Security elements placed appropriately act as a comfortable “insurance policy” of sorts against theft and other foul play elements. Having the right eye in the right place can also act as a huge deterrent. Not just for recording criminal activity, but for halting it altogether. This article will provide a general overview of business security cameras and three of the top security cameras available in the space.

Company Surveillance

When looking into a security camera there are several metrics you should keep note of, video quality, functionality, and price. Additionally, knowing if the camera is going to be used for 24/7 surveillance will inform whether or not you need infrared or spotlight integration features. Many cameras work in tandem and form a network for greater sequential coverage and visage.

Additionally knowing what areas need coverage will tell you the number of cameras you need in your system and can affect how much funds you can allot to a system or styling of a camera. Some offer greater scope, rotation, or the aforementioned networking capabilities to cover this necessity.

Business Security Cameras: Arlo Pro 4 Wireless Security Camera

The Arlo Pro 4 features a 2K video with HDR (High Definition Resolution) and an integrated spotlight for 24/7 coverage. The footage is triggered by its motion-detecting features. The camera also directly connects to Wi-Fi features and does not require a hub or base, however, it can offer smart home integration, (Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit). The footage is stored in the cloud for 30 days, so if there is anything that requires a second look. The Arlo Pro 4 has you covered there as well. It is considered the best camera for outdoor use.

It does require a plan for optimal usage and is largely of poor quality without one. Plans go at 3, 10, and 15 USD a month. The battery is rechargeable and one of these can be guarding your doors and windows for $200.

Business Security Cameras: Reolink 3 Argus Pro

This camera is considerable for its overall best quality. A 2K camera that works both day and night ensures that you don’t just see “the thing” but see it clearly, whenever it lurks. It features 122-degree sights, slightly less than Arlo’s 130 vision. The Reolink 3 features motion sensitivity as well allowing you to get a notification or alert when something is detected. It has, however, cut motion zones – areas where you could target key tracking like doors or windows, to conserve battery life.

You can also schedule times to record. And with 128 GB of storage on the device and 1GB kept in the cloud for up to a week. You can find the detected thing. The Reolink also captures audio as well.

This camera typically runs around $130. It has video plans at 5, 10, 15, and 25 dollars monthly with the first two allowing for 30 days of cloud storage and the last two allotting for 60. With improved cloud storage at 30 GB, 80 GB, 150 GB, and 250 GB respectively.

Business Security Cameras: Eufy Cameras

This is the premiere indoor camera focused on indoor security (duh) and customer privacy. All storage is housed in the camera, meaning anything recorded is kept on-site and not stored in any outside cloud or database services. These cameras additionally offer 2K video (1920 p) and offer cloud-based programs and AI detection. This allows for the camera to auto-capture anything with motion or similarly timed suspicious activity.

The standard Eufy runs anywhere from around 150 – 200 USD. There is a budget pick – the Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 that is only $43. Some models also allow for cloud plans for those who are content to store their data on an external drive or source.

The post Protect Your Small Business with These Top Security Cameras appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Your IT department is probably having palpitations with their inability to control policies and procedures in today’s #WFH reality. At work you are on a corporate network. Regardless of whether it’s a VPN, cloud repositories, on-premise secure network storage locations or your own drive, it’s all set up. Companies have tested and proven their networks to ensure that everyone complies. And if they don’t, IT is right there to help.

Now your office has moved into your home. And while you are probably still connecting via VPN or other secure technologies to access your company servers, you are accessing it from your own home network. Additionally, we all have a desire to collaborate, so we are heavily reliant upon third party platforms to connect us and share our data. This is where vulnerabilities to security begins to reveal itself.

IT Hates Scattered Data – You Should Too.

At home, you are using your computer and your own home network, but what else is connected to that network? Your wife’s computer? Your kids’ gaming system? Your home entertainment music or movie streaming devices? Not only does this impact speed of connectivity, but it also compromises the security of the network.

We don’t have enough hours in the day to work, make sure the kids are online doing their classes, and  troubleshoot IT issues. So we make band-aid decisions to keep our workflows going when things go haywire. Internet searches have taken the role of IT. 

How many times have you had the need to put a file on a stick and use your spouse’s computer and send it out due to an IT or connectivity problem? How many times have you uploaded corporate information to your personal Google drives because the VPN went haywire and you couldn’t connect? Every time it happens we think, “just this once”. While no one thinks that Aunt Betty is going to reveal trade secrets, suddenly you have sensitive information out there in the open. 

Even worse, you now have the root file, the copy on your zip drive, the one in the Google Drive, and the one that is now in the recipient’s inbox. It doesn’t take a mathematician to see how that issue compounds itself into multiple copies. Before you know it, the root file is no longer the only copy, but it is also no longer the most current.

On a Call Together Doesn’t Equal Working Together

So, what are we to do? #WFH appears to be here for at least the near term and we need to find ways to stay connected—both to our data stores and to one another. In recent months, we’ve all gotten very comfortable with video conference call technologies to keep us connected. Sure, these provide a way for us to talk to one another (and see the cat who has taken up residence on our co-worker’s keyboard), but there is still no way to collaborate beyond the limits of screen sharing. 

While that may have been a great band-aid in the early stages of WFH, companies now must look to innovative technologies that do more than just put people on the same computer screen and phone line. Technologies such as Vizetto’s Reactiv SUITE go beyond that by enabling coworkers to simultaneously collaborate and participate as if they were sitting across the conference room table from one another, regardless of their physical locations. 

Participants can not only share video and audio, but seamlessly share files and even interact, ink and move or edit content—at the same time, live, during your meeting. Think of it as your “Digital Table,” where multiple remote users can simultaneously access, push and manipulate any type of content as if it were a piece of paper on your desk or ideation on your conference room whiteboard.

This creates a work-from-home situation that actually works for the long haul.

The Best News? Connectivity Does NOT Have to Come at the Expense of Security

When looking for the best solutions to keep your colleagues connected, make sure the product(s) offer the following benefits: 

• Agnostic to where data is stored
  Look for solutions that don’t host content and are not cloud-based. You want a solution that seamlessly integrates with your cloud repositories, or servers, so your employees can access data where IT prefers it to be stored.
• Archives back to root file
  Make sure that all work is automatically synchronized and archived back to the root folder and file to help eliminate version control issues and ensure that all the data your workforce needs to access is contained in one consistent source. You cannot rely on individuals to be doing this regularly.
• Allows a simplified workflow
  Keep an eye toward how the solution can streamline workflow for your employees who are now wearing many different hats during the day as they get into the groove of WFH. If you can eliminate the need to download attachments, saving, reattaching and re-sending files and replace it with a simple click-and-drag action, imagine how much time (and frustration) will be saved each day. 

Work-from-home may be easier on the commute, but it is much harder for companies to keep employees connected to one another and to their careers. Closing that distance and replicating the in-office, collaborative experience is key to ensuring the quality, productivity and profitability of our work, as well as the overall happiness of our workforce. Just like we have all had to adjust to the work-from-home reality, we need to adjust what technologies we need to have at our fingertips that will enable us to keep working—from wherever that may be.

The post Keeping Corporate Files Safe While Working-From-Home appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

They are clearly still worried about trusting a third party with their valuable data. So what are the
specific fears SMBs have with cloud storage and what can they do about it?

Unauthorized access becomes harder to spot

One of the biggest cloud security worries is the detection of unauthorized access to sensitive files and folders.

When valuable data is stored on on-premise file servers, organizations are assured that it is ‘relatively’ secure from unauthorized access because of the need to be physically present in the office to access these servers. Even with employees and third-party partners using VPNs, the IT team can restrict access to only specific devices, so the data remains relatively secure.

However, when data is stored in the cloud, the chance of unauthorized access is much higher. It makes it really hard for IT teams to detect misuse, thus causing major security concerns. Without the right access controls in place, an attacker using stolen credentials could, in theory, gain access to sensitive files and folders from anywhere in the world using any device.

To counter this fear, 21% of SMBs said they keep their most valuable data stored on on-premise infrastructure because they don’t trust the security in the cloud. Organizations are worried that the information will end up in the wrong hands because they don’t have visibility of who is accessing these files.

Leaving employees stealing data is harder to prevent

It is hard for security teams to stop employees who are leaving your organization from stealing
sensitive data.

With on-premise storage and just a desktop computer, there’s that much more risk of getting noticed (through prying eyes) if someone tries to steal sensitive information. But with data stored in the cloud, it can be accessed from anywhere in the world, using any device. It then becomes much easier for ex-employees to steal information before they leave and harder for IT teams to spot it.

Hybrid storage environments are complex and harder to manage

56% of SMBs say that it’s difficult managing the security of data living in hybrid infrastructures.

This issue is naturally linked to the first two — and one can argue that complex hybrid environments make the other two issues much worse.

Many organizations have hybrid storage environments nowadays— a mix of cloud storage providers and a mix of on-premise servers. While this approach is good for productivity, it makes managing the security of the data stored across multiple environments very challenging.

Each cloud provider manages security differently, and if you don’t actively monitor access to each platform on an ongoing basis, it’s difficult to detect any malicious behavior and stop data theft.

The mentality about sensitive data needs to change

We found that 21% keep their sensitive data on premise because they don’t trust its security in the cloud.

But then, we asked them what constitutes sensitive data, and 74% of them said their corporate credit card data was sensitive, 71% said their employees’ personal information was sensitive, 62% said client contact details were sensitive, and more worryingly, only 53% stated their clients’ data was sensitive!

SMBs need some help understanding what sensitive data it.

More and more companies choose their suppliers based on the strength of their cybersecurity strategy. When it comes to business, it’s very important to demonstrate you have an effective cyber-posture because it can be the difference between winning and losing new clients, as well as retaining old clients.

What can SMBs do about it?

The best way to ensure your data is protected (whether in the cloud or on a mixture of on-premise and cloud) is to invest in technology. It needs to proactively track, audit, and report on all access to files and folders, and alert IT teams on suspicious file activity the moment it occurs.

What you need is a monitoring solution in place that provides a consistent and unique view of the security of your data across all your storage servers (whether on-premise or on a third-party cloud system). You can then rest assured that if someone other than an authorized employee tries to access your data, you’ll be the first to know about it, and you’ll be able to do something about it.

