Small Business Tips - Increase Revenue Through Technology

Organizations have to work out how to control access to their cloud and how to maintain its privacy over the long term. Here too, security will have to keep up with the pace of innovation. Standards will change, new operating systems will be released, and new devices will be introduced over time.  For IT to continue supporting such new devices and systems, organizations have to ensure that their cloud architecture is flexible enough to continue supporting new changes, and to put in place a security plan tailored for the confluence of mobility, social media and cloud.

This article was originally posted on the American Express Open Forum and written by Linda Doell.Linda is an award-winning journalist with more than more than 22 years' experience as a reporter, editor and blogger. Linda blogs via Contently.com.

Cyberattacks are on the rise and hackers are targeting more than just big business.

Small businesses are at risk, too, and companies of all sizes are woefully ill-prepared to fight off online threats.

Before brushing off the need for cybersecurity, consider this: 97 percent of data breaches last year were avoidable without the need to employ expensive countermeasures to combat them.

In its 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report, Verizon Communications examined 855 data breaches in 2011 at businesses in the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands, Australia and England. Verizon has compiled the annual report since 2004.

Hacking and the use of malware were the preferred methods to get at businesses' information, with both methods being used in breaches, the report states. Hacking was used in 81 percent of the breaches and malware in 69 percent of the incidents.

By far, the most sought-after target of these breaches was "personally identifiable information," which can include a person's name, contact information and Social Security Number. Personal information accounted for 95 percent of all of the data records stolen during the breaches in 2011.

“The report demonstrates that unfortunately, many organizations are still not getting the message about the steps they can take to prevent data breaches,” Wade Baker, Verizon’s director of risk intelligence, said in the report.

Businesses of all sizes can take measures to safeguard their information from prying eyes. Here are 10 cost-effective ways to protect your small business from cyber attacks.

This checklist can help you secure your network and critical company data

Every small business needs to protect its network and data from viruses, malware, and other malicious threats. A breach could cost your company not only lost revenue and the expense of recovering damaged systems but also your reputation in the marketplace. “Reputation is lost overnight. It takes a lifetime to get it back,” says Danny Pang, who runs a cyber café, Geek Terminal, in Singapore.

If you don’t currently have any safeguards in place or you’re not sure what they are, where do you start in bolstering your network and data security? Here are six steps you can take to fortify your defenses.

1. Inventory your network.

I have posted quite a bit of content that regards to how helpful QR codes can be for small business marketing. With that in mind, I saw this post that talks about how QR codes can be a security threat to your mobile phones and wanted to make all of you aware of the scams that are out there. Please note that this is just a summary of the important points that I got from an article, which can be viewed in full.

By now you should all be aware of the QR codes that keep popping up on anything from business cards to buses. These little black and white boxes can be scanned with a Smartphone, which will then take you to a website that has been associated with that specific QR code. It’s a great way to keep up to date with trends and mobile marketing, but is it turning into more of a threat than an asset? 

Everyone takes precaution when it comes to his or her computer. Whether you buy security software or encrypt your network, you do these things to prevent an attack so no one can get a hold of your sensitive information. Smartphones are getting more and more advanced, to the point where they are pretty much a computer on the go. As so, they should be treated with the same respect by following some basic safety measures that you already take with your PC or Mac.  Use these six ways to help keep your mobile device safe.

5 helpful steps for responding to and recovering from a network attack

Strange pop-up windows, unauthorized software, sluggish systems, mysteriously changed passwords, programs running automatically, or unofficial content posted to your website are all signs that your small business network has been hacked. If you suspect that your network security has been compromised, don’t panic! It’s important to remain calm, retain your professional demeanor, and act decisively.

In addition to seeking guidance from a security professional, these five steps can help you quickly respond and safely recover from a network attack.

1. Verify the attack on your network.

I don't like that this video has emphasis on selling a product, but I just think it has some great information on what kind of security is out there for your mobile devices. I couldn't imagine losing my work phone and not having some sort of security that protects me from people viewing my sensitive information.

This week a video from Cisco Small Business. Data security expert Warren Saxe shows the whys and wherefores of protecting customer data.

Obviously, protecting customer data is an important part of gaining trust from your customers, but did how familiar are you with federal regulations? It doesn't matter if someone steals the data from you or if there is just a minor breach. You are liable for your customers information and it is breached, you are liable for $50,000 each day you go without notifying them. Find out more by watching this informative video.