Welcome to 2019, where the security threats are new, and an evaluation is necessary. 2018 set the tech industry into a tailspin with the introduction of blockchain, the progression of AI, and advanced cyber protection. Every industry felt the changes of technology and security in the last year. While many took the necessary precautions and steps to avoid theft and protect their data, many did not. Maybe they never encountered these changes head on or maybe they chose to ignore the threats and managed to slip past the consequences. Either way, 2019 is here and it’s the perfect opportunity to tackle security head on and be prepared for the new year ahead!

You’ve probably made a resolution (or two…or three) for yourself in order to change a habit or better yourself one way or another. Why not treat your security process the same way? A new year is something of a fresh start for business practices and often a chance to reflect on what worked (and what didn’t) in the past year. If we learned anything from 2018, it’s that cybersecurity is a higher priority than it used to be for a business.

 See also: 4 Reasons Why Cybersecurity Is More Important Than Ever

A security evaluation is a good place to begin your year as a business, because a data hack or breach certainly is not. Going into the new year, you’re still using the same system and processes you’ve been using since last year (more than likely). If you never made any real changes in 2018, that’s because you thought everything was “fine” or “safe enough”. But you’re better than that now in 2019. Developing a better than “fine” security practice and system is a great way to keep your data safe while saving some money.

Talk with your current IT provider or in-house IT professional about what the plan is at the moment, how much you paid last year for security expenses, and where improvements can be made. If your people tell you that you spend way too much money and you still experienced some complications, or there’s nothing they feel really needs to be done going forward, even though you know each employee’s password is 1234567 because no one ever told them differently, it’s time to reach out to those who can be of better assistance.

Check it out: Harry Potter and The Prepared Employees

Encrypt, Encrypt, Encrypt

Your constantly sending information over to employees, customers, etc. through email during the day. Just because the hacker may not have access to get into your company’s network, they have free reign of that information once it’s in transit to the person you’re sending it to. In order to make sure your message opens completely with all data, information, and files included, you need to encrypt everything.

To do this in Microsoft Outlook for a single email being sent:

File > Properties

Security Settings > Encrypt message contents and attachments

Compose and Send your message.

Check it out: Email Security Best Practices For Employees

Listen and Learn 

Surely your company is comprised of more people than just yourself. In that case, security is an all for one process. The “one” being the business, or a certain customer if you choose. It takes effort from everyone to be responsible and protect the data that gets moved around.

It’s wise to conduct some form of cybersecurity awareness training so that everyone in the office is on the same page moving further into the new year. This will be beneficial to all aspects of the company. While employees have a better understanding of what’s going on in the business and how they are helping to keep their customers safe, they are more inclined to follow through with their training, therefore keeping the whole operation running just a bit smoother than it did last year.

Check it out: 7 Tips For Your Employees to Be Able to Identify and Avoid Risks Video

New Equipment in the House

How exciting! You finally got those new computers you’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on for a couple years. Or maybe it’s a new software that you’ve been doing some research on for a few months. Whatever the new deal is, it can impact security for better or worse.

To avoid any slack in the new security process when you get anything new in the office, it’s a good idea to have a change process in place as well. This means making sure than any moving of files and data is done in a safe and effective manner. Also, keep in mind who will be using the new equipment and make sure they receive training and education on how to use it properly and in a way that does not hinder the new security process for 2019 to keep data safe and sound.

Reach out to the pros

Asking for a little help never hurt anybody! So, don’t be ashamed to reach out to a local MSP for some guidance and service with your security process management. After all, at the end of the day, you want what’s best for your business and often that may require some teamwork with professionals in the field.

Connecting with IT professionals is just what they’re there for! They are in the business to get you to where you need to be and help you streamline daily workflows.

SHARE BLOG POST