How to Avoid a Business Data Breach

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It is difficult to deny the fact that there have been more catastrophic cases of data breaches in the last few years than ever before. The number of attacks and breaches continues to increase exponentially, despite the increasing awareness of better information security. Over 90% of business operations are now stored digitally, so this increase is not surprising.

What’s surprising is how so many businesses still take information security lightly. After the 2013 Yahoo data breach and the recent Equifax hack, operating without proper security measures in place is no longer acceptable. Here are the steps you can take to better prevent data breaches in your company.

A Better Structure

Gone are the days of pooling all information in one server and allowing everyone the same level of access. Thanks to better file management and new information security technologies, companies can implement a much more advanced structuring across their organization.

You start by organizing data into compartments based on the needs of the organization. A content management system or a more comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution can be used to manage not just operational data but also user access.

A better information structure allows you to manage access to sensitive information meticulously. Finance officers can only access information assigned to their department. Access to sales reports, for example, will require a special permission; this special permission can be granted on a temporary basis for better security.

The Right Measures

If you followed the full report on Yahoo’s data breach on TheBannerHerald.com, you should find it easy to see some of the prominent causes of that hack and how you can avoid them. The lack of sufficient security measures was to blame in this case (and many other cases).

There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to protecting business information. A good way to start is by adding encryption for better file protection, followed by the use of SSL security to further secure data transmissions. Multiple redundancies, on the other hand, can act as additional layers of protection. These measures can block the majority of cyber attacks very effectively.

Having a comprehensive information security policy is also a must. The policy must dictate how sensitive data is to be handled, including internal and external transfers of files. Once a comprehensive policy is in place, it is time to tackle the third part of the equation.

Preventing Human Error

That third part is human error. There are many cases of information theft that started with a simple human error. The Equifax hack – one that left more than 140 million people exposed – is a good example.

Having a good policy and comprehensive security measures are not enough. The people within the organization must also understand and maintain information security best practices at all times. This includes setting strong passwords to prevent unauthorized access and not sharing that password, even with authorized parties.

The impact of a catastrophic data breach is, well, catastrophic. When Verizon discovered the data breach at Yahoo, the company lowered its offer by a whopping $1 billion. It is time to take a more serious approach to protecting the safety and smooth operations of your business in the digital age.

Emergencies That Can Bring Your Business To A Halt

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It is a terrifying moment when you realise that your business is about to suffer some kind of a problem. Businesses face all sorts of problems every day, and most of them are dealt with pretty easily and swiftly. But then there are those larger problems, the ones which can bring everything to a sudden stop. When you run the risk of this happening, it can be remarkably worrying. To avoid this, you need to feel protected – and the best way to do that is to be prepared for all eventualities. To that end, let’s take a look at some of the most common and most worrying emergencies that any business might well face in the future.

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System Downtime

If you have been in business for longer than a week, you will know first-hand how important it is to keep your systems going strong. You probably rely quite heavily on technology – most businesses do these days. Clearly, if anything happens on that front, it can spell disaster for the near future of your business. You could be facing data loss, which might in turn mean a sudden downturn of business. Or perhaps some of your automated systems will fail, resulting in lost profits and disappointed customers. Whatever the result, having network downtime is never going to be something you invite.

If this happens, try not to panic. It helps if you have set up some kind of a back-up system beforehand. But if you haven’t, get the professionals in and you should be up and running again in no time. This can be worrying and damaging, but it is always fixable.

Failed Utilities

The workplace itself can often be home to a number of worrying and dramatic emergencies. These are often possible to prevent by following certain regulations, but even then you never quite know what will happen or when. Utilities in particular can be a worrying source of danger, and you will want to make sure you pay close attention to them in your office. These dangers can come in a number of forms. It might be that a plumbing problem has led to a severe leak, in which case calling the likes of ABC Home & Commercial Services is going to be a good move. Or maybe you need to call an electrician to fix a faulty fuse box which has blown out some of your computers. Whatever it is, these are all situations which you want to fix the moment they arise. Nothing good will come of leaving such problems to worsen, so get on it as soon as possible.

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Fire

If you have ever been in a workplace when a fire breaks out, you will know well that it can be truly terrifying. At such a time, your most important thought will not be the business itself, but the people. And that’s just how it should be – if a fire breaks out in your office, you need to evacuate everyone first and foremost. However, you will also be well aware that a fire can cause your business a lot of damage too. Clearly, it is best to do everything you can to prevent it happening in the first place.

