themselves, only 6 in 10 managers actually protect themselves here, with a shocking 66% of senior decision-makers believing they won’t be targeted. Even if you are taking adequate steps to stop security breaches from happening, you may be leaving yourself open in unexpected ways.
The fact is that security can be challenging to get right, especially when those risks are unseen and unquantifiable. With that in mind, even managers who do dedicate plenty of their budget to this purpose could soon find themselves chucking money down the drain if they don’t take care of the following issues in-house.
Cybersecurity is unpredictable by nature. As such, spending a fortune on security measures that protect you from just one risk or platform is never going to work well for you. You’ll simply find yourself chucking money at this issue and still facing problems. By instead seeking comprehensive security offerings with continued monitoring like those offered by Syscomm, you could save yourself money and still improve those defences. That’s because an outside company with experience can provide you with all their know-how and equipment for one fixed fee. Even better, they’ll never leave any security stone unturned.
Internet use with no limitations
During the day, your employees are going to use your business wifi in all manner of ways. This includes work and…well, less professional pursuits. To some extent, the chance to check private email is a perk of the office job, but you should be wary here, too. Even with the best cybersecurity in place, specific websites or email attachments can breach your defences if employees invite them right in. That’s why limitations on certain site access and private purposes can prove so beneficial to your business. With these in place, you’ll be able to rest easy that no one is undermining the money you’re spending here.
Security plans that stagnate
Let’s say you invested in a cybersecurity package about three or four years ago. So far, so good, and you see no reason to change as a result of that. Sadly, the cyber risks that you’re facing will have evolved a great deal since then, leaving you open to risks despite your outgoings. It’s fair to say, then, that any stagnant security solution is a waste of company money. Instead, you should either seek ever-evolving outsourced security solutions as touched on above, or revisit your approach at least every six months. That way, you can be sure that the security you have in place is the best possible protection available at all times.
As more businesses grow an online presence, the security risks for any business can increase. Hackers and scammers are becoming more skillful in their abilities to infiltrate and so it’s important to remember the tips that can keep your business safe. Here’s how to keep your business safe online.
Have A Security Policy In Place
A policy is something that can be really useful to distribute to current staff and for new staff to become aware of when joining the organization. This should include some of the following; proper usage of computers and devices, requirement of strong passwords and consequences if the policy isn’t followed correctly. Regardless of how small or big, the company is, size is irrelevant and your business should have this policy or statement in place already as mentioned in this infographic, 10 elements of cybersecurity for businesses.
Protect With Passwords As part of your policy, all applications or confidential documents must be password protected. They should be strong in terms of complexity and ideally all different. This is handy if any of these applications are hacked, at least it’s likely to be just the one occurrence if all the passwords are different. It is difficult to keep track of all the passwords, but it is beneficial in order to strengthen the security of the business as a whole. At least if you forget the password, you can simply reset it. The less vulnerable areas you leave available, the better.
Train Staff To Be Cautious Your staff should be trained to proceed with caution when it comes to browsing the web and opening suspicious emails. They can prove to be a potential risk to the company’s security as they are accessing the internet on a daily basis. So, bring in some regular training sessions to keep your staff well informed of what to look out for, especially as hackers’ approaches seem to change fairly frequently.
Strengthen Your Security As much as you can do internally, you should be working in the background to strengthen your overall security. That includes having the right anti-ware installed onto your systems so that your files are protected. You should also be keeping tabs on how to improve the security and strengthen it on a regular basis, making sure you have the latest updates or version of your anti-ware software.
Be Careful When It Comes To Social Media Social media is a powerful thing but if not used wisely, it can end up leaving your business in a vulnerable situation. Make sure you are aware as to who in the company is running the social media on behalf of the company and monitoring the content that’s going out, making sure it all gets approved by a second pair of eyes. Provide some guidelines about what can and can’t be said and if something you are posting has a risk of facing backlash, it might be best to approach it another way.
The security of your online usage should be considered a top priority and it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the changes in security and navigating the online world safely.
***Contributed Post***
In this new digital era, setting up an online business is becoming more and more tempting. The overheads are minimal and there is a multitude of software that makes running a business uber-easy. But before you take the plunge, there are a few important things to consider…
Find Your Niche
Just like with any business, you are going to need a unique selling point which sets you apart from your competitors. You need this to be able to create enticing marketing materials and to be able to upsell your company to the people you meet.
