Month: June 2018

In an age where cybercrime is outpacing our population growth, Australian businesses must be more vigilant than ever in protecting their company and customer data. Yet the sheer volume of information and competing priorities many leaders and their teams face every day can lead to negligence in the little things.

Like passwords. According to a 2017 survey by ME Bank, 89% of people use just one or two passwords to manage many accounts and logins. At the same time, it’s not uncommon for employees to manage nearly 200 passwords as part of their everyday responsibilities. Marry these two factors, and it comes as no surprise that many people inadvertently expose themselves to breach just trying to simplify the process – choosing overly basic passwords, using the same password for personal and professional accounts, and sharing password information with others.

There’s no denying the risks of a data breach can be catastrophic. No business owner can afford not to use stringent password controls. So, what can you do to simplify this process and ensure you, your organisation and your customers are protected?

Here are some simple steps you can implement today:

1. Separate business and personal – Once a hacker has breached your system, it’s common practice for them to sweep all your content and history looking for commonalities. If you’re using the same password in multiple places, they’ll gain access to multiple accounts in one fell swoop. If you use the same device for work and personal purposes, the risk is multiplied. Similar passwords pose just as much risk because a determined hacker will often apply a brute force attack that runs through many combinations of characters in an attempt to ‘crack’ your password. So, don’t be tempted to just swap out one or two characters from one password to the next!

2. Turn on 2-factor authentication – If you use internet banking, this feature is invaluable – and it’s readily available through most credible banks. This method acts as an extra line of defence for your accounts, by requesting two different pieces of information at login: firstly, your password and then the entry of an automatically generated one-use code. In most cases, all that’s required to start using two-factor authentication is to activate the setting on your account and nominate a mobile number or email account the code can be sent to.

3. Use a password manager – If keeping track of numerous passwords is an obstacle to better security in your organisation, it’s worth investing in a password manager. This simple tool streamlines password management by needing just one master password to govern the account; for every other account, you need a login to, it generates a highly secure password on your behalf and stores this data in encrypted form. You can then access that password data from your desktop or mobile device whenever you need it, without needing to remember or record the details. There are many free or low-cost password managers available for download, including the highly regarded LastPass.

Every day, we’re living more of our lives online. And when it comes to running a business, we can’t afford to not be online. Poor password control exposes you and your customers to numerous security risks, which could spell disaster for your business’s reputation, performance and profitability. So rather than hope a cyber-attack won’t happen to you, take some simple measures like those outlined above, educate your team, and make password protection a key part of your business process.

If change and meeting your customers’ needs is a constant, doing nothing isn’t an option. Be sure you are partnering with a company with the depth and breadth of expertise you require. Particularly one who can help you navigate end-to-end managed services, cloud, mobile and paperless retail technology. GPK Retail consultant, Cordell Quaine, is available for a no-obligation discussion on how GPK can help you reduce operational costs, manage your IT footprint more effectively and create an exceptional experience for your customers. Contact: Phone 1300 000 475 or email info@gpkgroup.com.au for more information.

 

We live in an age where almost every business uses some form of mobile technology. It has become an indispensable part of how we communicate, manage processes and provide services to our customers. Yet long before this technology became a business mainstay, it was firmly entrenched in the lifestyle of consumers. The upshot? These consumers are now bringing their devices, usage habits and personal data in the workplace.

If your organisation provides devices to staff or allows them to use their personal device for business purposes (also known as BYOD or Bring Your Own Device) it can open up a series of challenges for your IT team, particularly around data security and personal privacy. These concerns are not new, but they are growing due to an increasingly mobile and often remote workforce, employee turnover, and the rapid pace of technological change.

One of the most practical, versatile and accessible solutions today is mobile device management (MDM). MDM is a cloud-based system that enables your IT team to centrally manage data and have access to that data, plus manage the use of multiple accounts and identities on individual devices.

This approach offers two considerable benefits for business owners. These benefits include:

1. Improved operational efficiency – Centralised management means faster and more standardised individual and bulk deployment of new and updated devices and apps – so you can channel IT resources towards more strategic projects.MDM also empowers staff to perform a number of tasks independently without waiting for IT help, such as self-activating a new or updated device, downloading approved apps and accessing basic technical support such as password resetting. This means your team members experience less downtime due to technical changes, and feel more in control of their performance.
2. Improved data security – Mobile Device Management allows your organisation to maintain high level data security without the need for substantial on-the-ground resources.Your IT team can set clear parameters for each user on access and editing rights to every aspect of your system – including documents, apps, settings and notifications – with the flexibility to make modifications remotely when circumstances change.

   MDM also enables your devices to be protected by device level encryption and software that automatically detects security breaches. Threats ranging from unauthorised wi-fi access and lost or stolen devices to malware and jailbreaking can be managed swiftly and thoroughly by pre-defined measures like remote lock, device wipe or quarantine.

As organisations, the workforce and technology evolve, new opportunities and new challenges will arise for business owners. Agility and responsiveness to change, whether that be a rapid expansion, a new policy rollout or the transition from in-house to remote teams, are fundamental to success. Managing scenarios like this in the midst of a growing BYOD culture (nearly 60% of organisations permit employees to use their personal device for work) requires a flexible approach. Mobile Device Management is a practical solution that protects both employer and employee, allowing business owners and their IT teams to focus on strategic growth, rather than day to day management and troubleshooting.

If change and meeting your customers’ needs is a constant, doing nothing isn’t an option. Be sure you are partnering with a company with the depth and breadth of expertise you require. Particularly one who can help you navigate end-to-end managed services, cloud, mobile and paperless office technology. GPK consultant, Ben Holian, is available for a no obligation discussion on how GPK can help you reduce operational costs, manage your IT footprint more effectively and create an exceptional experience for your customers. Contact: Phone 1300 000 475 or email info@gpkgroup.com.au for more information.