This is why standard fire safety practices are so important. Following them will drastically reduce the likelihood of a fire breaking out in your workplace. But as well as that, you need to know what you should do if it happens anyway. Training your employees is the number one matter of concern here. They need to be able to get to safety as quickly as possible, so make sure that they have the necessary skills to do so. It is then a matter of practicing routinely, with fire drills at different and random times of the year. This ensures that everyone will act as well as possible if it should actually occur – and that will mean a greater peace of mind.

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Fire is by far one of the most worrisome emergencies that any business can face. Nonetheless, it is surprisingly common, and you absolutely cannot run the risk of not preparing for it. The more you know about what to do in case of a fire, the more likely it is that you can properly prepare and protect your business should it ever happen.

Keeping your business safe and secure means knowing the worst that can happen and being prepared for it, while still hoping for the best. Get this balance right, and you are on track for a bright future.

Ring Fence: 5 Ways To Prevent Theft On A Construction Site

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Construction is booming at the moment as more people realize that manual labor is a suitable career. Of course, you have known that for a long time but are only now reaping the benefits. However, it isn’t all picnics and bouquets of flowers. When you run a site, you have to put up theft. Whether it’s your employees or burglars, it happens on a daily basis, and it costs the firm a lot of money. So, it needs to stop, and it needs to stop as soon as possible.

For those of you that won’t put up with it any longer, you have come to the right place. Below are five tips that will help you prevent of types of theft in the workplace.

1: Install Cameras

The obvious thing to do is to invest in construction cameras and create a high-tech security system. Now, if you think that cameras are reactive, that isn’t the case. Yes, they great tools for looking at incidents and figuring out what went wrong. But, they are also useful in the moment. For one thing, the majority of thieves don’t bother targeting a site which has CCTV. Because they are opportunists, there is too much risk even if the rewards are high. Plus, advanced systems allow you to monitor any incidents and take control in real time. A real time alert, for example, warns you of any suspicious behavior so that you can call the police or inform your people on site.

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2: Light It Up

Let’s stay on the topic of prevention for a moment. Cameras prevent theft because they add an element of risk, and lights do the same thing. Powerful lights take away a thief’s most treasured tool: darkness. Burglars use it all of the time to creep around in the shadows unnoticed, which gives them more time and a better chance of success. With spotlights, there aren’t many places a person can hide in the grounds. As long as the lights are bright enough, it should illuminate the entire site. And, if they sweep the area randomly, it only makes everything safer. If there is an incident, the light also helps identify the culprits the next day on CCTV.

3: Lock It Up

Construction sites are prime targets because they house lots of valuable materials. It isn’t uncommon to work with everything from copper to steel, and these have a high resale value. So, a common criminal won’t think twice about shifting as many raw materials as possible. Obviously, you need to make this as hard as possible, which is why lockers are essential. All you have to do is place anything of value in the lockers and keep it there until the morning. As long as the lock is strong enough, it should deter any person with light fingers. A safe is also a good idea if you can find one that is affordable. Regarding machines, there aren’t many ways to keep them under lock and key. Instead, stack materials around them to block off the path. Also, fit an immobilizer that cuts the ignition.

Don’t forget to lock up your personal items, such as your jobsite radio. To learn more about these radios, read this review of the The 10 Best Jobsite Radios.

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4: Background Checks

The biggest assumption bosses make is that they can trust their workers. That isn’t always true because employees are opportunists, too, especially if they think it’s a sure thing. As a result, the credentials of the people on your site must come into question. No one is saying that you need to grill them like a suspect under questioning, but you should look into their past. By talking to previous employers, it is possible to learn more about their personality and analyze whether they are a perfect fit. Also, a criminal background check should alert you to any major incidents in the past. No one likes to tar a person with a brush, yet you have to be careful. After all, it is your livelihood.

5: Security Team

Technology plays a massive part, but so do the people that walk around and stay on guard all night. The problem with a site is the size. It is too big to install cameras all around the perimeter, which leaves you vulnerable. Thankfully, boots on the ground can cover the places that technology misses. It is tempting to think that tech is infallible, particularly with recent advancements. The truth is that it is far from perfect, and that makes retro features like a security guard even more important.

The site is much safer when you put the new age and old school methods together.