The post Why Do SMBs Believe Their Data is Unsafe in the Cloud? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

With the internet of things rapidly on the rise, I think it’s important for businesses to turn to web application firewalls (WAFs) for safeguarding their websites, that’s why you should always hire  legal firm security. Fortunately, services such as Sucuri and Cloudflare provide the required protection against cross-site scripting (XXS) vulnerabilities, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and other online threats. according to great managed it services equally imperative is keeping real-time backups of all important information. – Derek Robinson, Top Notch Dezigns

3. Create Strict Password Protocols

Password protocols are an easy first step to improving an organization’s data security. These protocols encompass things like the frequency of password changes, the complexity requirements of the passwords, the number of password-protected programs, levels of access, etc. If you need to improve security, then the first step is to look at how your organization manages passwords. – Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure

The post 13 Quick Fixes for Your Company’s Data Security appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

“. . . Equifax has confirmed that attackers entered its system in mid-May through a web-application vulnerability that had a patch available in March. In other words, the credit-reporting giant had more than two months to take precautions that would have defended the personal data of [147] million people from being exposed. It didn’t.”

Unfortunately, as reckless and negligent as this seems, this type of behavior is par for the course for many of today’s businesses. Particularly when we consider the situation surrounding Spectre and Meltdown:

“. . . research revealed that nearly every computer chip manufactured in the last 20 years contains fundamental security flaws. . . and while software patches are available, they may have impacts on system performance. . . the flaws are so fundamental and widespread that security researchers are calling them catastrophic.”

With critical vulnerabilities exponentially rising, small and medium-sized business needs to learn how to implement an effective patch management process as a means to avoid joining the long list of data breaches in 2018 (so far).

Here are 6 steps for enforcing a strong patch management process.

#1: Make Patch Management a Priority

IT employees are the ones who manage the patching process. However, business managers often split these resources across a variety of demands and requests.

To effectively maintain network security, company leaders need to hold patching as a pinnacle priority by allocating the appropriate time, resources, and manpower to the effort; and doing so in routine fashion.

The most effective strategy is to hold team members and managers accountable for ensuring this process is handled and maintained in a timely fashion. If you need a way to help manage all of your documents, then consider using ediscovery.

#2: Appoint Ownership

The IT department tends to tout a myriad of members who apply patches regularly. This is a mistake as the task is then owned by no single individual. Without crystalline accountability for who oversees what, the chain of command and communication channels can quickly break down.

If your organization’s size warrants it, consider talking higher-ups into hiring a full-time patch management and validation specialist. While some might view it as extremes, the imperativeness of this position should be clear given the plethora of security breaches in the last 10 years.

If a dedicated patch specialist simply isn’t an option for your company, then opt to hire a consultant to assist your brand with security patch revision validation and deployment.

No matter which route you go, it is imperative to possess a powerful patch management software that can help to automate the process, manage the company’s security infrastructure, and bring new tools to a department.

#3: Accurately Assess Your Inventory

IT needs to be keenly aware of every system operating within a company’s ecosystem to effectively identify which patches are necessary as vendors release them. After all, you can’t patch what you don’t know is there.

While some of you at larger organizations might be thinking this is impossible, consider the fact that the 2017 Trustwave Global Security Report revealed that 99.7% of web applications include at least one vulnerability.

If IT and security managers fail to take the entirety of the company’s system into consideration – including proprietary systems and third-party apps, services, platforms, libraries, and devices – threats and vulnerabilities are multiplying by the day.

Review the threats of all your systems facets and aspects, asses the risks, establish priority, and begin securing your network.

#4: Promote a Testing Procedure

Before deploying a patch, it is necessary to look at all your company’s systems to ensure that the patch won’t break anything. To safeguard from such an event, you need to test the patch and move through all the trial and verification steps necessary to verify that there will be no adverse consequences from its deployment.

The best way to do this is to create a testing lab that mimics your system environment. While this approach is costly and time-consuming, it is far less costly than having a patch break a vital system.

#5: Be Committed

Patching is an incredibly complicated and delicate matter within modern IT stacks that feature various points of integration, customized components, add-ons, mobile endpoints, and a multitude of other variables.

With that in mind, business owners and IT managers need to accept that there will be some issues that can be resolved, and those that can’t. When certain issues cannot be patched, they need to be documented.

For many organizations, these exceptions – even if written down – will never be revisited. To maintain a secure environment, it is necessary to regularly go back and reassess these exceptions to review if a new solution has emerged and that it is not introducing new risks that were originally unforeseen.

#6: Archive and Analyze

In addition to archiving system inventory information, brands need to closely monitor and document patches that have been released from vendors, scheduled patch testing, and deployment dates, and patch completion times dates.

To manage all this information in an effective and streamlined way, it’s wise to develop or employ a dashboard that creates visibility on the entirety of your patch management initiatives. This will also help IT gain a greater understanding of where vulnerabilities have been patched and where they still exist.

Additionally, monitoring metrics such as percent or number of systems up-to-date, number of patches failed, etc. are all critical to track to fully understand the health of an organization’s digital ecosystem.

The easiest way to create such a system with this information is to employ one of the many patch management platforms on the market.

People tend not to care about patch management until something goes wrong; Equifax’s breach is a prime example. Don’t practice the same low-security standards. Employ these six patch management best practices to avoid becoming the next company to make the news because it was hacked.

The post How Patch Management Can Save You from an It Security Breach appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Launched more recently is Microsoft 365 which combines the online office suite, Windows 10 and Microsoft security solutions.

Microsoft writes, in a blog – To further protect SMBs from cyberthreats and safeguard sensitive information, today we’re announcing the addition of advanced security features in Microsoft 365 Business, which gives businesses with up to 300 employees an affordable, comprehensive solution for empowering employees and safeguarding business data. Microsoft 365 Business includes Office 365 for productivity and collaboration, plus device management and security capabilities to protect company information across the devices people use for work. Now we’re adding new ways to protect against phishing and ransomware and prevent unintentional leaks of business data.

CEO of Solace IT Solutions, Chris Oakman, works with SMBs to help them get up and running with the right technology. He says it doesn’t have to be complicated and expensive to keep your team productive and your business data secure.

“I work with a lot of small businesses that have historically had to pay for individual security services like spam filtering and anti-phishing,” said Oakman. “For these businesses, Microsoft 365 Business could save them up to $3,000 per year while including these and many other data protection capabilities in a more integrated way.”

With the addition of these new capabilities, Microsoft 365 Business offers your business a complete solution for productivity, security, and device management. Watch this video to learn how iSalon Software, a U.K.–based developer of software solutions for hair salons, uses Microsoft 365 Business to be more productive and secure.

Read the full blog post here.

The post Microsoft 365 Adds Enhanced Security in a New Update appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

The seventh annual Shred-it Information Security Tracker Survey, conducted by Ipsos, reveals that with the move towards a “paperless” office, U.S. businesses are not prioritizing the management of confidential information in all forms.

Their press release reads…

Even with the evolution of a mobile and increasingly digital workforce, paper documents continue to be a core component of office life. According to the 2017 Security Tracker survey, 39 percent of C-Suite Executives (C-Suites) anticipate an increase in the volume of paper their organization will use over the next year and 52 percent of Small Business Owners (SBOs) anticipate the volume of paper to stay relatively the same. Despite this, SBOs demonstrate a lack of understanding of the vulnerabilities a lingering paper trail can create within their organization.

“Whether it be on lingering paper documents or electronic devices, properly disposing of or securing sensitive information is the best way for a business to protect their customers, their reputation and their people,” says Kevin Pollack, Senior Vice President, Shred-it. “Companies of all sizes need to start taking proactive measures to ensure their employees are trained on destruction procedures, that sensitive information is stored securely, and that they’re mitigating information security threats by disposing of paper and electronic devices in a timely fashion.”

The Security Tracker survey reveals that 32 percent of SBOs believe that the loss or theft of documents would cause no damage to their organization and 31 percent think a data breach wouldn’t significantly impact their business. Their actions reflect a lack of concern – 39 percent of SBOs have no policy in place for storing and disposing of confidential paper documents and just under half (49 percent) shred all documents, regardless of whether considered confidential or not. Additionally, only a small percentage (13 percent) have a locked console in the office and use a professional shredding service to destroy confidential documents.

Unlike their smaller counterparts, most larger U.S. organizations have implemented policies that address confidential data in all forms. However, their practices continue to leave the door open for fraud, especially when it comes to the secure storage and destruction of electronic devices and hard drives. Although 96 percent of large businesses have a policy in place to store and destroy electronic devices, fewer C-Suites than ever before are disposing of electronic devices on a regular basis. The percentage of C-Suite respondents who dispose of electronic devices, including hard drives, on a quarterly basis or more frequently has gone down from 76 percent in 2016 to 57 percent in 2017.

Ultimately, these security shortfalls have led to a lack of confidence in both small and large businesses. Confidence in current secure destruction systems for both paper and electronic media is low, with 43 percent of C-Suites and 46 percent of SBOs reporting that they feel less than very confident. Additional factors contributing to low confidence may include a lack of employee knowledge of the legal requirements in their industry, or a lack of training on company policies for the disposal, destruction, and storage of confidential and non-confidential information. In fact, only about half of all C-Suites (51 percent) train their employees on legal requirements at least twice a year and 36 percent of SBOs never train their employees at all – highlighting the need for more robust training within businesses both large and small.

The post News: U.S. Businesses Neglect a Major Information Security Risk appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Attendees interacted with cutting-edge technology related to music, video, and gaming, and listened to thought-provoking sessions like “How VR Could Change the Way We Do Everything,” “You’re Secure but Is Your Workplace?” and “What It Means to Build an Open Source Culture.” But the real treat for small business owners was the ability to connect with Dell representatives to learn how technology can help them grow.

Interview with @Erik_M_Day at the 2017 @SXSW @Dell Experience: #tech advice for #smallbiz.
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At The Experience, I caught up with Erik Day, Vice President & GM, North America Small Business at Dell Technologies. He spoke about the excitement of being able to connect with customers at SXSW and the fact that Dell is much more than just products.

“The great thing about Dell is that we really are an end-to-end solution provider for customers,” said Erik.

As always, you can access the full interview by clicking Play below.

Before I said goodbye to explore other parts of SXSW (more video interviews and articles to come!) I asked Erik to share his advice for small business owners. Here are his tips:

(1) No question is a dumb question.

