Ranging from accidental breaches of data and hacking to on-site break-ins, there are plenty of security threats for businesses to worry about, and that’s why many businesses are turning to the expertise of a security service Australia.

In the wake of more serious business break-ins, like the Charlie Hebdo attack and online hackings like the WannaCry hacking, business security has become even more crucial than ever before. Risks that didn’t exist ten years ago, now do, which means that when it comes to how you take care of your business, it’s vital that you take security seriously and have all the right precautions in place.

If you think that criminals are only targeting larger corporations, then you need to think again. When it comes to business crime, it’s important to realize that it’s not just larger corporations that are at risk, smaller ones are also at risk, which is why it’s essential that businesses of all sizes make security a priority. Did you know that on average, 43% of cyber attacks are performed on small businesses? Of those involved, more than half go out of business within six months of the breach, due to a lack of customer trust and loyalty. That’s a scary thought, isn’t it? Your business going out of business because of a break-in or a cyber attack, if totally terrifying.

The good news is that there are steps that you can take to prevent your business falling foul to cyber attacks and break-ins. For everything that you need to know, have a read of the eight ideas shared below.

1. Make a security protocol

Create company-wide policies on how to stay safe while at work, both online and while at the office. Make an action plan, explain the plan to your employees, and place it where everyone can see it, so that should a security breach occur, you know what to do. It’s a good idea to outline who is responsible for what, as well as what steps need to be taken in the event that a security breach does take place.

2. Implement team training

When it comes to reducing the likelihood of a serious security threat occurring at your business or virtually, it’s vital that you implement effective team training. Plan regular employee training days where you educate your team members on what security measures your business has in place and how they work, as well as what to do should a security threat arise. This is a great time to discuss common risks, such as phishing email scams, how to spot them and what to do about them. If you want to ensure that your team knows how to act if something bad should happen, training is crucial.  

3. Regularly update security software

Installing security software, both online and in-house isn’t enough. If you want to ensure that your security has the power to stand up to any threats, it’s vital that you keep it updated. Often updates for online systems and in-house systems, like a wireless security alarm, for instance, address gaps in protection and enhance how effective they are. That’s why making time to make these updates is so vital.

4. Invest in your protection

While there are some areas of business that it’s perfectly fine to scrimp on, your business’s security is not one of them. If you want to ensure that your business is as secure as possible, it’s vital to invest in the right security measures for you. If you’re unsure what protection you require, speaking to the experts could help. For instance, O.B. One Communications voice and data cabling offers high-quality installation services for security solutions that can be tailored to meet your business’s exact needs. These kinds of specialist services may come at a cost, but with all the benefits they offer, it’s clear that the cost isn’t something that you should worry about.  

5. Understand the threats

The fact is that if you don’t really understand the threats that your business is under, then you will find it incredibly complicated dealing with them. If you are going to protect your business, then it’s vital that you understand the threats it is under, from the risk of burglaries to the risks that come with IT. As a business owner, it’s crucial that you have a clear understanding of what exactly the risks are so that you can better mitigate them.

6. Keep documents and data safe

When it comes to storing confidential data, it’s vital that you know how to keep things safe. If you want to protect your business and keep your clients on side, it’s vital that you ensure it’s highly unlikely that any of your sensitive documents or data can be stolen. The fact is that hacking is often done to gain access to a company’s network so that sensitive documents and data can be stolen. So it’s vital that you know how to keep your sensitive information secure – if you’re not sure the best steps to take to do this, speak to a specialist. On-site documents and data can be locked away in a secure room, but protection virtual copies of this information can be more complicated. 

7. Use strong passwords

Of course, one of the most vital steps for keeping anything sensitive secure is a strong password. In addition to protecting your files online, a strong password can also prevent your security alarm from being hacked and turned off, for instance. So knowing how to create strong and secure passwords is vital. The key is to create a password that is random – and not easy to guess – has letters and numbers, including capitals, and can also include symbols. Random passwords are the best passwords, as there’s no way for anyone to guess them, unlike passwords with sentimental value, which is what most people use.

8. Get insurance

In case the worst should happen, and your company should get hacked or broken into, it’s vital that you have adequate insurance protection in place. That way, you are able to claim back any losses that occur as a result and get your business back up and running as quickly as possible.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes are under threat from all kinds of things, from cybercrime to politically motivated attacks, which means that having effective security protection in place has become more critical than ever.

