Process Automation, Tech and Security Checklist for Your Business
Is your IT, cybersecurity and process automation holding you back or moving you forward? Use this checklist to find out!
Think your data, tech and security are not that important? Think again. Ignored simple fixes could be putting you at risk when you could be securing your data so you are set up for success.
Research conducted by Verizon reveals that 43% of all data breaches in 2019 targeted small businesses, while the rest targeted big corporations and other institutions.
No one, it seems, is immune.
What’s worse is the financial impact this can have on your business. According to the Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report, the cost to the business can range from $14,000 if you’re a small business (under 50 employees) to $184,000 for a medium-sized business (50-249 employees) up to $715,000 for a large and enterprise level company.
How many businesses have that kind of cash lying around, ready to give to the next successful hacker?
Some can pay, and they do. But for 60% of businesses that suffer through this experience, they can anticipate closing their business for good within 6 months of a breach.
Even if you could afford to weather that kind of financial storm, you shouldn’t have to. And you don’t have to — not when you have the right security, tech and business automation systems in place to protect your business in the first place.
The best defense is a strong offense.
Here are the 5 things you can do to ensure cyber threats don’t take your business under.
1. Software Updates
This should go without saying, but software updates are your friend. If you keep up with them. at least.
The global ransomware attack of 2017, infamously known as Wannacry, affected millions of businesses and institutions across the world, including the UK’s National Health Service. It turned out that the NHS could have avoided this attack altogether if it had simply updated its operating systems.
Microsoft, Google and other IT companies release new updates to seal the weaknesses of their software (what we hardly pay attention to) and improve functionality (what we mostly complain about). These updates are designed to strengthen your systems and make it harder for bad actors to breach your network and derail your business. So check your software systems and make sure they are up to date.
The best part? This will not cost you a thing!
2. Hardware Updates
The hardware — machines and gadgets — hosting your IT and network programs is just as important in your network security checklist as the software. Hackers realize this; that is why they are always upgrading to newer, more powerful computers with higher processing powers.
You, too, should keep up by upgrading your hardware systems whenever necessary. It will not only boost your networks’ security, but also improve overall performance, boost efficiency and make your life at work better all around.
3. IT Security Systems
Updated software and upgraded hardware are great starts. But why not have a layer of protection before something even hits your system altogether? Having a specialized and dedicated IT security system does just that.
This can be as simple as using common firewalls and antivirus software that detect cyberthreats and stop them before they even hit your network. As with anything, there are a range of options, so make sure you are getting what you need for your unique business needs.
There is also an option to have your own virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts all your data to keep it safe and irrelevant to any eavesdroppers who may get past your other security systems.
4. Data Backups
There’s more than one way to lose data. The scary stuff gets the news — ransomware and viruses, the tools of hackers who lock up your data, freeze you out and then leverage it against you for a quick (and pricey) buck.
But the world is full of other surprises. The last thing you want is to have your business’s data wiped away by a wild keystroke or natural disaster, never to be seen again. Nothing is worse than sensitive customer information, accumulated over years, disappearing without a trace.
This is why it’s important to always back up your data in a safe place outside of your business’s primary network, like a second server used only for backups. Or, better yet, you can save it in the cloud and remove the need for any additional hardware — not to mention the chance of on-site accidents.
5. Periodic Audits
We know — audits are as much fun as sitting in standstill traffic in LA. But regular audits are an essential way to see what’s missing and what’s needed in your network systems and security.
If you have a gap, it’s better to check for it and seal it off before an accident or a bad actor exploits it.
It can also help you see areas where you can not only beef up the security but also improve the performance of your entire business automation and network systems. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what you want? Everything working as it should, without delays, downtime or dire threats?
Imagine how much more your business can benefit from not dealing with IT headaches or threats all day long. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Just make sure you are working with someone who knows how to not merely fix whatever is broken but who can also help you capitalize on all your tech, systems and security opportunities. Because when all your tech is working properly and at maximum capacity, you can focus on the actual work of your business.
Wrapping up … or just getting started?
These are just some of the ways you can tell how efficient and secure your business tech and security systems are. We could include other things like:
- Employee training
- Password safety protocols
- Mobile device security
- Remote working environments
- Data breach response plans
- And more
Managing your businesses IT, cybersecurity and process automation is easily a full-time job for any business. And I bet you already had enough on your plate before you even started reading this checklist.
With ClearFuze, we provide enterprise-level IT and digital security services because we believe every business deserves to have the first-class tech and process support they need to succeed.
If managing all of this on your own is reaching a breaking point — or if you just need a little extra help — reach out for a free consultation to learn more about how we can elevate you and move your business forward.