5 Tips for Building a Rock-Solid Business Security System in 2022

The last couple of years were very hard and attiring. So much so that, in the wake of recent pandemic and economic turmoil, we almost forgot that security threats to our companies don’t take a vacation during the periods like these. On the contrary – after a slight drop during 2020, property and violent crimes were once again up in 2021.

Elsewhere in the digital world, cybercrimes increased 600% during the COVID-19 pandemic causing total damage of $6 trillion worldwide in 2021.

These threats are as real and present as it gets. Let us take look then at a couple of security essentials you can use to keep them at bay.

Make cybersecurity a part of the company culture

A vast majority of cybercrimes occur as a result of irresponsible online behavior. At a bare minimum, you should make sure that your employees are aware of these threats and know how to approach them correctly. So, consider organizing a couple of seminars and training sessions about cyber security and encourage responsible behavior through various perks and incentives. Put a special focus on password management since password policies make a cornerstone of modern online security.

Conduct data audit and classify digital properties

This will help you get a full grasp of the things you are dealing with here and focus your security efforts where they matter the most. Namely, although you should try to enforce a zero-trust policy toward any kind of threat, ranking digital assets according to their importance will help you create a more comprehensive security policy and provide better directions to your employees. Having a set of clear directions for each of these groups will also allow workers to engage in a more responsible behavior with critical assets.

Secure the physical premises

As we mentioned in the introduction, the number of property crimes is on the rise again and the only way to make sure your company is well protected is to give the same level of attention you are giving digital assets to the physical premises as well. First of all, you should consider installing secure flat top gates and then spread the motion sensors and motion-triggered alarms near all entry points. As for the cameras, even the dummies will discourage the criminals from attempting the burglary in the first place.

Back up files and develop a first response plan

This, of course, applies both to physical and digital documents. Both these groups need to be backed up and stored in some remote, secure location – preferably encrypted Cloud storage. Also, it is very important to have a fully developed first response plan that will outline what steps your employees need to take in the case of disaster, theft, or data breach. This way, even in the case of the worst-case scenario, your company will be able to quickly get back on its feet and continue with the operations.

Create a device security manager role

If you are concerned with the expenses, just think of the alternatives. Of course, all of your employees should be encouraged to take care of their devices and use them in a responsible manner. But, creating one centralized system that will monitor and take care of these issues and putting it under the charge of a single person will make all device security actions from troubleshooting to data recovery much faster, simpler, and more efficient. You can even go a step further and organize a cyber-security committee.

These few suggestions are far from a complete story but they should give you an excellent starting point for creating a fully developed security strategy that will take good care both of your online and physical business assets. The problems we experienced the last couple of years made us forget we are living in a very uncertain world where way too many people can try to take advantage of your company. It is in your best interest to do everything in your power to prevent that.

How to Protect Your Money When Playing Online Games

Millions of people from across the world turn to online gaming as a form of entertainment. After a long and busy day at the office, getting home, switching on your PC and getting stuck into a fun-filled game can be a great way to pass the time. While many gamers play purely for fun, others put money down which, if put in the wrong hands, could leave you vulnerable.

Unfortunately, hackers are always coming up with new ways to access player accounts. Whether you enjoy online slots, or video games, here are some protective measures you can put in place to keep your money safe and secure.

 

Choose a Reputable Website

Whatever you do, you must choose a reputable website for your online gaming pleasure. Whether you enjoy playing at an online casino, or video games to relax and unwind, you should choose a platform that has excellent testimonials from current players. If you want to step into the online casino world, there are additional gambling safety tips you can use to your advantage. For every reputable online gaming website, there will be dozens of suspicious ones, so you need to be aware of this when signing up.

 

Pick a Strong Password

We all use passwords for our work and personal emails, online shopping accounts, and social media. When online gaming, you should use a different password for your account. This is because, should a hacker gain access to your account, they may view your personal details and clone your card. Using a strong password made up of characters, letters, and symbols is wise. If you’re worried about forgetting the password, consider using a password manager.

 

Don’t Disclose Personal Information

Many online gamers enjoy conversing with likeminded individuals. Some online games have chat functions that allow you to connect with players across the globe. Unfortunately, while most gamers will have good intentions, there may be hackers roaming the chat. Even if you build a good rapport with other players, be wary about what you disclose. Sharing your name, where you’re from and your occupation can be all a hacker needs to get closer to accessing your account. 

 

Avoid Public Wi-Fi

If you’re away from home on business or on an overseas vacation, you may decide to play online games to fill your downtime. If you can avoid it, you shouldn’t use a public Wi-Fi connection. This is because you can never be certain who else is on the same network. To protect your money, it may be wise to use your data for the time being.

 

Install Antivirus Software

Should your device become infected with malware, your personal details and money will be at risk. Hackers often use malware as a way to get into player accounts, so you must install antivirus software and keep it up to date. Installing antivirus software will also block spam and ads, protect your data and files, and protect you from phishing attacks.

When parting with money, you’ll want to ensure no prying eyes are watching over you. Whether you play free or paid online games, all the above will add extra protection to your account, meaning hackers will have a harder time gaining access to your cash.