For anyone with a tech-savvy mindset, when it comes to starting a business, a tech-based venture could be the ideal option. When it comes to a businesses success, the key is knowing as much as possible about the area that you are going into, which is why it’s important to think carefully about your passions and interests before settling on a business type to focus on.

The fantastic thing about tech-based businesses is the fact that there’s always something new to focus on. You see, when it comes to the rate that technology is changing it, it’s fast – there’s no getting away from that fact. So to be able to keep up with the rate at which technology is changing, you need to be a tech-minded individual. Otherwise, you may struggle.

Do you believe that your mindset for technology, will allow you to build and run a successful technology-based business? If you do, then you may want to take note of some of the business ideas below that are perfect for anyone with a passion for technology.

Blog consulting

Are you a blog expert? Have you been successfully running your own blog for years or have a sound understanding of WordPress and Blogger and the whole blogging platform? If the answer to this is yes, then working as a blog consultant could be a fantastic business choice. Believe it or not, blog consulting is a highly lucrative business, especially as there are more bloggers than ever before attempting to make their blog their main income stream. The problem is that many bloggers don’t understand what it takes to rival the world’s most successful bloggers, which is why they may struggle to monetize their sites and make a success of them as a business venture. Luckily, this is something that you can help with, which is what makes a business in blog consulting so indispensable.

Computer repair and maintenance

Do you have a technical background and a good understanding of computers and how they work? If the answer is yes, then perhaps starting a business that offers computer repair and maintenance services could be an excellent move to make. You can choose to cater your service to one PC operating system, such as Windows, or you can choose to cater to all systems – it depends on where your knowledge and specialism lays. The fact is that you will find businesses in every sector struggling with their computer repair and maintenance, sick of over-priced fees and poor service, so if you can offer a higher quality service, you will be set for life with a client base that will convert to using your services.

IT training

Do you have an exceptional gift for IT? If you are the kind of person that knows everything that there is to know about IT, then perhaps you could consider working in IT training. When it comes to using IT confidently, there are a lot of people – mostly older people – who lack confidence and are unable to make the most out of IT, which is something that you could change with some basic IT training classes. You could also choose to offer some more advanced classes, depending on how your ‘students’ progress and how much knowledge you have. You could offer these classes for small groups, on a 1-to-1 basis, as well as online, so that people who aren’t local to you can still take advantage of them.

IT support

A large percentage of smaller companies don’t have the money for full-time IT support. This can mean that should their systems go down, it could cause major problems for their business. That’s why so many smaller companies are now choosing to outsource their IT needs to freelance IT support specialists. If you have a deep knowledge for computers and software, and a strong understanding of how to deal with common IT issues, such as malware attacks, then starting an IT support business could be an option worth considering.

Social media consulting

For businesses of all shapes and sizes, social media is a powerful marketing tool. However, the businesses that benefit most from this form of marketing are small businesses, as they can’t always afford to utilize all other, more expensive, marketing platforms that are available to them. What with there being a high number of small businesses starting each year, as you can imagine there is a strong call for social media expertise, assistance, and management.

App creation

Apps are big business today, which is why running an app creation business could be a good move to make. Providing, of course, that you know enough about app creation to do so. If you want to succeed in app creation, you need to have a strong insight into creating an indispensable mobile app, and what it takes to do so. You need to know how to design and create apps, how to market them, and how to ensure that they are highly successful.

Web design

If there’s one thing that every single business needs to have, it’s a smart and stylish website that has been impeccably designed. While a lot of small businesses owners make the mistake of attempting to create their website themselves to cut costs, the fact is that without a professional website that is fully responsive and set up to work well on mobile devices, a business has a much higher chance of failure. If you can offer an affordable and professional web design service that is suitable for smaller businesses, you could have a highly profitable business of your own on your hands.

When it comes to starting a successful business, one of the most important factors is that you choose to run a business that you have the knowledge and experience to make a success of. That’s why, if you have a passion for technology and a keen understanding of various areas of tech, it makes sense to consider launching a business that’s technology related. Bearing that in mind, hopefully, the ideas and suggestions above have given you a better insight into the types of technology-focused businesses that have the potential to be successful.

