10 Technology Problems Modern Business Owners Have To Deal With

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Technology|10 Technology Problems Modern Business Owners Have To Deal WithOvercoming Common Tech Issues

To set your business up for the greatest success, you need to understand the sort of issues you’ll deal with regularly, and have some plan of action to handle them. Following we’ll briefly explore several key tech issues your business is likely to encounter today, and how to counteract them.

I: Cybercrime

Cybercrime is like the mirror image of “white hat” technology use. Presently, the global tech market is estimated around $5 trillion. But by 2021, it’s estimated that the black-hat “cybercrime” market will be worth $6 trillion.
That means right now, a fluctuation between the two put them on a similar plane in terms of the total impact. Modern businesses need cybercrime deterrent solutions to maintain the security of operations. Monitoring, support, firewalls, antivirus solutions, and the latest technology patches are all key means of fighting cybercrime, as is internal education.

II: Internal Employee Error

Some of the biggest threats to your company are going to develop internally. Employees will make mistakes by playing the wrong video at the wrong website, and downloading a ransomware virus onto your network. There are going to be issues where security is compromised owing to improper access protocol management pertaining to user names and passwords.

Working with MSPs or internal security groups to develop best-practices can be key here. Additionally, you’ll want to educate employees on how to operate securely throughout your company at intervals, as new threats develop in the tech world all the time.

III: Corporate Espionage

Competitors and governments that have something to lose from your success will try to sabotage you. Sometimes they’ll just steal information, sometimes they’ll deliberately try to malign your system.

This can happen from the outside or inside. Depending on your business, you may be a bigger or smaller target. Continuous monitoring and support is key in deferring associated impact from corporate espionage.

IV: Technological Transition Along Moore’s Law Lines

Every eighteen months or so, the ability of computers at the hardware level doubles on itself. Moore’s Law was observed by Gordon Moore in the sixties, and as yet technology hasn’t quite transcended it.

This means that your business will still need to upgrade in the near future. Such transition isn’t easy, and can be quite expensive—depending on your needs. Consultation helps you do so at a minimum of expense.

V: SLAs And SLM

Service Level Agreements, or SLAs, define what tech companies will provide for you in the event of some sort of technology issue. Check out this guide on using Service Level Management (SLM) solutions to help you ensure varying SLAs are in alignment with operations. Some divisions of your company need more or less service than others.

While it can be worthwhile to have some sort of “one-size-fits-all” tech solution, this may involve spending resources unnecessarily. SLM management ensures you’re getting the service you need at the level you need across operations. Without careful SLM and proper SLAs, the service you pay for won’t cover operational issues when they arise, and that’s an issue.

VI: Scaling Out

You’re naturally going to have to scale out your business at intervals; if not for the sake of Moore’s Law, for the sake of maintaining competitive viability. But scaling out can be quite expensive. Cloud computing options reduce costs for many businesses large and small. Additionally, solutions like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) make scaling-out less costly.

VII: Transitioning To And Maximizing The Mobile Market

People access the internet today through mobile devices with greater regularity than through desktop devices. This transition happened in 2018, and with it, more mobile tech use will likely develop. The Internet of Things (IoT) is ever-expanding, and it’s wise to capitalize on this reality. But making such a transition can be difficult and costly without proper consultation.

VIII: Deliberate Sabotage Internally Or Externally

Corporate espionage can lead to deliberate internal sabotage, but it’s just as likely some disgruntled employee or tech worker may be the culprit of technology damage. Also, external sabotage can happen from both under-handed clients and cybercriminals.

Contingency plans are necessary to sidestep such issues. Digital “quarantine” protocols are key, as are PAMs, or “Privileged Access Management” solutions. Only let the right people should have access to your data. Also, monitoring of applications on the cloud helps you keep a finger on the pulse of performance, as well as monitor for possible intrusion anomalies.

IX: Unconsolidated Software Between Departments

One department may use Apple software, another might use Microsoft software. Some programs could be compatible with either OS (Operating System), most won’t. Cloud computing options can provide solutions which are compatible across departments. Ideally, your technology should be consolidated so as to be in agreement even in diverse locations.

X. Backup And Data Recovery Considerations

BDR, or Backup and Data Recovery, is key in deferring pernicious downtime losses—which can be as high as $5,600 a minute for some enterprises. You need some sort of BDR solution in place. DRaaS, or Disaster Recovery as a Service, can also be useful here; again, consultation helps determine which solutions are most cost-effective for your business.

Maximizing Tech, Minimizing Issues

There are many tech issues businesses contend with today. There are just as many solutions. Thinking such possibilities out in advance, and planning response protocols, helps your business be ready when the unexpected forces you into action.

Should You Put Dash Cams In Your Business Vehicles?

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Business Vehicle|Should You Put Dash Cams In Your Business Vehicles?Having a fleet of commercial vehicles is more important than you may think. Not only does it allow your team members to get from A to B with a consistent level of style and professionalism, but it also serves as an advertisement for your company, whether your employees are out on the road, or arriving at meetings with clients.

