Tag Archives: risk management

Backup Disaster Recovery and Proactive Workplace Strategies

Data Backup, , , , ,
20170504

Is your business as secure as it could be?

Nowadays, are enough businesses as secure as they could be? After all, even though many businesses do invest in protection and cybersecurity, they might not update it as regularly as they could. On the other hand, you also have companies who are too laid back and assume their business isn’t susceptible to threats. This is especially true when it comes to small businesses, who are often a much easier target for cybercriminals.

With that said, this is why you need to keep your business secure, and use risk management in the process as well. By definition, risk management is defined as the process of identifying, assessing and controlling threats to an organization’s capital and earnings. With that said, one of the biggest reasons that you need to remain secure in the workplace, is because threats can be very unpredictable. Even more so, it’s time to start taking a proactive approach in dealing with threats, as opposed to a reactive approach. If you’re not familiar with these terms, it’s time to look a little more into what they mean. On top of that, we’ll also look at one of the best proactive workplace strategies out there.

The Difference Between the Two

First of all, what is the major difference between proactive and reactive? For the former, you’re preparing for threats and taking action before anything even happens. With a reactive approach, on the other hand, you don’t take action until after a threat occurs. The latter is why so many businesses have their data compromised regularly. As a common business practice, you need to actively work toward taking action even before something occurs. With that said, here are some of the best proactive workplace strategies.

#1. Backup Disaster Recovery

One of the best proactive approaches to securing your business, is through backing up your data on a regular basis. Aside from using a USB flash drive, always make sure to invest in cloud computing as well. A storing method that backs up all data over the Internet, you don’t have to worry about the data on your hard drive. Besides, all your data is stored virtually. Not to mention you can access this virtual data via any device with an Internet connection.

By storing your data on a regular basis, you’re actively preparing for any incidents that could occur. Speaking of which, cloud computing is also important, because it’s a great backup disaster recovery method. As an example, let’s say that your computer became infected with ransomware or any virus which threatens your sensitive info. Despite the threat of losing all files on your hard drive, recovering all your data would still be a cinch. Just access a non-infected device, and open your virtual files from there. Having all files erased on your hard drive, means nothing if there are copies stored elsewhere. This is why a proactive approach is important, if a business owner was reactive in these situations, they would wait until they were infected before taking any action.

#2. Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software is also a proactive approach to dealing with threats and incidents in the workplace. Though complex in nature, how the software operates is as basic as it comes, easily neutralizing any threat that infects your computer. On top of that, anti-virus programs are also actively involved while you’re surfing the web, even giving you warnings about which websites are dangerous. McAfee has a feature that tells you turn back if you visit an unsuspecting website, and Kaspersky monitors the search results of each web browser. The safe websites are marked in green, and the dangerous sites have a red notification.

#3. Educating Your Employees

Considering that being proactive means that you’re actively involved in making sure threats are neutralized, it would also make sense that you educate your employees. That way, you’re keeping the business even more secure. It’s one thing if a business owner is preventing threats before they happen, which is definitely important. However, imagine the possibilities of every employee working from different angles to ensure the business is completely secure. It’s not just enough that you educate them, either, but make sure they are actively taking action.

Between backing up your data, the use of anti-virus software, and educating your employees, these are some useful tips that will lead to your business being more proactive. Don’t wait for the threats to come to come, but be prepared at all times.

For more information about backup disaster recovery, as well as other useful proactive workplace strategies in the workplace, feel free to contact us today at SystemsNet. We look forward to hearing from you, and assisting you in the best way possible.

Fighting Malware and Other Cyber Disasters: Consider a Risk Management Approach

Malware, Security, ,
20160407

A risk management plan can help protect your company from malware and other cyber security disasters.

Determining the nature and extent of cyber security risks is a critical challenge companies face. Working within budgetary constraints, companies need to draw up and implement a comprehensive plan for cyber security that encompasses all business operations and keeps various risks at an acceptable level.

When so much of what a company does depends on computing devices, there are numerous points of vulnerability that cyber criminals can exploit. Companies need to understand the kinds of risks they face, the likelihood of different IT disasters, and the best ways to manage each type of risk.

A recent article from Business Insurance discusses how good risk management provides companies with important insights about cyber security risks and recommendations for steps to take. Knowing how to manage your cyber security risks is integral to better protecting your company from malware and other cyber crimes and IT disasters.

How should you go about managing your company’s cyber security risks? The following are several key tips.

1) Rely on meaningful data

As much as possible, you should quantify the risks your company faces and the likely effects of your solutions. Quantifying risks helps you prioritize the vulnerabilities that need the most attention and resources. You can also determine whether or not a particular solution has worked as you anticipated, and whether your solutions are cost-effective. Without supporting data, you’re less likely to have a clear picture of your company’s cyber security performance.

2) Choose your metrics carefully

How do you intend to measure different kinds of risk? What’s an acceptable level of risk to work with? Unfortunately, there aren’t always industry standards or other widely agreed-upon best practices to help you determine the answers. To start with, you can consult with IT security professionals and well-informed business leaders to get a better sense of how to best measure and manage risk.

3) Make sure you’re comprehensive

Risk management should encompass all aspects of your company and its operations. Every business operation exposes you to cyber security risks. HR personnel work with software and files containing employees’ payroll data. Employees in sales and marketing handle sensitive customer information. Your accounting personnel process critical financial information. Understand the vulnerabilities in every type of hardware and software you use and in the IT set-up your business relies on.

4) Stay realistic

There’s no way you can avoid all risks or bring the chances of an IT disaster down to nothing. Sometimes, you’ll have to accept a risk, because the benefits are greater. You may not always have the means to significantly reduce a particular risk. Other times, you’ll need to do everything you can to bring the level of risk down as much possible, because failing to do so will severely undermine your company. A strong risk management approach helps you make the best possible decisions within the constraints affecting you.

5) Make it a group effort

Risk management is based on collaboration among IT personnel and company leaders. This collaboration ensures that your company’s decision makers are all on the same page when it comes to prioritizing cyber security, understanding the risks, and keeping the risks at acceptable, manageable levels. Ultimately, every IT security decision you make needs to serve your company’s goals and further its growth. Your IT personnel can’t work in isolation, without an understanding of your company’s needs and objectives.

To protect your company, you need to manage risks effectively. You can’t rely on one-size-fits-all cyber security solutions. You also can’t protect your business if your IT security decisions lack coherence and direction and remain disconnected from your company’s goals. Don’t hesitate to contact us for further advice and assistance. We can help you assess your risks and come up with solutions for managing them in a way that best protects your company from IT disasters.