If you have been in business for any length of time, it is likely that you have seen some significant changes in the technology that is running your business. Perhaps you started at a time before computers were readily available, and you may have done almost everything by hand. During those days, there were fewer problems with that information getting loose and being publicly available. Today, however, there are many issues as far as that is concerned, and you need to make sure that the technology you are using is able to handle it properly. What are some of the ways in which problems could occur within your business, and how can you make sure that you are locked down tightly?
If you handle sensitive documents, such as if you do any MICR printing, it is important for you to stay in compliance with the agencies that are monitoring you. It is also important that you have everything set up properly, not only as far as security is concerned but also as far as the inner workings of your company is concerned. An example of this would be the E-138 font that you may use when writing checks. It is likely that you have this available, and it is important for you to use the right font to ensure that the check is read properly at the clearinghouse. Of course, you would also want to ensure that the printers were locked down tightly and access was limited so that obvious problems did not occur.
Even if you do not handle important documents, it is important for you to keep your computers secure. Smaller businesses may want to do this with the right type of antivirus software. This software can keep your computer safe from viruses, and with the right options, it can also protect you against spyware hackers as well. Just make sure that you are updating the software regularly to keep ahead of any new threats that may be released.
The software on your computer should also be kept up to date to ensure that you have the security measures that are necessary in place. When software issues are found, such as if a loop hole is found that would give outside access to your computers, there will likely be a patch released which will fix the problem. Keep up-to-date on those releases and make sure that you are downloading and installing them as they become available. In some cases, it may be to your benefit to wait a few days to apply the patch if the threat is not overly aggressive. This will allow you to see if any future updates are necessary because the patch is causing problems on its own.
Above all else, education is important to ensure the security of your computer systems. If you have employees that are using your computers and they are not familiar with how they work, it could cause issues that could shut your company down for a while. Continue to give the education that is necessary to your employees, and you will have fewer problems as a result.