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How to Shop Anywhere Online While Avoiding Scams

There are so many great deals to be found online. You could be browsing online looking for something specific, or maybe an advertisement pops up on your feed flashing an amazing deal you can’t miss. You find yourself on an unfamiliar website, excited about the great items and affordable prices. You click buy, the standard shipping time, and start waiting for your items.

 

Except, your items never come. Or they finally do arrive, and it’s such bad quality you feel like you’ve been scammed.

 

Okay – hopefully, instead of all that, you did a doubletake before you checked out your cart and stopped to ask yourself, is this website safe? Scammers con hundreds of thousands of people every year. And during the pandemic, the FTC reports that consumers lost $43.30M from online shopping fraud alone.

 

From years of consumer data and current research, Sitejabber has put together a checklist of all the red flags you need to know to avoid a scam website. Let’s get into the top things you need to know to shop safely!

 

Red Flags to Check if a Shopping Site is Legit

1. The website’s connection. Listen to your browser’s safety indicators. A URL should also always be “https,” not “http.” The “s” indicates that a website is secure. However, this is not an indication of legitimacy. A scam website can have a secure connection but still con you of your money.
2. Check the URL. If you’re shopping from a familiar website, check first that there isn’t anything suspicious about the URL. There are tons of copycat websites hoping to trick you. Also, check that the website doesn’t have any uncommon website suffixes, also called top-level domains (TLDs).
3. Scam websites often have poor grammar and spelling throughout the website.
4. Reputable websites should regulate their ads in an organized way. If too many ads are popping up, be wary.
5. Check for customer service contact information. It’s best if there is a phone number – call to make sure that the number works. The more customer support they provide, the less likely they are a scam. And if you are having trouble with your order, you’ll have someone to fix your issue.
6. Check to see if their physical address is their real location by using Google Maps. If they don’t provide an address, that’s a red flag.
7. Never use a website that requires you to pay through unsafe methods. Do not send money to a PayPal address, wire money, make a bank transfer, or send a money order.
8. Always check the shipping and return policies before you buy. If either of these policies is poor or nonexistent, save yourself from a headache and avoid the site. Oftentimes, they won’t provide much return information, and you’ll end up having to pay more to return the item than it was originally worth!
9. If you found the site from a Facebook ad, check their Facebook page and see when the page was created. If you’re searching up a website, use WHOIS to check when they registered. If the website is brand new, do additional research to see if people have had good experiences. If you find that the store is new while touting going out of business sales, this is a sure sign of a scam.
10. If you think the product photos look fishy, you’re probably right. If the photos are inconsistent, low-quality, or look photoshopped, avoid the site. You can also run an image search to see if the images can be found on other sites – if so, the designs are likely stolen.
11. Lastly, always check reviews. Whether you are starting your research process or are still unsure if a website is safe, previous customers who shared their experiences already are a valuable resource to help you decide.

 

For the full list and animations to walk you through each tip, check out the guide to spot a scam website here.

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How to Secure the Financial Future of Your New Business

As with any new business owner, you are likely concentrating the vast majority of your efforts on the immediate future, and working overtime just to keep on top of the many trials and tribulations that will inevitably face any young startup. 

Of course, you already understand the importance of keeping one eye on the more distant future, but being continually swamped with work, and pulling all-nighters trying to get the job done, can make it difficult for you to see the wood for the trees

Fortunately, you do not have to resign yourself to playing the ‘wait and see’ game. Here are a few of the most proactive ways to secure your finances now, and for the future. 

Keep Track of Your Finances Everyday

Not only will tracking every penny that goes in and out of the business help you to keep on top of the money you have available to you right now, but it will also make it much easier for you to pinpoint those tax-deductible expenses, and  ensure that you are always fully cognizant of the money you have available to you right now. 

Many businesses start out by keeping basic records, but it is an excellent idea to get the ball rolling early with accounting software, which will significantly streamline the process of keeping track of your expenses. As your business gains traction, you will inevitably grow into needing a more advanced method of expense tracking in the future, so start today as a way of gaining more control over your accounts. 

Make Sure That You Are Fully Insured Against Potential Issues

Insurance may seem like yet another outgoing cost you cannot afford yet – until, of course, you run into that first unanticipated issue, and the costs of mitigation, repairs, medical attention, and liability far outweigh a simple insurance policy. 

For example, if any of your employees are involved in an accident during business, it can cause all sorts of legal trouble if you do not have the correct type of insurance coverage. Making preparations in case of an accident ensures that you can focus on getting the job done while taking solace in the fact that your business is covered. Should a claim arise, you can rest easy and avoid stressing over the countless issues which are raised when you are not operating with adequate insurance coverage. 

Invest in Good Cyber Security

While high profile cases of cyber attacks on large scale corporations will inevitably hit the mainstream news channels more frequently, small businesses are highly vulnerable; they represent an incredibly lucrative opportunity to hackers, as their data protection and security measures are likely to be significantly weaker than those operating at the very head of their industries. Viruses and ransomware attacks can be devastating, and take you from a relatively strong position within your market, to insolvent, in a matter of days.

What’s more, the fines associated with a data breach can be equally devastating, which is why prioritizing your business’s cyber security is indispensable. 

Running a new business can make it quite challenging to catch your breath, and securing your financial future can seem like pipe dream during those first few years of business. Fortunately, the tips above are more than enough to help you deal with the process one step at a time

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