As a manager of a business, it is important that you are aware of the latest technological innovations and how you can implement these within your business. However, taking advantage of tech innovations can be more difficult than you might expect, including those that are related to the internet. Here are some of the ways that you can ensure that your business benefits from the wide range of new tech and internet innovations that are out there. Look for 5G Alternatives 5G, after some initial controversies, is taking the tech world by storm and can help you to access a fast and reliable internet connection if you have 5G receivers within your office. This can ensure that your work is not slowed down or left to be inefficient by a slow internet connection that fails to load webpages or support video calls. However, as with any technology, 5G also has its downsides, such as the high level of interference that can interrupt your ability to access the internet. If you are struggling with using 5G in your business, it is not your only option. Instead, you should look around for an alternative to 5G that you can use in your office. This includes fiber internet, which reduces the chance of data loss while you are online. Look for an Internet Consultant If you are struggling to use the internet as well as you could be within your business, you should consider looking around for an internet consultant. An internet consultant can give you all of the information that you need to know about your business’s use of the internet. For instance, you might be able to use them to improve your internet marketing campaigns, how you train your employees to use the internet and to ensure that your company stays secure while using the internet. They will be able to highlight any problems or issues that you are having and will be able to give you great internet-based solutions that can make your business more successful online. However, you should check the expertise of any consultants that you find before you decide to hire them. Utilize the IoT The Internet of Things describes a group of objects that can be connected with each other using the internet, including wearable technology and smart appliances, like smart security systems. It is important that you stay ahead of the trend when it comes to the Internet of Things and that you start to use it to gain more control of your business and to improve efficiency. For instance, you might decide to use your smartphone to manage your team when you are not around, as well as to host virtual meetings and check your calendar. You might also use IoT Cloud software to store documents through a third party and access them wherever you need to. This can then allow you to cut down on the number of paper documents that you have in your office, which can be a great eco move to make – let your customers know you have made this switch, and you might find yourself with...

In the world of small business, security is an ever-present concern and is an issue that should be planned into daily operations. Many businesses have high-value equipment on-site (such as IT equipment) and may store sensitive documents with customer and business information in both digital and physical formats. Small businesses, like any form of commerce, are susceptible to criminal acts that can damage their reputation and cost significant sums of money to rectify. A break-in at an office building can result in the theft of high-value equipment and the need to repair damaged entrance points at the location of entry. In 2023, cybercrime is a threat to the digital world of business and similar steps must be taken to safeguard digital information and assets. In this article, three ways to improve the security of your small business will be explored that relate to both the physical and online worlds. High-Quality Fencing to Deter Intruders It is a fact that the perimeter area of every business needs to be fully secured to present a deterrent to potential intruders who are looking for easy access to a property. The best way to achieve this is to invest in high-quality fencing systems that are supplied by a company that has a history of producing and installing commercial fencing. Ideally, the fencing system will be extremely durable and able to withstand attempts to break or cut it with common equipment, such as pliers or fence cutters. Some modern fencing systems feature sharp or serrated tops to deter criminals from attempting to climb over them. Consider the complete perimeter of your premises and look for any weak points in the design or construction. Gates and other entry points should be secured with padlocks after business hours or should have key code systems to allow entry by authorised staff. Advanced Security Systems It is recognized that burglar alarms act as a deterrent for potential intruders in both commercial and residential properties. Recent statistics indicate that around 60% of burglars would be deterred from trying to gain access to a building that had a burglar alarm installed. However, whilst burglar alarms are a deterrent for some, it follows that 40% of potential intruders would still attempt to break into a property with this security device. It, therefore, makes sense to consider more advanced security systems, especially for businesses with high-value items or sensitive information on-site. CCTV systems can prove to be an effective deterrent and modern units can provide high-quality images that can be used to apprehend and prosecute the intruder if a break-in takes place. You can find some of the best CCTV systems for small businesses by clicking here. Consider IT Security IT security should be a vitally important consideration for the overall security of any small business. There are several ways to improve the IT security of your small business. Antivirus software and firewalls should be installed on company computers and servers. In addition, employees should be encouraged to use strong passwords which are regularly changed or given the option of using password management applications to store multiple sets of passwords that are difficult to crack. IT security training should form an integral part of the onboarding process and should ideally be updated annually as part of a mandatory corporate training...

