What Are Your Businesses Technology New Year’s Resolutions For 2018?
With 2017 nearing its end, it’s time to start considering the resolutions we’re going to make in the new year. When it comes to making resolutions, your mind might go to the traditional options like work on our fitness, eat healthier, or be kinder to others. As a business owner, you probably haven’t considered the resolutions you can make to better your business. This holiday season, Help Me PCS wants you to mull over these tech-centric resolutions to keep your business protected in 2018.
- Create strong passwords. Your passwords should contain a mix of upper and lower-case characters, symbols, and numbers. Making a secure password doesn’t have to be difficult. The Mnemonic method makes it easy to create a difficult password that’s easy for you to remember. For instance, take your favorite quote and use the first letter of each word, preserving the case and including punctuation, to create a password.
Example: “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” – C.S. Lewis
Password – Wiarlawd?
The same can be done with images and their sources. To make these passwords even more secure, you can utilize the Mnemonic MotoMem method, which uses the same password you create with a phrase or image text, with the addition of `1q” at the beginning and “|}?}{P> at the end of the passphrase. This creates a super secure password that could theoretically take 44,000 years to crack.
- Install a business class firewall that provides security services. Don’t settle for the basic option that comes from your internet provider. If you already have a firewall in place, check that the password is customized and not the standard one the device comes with.
- Maintain an on- and off-site backup of your data. Should your system completely crash, you’ll have two ways of restoring your information. Whether you have an off-site backup or you’re implementing one, test it to ensure everything is working properly, and make a note to conduct this test annually.
- Update anti-virus software on PCs and laptops. Ensuring you have the most up-to-date software installed on your computer will help prevent major problems in the future. Additionally, apply the latest patches and updates offered by Microsoft or Apple. As the year winds down, take this time to install updated software to ensure your devices are protected from the latest viruses.
- Use an email encryption software. Keeping the information that you pass through your business protected, be it personal or otherwise, should always be a top priority. Encrypting emails keeps personal information and attachments protected as they pass through the internet, and is a tool every business should be utilizing.
As we prepare to enter 2018, keep these resolutions in mind. If you’ve already implemented these practices into your business, make sure everything is up to date before you close for the holidays! To get your tech organized for 2018, contact Help Me PCS.