National Small Business Week is April 29 to May 5! According to the United States Small Business Administration, “More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.”
You and other small and medium-sized business owners play a critical role in the American economy. That also makes your network a prime target for hackers. This National Small Business Week, take a moment to reflect on the role technology plays in your company.
Your IT infrastructure is a key element of your business. Have you taken the steps to protect it in case disaster strikes?
Protecting Customer Data
Most businesses collect customer data, using it to build positive relationships with their clients. Think of the auto repair shop that sends a reminder email when you are due for an oil change, or the hair salon that sends you a coupon to use on your birthday. These personalized communications are extremely valuable to small and medium-sized businesses that want to differentiate themselves from the competition and encourage previous clients to return.
Your customers need to trust that their information is safe with you. Recently, news broke of a major Under Armour/MyFitnessPal data breach affecting more than 150 million customers. The story comes directly on the heels of the recent controversy over Facebook’s data use practices. What do these stories mean for your business?
Customers may have more questions about why you need their information, how you plan to use it, and how you plan to protect it. Are you prepared to answer these questions? If not, contact Cooperative Systems. We can help you assess and improve your current data security practices so that you can answer your customers with confidence.
When Data is Exposed
No cybersecurity plan is 100% effective. Hackers get more sophisticated by the day and are extremely skilled at exploiting human error in order to infiltrate business networks. Small and medium-sized businesses like yours are some of their favorite targets because they know these networks are often left minimally protected. What steps will you take if your system is attacked?
Planning ahead is critical. Don’t get caught off guard; anticipate the attack before it happens. Work with a trusted Managed Service Provider like Cooperative Systems to create a Disaster Recovery Plan. We will run through potential scenarios so you understand where IT threats may come from, and work with you to determine the steps you will take to identify and lock down breaches as soon as possible. We will also help you develop a plan for when and how to let your customers know their data has been exposed. Cooperative Systems will be there through each step of this process.
Preparing for Anything
A comprehensive Disaster Recovery Plan is not limited to preparing you for hacks and data breaches. The right plan will prepare you and your employees for any other scenario with the potential to affect your IT infrastructure, from natural disasters like floods or tornadoes, to man-made disasters like ransomware or phishing attacks.
With this plan in place, you will be able to assure your customers that you are taking every precaution with their information, and you will rest easier knowing that you are ready for any IT threat.
This National Small Business Week, make sure your business is prepared to face IT threats. Your customer data is too important to risk. Contact us today to protect your business, your customers, and your reputation.