Did you know that new year’s resolutions started ~4,000 years ago with the ancient Babylonians? Their new year started in March with the planting of new crops and a 12-day celebration promising to pay back debts and return borrowed objects.
While we have radically changed how we celebrate the new year, the practice of setting intention has not changed. Most people think new year’s resolutions are only for personal things, but you can also create impactful resolutions for your small business.
Here are our top 5 new year’s resolutions for your business that will bring positive and powerful change in 2019.
1. I will install a password manager and my entire staff will use it.
It’s time to stop using the same password for every login and make sure your employees are doing the same thing. We recommend using a password manager like LastPass or Dashlane for personal use or IT Glue or Passportal for business use. These tools store passwords in an encrypted and password protected format so you don’t have to remember a thing. They utilize two-factor authentication; encrypt password data at storage and transfer points; auto-fill forms; and generate strong, randomized passwords. If your business is subject to industry regulations like HIPAA, FINRA, and PCI then you should already have this in place.
2. I will keep my email accounts safe.
Email attacks are on the rise and include the now common Business Email Compromise scam. An email comes over that looks like it’s from a company, Amazon is a common one, but it’s actually a way to launch a viral attack on your system. While spam filters (you should have one in place if you don’t) help weed out your inbox, the best defense is education! Always verify the sender’s name matches their email address. And if you aren’t expecting an attachment from a specific person, don’t open it!
3. I will back up important data and know what to do in case of disaster.
You never know when your systems will crash, you will fall prey to a violet ransomware attack, or when a natural disaster, such as flooding, will wipe out your system. To prevent a catastrophic data loss, you need a strong plan. Data should be regularly backed up, encrypted, and stored safely in different data centers to minimize any potential disruptions.
4. I will know where my data is at all times, who has access to my data, and why they need it.
You would be surprised at the number of businesses that don’t know where their crucial data is located. When we consult with a business, files are found everywhere – on random servers, personal laptops, tablet devices, or stored in the cloud. This creates a major problem, especially when you have staff turnover. Files go missing or can’t be found because nobody knows where they’ve been stored. Now you are in a real jam! We recommend all data is stored in a controlled location, like file servers, with permission-based access roles. This guarantees management knows who has access to what files and where they are at all times. It’s all about eliminating risk!
5. I will know what my staff is doing online.
Have you ever noticed that productivity is down in your office? Take a walk around your office…how many stations have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or Amazon open? If you are in the marketing department, this is probably okay. But in the accounting department, not so much. Staff might need YouTube open for a how-to video, but Facebook, Instagram, etc. should be on their own time. The medical profession, for example, requires strict access controls to social sites due to privacy laws. We recommend our clients install web filtering software to remove access to social, malware sites, online shopping, etc. I bet you will see your productivity jump!
Let CMIT Solutions Round Rock worry about your IT so you don’t have to!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!
