Information security is important for all businesses

‘Security is important for large enterprises, but not for a small company like mine.’ Not true! Security is essential for large enterprises that provide access to systems and networks for hundreds or thousands of people. But it is also an important concern for a small or medium sized enterprise. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions below, then security is an important issue for you. · Is any of your important company or personal information (whether yours or that of employees, customers, contractors or partners) stored on a computer? · Do you or your employees access any important information (including banking, credit card, supplier or delivery information) across an internal network? · Do you have a company website? · Do you or your employees use the Internet at work? · Do you or your employees use e-mail at work? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, then the security of networks and information systems is an essential part of your business. You need to take steps to review the security of your systems and networks and make sure that it is up to the task. Possible Solutions: ‘OK, so I need to consider security, but what can I do? We’re not a technology company, I don’t have an IT department, and I’m not a technical expert.’ Unfortunately, ignorance is no excuse for inaction. In these days of higher levels of network connectivity and ‘intelligent’ viruses, info rmation on an unsecured system can be quickly compromised, or the system itself can be used as a launching point for attacks on other systems and networks. Even if you’re not an expert, you still need to take steps to protect your company. Even with limited resources and expertise, there is much you can do to help secure your system and network access. Consider the questions below. Are you taking these steps? · Do you have a firewall on your computer if you have Internet access (especially broadband access)? · Do you have software to prevent and detect viruses transmitted by email or in documents? · Is security an important criterion when you choose software or service providers? · Do you understand the security functions of the software and hardware you already have? · Has anyone in your company taken a computer course to become more familiar with these functions? · If you have the resources and it’s appropriate, have you consulted a local expert on the configuration and deployment of your IT system? · Have you checked if there are resources from government, a local trade association or chamber of commerce that relate to computer security? · Have you taken steps to physically secure your computers, especially laptops and portables? · Do you regularly back-up data? And test your back-ups? · Do you require your employees to use passwords? · Do the passwords used contain both letters and numbers? · Are passwords kept securely (not written down or shared, for example) and changed at least every three months? · Do you try to train your employees on information security? · Have you told your administrative support and reception staff what information they may and may not give to callers and visitors? Call to Action: ‘All these things apply to my business, but it sounds overwhelming!’ Like any challenge, security in its entirety can seem overwhelming. This guide provides you with a roadmap for how to start and what questions to ask. However, there is no onesize- fits-all security solution. And there is no free magic bullet. Information security costs both time and company resources. But security is an essential part of doing business today. Information security may require some specialist knowledge, but the approach is not all that different from how you maintain the physical security of your business. For example, when you installed the doors and locks on your premises, you probably considered the following factors: · Usability · Functionality · Security · Reliability · Cost · Maintenance. Your systems and network access are no different. Choosing and installing general software applications and specific information security measures requires the same calculation of factors and costs. The steps you take to ensure the physical security of your business probably seem like second nature. But they are a learned response to known threats and vulnerabilities. Locked doors, secure filing cabinets, and a safe or cash register are all security steps that 7 we take for granted as just part of doing business. Securing our networks and information systems should be no different. Just as with other purchases, good information security requires both initial effort and ongoing checks. You need to do your research before buying security software, hardware or services. While you should expect the technology to work well, you still need to carry out the right checks to ensure that it’s working correctly. Appropriate features must be set and adapted to work with your existing computers, software and network connections.. . Many security vulnerabilities are created when people install a new application and simply leave all the default settings in place, making them much easier for unauthorized users to manipulate. It may seem complicated or overwhelming at first, but over time your actions should become so familiar and automatic that they constitute a ‘culture of security’. No one expects people running small businesses to review software code or understand the intricate workings of hardware. But you can and should read the relevant information, ask pertinent questions and get explanations of issues that don’t seem clear. By taking the initiative and showing that security is important to your business, you can go a long way to making sure that your information systems develop in a secure way. In some cases, for example when making significant changes to your information systems, you may need expert assistance in the initial configuration and deployment of the system. But it’s essential to keep asking the experts what they are doing and why, and to satisfy yourself that the choices made reflect your business needs and improve the information security of your business.

Related posts:

1. Information security issues and resources for small and entrepreneurial
2. Information security work depends on practices
3. computer attack are only of concern when directed against specific important computing resources
4. Businesses are experiencing an alarming and growing number of security attacks
5. The Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA)
6. Malicious Computer Programs information

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.