IT threats galore: As a business, how secured are YOU?

Your computer system could be a ticking bomb in disguise. A bomb once exploded will bring the business to a standstill.

Mobile Computer Services Australia or MCSA, as they like to be called, have been the Mobile IT experts for more than 20 years bringing IT services to small and medium businesses’ doorsteps. Australian-owned and operated, MCSA is located in the convenient Sydney suburb of Gladesville. It’s the geographical centre point of all of Sydney’s major business districts.

A quick chat with MCSA director Rick Macri reveals the idea behind the business.

“Our aim is to help clients achieve their business objectives trough intelligent use of technology. For an enterprise, the computer system and data is pivotal. We make sure your internal data remains confidential, and maintain your network by checking its health from time to time.”

Indeed, for any SMB, one of the most valuable assets is its network and system reliability. It is far too easy for anyone with a modem to hop on to your personal or business network if there are no security measures in place. The consequential loss incurred in the form of information compromised is causing businesses thousands of dollars every year.

Or, imagine your office catching fire and all the confidential data getting lost. “That’s unthinkable!” some business owners might say. Other may argue, “That’s never going to happen to me, thank you very much.”

Yet, data losses and security breaches in enterprises are very common. Forbes even called 2009 “the year of the mega data breach” (Andy Greenberg, 2009).

Innumerable details like phone numbers, credit and debit card information and other personal data are at risk every time you log on to a network. If it’s the internet, double your risks. That funny video link that you receive in your email, the never before known website, that alluring app—it could all be just a trap. Countless viruses, malware and other malicious programs are waiting.

Rick suggests, “It’s important to install a reliable and secured computer system, efficient firewalls, and robust networks in your enterprise. All the communication that takes place or that gets stored should be encrypted—especially sensitive information.”

“If a lot of remote employees dial in to your network, make sure there is a firewall inplace on laptops and PCs.”

Another important step that’s often overlooked by businesses is a security test or an audit. An audit is a collection of serial and logical steps that are carried out on a network. Experts assert that if a SMB has not carried out any audits in a long time, it should make audits a priority: you never know when a breach might hurt your business.

Most SMBs will not have an in-house IT department in place simply because it is ridiculously expensive for the business to sustain its other activities. Many entrepreneurs are inspired by the bestseller, The 4-Hour Work Week, and realising how things can be better managed with outsourced activities. Add to this the pressing need to optimise expenses in the current economical environment, and outsourcing IT needs becomes an indispensible part of business strategy.

A recent study by AVG Technologies found that 52% of small businesses did not have an IT security policy. Business Insider advises SMBs to implement one which includes an initial assessment of who accesses what and how, a security measure for your physical devices along with the digital assets, rigorous testing and training (2011).

A Ponemon Research Institute and Jupiter Networks research report suggested that 90% of the companies in the US suffered a hack in the past 12 months alone. And, an alarming 77% of the attacks were successful.

For a seamless and efficient network audit, MCSA provides SMBs with experienced administrators who can provide support both onsite and remotely. Having partnered with leading vendors in the industry such as Microsoft, CISCO, HITACHI, HP, and Intel among others, they make outsourcing easy and affordable.

2011 has seen many high-profile attacks like that of Citigroup, Sony, PBS, and InfraGard among others. If the ‘big fish’ can be targeted, there is a high probability it can happen to SMBs too. Question is: why would you take the risk?

If you are interested in updates from MCSA, follow them on Twitter @MobileCompAus, LinkedIn or visit their website at http://www.mobilecomputers.com.au/