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Protect Your Office from Cyber Attacks: A 6-Point Action Plan

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With all of the publicity garnered lately by cyber attacks on huge nationwide companies, small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) may be developing a false sense of security. In reality, 43 percent of businesses attacked are SMBs, so make sure your company is protected against the threat posed. In this blog post we cover some of the ways you can mitigate the risk of a cyber attack.

● Educate Employees — When it comes to digital security, your employees are both your first line of defense and your biggest vulnerability. Use consistent training and education to develop a culture of caution. Unexpected email attachments, messages requesting login information, and unknown links are all to be avoided.
● Update Software — All of your software should stay up-to-date, because new patches and security adjustments are being constantly being developed. Keep your operating system, programs, and antivirus software current at all times.
● Tighten Security — Most cyber attacks come from inside a company, either due to malicious intent or vulnerability caused by human error. Limit access to sensitive data and make use of audit trails for your files. Require that all passwords contain at least one of each of the following: an upper case letter, a lower case letter, a number, and a special character.
● Evaluate BYOD Policies — Employee devices are the norm today, so make sure your policy addresses security issues that they present. Powerful tools include remote wiping, cloud-based business software, and anti-malware apps.
● Have a Disaster Recovery Plan — A data breach can ruin your business if you don’t have a robust backup and recovery system in place. Backup data should be current enough to be useful, but make sure you have access to clean data that dates to before a breach and has been stored at a different location.
● Get Insurance — Despite your best efforts, the worst may still happen. Protect yourself and your company from expensive litigation with insurance against cyber attacks. You may be glad you did.

Cyber attacks are a real risk for SMBs, so don’t neglect to protect your digital ecosystem. For help managing your Iowa-based business’s data security, backup, and recovery, contact Infomax Office Systems today.

Big Workflow Solutions for Small Businesses

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It’s that time of year again—no, not the holidays. Small Businesses Saturday is right around the corner. On November 28th, small businesses across the country will ramp up for big sales as local consumers support their community through shopping small. But, small businesses should make sure they are prepared to handle an influx in customers and provide exceptional customer service—not just on Small Business Saturday, but every day of the year. Intuitive digital workflows ensure faster processes and better customer service, among many other benefits.

Here are several reasons why every small business needs a digital workflow strategy.

  • More time to focus on goals. Small businesses often falsely believe that they aren’t big enough to warrant a switch from paper-based system to digital workflows. But, by implementing digital workflow solutions, small businesses are better equipped to focus on the important things. Rather than being bogged down by inefficient processes, they will be able to look ahead and plan for future success. A digital workflow strategy will positively alter the trajectory of your business, by improving the overall efficiency and productivity of your daily operations.
  • Streamlined communication. Even small businesses have communication issues. The most productive work environments require cohesive communication channels that connect in real time. A comprehensive workflow solution will speed decision-making tasks and improve the flow of communication across all levels of your team. With a digital workflow strategy, you can spend less time with back-and-forth communications, and more time focusing on your customer.
  • Improved responsiveness. It’s difficult to tend to the needs of your consumers when you are tending to your own business’s needs. With a digital workflow strategy, your business will run more smoothly. In a sense, a digital workflow strategy is like adding oil to a rusty chain. Imagine if you could retrieve an invoice in seconds instead of minutes, or instantly pull all sales related to a particular customer. With a digital workflow solution, you’ll be able to operate more quickly, creating positive experiences for your employees and customers.

A digital workflow strategy should be an intuitive and effective addition to your SMB workplace. Contact us today to learn about how to grow your small business.