5 Cyber Security Measures Your Business Needs to Consider

We’re all aware that cyber security refers to protecting and strengthening your computers and internet-based systems from unintended or unauthorized access, modifications, robbery, and obliteration.

Photo by Matthew Henry

A lot of modern small businesses use web-based technology and tools to carry out their day-to-day functions. The internet and the cloud have become integral to the smooth functioning of small businesses.

Technology helps with conducting long-distance conferences, advertising, buying and selling, researching, identifying new markets, communicating with customers and suppliers, and even conducting banking transactions.

While you can bring attacks in the physical realm under control with the help of technological aids and state-of-art security cameras, the virtual world is a different ball game. The internet might be a boon, but it also has its fair share of weaknesses.

Along with its benefits, there are many risks, which are only growing by the day. Small businesses often fall prey to cyber attacks due to loopholes in their cyber security measures.

Below are a few cyber security tactics that all small businesses should have in place to protect themselves from virtual perils.

1. Install Reliable Antivirus Software

A good, reliable antivirus program is a basic must-have of any cyber security system. Apart from that, anti-malware is also an essential. These programs work as the final frontier for defending against unwanted attacks should anyone get through your security network.

Antivirus and anti-malware detect and remove viruses and malware, adware, and spyware. They scan through and filter out potentially harmful downloads and emails.

2. Protect with a Firewall and Install Encryption Software

A firewall is necessary, as it helps you protect your inbound and outbound network traffic. Firewalls can stop hackers from attacking your network by blocking certain websites. You can also program firewalls to restrict anyone from sending out proprietary data and confidential emails from your company’s network.

If you deal with data pertaining to credit cards, bank accounts, and social security numbers on a daily basis, it makes sense to have an encryption program in place. Encryption keeps data safe by altering information on the computer into unreadable codes.

That way, even if someone does steal your data, it will be useless to the hacker because he won’t have the keys to decrypt the data and decipher the information.

3. Ignore Suspicious Emails

Make it a habit never to open or reply to suspicious-looking emails, even if they appear to be from a sender you know. If you do open the email, do not click on suspicious links or download attachments. Doing so might make you a victim of online financial and identity theft, including “phishing” scams.

Phishing emails appear to come from trustworthy senders, such as a bank or someone with whom you might have done business. Through the email, the hacker attempts to acquire your private and financial data, such as bank account details and credit card numbers.

4. Limit Access to Critical Data and Do Regular Back-Ups

Keep the number of people with access to critical data to a minimum. For example, limit them to the company’s CEO, CIO, and a handful of trusted staff. Formulate a clear plan that mentions which individual has access to which sensitive information in order to have increased accountability.

Every week, back up your data to an external hard drive or the cloud yourself. Or schedule automated backups to ensure that your information is stored safely. That way, even if your systems are compromised, you still have your information safe with you.

5. Communicate Cyber Security Policies to Employees

Having a written cyber security policy listing the the dos and don’ts of using office systems and the internet is helpful, but not enough. You have to ensure you communicate the policy’s details to your employees and that they understand them.

Your employees need to be able to put your policy into practice. That is the only way of making such policies effective. And make sure you amend your policy regularly according to the relevance of its content.

Conclusion

Having your business disrupted because of attempts to steal confidential data and money is a very real threat. Although a business can never be completely safe from such dangers, there are several security practices, processes, and systems that can help you bust security threats.

Keep your eyes and ears open to suspicious behavior on the part of your employees and outsiders. Use surveillance systems to identify those with vested interests in your company. Aside from those strategies, the above tips should come in handy for amping up your cyber security measures.

The post 5 Cyber Security Measures Your Business Needs to Consider appeared first on Growmap.

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5 Cyber Security Measures Your Business Needs to Consider

Things to Consider Before Starting an eCommerce Business

Launching an eCommerce businesses can be great way to get your start in business, due in large part, to the low overhead costs. Of course, costs can vary depending on your industry but you will find that an online business is often much easier to manage and will require less startup cash, compared with brick and mortar ventures. If you are currently thinking about starting your an eCommerce business, whether that’s to sell physical or digital goods, subscriptions or anything else, have a look at some of the points below to determine if it’s something you can manage.

Start Up and Running Costs

Even though the start up costs of an eCommerce business can be small, you’ll still want to make a business plan and list everything you’ll need. One of the biggest advantages of eCommerce businesses is that they can be started from the comfort of your own home, and as the business grows you can then think about office and warehouse premises depending on your requirements. Some start up costs involved when starting a new business online are outlined below.

• Business registration (you will need to choose one of the different types of business entities)
• Website design and development
• Web hosting and maintenance
• Marketing and advertising
• Inventory and storage
• Business phone & utilities
• Office supplies

Of course, there will be more to consider and your level of seriousness will determine how much you choose to invest initially. You may even want to hire a small unit that is close to a post office so you can easily pack and post goods with ease.

