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Which Type of Hackers is Endangering Your Business Data? (And How to Protect Your Sensitive Info from Them)

February 27, 2022

6:43 pm

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Productivity, Safety, Security, Technology

Computer, data breached, firewall, protect information, ransomware

Your data is pivotal to running a successful company. If you don’t have proper security measures in place, hackers can easily steal your data and take you out of business.

Cybercriminals might be the biggest threat facing your company. Besides gaining access to your money and accounts, they can also take over critical software, preventing you from collaborating with clients.

Any organization can fall victim to hacking. However, small and medium businesses are particularly at risk.

Why?

Too often, their owners don’t always address cybersecurity when launching their company. Sometimes, they even just hire the first IT service provider they see. They also don’t know how to shield themselves from online attackers, making them low-risk targets.

As a result, these organizations often go under due to the loss of sensitive data. It isn’t a risk you can take.

To help mitigate it, this article will introduce you to the various types of hackers and explain how to protect your business from them.

THE 5 TYPES OF HACKERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Here’s a quick list of potential hackers, depending on what they’re after:

#1. HACKERS WHO ARE AFTER PERSONAL INFORMATION

Many hackers are dying to get their hands on the personal information of your clients and employees. It includes birth dates, financial data, and social security numbers.

Social security numbers might be the most valuable asset they want to get ahold of since cybercriminals can use them for various purposes. For instance, they can perform tax fraud, open credit accounts, and make other significant identity breaches.

In addition, financial data can be utilized for fraudulent activities and purchases, especially if it lacks robust digital security systems.

#2. HACKERS WHO WANT TO GET INTO THE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Storage and data servers are expensive – and hackers know that.

In order for them to cut costs, hackers may aim to store their applications and data on your infrastructure instead. The better your infrastructure, the more likely cybercriminals are to target it. This can strain your network to the limits and have devastating effects on your business.

Unsurprisingly, tech companies are some of the most common victims of this type of hacking.

The common indicators that a hacker has tapped into your digital infrastructure include:

Running out of storage faster than usual
Your network suffers slowdowns
You may have unknown devices on your network.

#3. HACKERS WHO ARE AFTER CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Few business aspects are as important as your intellectual property (IP). Your products and services enable you to stand out from the competition and strike a chord with the target audience.

A huge problem arises if hackers steal the design of your upcoming product before you launch it or submit your patent. A competitor may obtain the information, allowing them to hit the market first and undercut your sales.

#4. HACKERS WHO WANT TO GET ACCOUNT DATA

Sure, you and your IT service provider might have done enough so that hackers might not be able to obtain financial data. But are your employees’ accounts secure?

If hackers compromise them, they may let them run scams and gain information to disrupt your operations.

For example, losing CEO login credentials can be devastating. Besides granting hackers access to sensitive information, it also helps them impersonate the CEO. In return, they can solicit information from employees or clients and halt your operations.

This data breach can lead to widespread confusion, tarnishing your reputation.

#5. HACKERS WHO AIM TO HAVE NETWORK CONTROL

In some cases, hackers aren’t after data. Instead, they want to gain control of the entire network. And to make it happen, they launch ransomware attacks.

These activities enable them to lock you out of the system and make data inaccessible until you pay a ransom. They’re typically initiated through spam, phishing emails, and online ads.

The average ransom amount stands at approximately $30,000, but the loss caused by business disruption is much more significant.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS

Now that you know how hackers can compromise your company, let’s check out 5 effective ways to protect yourself:

WAY #1. INVESTING IN SECURITY RESOURCES

A key factor ignored by many owners is the amount of money and time devoted to cybersecurity. Avoid this mistake by allocating enough resources to set up solid defensive measures. Make sure to invest in a reliable IT service provider to help you out.

This way, your online accounts, hardware, and network should be more secure.

WAY #2. TRAINING YOUR TEAM

Most security systems have weaknesses. And their employees are usually the biggest ones.

For this reason, HR managers and CEOs should ensure their staff follows optimal security measures, both in-office and at home. They must all remember that any phone or laptop they use for work can be a weak point and entryway for hackers.

To introduce your employees to the best security practices, consider arranging security education and training for a month once a year. You can talk about different aspects of your company and the steps necessary to deter cyber criminals, for example.