However, there are many questions that you need to ask before you get a fleet of vehicles, and one of them is whether you should install dash cams. We’ve done a brief rundown of some of the pros and cons here!

Pro: it’s easier for insurance purposes

Let’s be honest, no business wants to go through the headache that is associated with an accident concerning one of their vehicles. In fact, getting to the bottom of what has happened could be the hardest thing to do, and a lot of time – and potentially money – could be wasted in the process.

However, if you have a dash cam, you can easily see what has happened, and speed up the process of any insurance claims.

Pro: you can keep an eye on the standard of driving

If your name is on the side of a business vehicle, you want to know that the person driving it is doing a great job at showing your potential customers how professional your company really is. This is especially the case with vehicles that are used for long distances, and a truck dash cam will allow you to see this, no matter where they are.

You’ll be able to monitor your employees on the road, which will put your mind at rest that they’re not making your company look unprofessional!

Con: it can be misconstrued

OK, so there are many, many benefits to dash cams in business vehicles. However, it can be misconstrued by your employees as a way to spy on them, rather than just trusting them to do their jobs. It’s important to remind people that this isn’t the reasoning behind dash cams; they are used to uphold the driver’s safety.

Be sure to consult your team before installing them, and tell them all of the benefits that will come with doing so.

Pro: it comes with GPS options

If you’re thinking about opting for dash cams for your business fleet, then you may want to look into all of the added bonuses of doing this. Not only can you protect the safety of your drivers and monitor the standard of driving, but you can also see where they are, which comes with many benefits.

Firstly, it’s helpful if there are any cases of vehicle theft, and secondly, it allows you to see the real time progress of your staff.

So…

If you’re thinking about putting dash cams into your business vehicle fleet, then you could benefit in many ways by doing so. In the 21st century, these small pieces of tech can make our lives much easier, and as such, they are great additions to any company with a fleet of vehicles!

Fending of the Cybercriminals: How to Protect Your Business in the Digital Age

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Cybercriminals|Fending of the Cybercriminals: How to Protect Your Business in the Digital AgeIn the digital age of today, cybercriminals are your business’s biggest enemy. They will stop at nothing to take advantage of both your company and your clients in order to benefit themselves, regardless of the damage they cause. They’ll phish, impersonate, hack, and scam their way to financial success, without bothering to even consider the consequences of their actions.

You cannot allow these petty cybercriminals to bring down the business that you’ve worked so hard to build up. Quite simply, you have to resolve to fend them off at all costs. To find out how that can be achieved, be sure to read on.

Know your enemy

Simply knowing your enemy and getting familiar with the dangers that you face will help you to fend off cybercrime.

Some forms of cybercrime that you should definitely be aware of include:

Partner up with an anti-phishing expert

Fake websites, social media accounts, and email addresses are created by cybercriminals in order to hoodwink unsuspecting customers. Instances of this happening are referred to as phishing attacks, and they are common place on the world wide web today. Unfortunately, the bigger your business’s reputation, the greater your chances are of being targeted by a cybercriminal who specializes in this type of criminality — your company’s reputable name and extended customer base provide them with plenty of opportunities to scam their way to financial success.

Fear not, however, as you’re not alone in your fight against phishing. There are plenty of anti-phishing experts out there, and you should partner up with them if you’re serious about preventing this kind of plight before it has the chance to befall you.

FraudWatch International are one such expert that you could turn to in this instance. The anti-phishing services that they offer include:

  • 24/7 monitoring
  • Domain registration
  • Detection capabilities
  • Layered protection
  • Scanning tools
  • End-to-end solutions
  • Speedy site takedowns

Make sure your employees understand the dangers

If they remain in the dark with regards to all the digital dangers your organization faces day in, day out, your employees could inadvertently end up making it incredibly easy for cybercriminals to hack into your business.

Should your staff members access a virus-contaminated website or open up a trojan email while they are connected to your office WiFi, your whole network could be infected and your personal details could be hacked into — once they are granted access in this instance, you can be sure cybercriminals won’t leave you alone or give you back what is rightfully yours until you yield to their financial demands. For this reason, you need to ensure that the entirety of your workforce understands the severity and danger of cybercrime.

In the digital age of today, physical crime is not the only danger that you face. You also have to contend with cybercrime — fail to tackle it, and an untold amount of problems could befall your business. Take the above advice, and be sure to fend off cybercriminals before they have the opportunity to sink their claws into you.

Cyber security fatigue: what is it and how can your business avoid it?

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Cyber Security|Cyber security fatigue: what is it and how can your business avoid it?Cyber security fatigue occurs when people become overwhelmed by cyber security issues, to the point they start ignoring security best practice, treating threats less seriously, and missing important warning signs.

Unfortunately, it is still the case that humans are the weak link in cyber security – and cyber fatigue has a role to play in this. Most businesses understand that they need to provide their staff with cyber security training. Staff are, after all, an important line of defence. This is an important step in protecting against cyber fatigue, and there are others that are important too.

Cyber security fatigue can be highly damaging, as a poor cyber security culture can make businesses more vulnerable to attacks. Here are five ways to avoid cyber security fatigue.

