With more and more reliance on electronic data, and computer systems in general, here are 5 security holes most businesses need to secure.
1. Backup and Disaster Recovery – Every company now relies on its data more than ever. But most companies have little or no backup and disaster recovery plan. A surprising number of Small Businesses either rely on manually taking copies of files as their backup solution, or not taking any action whatsoever. To ensure you are not left without business critical data, you should not only set up an automated backup to remove human error, but also put in place a Disaster Recovery and testing plan to ensure that your backup solution is working fully, so that you are not caught out when it really matters.
2. Strong and enforced security policies – Just like your front door won’t keep your house secure if you leave your keys in the door, your IT Systems cannot protect you fully unless you follow best practice. Simple passwords, open communication ports and lack of password security are all open doors that can leave your computer infrastructure open to threats. Staff education and enforcing company security policies is becoming more and more important in securing company data.
3. Old Hardware – Just like a 10 year old car is more likely to break down than a brand new one, outdated IT Hardware is more likely to cause problems than newer models. Especially with regards to network hardware thanks to the latest security standards, the older your hardware, the more susceptible you are to external attacks. Add this on to the likelihood of standard hardware failure, and keeping that old server and router combination running for as long as possible can quickly turn in to a false economy.
4. Mobile devices – In this age of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), smartphones, iPads and similar, there has never been more corporate data outside of the four walls of the office building. With more and more data out in the open it easier than ever for a USB drive with company figures, phones with confidential emails, or even worse, laptops with direct access to your corporate network to fall into the hands of strangers. To combat this, company security policy is again key, with regularly changing passwords, and employee education on data encryption and security high on the priority list.
5. Lack of Cohesive IT Strategy – With accelerated technical advancement, fluctuations in markets and more and more small businesses seeing growth IT systems are often a patchwork of old and new, without a clear strategy or cohesion. Intelligent business leaders see IT as a business asset rather than a tool, or worse, a hindrance. Investing in a well-planned, thought out and cohesive IT infrastructure can not only increase security and productivity in the short-term, but also help reduce maintenance, upgrade and expansion costs in years to come.
No disaster recovery plan? Are you sure your backups run every night? Can you remember the last time you changed your password? Do you know how many of your employees are taking company data home with them to work on? If you need help or advice with any of the above, contact TLP Technology to discuss your IT requirements and how we can help protect your company’s most valuable asset – your data.