Sound education can go a long way in promoting a healthy security culture.

WAY #3. ADDING AUTHENTICATION

There are many valuable tools you can use to fend off hackers. One of them is two-factor authentication (2FA) – a simple yet effective weapon against scammers.

This measure requires each user to verify their identity to access your system. You could use it on all business-related accounts to reduce the chances of cybercrime.

Furthermore, encourage your team members to activate 2FA on personal accounts. This way, they’ll be more likely to follow appropriate security practices, reducing the risk of compromised devices and data breaches.

WAY #4. LEVERAGING SOFTWARE

Computer viruses are another go-to tool for hackers. And a great way to deal with them is to incorporate antivirus software.

Make sure your built-in antivirus software is up to date. Also, you can consider a corporate package from trusted companies like BitDefender, Norton, McAfee, and Total AV.

Each machine that can access work resources should rely on this software. Plus, the user should conduct weekly antivirus scans to lessen the chances of computers getting infected by a virus.

WAY #5. PERFORMING SECURITY CHECKS

Checking your system is vital for optimal cybersecurity. Solid antivirus software is practical, but you shouldn’t disregard manual scans. It’s crucial that your IT service provider does this periodically.

More specifically, check who’s accessed your network and make sure each point of access is authorized. Any suspicious activity must be reviewed and rooted out. Otherwise, these red flags can prove fatal for the company.

STAY ON THE SAFE SIDE

Battling hackers may not be the most exciting part of running a business. However, neglecting cybersecurity turns your company into a sitting duck for scammers. You may lose money, data, and your reputation might suffer irreparable damage.

While there isn’t a bulletproof solution, adopting the outlined tactics should be a strong starting point.

Contact us today if you want to discuss your cybersecurity in greater detail and pinpoint potential risks. We can arrange a quick, non-salesy chat and figure out ways to help you.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

8 Mistakes That Cripple Your Business Continuity Plan

by Dale

January 23, 2022

10:03 pm

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Safety, Security, Technology

The only way to continue your operations in case of setbacks is to enforce a well-thought-out business continuity plan. However, you’ll need to avoid several mistakes when developing your strategy.

Your operations may seem efficient and failproof, but the reality is that obstacles can happen at any time. Whether you’ve lost a major client or can’t achieve good team dynamics, it’s essential to keep going.

That’s where your business continuity plan (BCP) comes into play.

Your BCP outlines how your company will continue its operations during unplanned service disruptions. It’s more detailed than disaster recovery plans and features contingencies for processes, human resources, assets, and partners. It can also include checklists for equipment and supplies, data backups, and information on emergency responders.

The contents may vary, but a BCP can help you overcome various issues and re-establish productivity to meet critical needs. However, the only way to reap the benefits of your BCP is to avoid making mistakes in the development stage.

This article will outline the eight biggest mistakes you need to avoid when creating your business continuity plan.

THE EIGHT MISTAKES

MISTAKE #1 – DISREGARDING YOUR EMPLOYEES

Organizations who want to get back on track after an unexpected incident should focus on the needs of their employees when devising a BCP. Otherwise, they may be running serious safety risks.

So, plan for every situation that can affect your employees during disruptions. The list includes emergency communication protocols, evacuation routes, and many other key details. In doing so, you’ll ensure your team has all they need to weather the storm.

Moreover, discuss the plan with your staff and elicit their input in critical safety matters. You can also tell them you’ll be there for support if a crisis takes place. This gives them peace of mind, knowing their leader cares about them.

MISTAKE #2 – NOT CONSIDERING SMALL DETAILS

After creating a general BCP, many enterprises fail to think about specific details that ensure they can execute their plan. This is a huge mistake, as it can result in loss of data.

The minor points you should incorporate into your BCP include logistical considerations, such as technology and medical aid support.

For example, informing your medical providers about the plan is crucial because it enables them to make their arrangements on time. You should also tell your key personnel who to contact if they need medical assistance during accidents. Another great idea is to determine how your team can access data securely if they can’t make it to their office.

Taking the smallest details into account can protect your data and even save your staff’s lives. Therefore, don’t leave the development to chance – go through the BCP regularly to make sure it’s effective and up to date.