Share the responsibilities for security

One of the most common reasons for cyber fatigue is a belief amongst employees that cyber security is the responsibility of the IT team. Cyber security is a company-wide responsibility that should be practiced from the boardroom down. If employees don’t see senior management upholding best practice, they won’t be inclined to follow.

Cyber security has become too broad for it to be left to be dealt with by a single department. Every member of your team has a role to play in helping to foster a strong security culture.

Consult with experts in cyber security

Too many organisations suffer cyber fatigue because they attempt to work with cyber technology that simply is not suitable for a business of their size – or they misunderstand the level of on-going management required for the technology to remain effective. Many security systems generate a huge number of alerts which then need to be investigated.

To help reduce cyber security fatigue, seek the advice of security experts like Apiiro before making new investments and, if required, to help manage and monitor systems. If you do not have this kind of expertise in-house then you should work with an outside agency who can provide advice, guidance, and assistance to ensure that you are making the right investments.

Provide regular training sessions

If staff are educated about good security practices but the information isn’t presented in the right way, it can lead to them feeling overwhelmed or uninterested. It is vital, then, to offer regular training sessions and to ensure that these sessions are relevant and engaging. Sessions can be ‘gamified’ and you could consider commissioning a simulated phishing assessment to see how employees respond to a real-life scenario.

It is also important to regularly review the content of these training sessions. Cybercrime is a fast-moving and evolving challenge with new issues arising all the time – your training sessions need to be up-to-date if they are going to be useful.

Regularly review your security tools and practices

“With threats continuing to grow in both volume and sophistication, performing a pentest to understand how an attacker might breach your business’ defences and the appropriate action needed to address the risk is an important part of effective cyber security.

Insecure network configurations, authentication problems, as well as flaws in application source code and logic, are just three in a long line of underlying vulnerabilities that could be exploited by criminal hackers. With your organisation’s attack surface continuing to grow, keeping out the bad guys is an uphill struggle.” Redscan, 2018 Computing Security Awards Winner

Cyber security challenges are constantly changing, with new risks evolving and others becoming less relevant. So, one of the most important ways to reduce cyber security fatigue is to know when to conduct the most relevant activities, and to ensure that your efforts remain effective.

You may also benefit from investing in new technologies that can minimise the risk of cyber fraud – reducing cyber fatigue by removing some possible attack surfaces. A great example of this is esignature software which allows for individuals to electronically sign documents, giving them authenticity and the protection of a full audit trail, making them harder to forge.

Learn from mistakes of other businesses

It is important for organisations to learn from the mistakes of others. Do not ignore reports of breaches in the news – these can be some of the most useful case studies. Should a new type of social engineering scam be reported, for instance, ensure you should train your staff about how to identify the warning signs.

When a type of attack is successful against a business then it likely to be repeated against others. This is why it is essential to raise awareness of the dangers.

5 Steps to Take if an Employee is Injured

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Safety Program|5 Steps to Take if an Employee is InjuredEven if your business has the best safety program in place, it’s still possible for an employee to be injured. Pressure can cause employees to cut corners or be careless in their work. Injuries in the workplace can happen at any time, and it pays to be prepared. How you and other employees respond to the injury can make all the difference. Knowing how to respond is crucial for the employee’s wellbeing and the future success of your business. Workplace injuries impact the employee, their family, staff morale and your business’s bottom line.

Here are five steps you should take when dealing with a work-related injury or illness properly.

Get Appropriate Medical Treatment

The highest priority, when an accident has occurred is to get the appropriate medical treatment for the injured employee. If the person is seriously injured, consider dialing 911 immediately. If the injury is not severe and their life is not in danger, it could be treated in house, or they can be transported to the nearest medical care facility for treatment. Your insurance provider may have provided you with a contact telephone number that provides 24/7 access to an injured employee hotline. Registered nurses will then be able to provide medical guidance over the phone for workplace injuries or illnesses.

Secure the Accident Scene

Once the employee has received medical attention, your next priority is to secure the accident scene. This is to prevent further injury and for investigative purposes. A formal investigation may have to take place by local law enforcement or the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Anything involved in the accident should also be secured and saved as they may be needed during a subsequent investigation. If you’re worried about the legal implications of an injury in the workplace, you should consult with a personal injury attorney such as Abercrombie, PA.

Collect Facts

It’s important to gather facts about the accident as soon as possible. All details and facts will need to be included in any reports that have to be made. Record contact information of who was injured, what happened, where and why it happened and the medical treatment that was provided. Contact information for any witnesses will also need to be recorded.

Complete the Paperwork

You will need to complete an incident report as quickly as possible while it is fresh in your mind. If you want to make a claim under your worker’s compensation insurance policy, you’ll need to file it within 24 hours. This can usually be done by email, phone, or by visiting their website.

Develop a Return-to-Work Program

It depends on the injury, but an accident at work could lead to an employee missing time from work. Therefore, you can implement an effective return-to-work program to help keep workers off long-term disability and potentially lower related costs for you as an employer. Work out whether there are opportunities for transitional or modified jobs so that your business can accommodate employees who have been medically cleared to return to work but will be unable to perform their previous duties.