The Importance of IT Security
If you are exploring the need for improved cyber, digital and IT security for your business then it’s likely that you already recognise the vital importance of a secure IT infrastructure and the advantages it offers.
In our increasingly complicated, multi-layered and fast paced digital world, keeping your company’s data, IP and information safe is crucial. As is integrating strong systems and IT protocols that keep your staff, clients and customers safe online and through their interactions with you.
Whether that’s ordering goods and services on the internet, sending across large volumes of sensitive information or sharing personal data. As a business operating in the digital, global marketplace, you need to ensure that your company is compliant with all manner of guidelines and legal requirements but also that your organisation maximises the potential to reach customers and instil confidence that your business is a safe and secure place to buy, sell and communicate.
Does IT security matter?
Without putting too fine a point on it, IT security for your business is absolutely essential to your continued growth and success.
Cyber attacks, DOS interruptions, malware and ransomware threats are very real, extremely lucrative and they have negatively impacted the systems and income of millions of individuals and businesses worldwide. The threats exist, there is no point pretending otherwise, but this risk of malicious digital damage and cyber theft should not impede you and your company, provided you make some key changes to the ways that your team, customers and stakeholders work together online and through digital means.
We’re not in the business of fear-mongering, we simply believe it is important that all businesses, regardless of the industry sector or size, understand that IT security is a crucial factor in day-to-day operations, and should always be part of discussions around future company development and growth.
Evidence has suggested that although the majority of news coverage indicates that larger, global firms are the most frequently targeted, in actual fact it is small and medium sized businesses that are the most affected. This could be because they are seen as less inclined to spend more on IT and cyber security, have fewer instances of digital security training for team members and fewer numbers of staff to implement robust IT security measures.
We’ve been working with companies of all shapes and sizes and across all industries since 2003 and cyber security with confident digital practices have always been part of the services and expert support we offer.
Below we’ve highlighted some of the important ways you and your staff can implement strong IT security and minimise instances of cybercrime and digital threats to your organisation.
Five key ways to improve your information security and prevent cyber attacks.
There are hundreds of examples of hints and guidance available on the internet, all designed to improve your cyber security and reduce the risk to your IT systems.
We’ve based the following advice on 20+ years of experience working with thousands of organisations all with unique requirements, but all with the common goal of protecting their systems from malicious cyber threats.
- Building a security conscious mindset – The best thing you can implement immediately is empowering staff, customers and clients to think “security first”. Regular briefings on digital security matters that affect your industry sector, encouraging frequent changes to passwords and giving clear rules on appropriate data management and handling will create an environment, both online and in company workspaces of vigilance. Make sure your team all have simple instructions on the use of software and permitted URLs on company computers and that any external drives are approved and maintained by your IT support provider or in-house IT staff.
- Attentive password and online account management – It’s a simple one but vastly effective when implemented correctly. Many people across the world use the same password for accounts at home and at work. The impact of hacking an individual can therefore be catastrophic. Encourage staff and customers to use a selection of strong passwords that utilise letter, number and character/symbol combinations to make the risk of cracking them far smaller. If you have a large number of staff working across many types of software packages, you could explore the provision of password management software. An IT support partner will be able to guide you towards the best option for your company, as well as install and maintain it.
- Identify vulnerabilities and create a cyber attack critical response plan – Forewarned is forearmed as the old adage goes. If you have taken the time to explore and understand any potential areas of IT vulnerability or digital weak-points in your company’s systems, you can make plans and arrangements to solve the issues and be fully prepared in case of a malware, ransomware or other threat to your business. In doing so you’ll be protecting against all manner of data and information breaches.
- Backup. Backup. Backup – This should be a company wide daily practice for all businesses, but we know that it usually isn’t. If you implemented a cyber security protocol to ensure regular, day-to-day backups either to the cloud or off-site to a dedicated data storage facility, you would be secure in the knowledge that if a digital attack or threat were to occur, you and your staff would lose the minimum amount of data possible, and would be back up and running again quickly and without fuss. An IT support provider will be able to advise you on setting secure daily backups in motion so that they become standard practice for your organisation.
- Updates, patches and consistent monitoring – software and hardware developers work hard to make sure that their content is updated and safe. Use their expertise and make sure you download and install regular patches and updates to the systems and software you commonly use. If you have a branded company app to engage with customers, speak with your app developer about ongoing maintenance and security features so that your clients can feel confident using the applications or platforms you offer. If this feels unwieldy and complicated, speak to an IT support company who will be able to manage all security updates for you as well as monitoring your IT infrastructure to mitigate attacks and spot problems before they become larger issues.
Where can you find expert cyber security support?
At Acronyms we have been helping organisations create secure digital workspaces and safe online environments for staff, customers and clients since 2003. It’s one of our specialist areas, so we can give you clear, uncomplicated guidance and advice with no jargon and no fuss.
We have a very experienced team of consultants, technicians and engineers who can answer all your questions on cyber and IT security and will be happy to help you make the changes to your business that ensure your digital safety and confidence.
If you’d like to discuss how Acronyms may be able to help secure your organisation and keep it protected from the threat of cyber attack, you can book a free no-obligation consultation today.
Alternatively, you might find the following resources useful:
Our Cyber Security Services
Lang Town & Country Case Study