The schools have opened, holiday season is over (for a few weeks at least) and business must be done.

All good news, right?

Yes. However, the world is changing so quickly that expecting to continue to work the way we’ve always worked is a recipe for disaster. Within our business, we have expanded our remit over the years beyond our core hardware offering. It was the right thing to do as it has allowed us to expand the business. 

What I want you to think about today is the importance of expanding your view of your business, organisation or even yourself, considering the changes which we are seeing today. 

Cybersecurity is the element which has forced a change across industries. 

Anti-virus software is no longer enough. 

Email attacks seeking to persuade some to divulge information are not a new thing, but silent attacks are becoming more widespread. This can take place through USB keys, private devices, social engineering, lax password management, failure to use 2 factor authentication, poor encryption and many other possibilities. 

The IT department cannot be seen as the only protection against the above. Staff at every level must be vigilant. The source of all equipment used by an entity must be known and considered, the way in which equipment is used should be reviewed frequently and security measures should be re-assessed and testing as often as possible. 

Another thing which many do not take seriously is the importance of having backup measures in place. As I have mentioned in previous posts, it is not sensible to wait until after the fact because many incidents can result in significant financial losses, reputational damage or in some cases, endanger lives. 

I feel so strongly about this that I have tasked my team to reach out to clients old and new, to review the capability of their cybersecurity measures and backup systems at minimal cost (and zero cost for charitable entities).

We have already helped several organisations put in place solutions which have been proven to work, without any requirement to change day-to-day working practices. This is because even the best solution won’t be used if it is too difficult to implement. 

Send me a message and we can have an informal discussion in the first instance. 

In marine parlance, it’s no longer a contingency when it keeps the ship afloat!