Defend and invest
How are we here in 2022 already? 2021 went very fast…
The start of a new year is always a good time to think about what you want to achieve with your business. As the captain of the ship it’s your job to set the destination, and course correct along the way.
January is a big course correction month. All being well you’ve had a little time off recently. Even if it was just a few days, that break can give you huge clarity of thinking.
We call this the January Refresh & Refocus.
While you’re thinking about your business, let us tell you the two technology areas that will be the most important this year. They are Defend and Invest.
- Defend is about protecting your business from cyber criminals. We believe cyber-crime is going to rise again this year, to levels never seen before
- Invest is about making sure technology is powering your business forward, not holding it back
Let’s look in detail at both these areas.
Defend
Consider a thief seeking for an opportunity late at night as he walks down a street lined with residences.
Is it reasonable to suggest that all of those residences are prospective burglary targets? Only a few people make it simpler for him.
The same is true for cyber thieves that target companies. They are constantly pursuing all types of enterprises. It’s just that some people make it easier than others.
Houses with strong door and window locks, a visible security alarm and cameras, and lighting that give the impression that someone is home… The thief finds them unappealing.
What is the cause of the increase? This is due to three major factors:
Criminals have gotten more smart as corporations have become more sophisticated with technology.
The epidemic altered the way we worked for the rest of our lives. Working in a hybrid mode gives them additional options.
Most individuals are still the weakest link in the chain when it comes to cyber-crime. We believe that up to 80% of the cybercrime we deal with is the result of a human error.
We’ve found that if you go too far, they’ll just find a way through security. Someone propping open a door in the real world because entering an access code every time is inconvenient.
The tools you install may often make their life simpler while also enhancing security. The finest illustration of this is a password manager. Staff are always glad to utilise their password manager since it remembers their passwords for them. Then they don’t have to bother with creating and remembering long random passwords.
Biometrics will also improve security and streamline the process. It’s far easier to get into a system using your face or fingerprint than it is to input your password.
The right systems
Unfortunately, you can’t rely upon security tools alone to protect the business. They have to be used in the right way, which means implementing and policing systems.
Here’s one example. If you have a work laptop that a member of your team regularly uses to Work From Home, then you need to make sure they know the limitations on its use.
We’ve seen security best practices thrown out of the window when a child has accessed a work laptop (without permission, of course) and started loading new software onto it.
You have to think through in advance what could happen, and have a policy for it. Also, how you want your team to act when something goes wrong, such as them losing a device. That might not seem a big deal in this era of our data sitting in the cloud… but what if that lost device gives a stranger access to business information?
The right training for your people
If 80% of breaches start with a human doing something wrong – mostly without realising it – then we need to mobilise your people to be your first line of defence.
The techniques that cyber criminals are using are becoming more sophisticated. They rely on someone to click a link or download a file. This loads malware onto a device, or gives them access to your network.
And most of the time, your people don’t realise they have done it.
This is why they need regular cyber security training. This doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive or time consuming. But it will give them the knowledge and tools they need to identify possible threats.
By the way… it’s critical that everyone in the business has this training. Including you. The person at the top is normally the most heavily targeted as they have access to more systems – including bank accounts.
Invest
Now we get onto the fun part. Defence is necessary as being breached is as costly in time as it is in cash. But most business owners prefer to look at how technology can empower growth.
The days where buying hardware and software were seen as a “necessary expense” are long gone. These days, forward thinking businesses see that an investment in the right technology can give you a real edge.
In fact, done well it can give you a competitive advantage. When you’ve got the right technology:
- Your people become more efficient
- Communication is improved, and
- You can cut costs
All of these benefits can be translated into advantages for your customers.
But getting it right can be hit and miss. Things move very quickly in the world of technology. So it’s important you do your research and don’t start spending money simply because it promises the world.
The key thing is to look at your business growth strategy, and ensure any investment delivers on that strategy. This is why we spend a great deal of time with our clients, understanding their business and what their future plans are, so we can best advise them on which areas to invest in, and how to get the biggest bang for their buck.
The most important question you can ask yourself before investing in new technology is: “What will this add to my business?”
For example – ask yourself if investing in new devices will save you money on the repair and maintenance of older ones. We know that once computers reach a certain age they actually cost more to maintain than the cash cost of buying a new device.
Could new software make your people more productive by cutting out repetitive tasks? By integrating seamlessly with existing software, or by automating processes?
And what about the benefit to your clients? Will it help you deliver a better product or service? Will it speed up delivery or help you eliminate any steps in your processes? Will it give you an edge over your competitors? Or help you expand your range of products and services?
Next you need to look at the real cost of your investment. It’s not just the hardware, software and setup that you should factor in. With any new technology there’s a period of adjustment for your team. And during that time you might expect to initially see a dip in productivity while people are learning new systems.
You’ll also need to add in time for training and troubleshooting.
You might benefit from creating a cost/benefit analysis to make sure you’ll see a return on investment on your new technology. If you’ve got it right, the long-term benefits should far outweigh the short-term costs.
Some businesses will be focused right now on cutting costs. When it comes to technology, we believe this to be a false economy. Technology investment must always be looked at as part of the bigger growth picture.
Of course you must keep costs under control. But if you have the right technology in place now, the savings or growth you see later down the line can be significant.
Let us finish with 3 key questions for you:
- Do you have a technology strategy for this year?
- Have you thoroughly looked at these two important areas: Defend and Invest?
- Do you have a technology partner who’s capable of supporting your business growth at a strategic level, as well as with day to day support?
If not, then we’d love to talk with you
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