Let’s face facts. Any business, no matter how large and globally scaled with a full IT and security organization, or small and nimble, can be hacked and put at risk. Cyber attacks are near regular news stories, for companies holding even our most private information. Putting measures, policies, processes and tools in place to be the most secure you can feasibly have for your business will be a peace of mind so you can operate in your business drivers and passions, without putting a lot of worry into the what ifs. It’s like locking your doors, it doesn’t prevent any breaks of the parameter, but can be a healthy preventative measure for most quick attacks. Let’s look at a few technical requirements you can put into place to protect your business and give you peace of mind while you focus on driving new deals and ideas into reality:
1) Password strength and protection:
This might seem basic and rudimentary, especially given our years of experience with passwords and their increase in complexity from the basic of using simply “password” as your password, to now having one that is a short paragraph in length with multiple special characters, 7 capital letters and no recognizable words … it can be quite stressful to meet the criteria of some password requirements! But, having a complex and strong password that isn’t easily guessable by someone that knows you, is one of the most basic forms of security and protection for yourself, across the breadth of your accounts.
2) Stronger technical implementations:
Having infrastructure and resources in place such as a VPN, firewall, secure servers, PCI QSA, and more are choices for many businesses that take extra precautions and measures to protect themselves, or have requirements for markets and clients. Reading through the list might bring about familiarity with most of the terms, except one. What is a PCI QSA you ask? For anyone accepting credit card payments as form of payment for services rendered or materials provided, it’s something worth looking into for your business.
3) Business layered protections:
It’s always worth seeking an attorney in your state, as well as a CPA that specializes in your business area for proper guidance and advice on how to properly structure your business, where it should be registered, and how you can structure your finances and taxes. There are so many variables to this, depending on your location, type of business, volume of business, your target market, your goals and needs, and your resources to put into it to start or take it to the next level. Having pieces and a power team in place for protection like a registered agent, attorney, CPA, marketing manager, insurances, etc might very well be worth your time and money to set yourself up for success, instead of skimping to save a few bucks and paying dearly for it later on.
What type of business do you have and what’s your current structure, both for cyber protection, and general business protection? What can you do to check your security on all fronts and make sure you’re as secure as possible to set yourself and others up for success? While some of these things may be not as exciting as say, marketing and sales, they are also quite necessary and foundational for any business, no matter how big or small it currently is.