Research the Company Before Purchasing One of the most important things to remember when shopping online is to do your homework. It is critical to ensure that the company is trustworthy and reliable. Take your time reading other customers’ reviews and researching the company’s history. This can assist you in determining whether or not a company is a good fit for you. By conducting your research, you can ensure that your purchase is secure and that you will receive the product you desire. Take Advantage of Sale Days Online shopping can help you always get the best deal. Take advantage of sale days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as well as special promotions. Companies are offering discounts and deals on their products that you will not find at any other time. Sign up for newsletters and use tools like price-tracking websites to stay on top of the best sales. In addition, some stores will match prices if they find the same items cheaper elsewhere. So, spend a few minutes researching the items you want and seeing if you can get a better deal online. It may be tempting to do a quick digital shopping trip on Amazon while sipping a latte at your favourite coffee shop, but if you use public Wi-Fi, you risk compromising your data and financial information. If you’re using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection, you may be sending sensitive data without realising it. Patient hackers who have connected to the same Wi-Fi network are looking for opportunities to steal data from public users. If you’re on the go and can’t get home before you buy, she recommends using your mobile data plan and avoiding public Wi-Fi entirely. If you must do some online shopping while out and about, consider investing in a virtual private network (VPN), which is typically more secure than public Wi-Fi. However, we strongly advise you to wait until you get home before making a purchase. Create an Online Shopping Budget Online shopping can be a great way to save money and find great deals, but remember to set and stick to a budget. Always ask yourself if you really need it before making a purchase, and then consider how much you can afford to spend. This will assist you in avoiding impulse purchases, which can quickly add up. Check for Discount Codes and Coupons Many online stores provide discounts and special offers on their products, but you may have to look for them. Take a few minutes before making a purchase to look for discount codes online. You can look for these codes on the store’s website or through coupon websites. This way, you can save money and get the best deal possible on your purchase. Take Advantage of Free Shipping Offers One of the many advantages of shopping online is that many stores offer free shipping if certain conditions are met. For example, you may be eligible for free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money, purchase a certain number of products, or simply sign up for their newsletter. Taking advantage of these deals can help you save a lot of money, so check the store’s website before making a purchase to see if you can get free shipping. Shop on trusted websites It’s unavoidable—there will come a time when you’ll be shopping online for something and come across a site that looks…off. If you’ve ever come across a website that makes you nervous, trust your instincts. Many websites have been created with the sole purpose of defrauding online consumers and taking advantage of our desire to get a good deal. Consumers should ensure that the web...