Current technology has progressed to such a state that you can carry a smartphone in your pocket with such advanced capabilities and memory that it would be thought of as nothing more than science fiction a decade or two ago. Nowadays you can use your tablet to create a piece of artwork that is every bit as stunning as a painting or photograph can be. You can also take photos using your smartphone that are of print quality, you can join business meetings from anywhere in the world using video chat, and you can whittle away hours using your handheld tech as a games console.

There is a common nightmare that affects many of us, however, of being right in the middle of drafting an important document or making a vital point via video meeting when your phone, tablet or laptop crashes, losing any unsaved work and leaving you frustrated and confused as to what the issue is. Although in some cases specialized help is necessary, below are some top tips for troubleshooting when your tech product unexpectedly fails on you, ranging from spilling water on your smartphone to an unresponsive touchscreen.

Your smartphone gets wet

One common issue is smartphones getting wet, from dropping it in a toilet bowl to accidentally spilling a drink on it, even a tiny amount of liquid can be the cause of chaos for your phone. Firstly, remove the battery. If this is not possible then, as quickly as you can, turn the phone off to try and prevent a short circuit. Wipe the liquid carefully off any parts that are accessible, and then put the phone in a bowl of uncooked dry rice for 24 hours to help absorb any excess water. In order to protect your phone while you do this, wrap it very loosely in some kitchen roll or paper towels.

If you don’t fancy submerging your precious smartphone in a bowl of rice, then you could try buying a desiccant bag which acts in a similar way, providing a sealed container and a desiccant which will help to absorb all liquid and dry out your phone.

A cracked screen on your smartphone

A cracked screen on your phone is surprisingly easy to do, all it takes is your phone dropping from your jeans pocket or accidentally being trod on. However, before you panic and think you have to buy a new one, there are some things you can try. If you feel confident in your abilities, then you could perform a DIY repair. If, however, the thought of pulling apart your expensive and vital phone yourself brings you out in a cold sweat then try contacting the manufacturer to ask them to repair the screen, which they should do but it won’t be free. Alternatively, search ’fix an iPhone screen near me’ and find professional technicians who will fix your device with a fast turnaround time.

If your phone has a cracked screen, but you are unable to mend it yourself and have to wait for an appointment nearby, then a temporary fix is to apply a screen protector as a short-term solution. This should stop the screen from cracking further and allow you to continue using the phone while you arrange a more permanent fix.

Of course, to try and ensure these things don’t happen in the first place, invest in a robust phone or tablet cover that will protect your device from any knocks or accidental drops.

Touchscreen on your phone or tablet is frozen and not responding

If your touchscreen has frozen, then first try to reboot or force restart your product. Sometimes simply restarting it can help to reset any issues, presenting you with a machine that works perfectly once again. If, however, this does not solve your problem there are a few other tips to try and get things moving. Firstly, try cleaning the screen to ensure there is no residual dirt, which could be stopping it from registering your touch.

If the touchscreen is not working only in certain apps, then delete and reinstall them, to see if that solves the issue. Or perhaps your screen protector is no longer working well, in which case, remove it and test your screen. If it registers your touch now then invest in a new screen protector and throw away the old one.

If you have an iPhone, you could try restoring your phone to the factory settings, which can solve many problems, although it will wipe out your data so make sure it is all backed up first.

Slow startup

If your phone, tablet or laptop is very slow to startup, then the problem could be your storage. If you have overloaded your device the response time will likely be very slow so to solve this delete any unused apps, and store photos and files on the cloud, a hard drive or another device to free up space. If you have an iPhone, you can check how much free space you have available to see whether this is your problem. Go to ‘Settings,’ ‘General’ and ‘About,’ and look at what is ‘available’ under 500MB and you need to create more space to speed things up. To do this, for example, you can set up auto delete for all your old SMS messages, setting it to permanently erase all messages from a set time ago. To further add to your space make sure only the app you are using is open. Sometimes your phone can be running apps without you knowing it by leaving them suspended in memory. Double click on the home button and you will be able to see what is still running and can close any apps you don’t need by swiping up on the phone.

Any other issues

For any issues not covered here, you can contact the manufacturer of your product. For example, all Apple stores have a genius bar where you can take your product for a free consultation with an expert who can hopefully solve your problem, or if not, they can advise you on the best course of action.