Category Archives: Security

Budgeting for IT Security: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know

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budgeting for IT

There is no question that businesses need to spend money to safeguard their network and data. But most business owners don’t even know where to start when it comes to budgeting for IT security. How much should you spend? What items should you include in the budget? How do you decide the division of funds between these items? Are you allocating too much or too little? All these questions are perfectly valid and, in this article, you will find the answers.

Guidelines on Budgeting Properly for IT Security

Budgeting for IT security is not something to be taken lightly. Allocating too little might leave your business vulnerable to cyber threats. On the other hand, spending too much can put you in a precarious position in terms of finances. To help you maintain a balance when allocating funds for cybersecurity, here is a sample sequence of steps you can take.

Evaluate existing vulnerabilities.

Take a close look at the security threats that your organization is currently facing. Find out which areas are at the highest risk – data protection, access points, and network security often display red flags.

Take compliance into account when Budgeting for IT.

Failure to comply with industry regulations on security can lead to hefty fines. Rather than pay thousands of dollars on penalties, it’s better to invest in security solutions that will keep you fully compliant right from the start.

Set aside funds for security infrastructure.

A solid security system consists of several tools like antivirus software, firewalls, encryption software, threat detection technologies, and so on. Each of these elements costs money and you must budget accordingly.

Allocate for employee training.

One of the oft-forgotten aspects when it comes to budgeting for IT security is the regular training of employees. Perhaps business owners expect their staff to simply learn on their own, so they don’t allot funds for it. Regular employee training, however, makes a huge difference and should therefore be a non-debatable part of the budget.

Be ready for worst-case scenarios when Budgeting for IT.

Despite having the most robust security strategies in place, the risk of becoming a cyberattack victim is always present. In case an incident does occur, you need to be ready and have adequate funds set aside for data backup systems and recovery plans.

Include funds for monitoring and auditing.

Security threats are now evolving faster than ever, which means constant monitoring and auditing are a must. The funds for this are best allocated toward a reliable MSP that will really keep a close eye on your security infrastructure and even provide assistance when it comes to making budget decisions for IT security as well as the other aspects of your business.

Conclusion on Budgeting for IT

Aside from hiring an MSP, another excellent way to make budgeting for IT security easier is to use our End-of-Year Cybersecurity Health Check Guide. This resource will give you a crystal-clear picture of the state of your security system, allowing you to easily pinpoint where your budget should go. For more information on how to budget for IT security or to learn more about how an MSP can help, give us a call. We will set up a Cybersecurity Network Consultation! Typically Valued at $2,500!

Is Your Cybersecurity Infrastructure Ready for 2025?

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Cybersecurity Infrastructure 2025As another year comes to a close, it’s time again for business owners to gather the team and evaluate how their venture has performed in the last 12 months. There are a lot of questions to ask for cybersecurity infrastructure this 2025. What goals have we achieved? Which projects have we completed? How much profit did we make?

All this is critical but in addition to reviewing sales and revenues, it’s also mandatory to assess the behind-the-scenes functions that keep the business running efficiently. This includes the organization’s cybersecurity infrastructure for 2025.

How to Conduct a Year-End Cybersecurity Infrastructure Evaluation for 2025

When you install your current cybersecurity system, there is no doubt that you have chosen the best solution in the market. But it’s been months, maybe even years since, and in the digital landscape, this equates to a lifetime of change!

Are your protective measures still up to par in terms of the standards of the cybersecurity infrastructure for 2025? A cybersecurity evaluation would answer. But how exactly should you conduct this check? Here are some of the most crucial steps to take.

  • Identify security vulnerabilities.

On the outside, your cybersecurity infrastructure might seem fine. However, deep in the trenches of your system, there might be red flags you are unaware of. Do you use outdated software? Are your security measures still adequate? Could there be risky misconfigurations in your system? The sooner you find out about these issues, the sooner you can address them accordingly.

  • Mitigate risk Cybersecurity Infrastructure for 2025.

Having a reliable cybersecurity infrastructure for 2025 in place is one thing, but making sure that your solution will still be workable in the months to come is another. Running a check will help you identify potential threats and set up proper measures for risk mitigation.

  • Comply with regulations.

Failure to comply with industry standards in terms of cybersecurity can result in hefty fines and other legal repercussions, causing setbacks to the overall operations of your business. A yearly cybersecurity evaluation will guarantee that your company is fully compliant and ready for the coming year.

  • Keep sensitive data protected.

Hackers continue to elevate their game, and it is vital to always be a few steps ahead. Protecting sensitive information, such as business, financial, and personal data, is key to the well-being of your organization’s cybersecurity infrastructure for 2025. A huge part of a safety check is gauging the protection that your system is currently providing and making adjustments if needed.

  • Boost incident response.

Cybersecurity is not just about preparing for and defending against attacks. It also includes the actions you will take in case an attack does ensue. By strengthening your incident response strategy, you can make your business fully prepared for what could happen, minimizing downtime and getting back on track as quickly as possible.

