Technology advances quickly and with it our reliance on the newest and fastest. Too often we get comfortable with the technology we use and don’t safeguard against possible crises. In the workplace, there are many employees using the system and each one adds a risk to IT security. Any data loss or malware in the system cost the company a lot of money and time. Here are some common risks to watch out for:
Not backing up your OS and data: Big mistake. If there is any kind of crash, natural disaster, malware invasion, etc. you have lost everything. A backup is the first thing a company should take care of in the IT department. You need a backup that continually updates. You can keep one onsite, but also have one in a place that won’t be affected if your company is broken into or destroyed by a natural disaster.
Failure to update the OS and anti-virus software: Malware is constantly finding new ways to get through loopholes and chinks in your system. Updates to your operating system and antiviruses protect your computers from the latest threats.
Unprotected smart phones and/or tablets: Every employee should have a secure operating system and password on their device. With all the sensitive information that can be stored on your phones or tablets, they are a target for hacking.
Insufficient Tech Support: Many smaller businesses keep one IT employee on hand to take care of needs as they come up. This creates an indispensable IT staff. You can’t risk having indispensable staff. If he or she leaves, so does all the knowledge about how your system works and how to take care of special tasks. Take advantage of outside resources to take care of tasks that maybe are not suited for your internal resources.
Multiple employees using one account: When each employee does not have his own account, you can’t keep an accurate log of who has made what changes. If a problem arises as a result of a change an employee made, you need to be able to see in your system’s activity log exactly which user did it so you can give additional training or administer consequences. And in the same vein, make sure employees know the importance of not using a computer on someone else’s account.
Failure to test IT security policies: You need to know for sure that your backup and security plans will work when they are needed. Don’t wait for a disaster to discover any problems. Check out your programs and fix any flaws.
It’s not always an outside source that poses danger, but within the company as well. If your security is not up to date, an employee may accidentally or purposely sabotage your network. Don’t let your business be jeopardized by a common blunder. With all the resources you have invested into your business, you’ll want to keep it well protected.
