No matter where you work, it is likely that your company relies upon important software and hardware to keep the business running efficiently. Here are some simple ways to protect your company’s important assets so that you never (or very rarely) experience downtime.
INSTALL CIRCUIT BREAKERS
If a power surge occurs or something happens that causes too much power to flow into your system at one time, your entire system could be fried (or worse – a fire could start).
Circuit breakers prevent this from happening and are used to cut the power when they sense that there is too much current flowing into your electronics. Circuit breakers are not pricey and are simple to set up, so add some to your office as soon as possible.
KEEP UP WITH SOFTWARE UPDATES
Software updates can be pesky and seemingly always want to run when you are in the middle of something important. However, these updates don’t just exist to annoy you and halt your productivity.
Many software updates contain important security patches that may mean little to you as the user but can prevent something catastrophic from happening to your company’s data.
Schedule a time to run software updates and don’t ignore them. It is much easier to be without your computer for an hour than to be without your entire network because a breach has occurred.
ENCOURAGE SMART BROWSING
If your company does not have a set-in-stone internet policy, at least ensure that your employees are browsing smartly when using the corporate network. Many data breaches happen when someone inadvertently clicks on an infected link or opens an email attachment that is full of malware.
If you allow your employees to browse while at work, be sure that they understand how their actions could potentially cause irreparable damage if they are not careful.
INSTALL ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
Many computers come with at least a basic trial version of antivirus software, but when that expires, it is important to ensure that there is no lapse in coverage. Any computer that is connected to the internet is at risk of being infected with malware or spyware, regardless of what sites you visit or how careful you are while browsing.
Many free options for spyware and malware detectors exist, but some of these will only tell you that you are infected and won’t remove the infection without a paid plan. Don’t cheap out on protecting your computers and network. It is much less expensive to add antivirus software to each company computer than to deal with the repercussions of a serious data breach.
ENFORCE PASSWORD POLICIES
We are all guilty of using the same, easy-to-guess password on numerous websites. Who has the time to create a long password for each account you hold and remember that password each time you want to log on? Yet, creating basic passwords and using them everywhere is a surefire way to eventually get hacked.
Ensure that your employees (and anyone connected to your network) understand the importance of creating strong passwords – even if it means a bit more inconvenience for them. Things like pet’s names, streets you grew up on, and birthdays should be avoided. This information is easily searchable online (particularly if you are an avid social media poster), which means that anyone can find it.
STORE SERVERS (AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY) SOMEWHERE SAFE
Store your servers and any other technology that contains sensitive data or is expensive somewhere safe. Many companies are lucky enough to have fire-proof servers rooms right on-premises. If not, consider storing your servers outside of the office – perhaps in a server farm where you can pay to have your hardware protected. Also consider cloud storage as a way to backup your data or even as an alternative to actual tangible servers.
Protecting your company’s hardware and software is easy. Follow these simple tips and you’ll have a much better chance at keeping your workplace breach-free.
