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How to Protect Your Business in the Digital Age

Posted: 30th January 2017 08:03

Are you prepared for all of the threats a modern business faces? More businesses than ever use a wide range of IT systems and online technologies that make life easier for everyone in an organization. However, these systems have weaknesses and this presents a whole new range of challenges for business owners and business decision makers. Below are some of the most effective ways you can protect your business in the digital age.

Call in the Professionals

Online security is a relatively new industry and many businesses are not prepared for the threats that exist in their business and on the internet. If you lack the expertise to deal professionally with the latest IT and cyber security threats, it's vital to hire experts in this area that can help you. A wide range of businesses and individuals provide this type of service on a contract or full time basis.

These professionals have the skills and experience required to evaluate your current security situation and will put in place systems and processes that ensure that all of your IT and online systems are more secure and safe.

Prepare for the Worst-case Scenario

It's always better to be safe than sorry and this is particularly true when it comes to your business systems and the data they store. You and the IT security experts you will be working with should identify all of the potential risks to your business from hackers, cyber criminals, disgruntled staff members, accidents and natural disasters.
Once you know what these risks are, it's vital to put plans and processes in place to overcome these problems. For instance, you should have a comprehensive backup process in place and a disaster recovery process in case a serious incident happens in your business.

Choose Your Business Systems Wisely

Not every business can afford the latest business systems for their organization. However, when it comes to this technology you should not cut corners. Make sure the systems you choose are reliable, secure, efficient, easy-to-use and are recommended by other businesses that are similar to your company.

Permissions and Logins

Most modern business systems and online applications require users to log in using a secure username and password. This is a convenient way for multiple users to log in to the same system and access the same information.

However, this convenience comes at a cost because usernames and passwords can be hacked or stolen, which could lead to all kinds of problems. This is why you have to ensure that each person who has permission to your business systems accesses them on secure devices and only has access to certain areas, depending on their role in your business. As well as this, you should encourage your employees to change their passwords on a regular basis.

When it comes to protecting a business from online and IT security threats, many business decision makers stick their heads in the sand. This is the wrong approach to take. If you follow the steps above, you reduce the likelihood of ever being affected by this problem.