BUSINESS OWNER'S IT SECURITY CHECKLIST 2018

How confident are you in your IT security?

Blind spots in IT security are understandable. They can also be incredibly damaging to your operations. At CONNECT, we want to help local organizations in Kelowna, Penticton, Kamloops, and Vernon avoid simple IT security mistakes. Since we care about IT solutions in the Okanagan, here is a simple IT checklist to gauge the safety of your data and office computer network.

Policies and Training:​

IT support begins with your organizational attitude. By outlining strict IT policies, all of your employees are on the same page about security expectations. Costly miscommunications are less likely to occur because of this. It is also easier to enforce written policies. Along with clear IT support policies, all employees must be trained in proper IT security methods. It is important to empower your team with the skills and knowledge to protect their data and your network. Doing so makes IT security far less daunting, because of a greater understanding of possible blind spots.

Passwords:

Passwords are the most vulnerable access point on your office computer network. It is crucial that your employees understand this. Strong and unique passwords are a necessary part of any good IT solutions strategy. You can also consider using a tool like LastPass to protect employee passwords. Tools like this allow you to store all passwords in a single location. This way you don’t need to remember every single one, which helps prevent password duplication.

Software Updates:

It doesn’t matter what part of the Okanagan you live in, we all share the common experience of clicking “Install Later” when your laptop, phone, or tablet wants to update its software. Your schedule is obviously busy, but these updates are important for ensuring IT security. One of the main components of any software update is the security improvement that it institutes. Software updates are how software companies plug up vulnerable areas. Failing to update your software can leave your computer open to hacking. So taking the few minutes to update software can save you a major headache in the future.

Tracking and Diligence:

After instituting these simple IT solutions, it is important to monitor their effectiveness. IT support is an endless process, because attackers never rest. Policies must be reviewed. Employees must be educated on new platforms. Passwords and software must be updated.

Following this checklist is a great first step to ensuring the security of your data and office computer network. For further consultation or support services, contact CONNECT today.

CONNECT is your local IT solutions partner, because we support businesses of all sizes in Kelowna, Penticton, Kamloops, and Vernon, through our comprehensive IT services, 60-minute response time, and our True Partner relationship, based on communication, responsiveness, trust, and experience.

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