At Dell, they understand that technology isn’t what keeps you up at night as you focus on getting the next customer and creating the next product. Their team is ready to answer ANY technology questions you might have.

(2) Move forward with the cloud.

The cloud is a big buzz word right now, although some may not even know what it is. That’s okay! Not only can they answer your questions (see point #1), they can help you with everything you need to create a cloud computing environment and explain what it means to the future of your business.

(3) Security is important.

The backbone of your company is your customer base. Keeping your customer data protected is a vital part of business growth.

(4) Financing is available.

Dell works with customers to provide financing and lines of credit so your technology needs are covered, and your capital can go to finding the next customer, product, or innovation.

To learn more about Erik, Dell, and The Experience, watch the video above…and stay tuned for  more SXSW coverage in the days and weeks to come.

The post The Experience: Dell Showcases the Power of Technology at SXSW 2017 appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Public computers are found in a range of places, including libraries, schools and universities, cafes, and more. Free public Wi-Fi hotspots are also popping up all around us, including restaurants.

These public internet access points get used extensively and as per the Fifth Geek blog you should be carefully when using them if you have sensitive data.

In fact, in 2010 a national study found that 77 million people – that is one-third of the American population 14 and older – used a public library computer or wireless network to access the Internet within the past year. Researchers found that over 75 percent of these people had Internet access elsewhere but used the public computer for convenience.

That convenience comes with a price. Using a public computer can put your data at risk, including usernames, passwords, and other private information. Hackings of public computers frequently make the news, including just recently as the St. Louis Public Library system was hacked and held for ransom on January 19. 2017. And while there are no estimates of how often hacking occurs on public Wi-FI, we do know it is eerily simple for an experienced hacker.

This brings me to my latest Tech and Business video where I share four tips to keep your info safe when using a public computer, which can be fixed at whitcroft it. I will share the essential tips below, but please watch the video for more valuable information.

1. Don’t save your login information.
2. Use private browsing.
3. Be careful what you enter.
4. Choose technology that has security software built in.

The post 4 Tips for Staying Safe on a Public Computer appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

These stories, paradoxically, can numb people to cybersecurity risks. But that’s unfortunate for a couple reasons. First, security risks continue to grow. Second, and maybe more actionable, you can take concrete steps to dial down your cybersecurity risks.

Thе fіrѕt thing you’ll nееd tо dо bеfоrе you рurсhаѕе any еquірmеnt is tо mаkе ѕurе that the ѕуѕtеm you сhооѕе соmеѕ wіth an instruction mаnuаl. Nоt аll ѕесurіtу camera systems for hоmеs аnd buѕіnеѕѕеѕ соmе wіth uѕеr mаnuаls thаt wаlk уоu thrоugh hоw tо іnѕtаll your ѕуѕtеm. Alѕо it’s a good іdеа tо only purchase a саmеrа ѕуѕtеm that соmеѕ wіth frее unlimited technical ѕuрроrt in case уоu hаvе ԛuеѕtіоnѕ оr run іntо рrоblеmѕ. Nоt еvеrу соmраnу оffеrѕ free tесh support wіth the рurсhаѕе оf thеіr саmеrаѕ аnd саmеrа systems. Alѕо, сhесk to ѕее if іt comes with a hardware wаrrаntу. Consider, for example, the following actions:

Use a Secure Portal

You can use a standard, secure portal for moving digital data into and out of your firm’s company network and this should massively dial down the danger.

A standard secure portal—our firm uses Citrix ShareFile—largely eliminates the risks of using insecure data transfer methods like email and unencrypted attachments.

Just so there’s not a misunderstanding here: With a secure portal, clients use an Internet connection and standard “drag, drop and click” interfaces to upload and download digital items like pdfs of tax documents, backup copies of QuickBooks data files, and accounting work papers which might be for example Microsoft Excel workbooks.

A side note: Our firm works with clients all over the world. And we’re pretty confident we’ve had at least one hacked international client. He regularly works out of Africa and appears to have suffered a sophisticated attack and scheme which targeted his foreign bank accounts and, get this, employed Americans impersonating Secret Service agents. The relevant part of all this is that it now seems likely the attempt was at least in part enabled by the client’s decision to not use our portal and then his penchant for sending us “encrypted” pdf attachments.

Standardize Safety Practices

Another key cybersecurity component: You want to make sure employees get trained in how to use the technologies you’re employing. And you want to make sure that a firm’s operating practices reflect safe smart practices.

Simple tactics such as a good training program in the technology you’ll use make a big difference—and minimize learning curve mistakes.

Further, formal procedures should dial down human errors and risky behaviors. You might, for example, create policies such as,  “Our firm doesn’t email attachments …” and “We don’t use other data transfer methods …”

By the way, predictably clients tend to want us to use the approach (file sharing utilities like DropBox, Internet tools like FTP, or ad hoc approaches like virtual private networks) that they’re already accustomed to and comfortable with. But as both a practical matter and a security issue, we find we don’t really have the ability to learn, professionally assess, and then safely use every data transfer method a client, somewhere, wants to use.

And that nicely connects to another topic.

Train Your Clients Well

We’ve found training clients perhaps the biggest challenge but also a powerful way to dial down the danger.

Clients need to “learn” how to use the tools (like a secure portal) and then also buy in to the procedures required to keep their data safe.

Accordingly, you do want to coax and just generally push clients to think about data safety. (In our office, we’re very active and spirited in our pushing of this point of view. I mean, we’re polite. But we’re firm.)

Further, you want to make sure the technologies you use are really easy, so that a steep learning curve doesn’t turn people off.

We’ve tried a handful of portal solutions, for example—including one I won’t name but which was vertical market solution supplied with a platinum brand of professional tax software.

While probably all of the products we tried were very good technically, we found our first attempts didn’t work very well for clients. Here’s why: The products were often too complicated. And that’s ironic—really. Most of our clients are digital economy firms with very tech-savvy owners and managers.

Most of our clients, by the way, use our current portal’s simplest option, preferring to work with clickable links supplied via email messages to upload and download files.

Cybersecurity Enhances Onsite Data Security

One other data security issue merits mention. We think good cybersecurity enhances onsite data security too.

The connection here is pretty simple: Using a portal pushes a firm down the path of going paperless. (Once you’re getting lots of stuff in a digital form, for example, you’ll find it’s easy to keep it in a digital format as you move through the workflow.)

This business of going paperless has its own economic benefits. But in addition to those economic benefits, you may also enjoy security benefits. Compare the two following scenarios…

One small professional services firm accepts, passes around, and then stores paper personal and business financial documents including tax returns. In this scenario, the data can’t be electronically hacked, of course. But all those paper documents are vulnerable to physical theft and then even things like natural and manmade disasters: fires, floods, and so on.

The post Smart Cybersecurity Dials Down Danger appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Scrolling through a list of endless leads, reaching out to them and then trying to customize and craft a suitable follow-up are all tricky tasks. Fortunately, computer software has stepped in to save the day.

Although marketing automation has been around since the eighties, the days of sending out mass emails with a single click are gone. Today, marketing automation pools a variety of tasks into a single platform. From email, website tracking, lead scoring, social media and campaign tracking, the top marketing automation packages will do everything for you.

We’ve partnered with Incapsula to bring you some tips on how to best choose a marketing automation solution.

Finding the Right Marketing Automation Provider

Naturally, with so much choice out there, choosing the right provider requires a little knowledge and a little research. In this article, we’re going to address some issues to consider as you do your own research and find the solution that works best for you.

Budget

Although some would say that price should be lower down on the list, we think it’s important to get the most bang for your buck.

Yes, having a system that has all the bells and whistles you could ever wish for is great, but if you can’t afford it then it’s not worth blowing your budget.

Each provider will offer their own unique features and, depending on how sophisticated they are, they will have a different price tag. When you’re assessing a provider’s package, consider how essential some features are to your business and whether they’re worth the cost.

Features

Every marketing automation package, whether it’s hosted or web-based, will offer something different. However, if you really want to make a sound choice then you need to make sure it covers the following basics:

• Email Marketing – the software should handle all your email needs.
• Web Visitor Tracking – without getting an insight into your traffic, a package is useless.
• Campaign Management – make sure the software allows you to control multiple campaigns.
• Lead Management & Scoring – ranking leads and customized content based on scores is essential.
• Social Integration – beyond emails, make sure the software gives you marketing insights across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Security

When you’re dealing with a third-party software supplier in any sphere, it’s critical that you assess their security credentials.

This is especially important in marketing automation because you’re essentially giving up your business contacts and marketing capabilities to the provider you choose, and allowing them to email your database. Before you hit the buy button, make sure the provider has tested its code for vulnerabilities. According to Security Week , 121 million records were hacked in the US in 2015.

When it comes to staying safe and web application security, Incapsula suggests using a web application firewall to filter incoming code to protect against SQL injections, cross-site scripting and other potential attacks. If a provider doesn’t review its code and utilize this sort of technology, then you should avoid the provider or do it yourself.

Specificity

What is your business and how does this define your marketing strategy? Let’s assume you’re a digital marketing agency providing content to tech companies. In this instance, you’ll want a provider that offers high levels of website tracking data as well as social media integration so you can keep track of each new article’s performance.

Conversely, if you’re a health supplement supplier, then promotional emails and lead nurturing will be of more importance. Before you choose which provider you’re going to go with, make sure you understand your own needs. Once you’ve done this you can then start to select the companies that offer the best solution for these needs.

Ease of Use

Finally, after you’ve chosen a package that’s secure, has all the features you need and comes in on budget, you need to make sure it’s easy to use. Having a myriad of powerful tools at your disposal is great, but if you can’t navigate from one to the other without having to refer to the user manual then it’s not worth having.

When all is said and done, marketing automation is all about ease, efficiency and ergonomics. Each move you make should be intuitive and, more importantly, have a purpose. Therefore, if a provider doesn’t make it easy and intuitive to improve your marketing and generate more sales, it’s not one you should waste your time or budget on.

