Spring is here, which means it’s time to throw open your windows to let in some fresh, clean air. Let’s take the same tactics you would use when spring cleaning your house and apply them to your business technology! A digital clean-up can often be used to help organize your business and check your work environment for outdated technology, such as your devices, apps and online accounts. A good deep cleaning can be more impactful for your business than you might think. In fact, recent studies have shown that cybercrimes can occur to businesses that are not updating their systems frequently.
The U.S. Small Business Administration found that 88 percent of SMBs felt that their business was vulnerable to a cyberattack due to a lack of resources or preventative measures. This percentage is high, but it doesn’t need to be. Cleaning up your devices and technology with a digital clean-up can help protect your privacy and your identity, while also providing maintenance that you might have been putting off. The more secure your devices become, the more protected your business might feel in the face of a cyberattack.
Let’s discuss six ways you can start your digital transformation with a digital deep clean.
6 Digital Clean-Up Steps
The reality is that your business gathers plenty of digital clutter that needs to be tidied up from time to time. If left unattended, your business may be wasting valuable time and can also be vulnerable to an attack. Outdated tech is a cybercriminal’s favorite method of attack. The cost of a breach alone can cost millions and many SMBs are the ones who suffer. If you think your business is too small, think again—cybercriminals prey on businesses with weak security practices.
With this in mind, let’s look at six steps that your business can take to help tidy up your tech:
1. Review your equipment: When was the last time your software was updated? It’s imperative that all software is running the latest version and that there are no glitches. This can help to reduce the risk of infections from malware and other bugs.
2. Git rid of old data or equipment: With all spring cleaning, you’re going to want to get rid of any equipment that is no longer working. It might also be a good idea to clean up your email and purge any files that aren’t necessary to hold onto anymore. This can help free up space and it can also aid in protecting your sensitive data.
3. Review privacy settings: Take the time to make sure you still agree with your privacy and security settings on all your devices. You can take things a step further and review access control for your business technology. Make sure your employees can only access what they need.
4. Prioritize Your Security: If you haven’t already, you should invest in a password manager to help create passwords that aren’t easy to guess. If you want an extra layer of protection, think about installing multifactor authentication (MFA), which can require users to go through an additional step to access secure accounts and information.
5. Conduct a digital cleanup: Make sure you are changing your passwords, backing up data, managing your equipment, organizing data files and deleting anything unnecessary that is no longer applicable to your business. If you want to really dive into a deep clean, consider the benefits of creating a data backup system.
6. Partner with an MSP: You can partner with an IT expert like us to assist you with a lot more than just deep cleaning your data and technology. An IT partner will review your entire infrastructure, make recommendations on areas you can improve and even help you take on a complete digital transformation.
Take the Next Step
By deep cleaning your data, you can set your business up for success. It’s imperative that you pay attention to your tech and take note when issues arise. Doing so can help increase your productivity, but also reduce downtime your business might experience from a cyberattack.
If you are looking to go a step further, we offer several services that can really get in there and take care of your tech. Don’t make the mistake of thinking spring cleaning is not for you. Let’s let some fresh air in to give you peace of mind. Contact us today to help with your digital clean-up.
