Ask SCORE – Don’t Allow Internet Threats to Plague Your Small Business
Disruptions to your small business IT system are not simply inconvenient; they’re costly and downright dangerous. Studies have found that more than 70 percent of small businesses that experience a data breach go out of business within a year.
While there are many ways for an IT system to be compromised, many threats originate from the Internet. Plain-text emails rarely carry viruses, but inadvertently clicking an embedded link or downloading an infected file is enough to disrupt one computer and quickly spread through your network. Hackers and other unauthorized visitors can also access your system by using so-called “malware” and other methods to decipher passwords and penetrate inadequate firewalls. Clicking website links that you’re not fully familiar with can also admit malware into your system.
Because computers and other IT hardware are critical to small businesses today, take steps to safeguard all components of your IT assets as quickly as possible. A good Internet firewall is a must, as is a secure, password-protected Wi-Fi system. Many types of small business-oriented antivirus and other security software are available from vendors such as Symantec (www.symantec.com). Update this software regularly, as new and mutated Internet viruses arise from around the world almost daily.
The resource website SmallBusinessComputing.com also recommends inventorying your small business’s sensitive information and where it resides (e.g., individual computers, servers, or file-sharing FTP sites). This information should be kept on as few computers as possible, and segregated from other data. Various applications are also available to encrypt sensitive data, creating yet another obstacle to unauthorized access and malicious use.
Educating your staff and yourself is another data security must. Longer, mixed-character passwords are more resistant to hacking than the names of pets and family members. It’s OK to write them down; just make sure they’re kept in a secure location and changed on a regular basis. Also make it a policy to avoid suspicious websites, immediately discard emails with suspicious senders or subject lines without opening them, and download applications only from known and trusted sources.
Another great source for small business expertise is SCORE “For the Life of Your Business.” SCORE is a non-profit organization of more than 12,000 volunteers who provide free, confidential business mentoring and training workshops to small business owners.
To learn more about the local chapter of SCORE, visit www.MidFlorida.score.org .