The post 5 Tips To Choosing Your Marketing Automation Provider appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Businesses in the auto repair industry have to field questions and concerns of this type as well. People are more wary of their personal information being taken without their knowledge and rightfully so; many recent cases from companies of all sorts of sizes have sprung up for years now. With auto repair some people are also afraid of leaving behind such a difficult to come by possession, this being their vehicle. Some people just may not want to go through the hassle of getting that replacement title, and that’s fine, there are ways to work around getting rid of your junk car without title in hand. The first is to sell your junk car via private bill of sale. If you can find a buyer, you can negotiate a private sale, describing the make, model, and year of the vehicle, the agreed-upon sale price, and legal signatures. Before going through with the sale, you will want to make check with an attorney to make sure that all of this paperwork is legit in the eyes of the law. Ending up in small claims court is a major hassle that can completely be avoided by doing your homework beforehand. Ottawa Scrap Car Services provide the best service in junk car scrap.

Connect your smartphone with Bluetooth or to a USB port and your rental car will begin reading and storing your information. Text messages, your phone call logs, and even the places you have visited may be viewed by others unless you delete that information before returning your car. Even then, according to Northside car hire, there is a risk that certain facts may stay behind. This is why they recommend that you keep your information protected in your rental sublease car with these simple precautions:

1. Avoid using Bluetooth. Long before other data services emerged, Bluetooth became the de facto way for people to connect their phones with their cars. Bluetooth streaming enables ease of syncing by using radio waves to achieve that connection. The trouble is, Bluetooth transfers your phonebook data and calling lists to the car, information that is subject to hacking.

2. Restrict your permissions. If the rental car’s infotainment system provides connectivity and allows you to choose your permissions, then do so. Restrict the system’s access to certain information — such as your music files — which effectively forbids access to your other files. Once you open the door for the infotainment system to read anything on your smartphone, you are vulnerable to a security breach.

3. Delete your personal information. If you must connect with the rental car, be sure to delete your personal information before returning it. Locate the car’s Bluetooth setup menu and remove your phone from the paired phone’s list. Ensure the call logs are removed too. You can also find the “clear private data” command or activate the factory reset button to remove that information.

4. Utilize Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Depending on the type of phone you own, you may be able to connect through Apple Car Play or Android Auto. If your rental car is compatible with either, then operate it without worry that your data can be read by others. Both systems are encrypted, and there is no risk of data exposure there.

5. Don’t plug into the USB port. Your data can be harvested even if you avoid Bluetooth: Connecting your smartphone via the USB port to charge your phone or use the infotainment system still puts you at risk (and may give you even less control as you would have with Bluetooth). Avoid connecting to the port at all and instead use your portable charger. A personal power source ensures that no data is exposed to hackers. You can also check where your gps is installed after you want to go connecting to the car’s GPS system with the Ascent Fleet Services.

Traveling for work or pleasure and renting a connected car can be a nice perk, with benefits that include convenience and efficiency. But there are many risks to consider, sometimes buying a car is your best option. Take these precautions and make sure that convenience is not undone by security breaches.

In recent times, the auto industry has boomed at an incredible pace and therefore the concepts of online Sell cars and buying of cars have too gained enough popularity. If we carefully analyze the present scenario, today the concept of online selling and buying automobiles as a business model within the auto industry has pulled the eye of the many auto dealers.

Market research has found that lately more auto dealers are logging on , and consumers are literally preferring to interact online early within the shopping experience. In fact, when it involves car shopping, many purchasers are using the online as an area to try to to research before heading to an actual dealership.In this car shopping Car Ninja is one of the trusted firm who helps a people a lot that is why car purchasing online is comfortable. Adding to the present , many consumers are even reluctant to affect auto dealers face to face even during the first stages of the car-buying or selling experience. No doubt, the words like “online selling” or “online buying” has emerged because the latest buzzwords within the Australian auto industry and lots of individuals are using the online as a perfect platform to sell their cars.

These days, one among the simplest ways to sell a car fast is on the web . Yes, you bought it right. With the assistance of the web , you’ll cash in of many potential car buyers. Every day, thousands and thousands of cars are sold online. However, you would like to know that today selling a car online may result in far more money than trading, then it are often beneficial if you spend a touch little bit of time and make use of online advertisements which will end in a better sale price on used cars. Advertising a car online is one among the simplest methods of attracting potential buyers. Though, there are other multitudes of advertising methods, selling a car online through online advertisements is one among the fastest and best ways of reaching the vast audience .

We аll knоw that the оbjесtіvе оf automobile manufacturers іѕ to dеѕіgn аnd buіld safe vehicles іnеxреnѕіvеlу thаt ѕuіt thе average driver. Wе еnthuѕіаѕtѕ, however, аrе аnуthіng but average. Wе knоw whаt wе wаnt from a vеhісlе аnd we knоw how to gеt іt. We wаnt immediate response, reduced bоdу rоll, іnсrеаѕеd ѕtаbіlіtу аnd enhanced соrnеrіng аbіlіtу. And wе wаnt thе look that comes with thоѕе сhаrасtеrіѕtісѕ – a lоwеr, mоrе muscular, more аthlеtіс stance. Thаt’ѕ what Eіbасh сlаіmѕ іt саn give uѕ wіth its lоwеrіng kіtѕ. Eibach promises thаt аѕ a drіvеr уоu wіll іmmеdіаtеlу fееl mоrе dіrесt hаndlіng аnd greater рrеdісtаbіlіtу. Yоu wіll nоtісе thаt nоѕе dіvе undеr braking аnd еxсеѕѕіvе bоdу roll in hard cornering are rеduсеd. Eіbасh says that іn аnу performance driving ѕіtuаtіоn, trасkіng-ѕtаbіlіtу аnd driver соnfіdеnсе will be grеаtlу enhanced. We are going tо install аn Eіbасh Prо-Kіt lоwеrіng ѕуѕtеm on аn 05 Rаm truсk аnd ѕее іf thоѕе claims bесоmе rеаlіtу fоr uѕ.  Click here to check new RAM truck for sale.

Eibach North Amеrіса is located in Cоrоnа, CA аnd hаѕ adopted thе ѕlоgаn, The Wіll to Wіn. Eibach ѕауѕ “It’ѕ thе drive іn аll of uѕ thаt mаkеѕ us work bеttеr, stay uр later, аnd push hаrdеr. It’ѕ what соmреlѕ uѕ to dо оur bеѕt tоdау – аnd tо dо еvеn bеttеr tоmоrrоw. It’ѕ what mаkеѕ us buіld thе wоrld’ѕ best ѕрrіngѕ, dampers, соіl-оvеrѕ, anti-roll bаrѕ аnd оthеr ѕuѕреnѕіоn components.” That attitude is whаt аllоwѕ Eіbасh tо stand bеhіnd its рrоduсtѕ wіth a Mіllіоn Mile Wаrrаntу.

Wе рісkеd оut a Pro-Kit thаt will lоwеr оur rіdе 1.4″ іn thе frоnt аnd 3.4″ in thе rеаr. That ѕhоuld level оur Ram out nісеlу. This kіt іnсludеѕ bоth rear lеаf ѕрrіngѕ, bоth rеаr bumрѕtорѕ, nеw hаrdwаrе fоr the rear іnѕtаllаtіоn, and both frоnt coil ѕрrіngѕ. Aѕ аlwауѕ, rіght after wе place our оrdеr the аntісіраtіоn begins. The оrdеr аrrіvеѕ and wе mаkе рlаnѕ for the іnѕtаllаtіоn party right аftеr work. I ѕhоuld nоtе hеrе thаt оur іnѕtаllеrѕ hаvе nеvеr dоnе thіѕ kit on thіѕ mоdеl truck bеfоrе.

Rеаr fіrѕt because that’s where wе are getting thе mоѕt сhаngе. Rеmоvе the rear wheels, ѕuрроrt thе аxlе with a jack, аnd remove the rear ѕhосkѕ. Uѕіng саutіоn, because thеу are under lоаd, rеmоvе thе U bоltѕ ѕесurіng thе fасtоrу leaf springs. Rеmоvе thе lеаf ѕрrіngѕ bеgіnnіng wіth the front bolt аnd trаnѕfеr thе ѕрrіng ѕаddlеѕ to thе nеw ѕрrіngѕ. Lосаtе thе nеw Eіbасh spring, bе sure thе label іѕ tоwаrd the rear of thе truсk, аnd роѕіtіоn, but dо nоt tіghtеn, thе frоnt thеn rear оf thе nеw leaf ѕрrіng. Position the rear аxlе аnd dоublе сhесk that the centering pin hоlе іѕ іn thе correct position. Sесurе the аxlе аnd swap the fасtоrу bumpstops fоr the new Eіbасh bumрѕtорѕ. Rеіnѕtаll the shocks and whееlѕ and tіrеѕ. The moment оf truth, rеmоvе thе jасk and аdmіrе. Aftеr the truсk is rеѕtіng оn the grоund tіghtеn thе frоnt аnd rear lеаf ѕрrіng bоltѕ. Wоw! I undеrѕtаnd whу Eibach is оnе оf the рrеmіеr aftermarket ѕuѕреnѕіоn соmраnіеѕ. The Rаm іѕ еxасtlу 3″ lоwеr іn thе rеаr thаn bеfоrе and іt lооkѕ аwеѕоmе in only аbоut an hоur and fifteen mіnutеѕ.

We аrе just іtсhіng tо gеt started оn thе frоnt ѕuѕреnѕіоn when wе discover оur first mіѕtаkе оn thіѕ іnѕtаll. It’ѕ classic because еvеrу оnе of us knоwѕ bеttеr. We dіdn’t сhесk thе расkіng before wе got started and hаvе nоw discovered thаt the instructions fоr thе frоnt роrtіоn of this install аrе mіѕѕіng. Wе hаvе a ѕhееt lіѕtіng ѕаfеtу tips аnd саutіоnѕ. But nоthіng thаt tells uѕ hоw tо gеt the nеw ѕрrіng in роѕіtіоn. Nо PDF instructions оn thеіr wеbѕіtе and, of course, no оnе wants to wаіt until tomorrow whеn wе саn саll аnd gеt them fаxеd frоm Eibach. We rеаѕоn thаt with our раѕt experience, we should be аblе tо fіgurе this оut and wе fоrgе оn. Wе rеmоvе thе frоnt wheels аnd tires аnd begin to study. Wе just hаvе tо get еvеrуthіng оut of thе wау. Rеmоvе brаkе line from caliper, rеlіеvе pressure frоm ѕhосk bу ѕuрроrtіng wіth a jасk and remove shock. Remove nut from ѕtаbіlіzеr bаr and rеmоvе upper A аrm bolts. Fоld A arm аnd rоtоr аwау frоm truсk аnd hold them while уоu rеасh in аnd remove thе соіl ѕрrіng. Replace with nеw Eіbасh ѕрrіng аnd make ѕurе іt іѕ рrореrlу seated. Nоw juѕt рut everything bасk tоgеthеr, make ѕurе it’s аll tight, and swing аrоund to thе оthеr side. Finally, get rіd оf thе jасkѕ аnd tооlѕ ѕо we саn stand back and admire. Amazing! Wе juѕt gave thіѕ Ram a whоlе nеw look аnd a lоt mоrе attitude. Our tоtаl іnѕtаll tіmе hаѕ bееn about three hоurѕ аnd оur cost wаѕ $415.00.

