Tag Archives: guide

Your 2021 Productivity Super Guide

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2021 productivity super guideReady to make this a wildly successful year for your business? Our 2021 productivity super guide will help shake off the memories of 2020. As well as enabling you to focus on increasing sales and profitability. Excellent. A great place to start is helping you and your team to get more done in less time. We’ve pulled together a productivity super guide, looking at setting goals, collaboration, and communication. And of course, it lists our most highly recommended productivity tools.

Download our 2021 productivity super guide.

What a year we’ve left behind

Although, with many of the negatives we had no control over, came some positive changes to the way we all do things. So many businesses now have people working from home on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. As much as no-one asked for this, it’s been great to see how many businesses that we work closely with have adapted. And in the process, they have become more flexible.

This flexibility often results in a more motivated, engaged workforce. Who really appreciate the ability to work different hours and work from home (WFH). This is a huge benefit. Especially if you’re looking to hire new people. Because what’s the greatest competitive advantage in your business? It’s your people, of course.

We believe that offering flexible working and the choice between WFH and going into the office, will help you attract the very best people in your field. This year is going to be a “buyer’s market” for employers. A great opportunity to take on truly excellent new people. But, of course, along with this comes a responsibility to give everyone the tools and accessibility they need to be able to excel at their roles from wherever they choose to work.

That means you, as the business owner or manager, need to be on top of issuing the right devices, keeping security tight, and network access open but safe. After the 2020 lockdowns, hopefully you’ve already got the fundamentals in place. But going forward, it’s as important to offer your team as much IT support in their homes, as they get in the office.

We can help you with our 2021 productivity super guide

So, here’s a question to ask – what else could you do to help them achieve more?

If they were given the right tools:

  • Help your team make the most of their time
  • The right tools will complement what they do
  • Tools will simplify processes

… could they get more done in a day?

Probably. And fortunately, we live in an age where there is an app to help you do pretty much anything.

Why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?

The thing is, it’s too easy to get stuck in our ways. Yes, even when it comes to business. We log into the same software each morning, have the same grumbles about how we wish it did things differently; then carry on with our day.

“Sometimes what we need is a new set of eyes. Someone who can stand back and see the simple solutions that we simply can’t”

Because when something is a habit, it can be difficult to imagine a different way of doing it. Even if that new way is easier and brings about more benefits – like a more productive team, and better customer satisfaction.

Could we be that new set of eyes for you? We’d like to offer your business a productivity audit.

During this audit, our experts will take a detailed look at your business, what you do and the tools you currently use to do it. We’ll talk to you about how your processes would work in an ideal world and help you to identify the apps or software that can help that to happen.

Let’s set up an IT Audit

Three BIG questions for you:

  1. Do you currently have an IT support company?
  2. How happy were you with them last year?
  3. If the answer isn’t “utterly delighted”, let’s jump on a Zoom or book a phone call.

Everything that happened in 2020 taught businesses round here just how important proactive, responsive IT support is. Contact the LIS Help Desk to discuss your business, and to answer any questions you may have.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

 #NewYearGoals #ProductivityGuide #Make2021YourYear

Keeping your business data safe

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Keeping your business data safe: The GuideThis is the ultimate secret to keeping your business data safe. Whenever you hear of the term cyber-crime, you probably associate it with big businesses and corporations. After all, why would anyone target your small enterprise? Thinking like this could prove to be damaging and possibly catastrophic.

Small businesses are increasingly becoming the victims of cyber-attacks. In fact, Symantec reported that out of all the cyber-attacks perpetrated in 2015, , 43% targeted small businesses. Their report also indicated that the attack on small businesses has been on the rise with 2011 having 18%, 2012 having 31%, 2013 having 30%, and 2014 having 34%. That’s why we’ve written a brand new guide. To tell you about the ultimate secret to keeping your business data safe. You won’t believe how simple it is. Download your copy now.

The trend indicated above is worrying. But, remember, the reason for the increased attacks is because hackers have realized that small businesses apply little to no effort in the securing of their data. So, what is data security and how does it protect your business from potential threats?

How to keep your small business data safe?

Data security or protection, put simply, is the procedure employed to ensure that your data cannot be corrupted or accessed illegally.