Finding Suppliers

One of the hardest things to do when starting a business in the world of eCommerce is finding a reliable supplier that can provide you with the products you want to sell. The supplier needs to be reliable for a start, but they will also need to be cheap enough for you to be able to make a profit. This is when a big investment is handy because you will be able to buy products in bulk which will give you much bigger discounts, thus making you more profit.

Customer Support Methods

You will need to be able to provide the best support to your customers to make sure your business is a success. You will need to think about this step carefully, because you’ll want to be able to provide support via a variety of methods. Phone support is a good start, but you will also want to consider email support, and a support ticketing system for customers to take advantage of. Providing a variety of support methods will do you many favors, but it will also take a lot of time out of your day responding to requests, so you may eventually have to hire someone to help out.

The above points are just some of the many points to consider before diving in and starting your eCommerce business. It will be a lot of hard work, but if you start with a good business plan and set yourself monthly targets, there is no reason why you can’t profit from a successful eCommerce store.

The post Things to Consider Before Starting an eCommerce Business appeared first on Blogtrepreneur — For Busy Entrepreneurs.

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Things to Consider Before Starting an eCommerce Business

Healthcare Shares Need To Consider: GenVec, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNVC), Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPHM)

GenVec, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNVC) shares ended at $ 6.57 with 1.67 mln shares exchanging hands. That puts the market capitalization at $ 14.72 mln. It opened the session with a $ 6.12 price tag, later ranging from $ 6.11 to $ 7.14, the range at which the stock has traded at throughout the day. The stock stands nearly -53.07% off versus the 52-week high and 143.33% away from the 52-week low. The number of shares currently owned by investors are 2.24 mln.

Sell-side analyst recommendations point to a short term price target of $ 15 on the shares of GenVec, Inc. (GNVC). The consensus rating is 2, indicating analysts in general look favorably on the company’s future prospects. It has been assigned a low target price of $ 15 and a high target price of $ 15.

The current price is staying above the SMA lines which signify strength and is generally healthy/positive and may provide the momentum for driving the share price higher. Current price places the company’s stock 22.9% away from its 200-day simple moving average, 70.53%, away from the 50-day average and also 42.64% away from 20-day average.

For this year, GenVec, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNVC) is performing 104.67%. Over the past five trading sessions it is 7.18%; 107.26% for the month; 72.89% for the last quarter; 11.36% for the past six-months; and 31.4% for the last 12 months. The last close places the company’s stock about $ 3.87 off its 52 week high of $ 10.44 and $ 6.3 above the 52 week low of $ 0.27.

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPHM) closed up +0.02 points or 4.93% at $ 0.31 with 1.67 mln shares exchanging hands. Current price level places the company’s stock about -72.66% from the 52-week high and 9.36% away from the 52-week low. The consensus rating is 1.5, indicating analysts in general look favorably on the company’s future prospects.

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PPHM) opened the session with a $ 0.292 price tag, later ranging from $ 0.2857 to $ 0.31, the range at which the stock has traded at throughout the day. The stock stands nearly $ 0.83 off versus the 52-week high of $ 1.12 and $ 0.01 above the 52-week low of $ 0.28. The number of shares currently owned by investors are 259.03 mln. The current price change puts the market capitalization at $ 79.31 mln.

Over the past five trading sessions shares of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPHM) are 5.59%; -1.23% for the month; -9.94% for the last quarter; -17.24% for the past six-months; and -70.27% for the last 12 months. The current price is staying above the SMA lines which signify strength and is generally healthy/positive and may provide the momentum for driving the share price higher. Current price places the company’s stock -16.4% away from its 200-day simple moving average, -1.92%, away from the 50-day average and also 0.4% away from 20-day average. The stock is performing -1.23% year to date.

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Healthcare Shares Need To Consider: GenVec, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNVC), Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPHM)

Key Things to Consider When Choosing an Office Space

Choosing an office space is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, there are all the opportunities your new space offers for growth, cost savings and culture development; on the other, there are all the worries and challenges to be tackled before moving day.

To help you overcome the daunting and focus on the inspiring, we’ve put together this list of key questions to ask when choosing your new office space.

1. The Location

Is it convenient for staff and clients?

The most important factor when picking your location is convenience for employees and clients. If your offices are tricky to find, difficult to get to or simply miles away from key staff members, you risk losing customers or valuable members of your team. To avoid this, give employees a say in selecting an area, and make sure you’re easily accessible to top clients.

How good are the transport links?

Picking an area with good transport links is one way to ensure you’re easy to reach. An office within walking or cycling distance of an underground, train or bus station is a great start; however, be sure to also check local timetables and the popularity of these routes. It can be helpful to map out the daily journey of a few employees – how comfortable would you be with their commute?

If most of your staff drive to work, take a look at local traffic patterns during commuting hours. Endless traffic jams will be an ongoing stress for you and your team.

Is the area safe?

