In today’s world, it’s difficult to imagine your business without IT. It plays an important role in the way you serve, work with and communicate to your clients.
Although there are a lot of advantages, we shouldn’t ignore some of the major risks. Your networks and systems serve as your silent partner in the operation of your business. Should they fail – and when they do, it’s
usually without warning – you’re exposed not just to an IT problem, but to a potentially large business problem.
Below are 10 silent threats that might be quietly undermining your operations now and one quick and easy way to bring these threats under control quickly.
1. WRONG KEYS IN WRONG HANDS
One of the first steps toward security is to be sure the right people have the right level of access to the right applications and data.
2. BRING YOUR OWN HEADACHE
The new “bring your own device” (BYOD) environment brings new headaches to the table. Although they can save the company money, if these devices are lost/stolen, any information available on the device, including confidential company and client data may be vulnerable to criminal access.
3. WHO’S KNOCKING AT YOUR BACKDOOR?
Your business isn’t limited to your own systems. Thanks to cloud services you can increase your capabilities without busting your IT budget. It’s important to remember that every connection that reaches out from your network may open an opportunity for someone else to reach in. Protect your portals: run an external vulnerability scan that reveals every “backdoor” through which an intruder might break into your network.
4. WEAK PASSWORDS
Your password protections are only as strong as the passwords themselves. Having no passwords or using obvious ones such as “12345” undermines the very protection you seek.
5. WHOA, BACK UP
If you lost a significant chunk of your data right now, how much business
would you lose as well? Too many businesses run without sufficient policies, plans and procedures for backing up critical data essential to their ability to operate. If your business depends on manual procedures that are executed inconsistently, you’re exposed to unnecessary losses; it’s time to look for automated backup solutions that are always at work – even when employees might forget.
6. SHOW ME THE COMPLIANCE
Sensitive data demands special attention. For most businesses, the law obliges you to preserve client confidentiality and demonstrate that you have processes in place to ensure compliance.
7. PRINTING (LOST) MONEY
By monitoring your multifunction printers, you can limit access to authorised users, discourage unnecessary or wasteful usage, and encourage less-expensive options – such as scan to email or scan to file directories that save time and money.
8. “GHOSTS” IN THE MACHINES
There may be “ghosts” haunting your networks – inactive users or inactive computers that remain part of your system, even if they are no longer contributing to your productivity. While the threat may not be immediately obvious, defunct computers represent an expense you don’t need to carry.
9. WHEN IT CAN’T KEEP UP, YOUR BUSINESS GOES DOWN
Smart businesses and wise managers protect their critical networks with redundancy: backup servers and routers that are designed to kick in should the main system go down. If these are not in operation, your business will not maintain continuity in an emergency. To safeguard
your business, analyse your network before disaster strikes
to be sure that devices such as your designated backup router or alternate domain control are online and ready for action.
10. HIDING IN THE DARK
You want to run your businesses, not an IT department. While IT may
not be at the top of your mind, it should never be out of sight. Lack of vision into the true status of your technology, and the quality of your defences against attack or failure, may leave your business vulnerable to disruption, legal consequences and loss of revenue. By implementing
regular monitoring and review procedures, however, you can anticipate challenges before they become problems, and take adequate measures to ensure the smooth running of your business.
So, is the technology you rely on adequately protected?