Is Your Business Heading For The Cliff Edge?

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What exactly is a disaster scenario in business? A disaster scenario occurs when you are no longer able to sell your products or make a profit with your company. At that money, the engines for your business have faltered, and you’re falling fast. In cases like this, the best option would be to start completing damage control procedures. But, if we’re looking at the optimum outcome, you should not be controlling the damage at all. Instead, you should do everything you can to make sure it never happens in the first place.

You need to avert a disaster scenario in your business, and there are a number of ways that you can do this.

Keep Spending Under Control


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One of the most common disaster scenarios is caused by a simple case of overspending. By spending more than you make from your business, you will reach the point where you’re no longer making a profit. Once you get to that stage, you only really have two options. You must be ready to cut back. Of course, if you keep your budget under control from day one, you’ll never reach that point. So, you’ll have to think about how to manage your budget.

Outsourcing is a great way to cut the costs while still delivering a quality service to your customers. You can outsource almost any part of a business these days from logistics to HR. When you do outsource, you have to remember that you are essentially giving the control of that part of your business to another company. They’ll still work for you, but they will be responsible for maintaining quality levels. As such, you should choose a company very carefully.

Backup Everything


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Another piece of advice would be to make sure that you are backing up important data and files in your business. To do this, you can use a colocation service for your company. Colocation services provide data protection, handling and backup for companies and colocation pricing can be very reasonable indeed. For just a few hundred out of your budget, you can make sure that if your systems do break down you have a backup ready to go. This can allow you to avoid your business entering a period of disaster recovery that can take weeks or even months.

Hire A Legal Advisor


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Of course, one of the main issues that might cause a disaster scenario for your business would be a legal issue. That’s why you might want to think about hiring a legal advisor for your company. You can check in with your legal advisor every so often and ensure that you’re not crossing any lines that you shouldn’t be.

Legal issues can arise in any area of your company, but you should pay particularly close attention to employee management. It’s quite possible for an injury or complaint from an employee to send your business towards a legal case that could cost hundreds of thousands. An SME won’t survive this type of expense and neither will your business.

If you take this advice, you can steer your business away from the cliff edge before you get anywhere near it.

When Business Bites Back

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Sometimes, it can feel like your business is fighting back against you. It’s like struggling to tame a wild beast that keeps pulling on the reins. If you’re not careful, you will lose control completely, and your business will become a disaster zone. To avoid this, we need to think about the issues you could encounter in your company, how to deal with them and what they could mean.

You might think that tech has solved a lot of the dangers in business. But as you’re about to discover it’s really only made matters worse.

Tech Terrors

If you are running a business, you should be storing sensitive and important data files on the computer or the cloud server. This is a smart decision as experts generally agree it’s the securest form of storage on the market. Certainly, it’s a lot better than having hard files that anyone could swipe from your company. Or, that could be lost in an event like a fire.

But tech is not completely foolproof, and it can cause issues of its own. For instance, you might find that the tech in your company breaks down. At that point, you could lose all the important files and data you need to keep your company running. Not to mention any sensitive customer data that could impact your clients.

Luckily, there is an answer to this, and that’s to use a backup server. With a proper IT support and consulting service, you can make sure that you have a complete backup of your computer systems. That means if one system crashes you will be able to rely on the other. This is also useful if your business suffers a hack.

Legal Lows

You may find that the issue in your company is a legal one. It’s possible that your business is hit by a lawsuit and this can be a nasty shock for company owners who weren’t prepared. Lawsuits can come from anywhere but are more often than not a result of action by an employee. Personal injury lawsuits are some of the most common claims. Protecting your business from this is about making sure that you have the right legal info. It’s best to invest in the services of a legal advisor who can tell you everything you need to know.

As well as this, you need to make sure you have the right insurance coverage in place. This will help you deal with the financial issues of a lawsuit against your company.

Killer Clients

Finally, you might have issues with clients and customers. Believe it or not, your customers hold the key to killing your business stone dead. You might have noticed that business owners these days are particularly cautious of complaints on social media. You might think they’re being over cautious, but they’re not. They know that well over eighty percent of customers rely on online reviews when deciding to make a purchase. On top of this, they understand how fast bad word of mouth can spread. That’s why you must always work to keep customers happy and feeling appreciated. If they do have an issue, handle it immediately or risk the wrath they could bring on your business.