In an unpredictable economy, when a company’s revenue chart can closely resemble that of a roller coaster, most businesses are focused on efficient practices and establishing strong customer relationships. Other tasks, like protecting proprietary business data, are often neglected, but should remain top priorities.
Threats to data are usually placed in one of two categories: internal or external. Data breaches or the theft of laptops are more commonly known than a company losing its information because of a system failure. But it is actually the latter that can be more troublesome for a business.
Thankfully, for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB’s), which often lack the IT resources of larger companies, new versions of server and desktop operating systems on the market today contain substantial improvements for administrators, making security oversight easier than ever before.
According to a number of government agencies, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting SMB’s that are lax about their computer security. To combat this trend, newer operating systems often come pre-loaded with software that helps keep businesses secure with enhanced protection from online threats, spyware and other malicious software. Most of these programs run automatically, which is good news for those who have difficulty remembering to regularly update their computer security.
For a small company, the loss of a single laptop will have more of a negative impact on business than it would on a Fortune 500 company, especially if that laptop’s data wasn’t backed-up. Some of the newest operating systems, such as Windows 7, are geared toward businesses and contain features that allow for automatic data back-up, ensuring important information is stored on the company’s internal network and on employee PCs.
And with the sale of laptops now outpacing desktops, encryption technology is more important than ever before. As workers become increasingly more dependent on mobile devices, the ability to encrypt any and all forms of mobile technology will become critical to maintaining a secure environment.
Unfortunately, password technology used by older machines can be circumvented fairly easily, even if employees aren’t using their mother’s maiden name as their password. If a business has multiple locations and employees working remotely, it would be worth the time to evaluate drive-encryption technologies like BitLocker or BitLocker To Go, which can be found in the premium or enterprise versions of some operating systems. Other security innovations that require a password for application-level access beyond an initial login, such as AppLocker, will lock-in access to sensitive information even if it is stored on a laptop.
Researching contemporary security practices is a good first step on the path toward a secure company-wide infrastructure, but it is important to educate employees and keep them up-to-speed on what can be done to protect business data. Some important protective measures employees can utilize are:
• Using a firewall
• Using an anti-malware product from a trusted source, and keeping it updated
• Being cognizant of links that aren’t sent from a trusted source. To be safe, the URL should be retyped in the web browser
• Avoiding unfamiliar sites
As IT invaders become more sophisticated, new threats will likely emerge that will force businesses to make adjustments in how information is governed. The good news is that, if there are already security policies and technologies in place, a business will be better equipped to handle the inevitable disruptions. Addressing security may not immediately affect your bottom line, but it will bring peace of mind, and that can be just as valuable.