I саllеd Eіbасh thе following dау tо ѕее get a сору of thе іnѕtruсtіоnѕ fоr thе front coil spring іnѕtаll fоr thе рurроѕе оf thіѕ story. They dо not have wrіttеn іnѕtruсtіоnѕ аvаіlаblе for еvеrу application but whаt thеу hаvе is аlmоѕt bеttеr. When уоu call Eibach’s Tech Lіnе аt 1-800-507-2338 they hаvе humans thаt асtuаllу brеаthе and thіnk to answer the рhоnе. Thеу саn ѕtер уоu thrоugh every раrt of аnу іnѕtаllаtіоn 7 аm to 4 рm PST. Sо if уоu like thе ассоmрlіѕhmеnt оf dоіng ѕоmеthіng yourself, оrdеr Eibach аnd knоw that along wіth grеаt parts уоu are gеttіng уеаrѕ of еxреrіеnсе and аll thе tесhnісаl аdvісе you wіll nееd to mаkе уоur іnѕtаllаtіоn раrtу a trеmеndоuѕ success.

The post Is Your Data Secure When You Rent Cars? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Data breaches are a major concern for many businesses and with good reason. If you have a business website, there’s a good chance it will fall prey to a cyberattack of some sort. This raises the question of who will be held liable if your website is hacked and customer data is exposed.

I’ve asked Cassie Phillips, with SecureThoughts.com, to share her research insight on this important topic.

Who is Liable if Your Website is Hacked and Customer Data is Exposed?

There is no cut-and-dry answer as to who is liable if a business’ website is hacked and customer data is exposed. Judith Delaney, the founder of CMMR Group-TurnsonPoint (a digital media compliance company), stated that a business is more likely to be held liable than the customers in the event of a data breach. That being said, the situation is still a complex one without any clear solution.

It is theoretically possible for the state to prosecute your business if your website is hacked. However, if the state were to bring a criminal case against your business, the prosecutors would need to prove that you had committed a crime. To do this, they would need to have an identifiable victim who has suffered identifiable harm. This is not a simple task.

That being said, your customers can file lawsuits against your business if their data is exposed through your hacked website. This is exactly what happened to Target after a massive data breach in 2013 that exposed customers’ banking details. After the class-action lawsuits, Target agreed to pay $10 million in damages to settle.

How to Protect Your Website from Being Hacked                 

Given the complex nature of the situation, it’s best to prevent your website from being hacked in the first place. You should consider putting the following security measures in place:

• Turn on your system logs
• Encrypt all customer data
• Install anti-virus software on all your business devices
• Use a Virtual Private Network (Secure Thoughts has recommendations)
• Use a firewall
• Back up your website content regularly
• Use two-factor authentication
• Invest in cyber insurance (this won’t prevent your website from being attacked, but it will help your business recover financially if it does get hacked)

What to Do If Your Website Is Hacked

If your website does get hacked, you need to follow the proper procedure to prevent further security breaches and mitigate your liability. It is important to hire a legal representative as soon as possible because they will advise you on the best course of action. Try to understand the type of breach by reviewing your system logs to see what, if any, data has been compromised. You need to know what you’re dealing with to fix it. Avoid releasing information about a breach before you know what type of breach it is and if any of your customers were possibly affected. This will only cause your customers to panic. Ensure that you fix your system as fast as possible and check it for other weaknesses.

It is essential that you notify all the appropriate financial and legal organizations of the breach as soon as possible. Certain business sectors have stringent protocols regarding the reporting of security breaches. The situation will only worsen if you are found to be covering up information. As soon as it is appropriate, inform your users of the breach. This is required by law in some states, and federal law may also require it in certain cases. Finally, contact your insurance company to determine if you are covered for any of the expenses relating to the breach.

Conclusion

With the speed at which technology improves and the increasing number of businesses working online, cyberattacks are likely to become a greater problem over time. Not only will the number of cyberattacks increase, but the sophistication of the techniques used will also improve. Despite the lack of clarity regarding your business’s liability if its website is hacked, you can protect your business and customers if you follow the correct procedures.

Has your business website been hacked? If so, how did you deal with the situation? Please tell us in the comments section.

The post Can You Be Held Liable if Your Website is Hacked? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I’ve asked Nicholas Raba, Founder and President of SecureMac.com to share his insight with us. SecureMac is a company devoted to Mac Security. Nicholas has written extensively about computer security, with articles appearing in both magazines and books, and often gives speeches at security conferences.

Stolen data is just one of the many cyber threats that modern businesses face every day. Malware, spyware, viruses, Trojans, ransomware, and other threats can lead to lost or corrupted data, leaked trade secrets, hefty expenses (whether to pay a ransom or repair/replace hardware), and plenty of headaches and lost productivity. Needless to say, no company can be complacent about cyber security when these threats not only exist but are also prevalent.

The Mac Misconception

One of the biggest misconceptions about cyber security is the belief that Macs are somehow impervious to threats. This belief is thanks in part to a 2007 “Mac vs. PC” commercial, which implied that Macs were somehow “immune” to viruses.

This misconception could explain the growing popularity of Macs for business. In a recent customer survey, SecureMac found that 44% of customers use their Mac for work, while 66% stated that their companies primarily use Macs as well. No one wants to deal with a virus or malware problem on their work computer, for fear of risking data loss, compromising customer information, or losing productivity. If there is a supposedly “secure” operating system, it would make sense that it would be especially popular in the workplace.

Usually when people change from a Windows computer to a Mac book they get everything twisted up, because the whole software is really different and you’ll need time to get used to it. In case that you have computer problems, just ring a computer technician in Melbourne that can help you understand how to work on your computer properly.

The truth about Macs is that they are just as vulnerable to potential cyber threats as any other devices. The Mac OS X (or macOS) operating systems aren’t as prevalently targeted by hackers as Microsoft Windows, simply because Windows has a larger market share. However, as Macs have become more popular, malware for the operating system has become more common.

The good news is that customers seem to be letting go of the myth of Mac’s supposed “immunity” to viruses. SecureMac’s recent customer survey also showed that 86% of respondents either do not think that OS X alone provides sufficient security or are unsure.

How to Address Security Concerns

So how can you protect your Mac from the security threats out there? Here are a few ways that you can get up to speed and minimize your level of risk:

• Keep your Mac updated: Apple will frequently release security updates to the OS to address new vulnerabilities. Keeping your system as up to date as possible, then, will help to keep you safe from new threats.

• Install security software: Updates will help eliminate vulnerabilities, but having good security software will provide an extra layer of protection. Use antivirus and privacy program to detect browser threats, wipe out tracking cookies, scan your system, and remove any malware.

• Be wary about unsecured Wi-Fi: In our survey, we found that 61% of customers use unsecured Wi-Fi on a regular basis. These networks are convenient, but they can give hackers a gateway into your machine. Turning off sharing, enabling the firewall, and only connect to sites with HTTPS are some ways to stay safe on unsecured Wi-Fi, but you might even consider getting a VPN if you use free wireless hotspots regularly.

• Stay aware: Follow a few blogs or sites devoted to Macs and Mac security. Stay up to date about what the latest OS X or macOS threats look like will help you avoid them.

As a small business, you can’t afford a data breach or computer system downtime. Taking steps to protect yourself from cyber threats will protect your brand image and preserve the integrity of your customer and employee information. The tips listed above will help you lay the foundations for good protection and hopefully help your business avoid any potential cyber threats in the future.

The post The Misconception of Mac Computer Security: Everyone Needs Security appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I asked Jeff Blackey, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Broadview Networks to share his thoughts with us.

In order to prevent revenue loss and remain connected and operational, businesses today must identify potential vulnerabilities within their organizations and plan accordingly. Here are three actions business leaders should take as they look to minimize the impact of natural and man-made disasters.

Back up Business Data

Eliminate costly downtime and risks of on-site failures by securing all critical communications and information exclusively in the cloud. The ability to access information is vital to make day-to-day business decisions and to keep critical communications with customers and clients intact, especially in the case of any disasters. Business leaders should make sure all pertinent data from desktops, laptops and servers are backed up in the cloud to make their business more accessible and flexible.  When selecting a backup solution, be sure that data being transmitted will be secured correctly so that files, folders or entire systems can be recovered easily at any time. A 100 percent cloud-based solution provides optimal security with calls encrypted, and data kept secure in the cloud so that nothing is vulnerable on-site.  If primary data is lost, corrupted or inaccessible, these solutions have a backup copy of the data stored safely in the cloud, provide recovery tools and allow quick restoration of files on demand easily – no matter the location.

Move Servers to the Cloud

Business data is irreplaceable, and the financial consequences of being unable to access key information and applications in the event of a disaster can be severe. For maximum reliability, businesses should look for a 100 percent cloud-based data back-up solution with multiple data centers to ensure undisrupted access to files if a regional disaster affects one of the data centers. Businesses should also consider transitioning servers to the cloud for improved scalability. With the ability to increase off-site server capacity through a web-based portal, organizations become more nimble in avoiding potential disruptions. Housing data and servers 100 percent in the cloud provides a much more secure way to store business information, with the added benefit of universal access for employees working off-site.

Offer the Ability to Work Remotely

As the demand for mobility and flexibility increases, businesses require a cloud phone system that meets their ever-changing needs. The degree to which solutions are cloud-based is key to the level of mobility and security a provider can deliver. As communication to clients and employees is most vital to business success during disasters, businesses must arm employees with the tools and capabilities they need, so that work is not disrupted if an office must close. Businesses should look for systems that include advanced features like mobile twinning, which sends inbound calls to mobile and desk phones simultaneously, the ability to re-route calls online and from anywhere, auto attendants that serve as virtual receptionists ensuring every call is answered and voicemail transcription that allows employees to check their office voicemail instantly, without ever touching a phone or stepping foot into the office.

