Running a business pulls you in a million directions at once.
Understandably, your boss and/or company management won't always be aware of pressing tech security issues. Unfortunately, that blind spot can cost your business. There are surefire signs of an impending tech security disaster. If you notice any of the below items are true for your company, it's time to bring the boss in and let him or her know that something needs to be addressed.
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Your boss will be grateful to be looped in and able to take action before any of these tech security issues become crises:
When you log into various portals and platforms (like e-mail, company software, etc.) at work, are you using the same password each time? Maybe it's your company name? That's a major security vulnerability. It can be tempting to choose a password that everyone will remember and use it for everything. It's easy - but dangerous. Passwords are the only thing standing between your private business data and prying eyes. Let your boss know that it's time to upgrade to strong, unique passwords for company credentials. It will instantly boost your tech security.
Encryption refers to making data and information unreadable to those without the proper credentials. It keeps proprietary information private and makes life difficult on cybercriminals who may try to get their hands on it. If you've noticed that vital company files are sitting around in plain text, rather than encryption, it's time to speak up. Encryption is an important asset in protecting your business data. It makes sense to encrypt as much as possible - ensuring that your company is in control of who can view private documents.
How accessible is your company's network? If you're able to access important data and information from anywhere, at any time, your company could have a serious data security problem. Remote access should be limited whenever possible. This is because it creates a risk that's difficult to monitor or control. Think about accessing a private network in a coffee shop on non-secure WiFi or leaving your laptop behind with private information on display. In either of those scenarios, there could be a critical data breach and no way for the company to prevent it. Your boss should take a harder look at that policy.
If you're using off-the-shelf or custom software for business operations, it needs to be updated frequently. Companies like Microsoft will sell software and then release updates periodically that patch security issues, improve performance, and strengthen the product. Ignoring those updates or not remaining consistent with them poses a danger to your business. As cybercrime becomes more advanced, software companies continue to react and release updates that fix known issues and vulnerabilities. By failing to update, you're risking preventable security threats.
What is your company's backup solution? How often does your company's important data get backed up? If you can't answer either question and you suspect your boss can't either, it's time to bring up the importance of data storage. Disaster can strike - in the form of natural disasters, crime, equipment failure, and more. If it does, your business needs to have a plan in place to save and restore irreplaceable data. It's recommended that all critical data be backed up frequently and stored securely. If you're not sure that your company's data is safe, it's time to act.
Similar to software updates, antivirus measures are only effective if they are current and capable of thwarting rising types of malware. If your antivirus was installed long ago and forgotten about, it may not be effective against malware, spyware, or ransomware. Having a strong antivirus program is important to the health of your computer network. It prevents your company from falling victim to common cybercrime. If you don't remember the last time your antivirus software was updated or evaluated, it's likely overdue.
Reaching out to a third party IT company can save your company the headache of trying to devote time and resources toward shoring up tech security vulnerabilities. Let your boss know if you see any of the above issues affecting your company.