Can employees and clients walk safely to and from your offices? It might be tempting to take a cheaper space in a rougher part of town, but it could affect the happiness of employees who walk to work each day, or even leave a poor impression on clients arriving for face-to-face meetings. There are plenty of free interactive crime maps online to help build up a picture of potential locations.

What’s on offer locally?

It’s always a good idea to have a wander around the neighbourhood, either in person or using Google Maps. Find out what the area has to offer to get a fuller sense of what it’ll be like to work there every day. Are there a few great places to grab some lunch? Is there a gym nearby? Do you pass a supermarket on the way to the station? All of these local amenities and more will have a real impact on the lives of your employees.

What impression will it give?

It’s no secret that image is important, so ask yourself what impression the area will leave on potential clients and new hires. Cutting costs is smart, but not if the resulting space undersells your capability. Equally, lavish overspending could leave clients questioning your business acumen.

Try investigating the offices of local businesses of similar size, ideally in your industry, to set realistic goals on the type of buildings and location you should be aiming for.

2. The Building

What’s the condition of the building?

Whether you’re buying or renting, ensuring the building is in satisfactory condition will save you a lot of hassle in the future. If you’re renting, checking the condition of the building can also reveal whether your landlord takes maintenance seriously. Ask existing tenants if they feel well looked after or arrange a viewing at short notice to dig deeper into the service you can expect.

Is it secure?

Whether it’s confidential information or expensive equipment, losses from theft can be a real setback. What’s more, in most cases, security is simple to get right. Make sure doors and windows provide reasonable protection, and find out what other measures, such as alarms, CCTV or security personnel, are in place. If you have special requirements, check that these can be met.

What common areas and services are available?

When renting alongside others, some common areas are usually unavoidable, others might be desirable. Find out what’s provided, how much it will cost and whether these areas are included in the stated floor area beforehand. If the office is serviced, be sure to clarify precisely what’s included, so you can ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.

How is the infrastructure?

For many companies, office infrastructure is now as important as floor space. Top of the list is the cost, quality and reliability of your internet connection. If there’s already a connection in place, find out its real speed using a free online broadband test. Also, check telephone connections, including the easily forgotten but ever important mobile signal, and postal services, especially whether there’s easy access for your favoured courier.

For some, another vital concern is the building’s green credentials. In this case, you’ll want to evaluate construction methods and materials, energy efficiency, waste disposal procedures and more.

Is it accessible?

Firstly, if you’re renting, make sure your office space will be open and available whenever you need it. Secondly, check the building meets legal requirements for disabled access, and any special requirements of your own staff.

3. The Space

Is it big enough?

An absolutely critical question without an easy answer. The rule of thumb suggests you’ll need anywhere from about 125 ft² to 300 ft² per employee, depending on the type of office you intend to build. Of course, a space filled with large private offices and conference rooms will take you to the upper end of that range. An open office or cubicle environment will minimise the space needed per employee. If you’re searching in London, try this office space calculator for a quick estimate.

It’s also important to factor in growth alongside the length of your lease – will you be hiring more people before the end of the year? On top of all this, don’t neglect other vital areas, like file rooms, storage rooms or space for employee lockers.

Is the layout right for your business?

It’s not just the amount of space that counts; it’s how you’ll use it. Can you visualise a layout that will work for your business? The trick here is to spend some time at each possible location. If you’re still struggling, try using an online floor planner like Room Sketcher, or simply mark up a layout with tape, newspapers or whatever’s to hand.

How much freedom will you have?

Before getting too carried away with your dream layout, it’s best to find out just how much freedom you’ll have to change the décor. Using the space to support brand identity or company culture may be high up your list of priorities, but it’ll be a struggle if you can’t paint the walls. If you’re given free reign, are there any conditions set on how to leave the space once the lease is complete?

Is the ambience right?

What researchers call ‘ambient factors’ are consistently shown to have a clear impact on employee happiness and productivity. These commonly include everything from temperature and air quality to noise levels and lighting. Essentially, those factors that go unnoticed until there’s something wrong, at which point they become an inescapable nuisance.

Is there room to grow?

As obvious as it might seem, this is an easy one to miss. It’s extremely frustrating to create the perfect office only to be forced to move a short time later. If you hope to grow, think ahead.

4. The Cost

Is the property good value?

It’s often difficult to judge a fair market value for commercial property. You might be able to estimate the price of a residential property in your local area, but the factors affecting office rents are more complicated. Information is the key to making an informed decision. If you’re searching through a property agency, ask them for information on similar deals in the area – it’s their job to know the market. Otherwise, researching similar properties online will give you a basic grasp of the area, and how your offer compares.

Are there any hidden costs?

Firstly, be aware of the various floor area measuring practices – GEA, GIA, NIA or the newly standardised IPMS – as confusion here may lead to some nasty surprises. Next, find out the business rates in your location, check which utilities are covered by your rent and if there are other building service charges. Finally, take account of any one off costs, such as legal

Key Things to Consider When Choosing an Office Space