National Preparedness Month is a great time to start preparing for any potential disasters to ensure business continuity. Putting the right technologies in place is critical in reducing the risk and impact of the unexpected on operations and financial health year-round. Enabling seamless remote work with cloud-based communication solutions and leveraging the cloud to house servers and to back up data are also foundational steps in minimizing vulnerability.

Jeff Blackey is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Broadview Networks, one of the top 10 UC cloud providers in the nation. Broadview’s cloud offerings include OfficeSuite® Phone, the easy-to-use hosted phone system that is 100% cloud-based using technology unique to Broadview. Mr. Blackey has more than 25 years of marketing management experience in the communications industry.

The post Storms Are Here and More Are Coming. Is Your Business Ready? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

All of us have one or more Internet-connected devices – video cameras, DVRs, climate control and other “smart devices”. The WSJ reports that hackers might have infected yours.

How can you protect yourself?

You must constantly update the “firmware” (andn software) of all of your devices.

Updating your smart phone, computer, and all other devices is essential to better protect them. Hackers are on the prowl for vulnerabilities and vendors are on the prowl for securing their devices with new updates.

Beyond updating these devices, make sure that your network, devices and custom software are properly configured, hardened, against attack.

Update your devices and increase your security.

The post Are Your Internet Devices Controlled By Someone Else? appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I asked Ingrid Victorsson, a marketing professional from Boise, Idaho to put together some advice we can use to be more secure. In her off time she enjoys studying local history, eating cheese, and cuddling her dogs.

Target is hardly the only company to lose customer data. In fact, it’s happened far more often than it should, and it seems the cases are only becoming more numerous as time goes on. From poor security measures to leaked information, businesses have become careless with the precious information their patrons have entrusted to them.

According to a Harris Interactive poll, nearly 90 percent of U.S. consumers said they would avoid purchasing from a company if they felt their privacy was not protected. The good news is that setting yourself apart from the eBays and Anthems of the world is easy enough; it only requires marketing your security measures — and following through on those promises.

Protecting Customer Information

Before we get to marketing, there are a number of things you should be doing to protect your customers’ data. Depending on the size of your company, the way your systems are set up, and what information you have, consider the following security measures.

Use A Dedicated Server

As a money saving effort, many small businesses host their files on a shared server. On a shared server, different sites are are being hosted on the same machine — and individuals outside your company have access to your server. This means your website may be put at risk due to another site’s weak security. While it’s significantly more expensive, a dedicated server will greatly reduce the chance of your site being hacked by an outside party.

Encrypt Your Data

Keeping sensitive records unencrypted is always a risk — and it’s one that’s not worth taking. Data security is good business, which means there are plenty of affordable and convenient software solutions on the market. Pick one, use it, and set up an update schedule to keep yourself one step ahead of the hackers.

Layer Website Security

Since hackers use several approaches to break into sites and steal data, installing multiple layers of security is one of the best ways to keep an ecommerce site safe. Firewalls, contact forms, and login boxes all give thieves more work to do to access data — and make them less likely to succeed.

Employ a Malware Monitoring Service

Malware monitoring services not only protect your website and visitors from malware, they also notify you if your site has been compromised or infected with malicious code. Another option is endpoint protection, which guards your network and email against spam, malware, and dangerous file types.

Police Removable Storage Devices

Establish a policy wherein all removable storage devices are identified and controlled. This will prevent malware and viruses from getting in and keep sensitive information from getting out.

Shred, Shred, Shred

Shred, burn, or pulverize paper records of sensitive consumer data as soon as you no longer have use of it. It’s the law.

Run Wiping Programs

Deleting a file doesn’t permanently remove it, and just like paper documents, disposal rules apply to electronic media as well. There are a number of data erasure software programs available that can permanently remove files from a hard drive — if you don’t have one, get it ASAP.

Restrict Access

The fewer people have access to sensitive information, the better. Sensitive customer files, whether paper or electronic, should be kept in a centralized location under lock and key, and only available to employees who have “need to know” status.

Make Security a Company-Wide Responsibility

Don’t rely solely on either an internal IT employee (or an outside IT service provider) to protect customer information. Your IT person may not be aware of exactly how data is being used and shared. Discussions should be coordinated between IT, sales, marketing, human resources, and other departments to ensure that all those with access to customer data are managing and protecting it in a way that provides the highest level of security.

Data Recovery

In the event of damage, recovering data from servers or hard drives may be necessary. Do your research and be sure you use a reputable service or software — don’t let just anyone have access to customer records.

When considering data recovery services like this one, there are a few things you need to look for. How fast can they work? What type of devices can they recover data from? Where can they perform their recovery? Sometimes a cleanroom is necessary, other times you may prefer to have them on-site.

Create a Breach Plan

If the worst happens, you need to have a plan in place to handle it. This includes:

• Isolating the problem
• Notifying customers
• Getting an IT security expert involved to fix the situation

Swift notification is crucial when a breach exposes an individual’s name along with other identifying information — it will give your customers time to take defensive action. Furthermore, it can make a world of difference in the legal ramifications you face, as well as your brand’s reputation.

Marketing Security Measures

Data privacy and security is more than a risk management issue, it’s also a way to assure your customers that the trust they place in your company is warranted. Consumers are well aware of the risks surrounding data security and privacy, and differentiate yourself through a reputation for strong data privacy and security practices is a great way to gain a competitive edge.

A mind-blowing 80% percent of customers are more likely to purchase from companies that are perceived to be protecting their personal information.

But how do you market your security measures in a way that customers will hear it? Since most consumers only skim privacy policies when purchasing product online, it’s important to offer the information in more than one place.

• Include security/privacy measures on the about page of your website in an easy to read format — give them the the bullet points, not the whole shebang.
• If you have a storefront, keep a few pamphlets on hand and make sure there’s a section covering your privacy policy.
• Dedicate part of your newsletter to how you protect customer information.
• Add it to your advertising copy!

Customers want to know you care enough to protect them. By implementing a comprehensive data protection plan and spreading the word to customers — both potential and current — you can get a leg up on both hackers and your competitors.

The post Selling Security: Why It’s More Important Than Ever appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

If you are a startup owner, your priority is probably the growth of your company. You are dealing with long working hours, payroll and many hassles that are a part of building your own business. Most likely, cyber security is not on top of your mind­ unless something happens that makes you realize how important it is to protect your sensitive business information right from the start.

I’ve asked Marty P. Kamden,  CMO of NordVPN,  a VPN service provider, to give us his insight.

According to security firm ThreatMetrix, cybercrime attacks went up by 50% in all segments in the 2nd quarter of 2016, which is a worrisome trend. Startups are considered to be an especially easy prey for hackers: in 2014, 85% of all data breaches were directed at small businesses and startups.

Tо begin wіth, a consultancy firm offering cybersecurity services wіll hаvе thе specialist expertise needed tо help уоu protect уоur business frоm hackers аnd frоm insider threats. If уоur business іѕ a small оnе wіth vеrу limited turnover, уоu mау think іt іѕ immune frоm hackers. Hоwеvеr, mаnу hackers carry оut thеіr attacks nоt frоm a financial incentive, but simply fоr thе fun оf іt. Thеѕе so-called “script kiddies” wіll оftеn mоunt opportunistic attacks аgаіnѕt аnу organisation wіth a соmрutеr network thаt happens tо hаvе аn unguarded port open tо thе Internet. Thіѕ іѕ whеrе thе information security services offered bу a consulting company саn help уоu harden уоur соmрutеr systems аgаіnѕt attack, аnd improve уоur incident response аnd recovery procedures fоr uѕе аftеr a successful attack. Click here if you want to get more about the How CISO as a Service helps protect the company.

Besides targeted cybercrime, startups suffer from malware, rogue software, unprotected Wi-Fi and much more.

For example, a hacker could mimic a banking site that you are visiting through an unprotected Wi-Fi entry point and steal all your credit card information. Or your employee can open an email attachment that is infected with a virus and spread across your network. In phishing attacks, you or your employees can get a fake email tricking you into revealing your personal information. In password attacks, a hacker will try to hack your system by trying to guess password combinations that you use.

While the types of attacks on your system could be many, we have selected some common sense solutions that every startup owner should know.

1. Use only https URL. Make sure all websites that you give your data to have the secure https URL. The “s” in the URL means that it is a secure protocol, and your data is encrypted properly.

2. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPNs connect you to the Internet through an encrypted tunnel. VPN server acts as a relay between the Internet and a company¹s private network, so nobody can see what data is being shared over the Internet. All that can be seen that you are connected to a VPN server. A VPN service provider, such as VirtualShield VPN, can offer multiple benefits to small businesses, including secure data connections between remote workers and the power to create a remote working environment without being scared of data breaches. You can get complete online freedom and no monitoring nor logging of your online activities by using a VPN, you can VirtualShield VPN review here to know  more about company.

3. Avoid downloading files from unknown senders. The rule is simple: if you are not familiar with the sender, better don¹t click to download any attachments or any links they might send.

4. Update your firewall. Most systems have an automatically installed firewall, just make sure you follow up with its regular updates.

5. Use anti-virus. Use an updated virus protection to make sure your system is protected from malware such as malvertising (advertisement online with malicious codes).

6. Strong passwords. Perhaps the most basic requirement for any online account setup is using strong passwords. Weak passwords make it simple for hackers to break into your system and cause severe damage.

7. Update your Operating System. It sounds simple and easy to do, but it happens that we ignore the pop-up reminders for software updates. However, it¹s one of the most important things to do with a computer, as the updates fix security vulnerabilities and system bugs.

8. Secure your mobile. If you are happy that your system is now secure, you might be forgetting one important part – your mobile devices. You probably store important passwords on your smartphone and other sensitive information, therefore, don¹t forget to encrypt your phone either.

The post 85% of Cyber Attacks Are Directed at Startups: 8 Tips That Can Save Your Company appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Protecting Your Small Business from Security Threats

Hackers are becoming more sophisticated, and new threats are popping up every day. How can you keep your small business safe? In this interview with Norman Guadagno from Carbonite, Norman shares three small steps any small business owner can take to prevent security threats including viruses, malware, ransomware, and hacking attempts.

