If you run a small business it’s essential to tighten up your security measures in every way, shape and form. This means buying asset tags for your computers, downloading the right software and locking up at night! Everything from Trojan horses to burglars can threaten your company – so here’s how to keep things safe.
Hire a consultant
Safeguard your equipment and protect your livelihood by hiring a consultant to find the correct security solution for your business. Look for a consulting group with a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CIISP) engineer and make sure they have a CompTIA Security+ Certification, as this proves they’re reputable. Check how long they’ve been in business and ask what services they provide. You’ll need a company who provides antivirus installation and support, firewall installation, intrusion detection and security audits.
Improve your knowledge
One of the best ways to safeguard your IT equipment is by improving your basic knowledge. This will help you understand the role of your consultant and will allow you to set up a safe local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). Understanding the various risks online will also enable you to browse the web safely – something that many people don’t do! Opening unfamiliar emails, downloading free screensavers, browsing websites that encourage piracy and receiving spam can all invite viruses, worms and other harmful software onto your computer. Small companies can be targeted by larger attacks (such as mass worm break out) and can be easily hacked, so make sure you read up on the best antivirus programs around – and make sure they’re installed and updated.
Backup your data
If the office computers hold a wealth of important information, it’s crucial to backup all your essential files, documents and confidential data. You can do this by burning anything significant onto a CD-ROM/DVD, or by saving it to a second hard drive. You can also copy essential information to a shared folder on your network (but make sure confidential facts and figures are away from prying eyes). It’s also better to keep copies of everything important off-site – just so you don’t come in one day to find everything from customer contact information to sales records gone.
Asset Labels and inventory management
If you’re hoping to improve the security of your office, try placing asset labels on your property. Place small adhesive labels on all technical equipment and scan each serial number into your inventory database. This will help you keep track of anything expensive and will deter thieves as asset tags leave a nasty mark when removed – making the product more difficult to resell. It’s important to note that not all security threats come from outside the office, so you must keep track of employees that borrow laptops or mobile phones. A well-kept system will allow you to keep track of equipment so work out how many asset labels you need.
Safety is of paramount importance, so don’t take any unnecessary risks!