Conclusion on Cybersecurity Infrastructure for 2025

To ensure that you don’t skip anything while conducting your assessment, we highly recommend you download our End-of-Year Cybersecurity Health Check guide. This resource will take you through all the key areas of your cybersecurity infrastructure for 2025 that need to be evaluated.

You can also partner with an MSP who can implement this health check for you, ensuring your business is secure and ready for the coming year—without sacrificing precious time with your family during the holiday season.

Building a Culture of Employee Data Security Training

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Data Security Training

Data security is no longer the new concept that it was a few years ago. In today’s digital age, most people already recognize that data security protocols are important and that there are dire consequences when these protocols are not followed. However, in many industries, there is still a general assumption that the responsibility for data security training falls only on the company’s IT team.

Sure, the IT department is in charge of the technical stuff. However, each employee must be accountable, especially these days, when threats of online attacks are coming in from all directions. Now more than ever, we need to normalize the practice of employee data security training regularly.

Fostering a Culture of Data Security Training

To ensure the protection of data, everyone must pull their weight. However, it will still have to begin with the upper ranks. As a business owner, there are a lot of things you can do to get the ball rolling.

Regular Employee Data Security Training

A good way to start is by arranging for regular employee data security training to provide awareness and education to every single member of your staff. These sessions don’t even have to delve deep into the technical stuff. Some topics might include identifying cyber threats, learning secure data handling, or even simple but vital matters like creating strong passwords.

Education on the Impact of Data Breaches

Employees are more likely to adopt data security practices when they have a full understanding of the consequences of laxity. A data breach can have an impact on their personal lives, as well as their business. With this realization, employees will be more careful and take on a much more proactive stance in terms of data security and handling.

Incentives for Maintaining Security Protocols

To further encourage employees to show diligence in carrying out security protocols, you can offer incentives in various forms. By rewarding them for their efforts, you can expect changes like closer attention to GDPR compliance and considerably fewer data privacy mistakes from your staff. Before long, a strong culture of data security will penetrate the entire organization.

Partnering with an MSP for Employee Data Security Training

Training your employees purely through in-house efforts may sound easy, but it is often not. More than just the drive and determination, you need to have the right skills and technical knowledge to impart.

For this, partnering with an MSP is the best solution. With certified experts taking charge of employee data security training, you can rest assured that your team will get the best instruction possible, and you can direct your attention toward the core competencies of your business. Also, take a chance to download our new resource Data Breach Response Plan Template for your peace of mind. If you are ready to build a culture of data security training in your organization, give us a call and we’ll set you up for a free consultation!

5 Data Privacy Mistakes to Avoid

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Data Privacy Mistakes

Data privacy mistakes can set the stage for immense damage to one’s business. An insignificant error can cost you millions of dollars in fines and reparations. It can even put you smack in the middle of stressful lawsuits. And it can even blow up and seriously harm the reputation of your business!

Therefore, the pressure is very high for business owners to avoid these mistakes at all costs. To do that, you first need to know which data privacy mistakes to avoid. That is what we are going to talk about in this post today.

5 Most Common Data Privacy Mistakes and Potential Solutions

The dread of something terrible happening because of a single wrong move can be debilitating to your business. Free yourself from needless worrying by knowing what data privacy mistakes to avoid and planning appropriate contingencies.

Failure to Obtain Consent

Collecting personal data without explicit consent directly violates the General Data Protection Regulation. Every time you ask people for personal data, be sure to include a way for them to either give recorded consent or opt out.

Weak Data Security Practices

With so many advanced data security systems now available, there is no excuse to stick to practices that are way below par. At the very least, be sure to use a reliable encryption method, use updated software, secure your storage systems, and conduct regular security audits.

Data Privacy Mistakes – Ignoring Data Subject Rights

According to the GDPR, it is the right of users to access, correct, or delete data they have submitted for collection. You can honor this right by establishing procedures that let them request access, corrections, or deletion of their information.

Over-Retention of Data: A Risky Data Privacy Mistake

The longer you store collected data, the higher the risk of a data breach. A simple solution is to store data only as long as necessary. Once it is no longer needed, the data must be deleted from your system.

Inadequate Staff Training

Employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity. This is largely due to the inadequate security training they receive, especially with data privacy. Regular training sessions on privacy laws, data security practices, and data privacy mistakes to avoid will equip your staff with better knowledge and skills to handle data for your business.

Final Thoughts on Data Privacy Mistakes

These are just the most common data privacy mistakes to avoid. To ensure that none of these errors are made, the best move is to hire an MSP to take care of your data security. Now, if, despite all your precautions, your organization still falls victim to a data breach, you must have a recovery strategy ready to roll out immediately. We can help you with this by providing a free Data Breach Response Plan Template for your peace of mind. Download this resource right here, tailor it to align with your cybersecurity needs, and you’ll be ready for the worst attacks.