In your private life, protecting your sensitive data should be among your top priorities. The same is even more important when dealing with your company data. Protecting your company data means protecting your clients and employees from identity theft and fraud. It is an essential aspect of your firm’s reputation. Add the fact that most companies deal with a paper trail together with a digital one, and the task of keeping all that information safe becomes even more complex. Sure, you should shred company documents, but that is just the beginning. Here is what you can do to keep your company data safe. Educate your employees Despite the stuff that we have all seen in movies and TV shows, and even in the news, the biggest threat to your security most likely won’t be a foreign group of hackers hiding behind their computer screens. A study by PwC has discovered that internal mistakes and even intentional errors currently pose a more significant threat to your company’s data safety than any external threat. Your business is only as secure as are the devices of your employees. Train them about the threats of doing business and storing information online. A few lessons on cybersecurity can save you from a lot of potential issues down the line. Increase workspace safety Every time someone steps away from their desk while in the middle of a project that includes sensitive business information, this represents a potential data safety risk. You should take the necessary precautions to protect company data from visitors or others who should not see that information. Make sure that all the computers lock up if left alone. After a meeting, make sure no sensitive materials are left behind. After printing, copying, or faxing, make it a rule that everyone should pick up their documents right away. When shredding sensitive papers, do not rely on your internal paper shredder if you have one. Instead, use the services of a professional company. Finally, store sensitive documents in a secure location. Encryption is your friend Using encryption means adding a layer of safety between you and potential hacker attacks regarding digital data. Encrypted data can be accessed only by those who have the password to do so, which means that, even if that info somehow gets stolen or compromised, it would be useless to the thieves without that crucial element. Remember, only the person who has the password can see the data that is protected by the encryption – even if that data is stored in the cloud, without the password that decrypts it, it is entirely safe. It’s important not to limit encryption to your company’s desktop computers. Laptops, tablets, and even USB drives can be protected by encryption. Pay attention to password security We have already mentioned passwords above and how powerful of a tool they can be. It makes sense that such important assets should be well protected. Hackers and online criminals know how important passwords are, too. Sometimes, they use software to crack passwords. Other times, they buy a list of most commonly used passwords and email addresses and try to brute force their way into your company. That is why you should teach your employees how to create strong and unique passwords. Your other option would be to purchase password management software that can create strong passwords and keep them safe. Use proper procedures when disposing of old devices Let’s consider personal data safety once more. You wouldn’t simply toss your credit card statements or bank reports into the trash without shredding them first or setting them on fire. The same holds for all essential paper documents regarding your...

The world of work has changed considerably over the last 30 or so years. From the relentless pace and inventiveness of technology to the widespread adoption of the internet, email, messaging, and video apps, it’s almost impossible to think of any company these days that doesn’t rely on online services at least to some degree. As the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds continue to blur in both our personal and work lives, so our reliance on online tech continues to increase—and will do so even more in the future. However, while most of us use the internet purely for good reasons, there is an unfortunate dark side to the online world—a world filled with nefarious online criminals who are all too ready and willing to exploit our data. Cybercrime—the greatest risk facing companies today In a recent survey among company owners and bosses, the majority cited the potential for exploitation through cybercrime as their greatest fear and danger facing their firms. Online crime has been growing exponentially for many years and the revenue generated by cybercriminals is expected to tally $6 trillion in 2021 (doubling in value since 2015). Moreover, industry experts suggest the costs associated with online crime will continue to rise by 15% year on year for the next five years—reaching a mindboggling $10.5 trillion by 2025. If you haven’t already, now is the time to act If your firm operates online to any degree, chances are high that you will have already found yourself a target of online crime—whether that be a hacked website or a more troublesome problem such as an SQL injection attack. What is SQL injection, you might ask? In short, an SQL injection is where the hacker identifies and exploits a weakness in your SQL database permission settings to gain access. SQL (structured query language) databases use statements to query data—typically executed from a web page. In an SQL attack, the hacker will execute queries that can add, read, change, or delete data stored in the database. Of course, SQL injections are just one form of attack used by hackers. Other very common types of attack include malware (and ransomware), Man-in-the-middle attacks (MITM), distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) and phishing attacks—to name but a few. Steps you can take to protect your firm If your company is like most these days, you likely rely on your website, email, and network for everything from file storage to staying in touch or allowing collaborative working. Industry experts now suggest data is the most valuable commodity in the world, far outweighing the value of oil or gold. Your data is likely the lifeblood of your firm—most certainly not anything you should be taking chances with. In truth, if you’re looking for the most robust protection against online crime, you should look at handing control of your online services to a professional security contractor. Not only will a dedicated firm take steps to ensure your protection, they will also perform a full audit on your existing network to identify possible threats or loopholes which might provide unwarranted access. A reputable IT security firm will understand the importance of tools like identity and access management, which helps organizations better manage user identities. Solutions like this are important, so quiz any firm you hire to make sure they are up-to-date with the latest industry...