Computer Support Blog

Recently the NCSA (National Cyber Security Alliance, a non profit organisation http://www.staysafeonline.org/ ) stated that over 90% of small businesses where a victim of cyber crime simply because they are not following basic practices. Even though their IT Support departments where quite aware of the issues they were not taken seriously enough or they did not want to spend more on their IT budget.

Computer support professionals should be advising their clients more about the risks and what are good protection measures from hacking, viruses, malware and phishing emails.  Staff education and training should also be very high up on the agenda surrounding their use of IT and computers.

Consumers are now making decisions on what businesses provide best protection for their private data and financial information. They are more likely to choose a business that has a good track record for computer security.

Here are some tips:

• Make sure everyone uses complex passwords
• Have up to date Anti Virus, Spyware, Firewalls in use on all computers in your business
• Educate the staff, especially laptop users that may uses multiple networks
• Make sure all software is up to date, with relevant patches not just windows
• Make regular backups, and make sure restores work!
• Encrypt sensitive information in case hackers do penetrate
• Report Internet crime
• Make sure you know you IT support team are able to do what is needed