MISTAKE #3 – FAILURE TO SHOW YOUR STAFF HOW THE PLAN WORKS

While many leaders brood on downtime, they often fail to demonstrate to their team members how to execute the plan and minimize productivity decrease.

As previously indicated, your employees are integral to the efficacy of your BCP. And the only way to perform their roles correctly is to become well-versed in the plan.

To ensure this, explain how the staff should respond during crises. Tell them how to handle their clients if your systems go down. Don’t forget about the location and schedules that will be effective while the main office is off-limits.

The final part is to have your team practice these tasks so they can complete them more easily when disasters strike.

MISTAKE #4 – PRIORITISING OPERATIONAL CONTINUITY OVER TEAM SAFETY

When accidents occur, it’s understandable why business owners focus on assessing the effects on their business. Nevertheless, considering operational continuity only and neglecting your staff’s safety well-being can have dire consequences.

Your people are crucial to executing your BCP appropriately, so check on them first. Data plans that nobody can facilitate are useless, regardless of their effectiveness.

You have to make sure your staff is safe and reachable after a crisis. The crisis management task force should be able to contact them easily and see if they can help them.

This will help guarantee your team can bounce back after an accident and go back to work quickly.

MISTAKE #5 – HAVING IMPROPER TECH SOLUTIONS

Waiting for natural disasters to strike before establishing toll-free hotlines for your employees is a huge mistake. Likewise, failure to set up data backups might render your systems useless in case of data breaches.

If you have no proper technology to mitigate accidents, you could be exposing your business to higher risks, revenue loss, and prolonged downtime.

To avert this, consult technology specialists or your IT sector to verify your system has all features and components that can keep your networks intact. Such a system should allow you to streamline communications, minimize downtime, and secure your workloads.

MISTAKE #6 – ONLY ONE PERSON MANAGES THE PLAN

Developing a BCP all by yourself is possible, but it’s also more prone to error. A much better approach is to gather people across all your departments to account for all contingencies. Otherwise, you’ll restrict your team’s insight into all the processes and risks under your plan.

Forming a BCP management team that involves multiple functions and departments offers a company-wide perspective to your planning. This diversity can help resolve problems and streamline your strategy.

MISTAKE #7 – USING BROAD GENERALIZATIONS

Continuity plans with broad generalizations often lead to uncertainty and confusion. A BCP needs to be concise and, if possible, explain each detail in short steps. Such forms enable anyone to understand the directions and visualize their roles.

MISTAKE #8 – SKIPPING RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk assessments are a critical step that must take place before developing your BCP. As the name suggests, they can you help discover the potential risks in your area.

Depending on the size of your organization, location, and activities, your company faces different risks. For example, there’s no need to plan for disaster recovery after a hurricane if your region isn’t prone to them. It would only increase your costs and waste time.

DON’T LET YOUR OPERATIONS GRIND TO A HALT

A detailed BCP goes a long way in improving your response to disasters. Avoiding the above-mentioned mistakes will put you on the right track and help your staff cope with new conditions more easily.

If you need help in creating your BCP, give us a call today. Let’s have an obligation-free chat to determine how we can help you.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

The Importance of Online Reputation with 8 Tips To Improve It

by Dale

January 17, 2022

6:02 pm

Comments Off on The Importance of Online Reputation with 8 Tips To Improve It

Safety, Technology

Dark Web, Facebook, Hacker, Online, Reputation, Twitter, Website

Online reputation can make or break your chances of landing and retaining clients. That’s why managing this aspect in your business is critical.

Your store, whether brick-and-mortar or online, looks great. And your product or service may have struck a chord with the target audience. So, you might think there’s not much more you can do to optimize your business. But you’re forgetting a crucial aspect – online reputation management.

This is essential for many reasons.

Primarily, most customers investigate your business’s online presence to decide whether they want to purchase your offerings. They check your reviews and social media posts, and anything negative that comes up can put them off your offerings.

With several bad reviews, your online reputation diminishes, and people are less inclined to work with you. Thankfully, effective management can help you get back on track.

This article will share eight tips on how you can improve your online reputation management (ORM).

THE EIGHT TIPS

TIP #1 – MODIFY YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

The most important part of enhancing your online reputation is to build and follow effective social media policies in your business. They’ll determine how your company interacts online with your customers.

There are a few things to remember when establishing and maintaining your policies.