Click to read How Small Business Can Prevent and Recover from Security Threats: An Interview with Norman Guadagno

Generating Buzz with Your Branding

Branding is one of the most important elements of creating a successful small business. Can customers immediately recognize you when they glance at your logo? How do you set yourself apart from the competition? What sort of conversations are customers having about your brand? This article shares five secrets of becoming a brand that people love and want to talk about it.

Click to read How to Develop a Brand People Will Love to Talk About

Selling Your Home-Based Business

When we think of selling a business, many of us picture a business that has a physical location in which the keys are literally passed on to the new owner. However, many small businesses in the United States are home-based. Is it possible to tell a home-based business too? Yes! This article covers some of the basics of selling a business as well as factors that are unique to home-based businesses. Follow these tips and you’ll be prepared to sell when the timing is right.

Click to read How to Successfully Sell Your Home-Based Business

The articles above will give you a lot to think about, whether it is protecting yourself against security threats, improving your branding, or preparing to sell your small home-based business. For other intriguing discussions on topics like operations, finance, marketing, technology, and sales, head over to SmartHustle.com to get the scoop.

The post Smart Hustle Recap: Security Threats, Branding, and More! appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

There’s a lot of talk about hackers getting into computers, mobile devices and networks. This talk should not be ignored, but one of the biggest security threats is really, small business owners, having poor passwords.

In partnership with LastPass, Joe Siegrist, VP and GM of LastPass, shares his insight on how and why to create better passwords for your business. LastPass remembers your passwords, so you can focus on the more important things in life.

Keeping an organization secure is no longer just the IT team’s job. Today’s digitally connected workplace requires that security is a shared responsibility in order to protect sensitive information at work. For many small business owners, keeping data secure may seem like a daunting task due to the lack of IT staff or budget. However, educating employees on proper password practices is a simple and cost effective way to create a security conscious work environment that limits security risks.

People are inherently bad at creating secure passwords. Left to our own devices, most of us will make passwords that are easy to use and remember, ultimately leaving personal and company information vulnerable to hacks and phishing attacks.

Whether you’re a small business with a handful of employees or a major corporation, companies of all sizes can benefit by following these essential tips for improving your first line of defense online.

Password hygiene.

Most people know they should be updating their passwords, but how often do you really do it? Creating unique passwords and updating them regularly is critical to a secure workplace. If you’re a smaller organization with employees who share password credentials for access to certain company information or applications, make sure you are updating passwords every time an employee leaves the company.

And don’t just “change” each password to the same word or phrase – unique passwords for each website and subscription is key. Everyone knows you should have a long password, and that it should be a mix of characters like numbers, symbols, and upper and lowercase letters. But using a unique password is arguably even more important. Every single online account should have its own password. It’s the only way to reduce the risk of a breach.

Go for passphrases, not just passwords

When you do need to create a password, “passphrases” are a simple way to make a strong one. The key with a passphrase is to string together words or phrases to create one long phrase that’s easy for you to remember, but pretty hard for anyone else to guess or crack. Then you can add in a few random symbols and characters to further increase its strength.

Here’s an example: mydogFido’sbirthdayisNovember19

A passphrase is the best of both worlds: It’s easier to remember because it’s a phrase you can repeat and commit to memory, but it’s also very strong by virtue of its length and mix of characters. Using a passphrase is a simpler way to create a super strong password.

Turn on Two-Factor Authentication

Two is always stronger than one. Whenever possible, turn on two-factor authentication with your accounts; many websites now offer this option for added security. Two-factor authentication requires an additional step before logging into an account, even if the correct password is used – this is usually through a push notification, text message or email that will require the user to verify that they are attempting to login to said account.

The benefit of two-factor authentication is that, should your password somehow be compromised – perhaps in a phishing attack – the attacker still won’t be able to get into the company’s account without the two-factor authentication information.

Add a password manager to your toolbox

The reality is that it’s extremely hard to practice good password habits without something to help you remember, organize, and create passwords. Using a password manager is a great way to ensure company credentials are kept organized, updated and secure. A password manager like LastPass helps centralize passwords in one secure place, and keeps passwords synced where you need them.

But to really get the most out of your password manager, you need to use it to create unique passwords for every single online account. The password generator makes it easy to create a new password whenever you need one, and the LastPass Security Challenge helps you identify old, weak, or reused passwords that still need to be changed. Once your employees are set up with a password manager, it’s critical that they take the next step and update every single password to a better one.

For as long as we continue to use them, passwords are an important part of staying secure online. By following these tips, you’ll make sure your company passwords are working hard for you and doing everything possible to keep your company’s data secure.

In partnership with LastPass, Joe Siegrist, VP and GM of LastPass, shares his insight on how and why to create better passwords for your business. LastPass remembers your passwords, so you can focus on the more important things in life.

The post Your Biggest Security Threat Is Not Hackers: It’s Poor Passwords appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

It’s impossible to know what could happen in the future, but you can (and should) plan for it. The future of your business and its digital legacy depends on how you’ve planned ahead for the unknown. Not implementing a specific plan for your business if you pass away unexpectedly or need to take an extended leave of absence could cause serious problems for your family and business associates, and could ultimately lead to the demise of your business itself.

In partnership with Lastpass, Joe Siegrist, VP and GM of LastPass shares his insight on how to ensure that your business data is safe and secure, long after you’re no longer involved in your business. LastPass remembers your passwords, so you can focus on the more important things in life.

In today’s connected world, the complexity of our digital lives has caused us to think differently about the way we prepare for the unexpected. Sensitive company data like healthcare information, employee records, client contact information and financials could all be lost if they are easily accessible to unauthorized personnel. As technology reshapes interpersonal communication and document storage, it’s crucial for small business owners to make arrangements for what should happen to your digital property after your death.

Here are a few tips for small business owners to manage their digital afterlife and ensure the future safety of their business:

Assess your business’ digital assets

The first step in owning your company’s digital afterlife is maintaining an inventory for business-related digital assets, referring to electronically stored, intangible personal property such as email accounts, social media accounts, and domain names, among others. For those with only a single laptop and one email account, the evaluation may be simple because they may not have many assets. For a business owner whose day-to-day work involves managing employees, clients, vendors, suppliers, and a variety of technology, there are many more assets to address and a clear plan needs to be put in place. Small business owners should catalog passwords and usernames for any online accounts, like those for paying bills, managing payroll and employee benefits, suppliers and vendors, even computer logins and WiFi configurations. Password managers such as LastPass provide and simple and secure option to keep track of these. The question business owners need to ask is: Would someone have access to everything they need in order to step into my shoes and run the business, or to settle my business after my death? All digital assets should be accounted for and securely logged.

Prepare a digital estate plan

When preparing for the unexpected, you want to be sure that your digital assets stay with the business and that someone remaining with the business has the proper authority to access what you leave behind. A digital estate plan is an online document where you can upload wills, trusts and all directives for how to handle your business and assets after your passing. Creating a digital estate plan will help your business’ successor easily locate any accounts you have online and access those accounts or the information in them. They’ll also have clear directions for how to carry out your final wishes. Designate somebody you trust to be your business’ digital heir. This person will need to access your accounts – store any and all information they need in a secure but accessible location.

Protect your passwords

You can save a lot of heartache and hassle by ensuring the person you’re passing your business information down to has all the passwords they need to carry out your plans in your absence. This person will need access to your accounts, so using a password manager for business is a helpful way to store everything in one place. LastPass features a Sharing Center to manage shared passwords and an Emergency Access feature that enables users to easily hand down passwords to their heirs. Your designated Emergency Access contact(s) can request access to your account and securely receive your passwords and notes, so they are able to keep your business running smoothly.

Plan for your social media accounts

If you’re the only person with access to your business’ social media accounts, it will be difficult for someone else to access the accounts when you’re gone. Some social media accounts may also be deleted. To avoid this, you can either give somebody you trust access to your accounts or appoint a legacy contact to manage the account. Some programs, like Google and Facebook, have settings for managing your accounts after your passing. Facebook allows users to designate somebody as a “legacy contact” to manage their account, while Google allows users to pick a trusted contact to receive data from its services including Gmail, Google+, YouTube and more. All websites have their own policy, or lack thereof, so you should make plans for your business’ social media accounts based on how you would like them to continue. Will you pass on your company’s social media account to another team member to control, or have the accounts deleted? Make specific plans for your company’s online persona so it’s clear how to manage it when you’re gone, and make sure those passwords are recorded if they’re ever needed.

Educate your employees

In order to keep your business and its assets safe in your absence, make sure your employees are informed when it comes to security threats. Holding IT trainings, offering general best practice tips, setting them up with a password manager and educating employees about the importance of creating unique passwords can help increase awareness of these potential risks.

Don’t leave the future of your business to chance. The inevitable may be out of your control, but with proper planning you can prepare for your digital legacy and the future of your business.

In partnership with Lastpass, Joe Siegrist, VP and GM of LastPass shares his insight on how to ensure that your business data is safe and secure, long after you’re no longer involved in your business. LastPass remembers your passwords, so you can focus on the more important things in life.

The post Your Digital Afterlife: How to Manage Your Business’ Digital Afterlife appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Accelerate Your Business Recap

Accelerate Your Business was a symposium aimed at sharing information that will help small business owners take their businesses to the next level. It featured sessions that shared best practices in cloud-based technology, and new devices & apps that can make your business more productive and efficient. Attendees also had the opportunity to network with business leaders, industry experts, and digital innovators. It was a high-energy, high-impact event for all who attended.

The event started out with a keynote from Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and an investor in tech startups. He spoke about “Building a Community of Hundreds of Thousands of Communities,” which is exactly what he was able to do with the creation of Reddit in 2005.

The morning continued with three sessions that touched on different aspects of business growth and technology:

• Staying Safe in the Current Cyber Environment – Moderated by Gene Marks, this session focused on data security for the modern cloud-based workforce, with an emphasis on keeping both customer and business data safe.
• Managing the Modern Customer – Moderated by Carol Roth, this session focused on using technology to create a holistic approach to customer service.
• Q&A: What’s Hot, What’s Happening and What’s to Come – This Q&A session with Amy Cosper (Entrepreneur), Jordan Chrysafidis (Microsoft) and Eric Day (Dell) tackled questions about the future of business and what businesses today can do to prepare.