The idea behind securing your data is to protect your business’s data while ensuring that it stays private. Data includes all personal and business files that are stored in the database. The process of securing data generally follows these three steps:

  • Encryption. For any data to be of any use, it has to be understandable on a human level. Encryption counters this by using a set of algorithms and mathematical schemes to scramble the information into an unreadable format. This encrypted text can only be decoded by someone who has the decryption key.
    To take it up a notch, end-point full encryption is employed. It encrypts every last bit of data in your hard disk thus giving you a very high form of protection.
  • Strong user Authentication. We encounter user authentication on a daily basis. Every time you try to login into your computer or social media account, you are required to go through a one-step verification process. One-step verification is weak and is easily hacked. A strong user authentication process will often involve multiple stages of verification making it very difficult to hack.
  • Data Backup. You have to be prepared for when the worst happens. Securing your data will never give you 100% assurance. There is always the chance that there might be a loophole in the system which may include an inside job. That is why the process of securing data also includes a backup plan. The backup will ensure that although the information may be stolen, you can always restore it.

Keeping your business data safe

Now that we know why it is important to secure your data, here are seven data security tips for small business:

  1. Adopting EMV

EMV initials stand for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa. EMV is an encrypted payment system that uses microchips in the credit card to process transactions. In addition, it also protects the information in the card. This ensures that both parties are free from fraud. Upgrade the payment system in your business to accept EMV cards. Not only will this protect your business, but it will also absolve you from liability in the event that fraud does happen.

  1. Securing your wireless network

Wireless networks attract more hackers than a moth to a light bulb. While your standard network encryption key might keep your next door neighbours from accessing your network, hackers could log into it in their sleep. This is why you need to use the strongest encryption setting in your router to protect your business. Additionally, disable the broadcasting function in order to make your network invisible. After all, they cannot hack what they can’t see.

  1. Perform background checks

At times, we might get caught up in securing our businesses against outside intrusions and fail to protect it from what is happening right in front of us. Inside jobs are the biggest threats to a business apart from cyber-crime. Price Water Coopers reported that employees orchestrated over 70% of frauds committed to small businesses.

This is why you need to be extra vigilant when it comes to selecting the right employees for your business. Check their backgrounds as these will often give a clue on what kind of person they are. In addition, be observant of what is going on with your employees. Changes in character should be duly noted as changes in their performance will often accompany these.

  1. Decentralize password access to sensitive data

Never allow one person to have access to all the passwords. The levels of entry should be distributed to different employees to minimize the risk of the data being breached. Maintain the central access key yourself.

  1. Shred business documents

Physical documents need to be safeguarded. Access to the documents should require authorization from the necessary source. This should ensure that in case a document goes missing, you can easily trail the theft process, or at least there will be someone to be held accountable.

Additionally, old records that have their information in the database should follow the correct process of discarding. The best way to achieve this is through shredding by a particular person.

  1. Upgrade your software

Buy the necessary software that will help you in this quest. These include encryption software and excellent anti-virus programs.

Good corporate anti-virus programs come in handy because hackers nowadays have automated their hacking systems. These means that bots will try to infiltrate your system, a good antivirus should take care of this. Plus don’t forget your smartphone. You should also look into protecting your mobile from viruses and this is even more important if you do work on a phone and that includes just answering emails.

  1. Data backup of your business data

Like we previously discussed, backing up your data is preparing yourself for the worst. It will save you a lot of hassle in case something does happen.

A partner you can trust

Unfortunately, these security threats against your data information are unlikely to end anytime soon. This is because the world has all but embraced the Internet. Failing to have a website for your business is just bad business practice. The caveat is that this puts your business at risk of hacking. It is therefore imperative to secure your business in all ways that you can.

Contact the LIS Help Desk today to arrange your IT Audit. We will investigate your existing systems and advise the best way forward to make sure your keeping you business data safe.

LIS – SECURING YOUR DIGITAL WORLD

#FreeGuide #CyberSecurityTraining #KeepYourBusinessProtected

White Hat Hacker

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Meet Mafia Boy, the “white hat hacker” who knows everything there is to know about infiltrating computer systems

If you need more information read our guide. If you need help, contact LIS now. We can support your firewall, antivirus, dns filter, antispam, anti-phishing and anything else you may need.

#hackers #cybercrime #security

 

Michael "MafiaBoy" Calce Talks Security, Hacking And How To Be Vigilant
Michael “MafiaBoy” Calce Talks Security, Hacking And How To Be Vigilant
Full review here: http://hothardware.com/reviews/navigating-the-printer-security-minefield – MafiaBoy gained international notoriety in early 2000 by knockin…
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