Top Tips to Improve the Digital Safety of Your Business

Today’s business world is a complex data and technology operation that requires digital safety measures to keep your small business secure

With a growing number of businesses going digital, and many more on the horizon, the security game has become the primary issue of interest for all parties involved. It no longer matters if you are a solo entrepreneur with an online teaching course, or a corporation with hundreds of clients, every single piece of the digital puzzle is affected and shaped by the idea of improved and promised security.

After all, why would anyone choose to stay loyal or even try your brand if there are others on the market (and there are many competitors out there offering a similar, or the same service) who can vouch for the safety of making a purchase on their websites? Add to that the traditional, old-fashioned notion of security, and you have an intertwined puzzle of actions, rules, and regulations that every business needs to master to succeed.

Follow these simple rules to ensure improved digital safety of your business operations.

Don’t skip the updates

With so much going on at the office, either you as the manager, or some of your employees might feel overwhelmed with work to the extent that you’d gladly put off indefinitely that system update. Whatever you do, resist this urge, as the security of your individual devices, as well as your entire network of connected tech, depends heavily on keeping your systems and platforms in tip-top shape.

Just as hackers come up with new, smarter malware threats, so the companies you use for software have to come up with equally sturdy protective measures. Haven’t updated your virus protection software? Make sure a professional IT technician sweeps your computer for threats and optimize your system after the update.

Use the cloud

So much has been said about this incredible piece of technology, that it feels redundant to keep repeating the same old mantra: always create backups of your most important data on cloud-based software that will keep all your information and correspondence safe and secure in case of a tech failure.

Of course, using encryption and password protected accounts which a select few can access is the key to making the most of your cloud storage options. Talk to your IT teams to see what the best solutions are for keeping your most sensitive data protected, and create regular backups so as to minimize the risks of data breaches.

Ensure safe transactions

The truth of the old saying that the money makes the world go round cannot be overstated, as the ability to make safe payments and keep your clients’ most sensitive information safe and secure is pivotal in the modern era. That is why so many companies opt for experts such as IPSI to handle their payment systems and PCI DSS compliance needs, all of which are different for each industry.

The previous abbreviation stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, and these standards are designed to create safe methods to handle your clients’ most sensitive data, prevent any security vulnerabilities, and continuously look for ways to improve your approach. This factor alone can safeguard your reputation and prevent many payment issues you’d be dealing with in case your website isn’t PCO DSS compliant.

Think in layers

In the past few years, we’ve heard quite a bit of buzz around creating multi-layered protection systems for companies around the world. To help you visualize, it would be a process that uses several different entries to confirm and ensure the safe use of data, or access to a particular system. It’s the system banks use to make online transactions as secure as possible: not only do you use your pin code, but you also need a one-time several-digit-long code sent by SMS to your phone.

It’s known as the multi-factor authentication process, and it helps to limit other people’s access to the most sensitive pieces of information, as well as your bank accounts. With technology advancements arising every day, companies will be able to introduce more versatile options, such as biometric authentication, to add an extra layer of security.

Consider the employee factor

In addition to investing in the right technology and software solutions, how you educate your employees will greatly impact the security of your company. That includes your policy of conduct, NDAs, and other confidentiality agreements that provide your company with ample legal support for increased security. Every employee needs to understand the expectations that come with their positions, so it is your obligation to continuously update and educate your team on the latest changes to your security policy.

The same goes for their online conduct, especially on social media. Many companies are only now beginning to understand just how much online behavior of their employees can impact their reputation. That said, every brand should have a tailor-made social media policy that creates clear boundaries of allowed and forbidden conduct and what kind of information they can post as your employees.

To say that security remains the number-one issue of companies worldwide would be the understatement of the century. With fast-growing markets brimming with competition paired with risks piling up in the digital realm, every brand needs to focus on ensuring a system based on safety.

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Dan Radak

VPS Security Specialist

Dan Radak is a web hosting security professional with ten years of experience. He is currently working with a number of companies in the field of online security, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies. He is also a coauthor on several technology websites and regular contributor to Technivorz.