Write Great Copy
When it comes to online businesses, content is king. Unlike businesses with physical premises which allow the customer to see and feel the product which can therefore sell itself, with online companies the product is virtual in the eyes of the customer. The content on your website needs to do all the talking. It needs to be able to create a genuine image of the product that customers can believe in, and it needs to sell the product to them. This is particularly important if you’re selling a service.
Website
Your website is going to be the face of your company, so don’t let it create any barriers for you. Make it ultra-easy to navigate with clear content that doesn’t leave the customer guessing. It also needs to be visually appealing and set a professional, high-quality tone.
SEO
Make the most of the tools available to you as an online company. Use Search engines to optimize traffic to your site by becoming as close to the top of the list of search results for your sector, as you can.
Reputation
Just like with any business, reputation is crucial. Build an online presence on related forums and sites so that people can start to associate you with your niche. Build links between your website and others to boost credibility and encourage online reviews that could lead others to your website.
Communicate with Your Customers
When your customers get in touch with you, it is important to respond to them. You need to build relationships with your customers so that they can recommend you to others and so that you really stick in their minds. A helpful company is something that is really appreciated by the consumer. It also helps your company to appear more authentic and personable which is particularly important for online companies.
Cybersecurity
Check out a company like FWI to help you when it comes to your cybersecurity. Having your business online makes you vulnerable to cybersecurity threats which have the potential to steal data, lock you out of, or destroy your own website.
Online businesses are a great way to make money if you have a unique selling point that can stand the test of time. However, it is important to make sure your website is top-notch with excellent copy, that you’re making the most of online marketing tools, actively building a good reputation, communicating with your customers, and that you have invested in some cybersecurity. For more online business advice visit robynr9.sg-host.com .
Any entrepreneur that wants to create a successful company should focus not only on picking the perfect business idea but also picking the perfect industry. As the years go by, old industries fade and new industries rise. In the present age, digital marketplaces are taking the business world by storm. These are the industries to watch if you’re an entrepreneur with any sort of background related to technology. In particular, the digital security industry is proving to be quite profitable. Consumers and businesses want to protect themselves from digital threats, given that the online world dominates our daily lives. Here’s some advice to help you develop a profitable business in the digital security industry.
Prioritise investment.
Investment is important in any industry, but it’s absolutely vital in the cybersecurity industry. You need funding and investment because digital industries are constantly evolving. If you stop updating your business plan, then you’ll very quickly fall behind the competition in your industry. When it comes to digital security, new online threats emerge with every passing day. You need to conduct regular market research, monitor new problems facing the market, and develop security solutions that will keep you at the forefront of the industry. Constant investment in the improvement of your business will keep you profitable.
Create a strong sales strategy.
With any industry, the key to success is finding your target market. That’s how you’ll create a strong sales strategy. No matter how good your marketing campaign might be, you won’t see client retention if you misunderstand your target market. In the case of digital security, you’re trying to find businesses and individual customers who might need extra protection in the digital world. Target your campaign at companies based in other digital industries who might need to keep their information safe, for example. Create an email marketing campaign that targets the right kind of people; that way, you can start personalising your advertising messages to your intended audience.
You also need to show the market why they should value your brand. That’s the key to an effective sales strategy for businesses in this industry. It’s all about quality when it comes to cybersecurity. You can’t cut corners; consumers want to know that their systems are going to be safe. You might want to do some research on the subject if you want to know the key to a cybersecurity sales strategy. It can be tricky to market your business effectively in such a competitive industry, but the payoff of creating a strong sales strategy is that you’ll start to build a big reputation.
Offer fantastic customer service.
As mentioned in the introduction, the digital security industry is becoming increasingly popular because we’re all concerned with protecting our information both online and offline. Data plays a key part in our daily lives, and that’s why you need to make it clear to your customers that you’re going to protect their information. If you want to create a profitable cybersecurity business, then you need to reassure your client base that they can trust you to secure their systems. But they also need to trust your company to store its own information securely. If you have regular clients, then they need to know that your business keeps its data safe. Otherwise, they’re going to have a tough time trusting you to deliver effective cybersecurity services.
