The Biggest Mistakes You Can With Your Computer Network

As a business owner, you have a lot on your mind. You probably have a hand in everything that goes on with your business. Is keeping your business network safe one of the things you think about? Want to avoid the most common and expensive computer problems most business owners experience? We’ve compiled a list of 5 things you should be doing to save yourself a lot of time and money, by avoiding a big, ugly computer disaster.

Off-Site Back-Up

Have an automated off-site back-up system in place. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. Having an off-site back-up of your data will be the equivalent of wearing a seatbelt in a major accident. You don’t think much about it until you need it, and then, you will thank your lucky stars you had it in place.

Server

Centralize your data on your server. At one time, servers only made sense for large organizations because of their high cost and complexity. But today, there are very affordable and easy-to-implement server systems designed specifically for any size small business. Depending on your business needs, your server can be in your office or hosted in the cloud. A server will not only speed up your network, but it will also make backups easier, allow secure remote access to allow you and your employees to work from home or on the road, and make it much easier to share documents, databases, and printers.

Anti-Virus

Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date, and perform weekly spyware scans. Almost everyone understands the importance of anti-virus software, but many businesses still do not perform weekly spyware sweeps. Spyware can cause a host of problems that include slowing down your systems, pop-up ads, and even identity theft.

Have a Policy

Create an acceptable use policy and enforce it! One of the biggest threats to your network is your employees! Although that sounds harsh, it is true. Employees can accidentally introduce viruses and spyware through innocent activities online such as checking their Gmail account, downloading photos, or visiting phishing websites set up by online criminals. There are several great programs available for monitoring employee activity online. If you would like a recommendation for your specific situation, call our office.

Regular Maintenance

Perform regular maintenance. Just like your car, a computer network needs regular maintenance. This includes monitoring of critical components, performance, security patches, as well as your backup system. Regular maintenance can dramatically improve the speed and reliability of your network, as well as the security of your data. If you cannot afford to lose data or be down for days, you must perform regular maintenance on your network!

Keeping on top of your network safety is a great step in the right direction. Understanding what you need to look for and prepare for is a great start to keeping your business network safe. Having someone manage your cybersecurity for you will help take all of the stress off your shoulders and let you focus on what’s most important in your business. Understanding what risks your business is facing is a great tool to have. Complete our free Cyber Security Risk Assessment to find out what risks you face and how to protect your business.