The Accelerate Your Business symposium then ended with a keynote and workshop on “Influencing Influencers” with Jon Levy, who shared his experience working with brands and companies as well as strategies for businesses to improve their product development, customer acquisition, and customer engagement.

Accelerate Your Business with Safer Technology

I participated in the session on staying safe in the current cyber environment. Today’s technology and cloud-based solutions have made it easier to run your business, but there are also data security concerns that every growing business should be aware of.

One way to keep your business safe is to upgrade your devices, because older devices are slower, heavier, bulkier, and pose security risks. This infographic explains the huge differences between old and new devices.

If it’s time to modernize your business technology, consider updating to devices based on the 6th generation Intel® Core vPro processor family  and Windows 10 pro.

• Fast boot and wake up times.
• Easy multi-tasking between apps, files, and websites.
• True Key technology to safely reduce the number of passwords you use.
• Facial recognition technology for simple and safe log in.
• BitLocker encryption that keeps your data safe even if your computer is lost or stolen.

You can get 6^th generation Intel Core processors and Windows 10 pro in a range of devices, such as desktop towers, touch screen All-in-ones, mini PCs, laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1s. Check out the Accelerate Your Business site for more offers, information and the latest devices.

The Accelerate Your Business symposium emphasized the fact that to grow your business you have to be constantly moving forward with the latest technology and strategies for developing products and reaching customers. One way to get started right away is by upgrading your devices today.

This post was written in partnership with Intel; however, all opinions and experiences expressed are my own.

The post Accelerate Your Business Recap: It’s Time to Upgrade Your Aging Devices! appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

There are so many things you can do to have better security. Hire a security expert to better configure your network, ensure you have the right software installed on your computers (and mobile devices) to scan for viruses and block malware.

Internet security is important in today’s world, after all, a lot of things are done online. For most people, it is impossible to go for hours without connecting to the internet. There is no doubt that smartphones, laptops, and computers are very important tools in today’s world. It is through these devices that people can connect to the internet. However, you have to be careful when using the internet because malicious people may steal your identity, documents, and personal information. As the internet became more and more popular, more and more fraudsters started to look for ways to steal from unsuspecting individuals and business online.

But one of the BEST, cheapest, and easiest things you can do is to ensure that YOU are educated in how YOU can secure yourself.

When typing in your password, be sure no one is watching. Be sure you’re not using a “free” WiFi connection when doing banking and other transactions (use a VPN like the one at https://www.lesmeilleursvpn.com/). Use strong passwords. Want to test VPN connection to make sure everything is running as it should but not sure where to start? It’s possible to prevent these leaks, but first, you have to identify them. You can do so by running some basic tests that anyone can do.

An email from GoDaddy gives these tips:

• Make sure your password has 12 characters minimum.
• Include numbers, symbols, capital letters and lowercase letters.
• Don’t use dictionary words.
• Add 2-Step verification — an extra layer of security requiring a code from your mobile device.

The post You Are the Secret to Good Security: Be Educated. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

I’ve used passwords since I started dialing numbers of a lock on my school locker. They’re a pain and easy to forget. How much more difficult do you think it is to have a many passwords you must remember and enter from device to device and from app to app? A royal pain.

Secil Watson, executive vice president and head of wholesale Internet services at Wells Fargo predicts that passwords will be gone within 5 years.

Instead of passwords expect to use eye scans, fingerprints, voice or other biometrics to replace passwords.

You can read the WSJ article here.

The post In 2021 Passwords Will Be Gone. Biometrics Will Be the Gatekeeper for Your Device Says Wells Fargo. appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Many technology companies, such as Google, Facebook, and Snapchat, have publicly sided with Apple.

In fact, many of these companies have announced their intentions to make their products more secure.

For example, WhatsApp hopes to encrypt both the text messaging and voice calling feature of its mobile app.

Therefore, the FBI’s decision to make this issue public may make it more difficult for the organization to recover users’ data in the future.

So what does all of this mean for your business?

Mobile Security for Businesses

CompTia conducted a study about a year ago on the importance of mobile security for businesses. According to the resulting report, 28 percent of businesses believe that security is far more important today than it was just two years ago. A high percentage of the businesses involved in the study believe that security will rise even more in importance by 2017.

The Importance of Mobile Security

The battle between Apple and the FBI is clear evidence that many technology companies consider mobile security to be a very serious matter.

However, the importance of mobile security is not initially evident to many business owners.

This is especially true when it comes to the owners of small businesses, because they tend to be relatively new to the business world. There are two main reasons why it is necessary for all businesses to make mobile security a top priority:

1. A lack of mobile security could make your business’ data and info vulnerable to breaches from hackers.

2. Customers will not have much confidence in a brand that does not value or provide mobile security and/or security overall.

Every business has information and data that is of vital essence to its operations. In many cases, it is essential that this information and data is kept secure and private. For example, no business wants hackers to get their hands on sensitive customer information, such as credit card numbers. If you have a mobile app that allows users to pay for your products and services, mobile security is necessary to avoid financial identity theft.

Customers will be hesitant to use the mobile apps of a company that does not value mobile security. Apple values mobile security because it value having the trust of its customers. In fact, this case served to strengthen the trust Apple’s customers have in the brand. Just a few cases of financial identity theft is enough to cause your customers to swear off using your mobile apps or doing business with you at all.

Common Types of Mobile Security Breaches

CompTia’s study states that a whopping 55 percent of security breaches are the result of human error. The other 45 percent of security breaches are caused by technology error. Bring Your Own Device policies are becoming increasingly popular in the workplace. However, this phenomena has led to more security threats, because most employees don’t have the knowledge necessary to recognize these threats. As a business owner, you need to consider the role of your employees in the vulnerability of sensitive data.

Mobile malware, the disabling of security features by employees, and lost/stolen devices are the main reasons for mobile security breaches. Mobile malware has become much more prevalent in the past few years. One major reason for this is that mobile devices tend to be more closed in nature. This prevents IT departments from placing safeguards on mobile devices.

Many businesses make the mistake of putting flexibility and productivity over mobile security. These businesses view mobile security as the last priority until an incident occurs that convinces them otherwise.

How to Develop a Mobile Security Plan

As a business owner, you should think about developing a mobile security plan for the sake of both your business and your customers. Fortunately, you don’t need to focus on technical improvement. Instead, you need to focus on educating your employees. In order for your mobile security plan to be effective, you need to make this education ongoing and interactive. You should make the education measurable, so that you can identify which aspects of mobile security your employees still need to work on.

Besides education, you should encrypt sensitive data on mobile devices. Both apps and operating systems should be kept up to date, as mobile malware tends to be more effective on older versions of apps and operating systems. In order to achieve this, you should collaborate with a company like Trustonic, which provides services to secure your smart devices and enable trust.

The case between Apple and the FBI only serves to highlight the importance of mobile security for all businesses, from small mom-and-pop companies to massive businesses like Apple and Google. it is up to you to put a mobile security plan in to place to protect your business and your customers from security breaches. Don’t make the mistake of considering mobile security to be your last priority. Many businesses have had to learn this lesson the hard way after suffering a major mobile security incident.

The post Apple, The FBI and Your Business: Why Encryption Is Important appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Small Biz Success Story – Hannah Perry of the Giggling Pig

Small business is the engine that drives America’s economic progress, and it’s no secret that people come from other countries in search of the American Dream. In this inspirational story you’ll learn about Hannah Perry, who came to the United States from England with just $15 in her pocket to last her a week. Life was tough but she struggled and found success with her children’s art and after-school studio called Giggling Pig. In this article you can learn about her recipe for success and business advice, plus watch the video interview.

Click to read How Hannah Perry of the Giggling Pig Turned $15 Into Small Business Success.

5 Tips to Become More Profitable

As an entrepreneur, profit is one of your main goals; however, there are many ways you can unknowingly let that profit fall through the cracks. This article has five tips that will improve your profit by filling those cracks, careful planning, and developing healthy financial habits.

Click to read 5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Become More Profitable.

Cloud Security Tips

These days 77 percent of business owners are using cloud technology. Cloud software and apps feature benefits such as easy access to business data on the go – however, with that convenience come additional security risks. If you use cloud technology in your business, you’ll want to check out this must-read article that covers 5 important things you should do to increase the security of the business and customer data you store in the cloud.

Click to read 5 Security Tips to Keep Your Business Data Safe in the Cloud.

So what are you looking for this week – perhaps inspiration for your small business journey, financial tips, or cloud security strategies? Explore the articles above, plus check out Smart Hustle for more important small business information.

The post Smart Hustle Recap: Small Biz Success Story, Ways to Increase Profit & Cloud Security Tips appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

Small Business Owners Can Capitalize on Freelance Workers

Freelance workers currently make up 34 percent of the United States workforce. Is your small business capitalizing on this group of skilled workers yet? If you said no, you probably aren’t sure what freelance workers offer your company and how to find them. This article will clear up all of your questions.

The article includes an interview with Constantine Anastasakis, the Senior Director of Business Development at Fiverr. Constantine is sharing more about how Fiverr works and how you can use freelance workers to push your own small business ahead. This is a trend every small business owner should be embracing! Learn how to do so by reading this helpful article.

Click to read Fiverr Interview: How to Use Freelancers as Your Competitive Advantage.

Boosting Your Small Biz Security

Hackers do not discriminate – your small business is just as vulnerable as your larger competitors (and perhaps even more so). Security breaches cost money ($3.79 million total in 2015) and they can also cost your customers’ trust. Fortunately, boosting your small business security does not have to be costly or complex. This article covers 6 of the best ways that you can secure and protect your small business.

Click to read 6 Easy Ways to Secure Your Business and Find Peace of Mind.

Calming Down Angry Customers

No matter how focused on customer service your business is, an angry customer will eventually fall through the cracks and you have to know how to successfully deal with them. When someone is yelling at you, it is easy to become frustrated and yell back, but this only makes the matter worse. So how should you deal with angry customers? This article is full of tips on what you can do when things heat up to turn the negative experience around and turn that angry customer into a loyal supporter of your business.

Click to read How to Calm Down Infuriated Customers to Your Advantage.

So what’s on your mind this week – building a remote team of workers, boosting your business security, or dealing with angry customers? Get help with the articles above, and check out the Smart Hustle homepage to read the latest stories.

The post Smart Hustle Recap: Capitalizing on Freelance Workers, Boosting Biz Security & Calming Angry Customers appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.