In particular, don’t let your staff members freely post whatever they want, especially if the information has to do with your organization. Besides keeping your reputation intact, this also helps eliminate liability concerns.

Instead, create a stringent pre-approval procedure for your business content. Instruct your team members to label their work as “Personal” whenever necessary.

In addition, you should never share sensitive data in public. This applies to your client, legal, and financial information.

TIP #2 – KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

Once you’ve modified your social media policy, you need to gauge the audience’s response.

Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are three of the most popular platforms you should focus on. Regularly search your brand or product on each social media to determine what users are saying about your organization.

In doing so, you can diagnose and solve problems more easily. You can also gain invaluable insight into client sentiment towards your brand.

Make sure to examine all relevant networks and not just the platforms you’re actively using.

TIP #3 – RESPOND TO INQUIRIES PROMPTLY

People expect companies with an online presence to interact with them. That’s why when clients contact you through social media, you should respond to their queries quickly.

Even if you can’t solve their problem immediately, be sure to acknowledge it.

Furthermore, engage with customers who leave comments on your post. It can help foster strong relationships with your target audience.

TIP #4 – ASK FOR REVIEWS

Online reviews are a powerful tool for polishing your ORM. So, if your customers are happy with you, ask them to describe their experience with reviews.

If your customer base is large, you can set up email marketing campaigns to encourage your clients to post reviews. But if the strategy isn’t fruitful, try to improve it by incentivizing people with competitions or giveaways.

In terms of the platforms you should use for reviews, Yelp and Google might be your best solution. They can also help you rank higher in search results, increasing your trustworthiness.

TIP #5 – PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY

Transparency is key to building trust. Since anyone can track down your previous online statements, trying to cover them up can result in severe backlash.

Therefore, practice honest marketing and communication online. Acknowledge your mistakes and try to make up for them.

On top of that, don’t hide or delete negative comments. Apologize for any inconveniences and offer a solution.

You should also avoid leaving fake reviews on the websites of your competitors to undermine their credibility. Apart from ethical issues, it can be a total waste of time. Google and other influential websites have powerful algorithms that can weed out fake customer feedback. Hence, posting them to present your business as superior usually comes to nothing.

Instead, focus on streamlining your products or services to encourage authentic reviews. They can go a long way in boosting your online reputation.

TIP #6 – KEEP IT NEUTRAL

Letting your emotions dictate your online content is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when managing your online presence.

Discussing politics, religion, and other controversial topics can lose you a lot of customers. Unless they play a pivotal role in your business, avoid mentioning them.

Remember, your goal is to appeal to broader audiences. So, keep your tone neutral.

TIP #7 – DON’T IGNORE OR RESPOND AGGRESSIVELY TO CRITICISM

Negative feedback is painful. They might either offend you and make you want to ignore what was said or start a fight with the customer. However, both actions are ill-advised.

Ignoring negative comments seems like you’re not taking client issues seriously. Irate customers can even post their complaints on various platforms. Since those platforms can reach millions of people, it can do a lot of harm to your online reputation.

The same goes for aggressive responses. That’s why rather than sending angry emails or abusive rants to defend yourself, reply to your clients promptly and address their issues as well as you can.

TIP #8 – CONSISTENTLY POST HIGH-QUALITY CONTENT

Building and maintaining an admirable online reputation requires consistency. Remember, your customers follow your page because they expect you to post engaging content regularly.

That’s why updating your social media with five posts one day and going silent for the next couple of weeks isn’t welcome. Establishing a clear routine is much more favorable.

Moreover, be sure your content is valuable and niche-specific by using stronger headlines and appropriate keywords. They can help you rank higher on Google, generating greater engagement and additional traffic.

DON’T LET YOUR ONLINE REPUTATION FEND FOR ITSELF

Assuming your company doesn’t need ORM is one of the most serious mistakes you can make as a business leader.

Your reviews might be positive today, but this doesn’t mean they’ll be positive tomorrow. It can change instantly if you neglect your social media presence.

To avoid this scenario, adopt the most useful ORM practices.

If you need help in ensuring your ORM is top-notch, reach out to us for a quick, obligation-free chat. Find out how we can be of help in ensuring your business has a great online reputation.

article used with permission from The Technology Press.