Threats

Your business is open to many kinds of threats if you already use computers in your daily working environment.  You must ask yourself the question "Could my business continue if I lost the data on my computer systems?"

Wireless Attack
Do you use Wireless networking?  Is it secure?  There are software products available now that can hack into even the most secure wireless networks.

Internet Security
Are you connected to the Internet?  Most small business's are.  However, is your data hosted on the same systems that you have connected to the internet?  Do you have an Internet policy in place?  Do you have firewalls enabled?  Do you have in place a process for scheduled virus scans of your complete computer system? 

Physical Security
Are your computer screens visible from other locations than your own.  Could others read your screens (and hense your proprietry data)?  Do you turn off your computers when you leave at the end of the day.  Are there cleaners in the office before/after the main staff are around?  Could someone walk in off the street and gain access to your systems and data?
Small Business

Business Services


If your business is already using Computer Systems in some way or another, are you comfortable that the integrity of your data is high?

There are many ways that your data can be compromised, out of date systems, poor security systems in place,  no Disaster Recovery Plan or general lack of knowledge in the ICT arena.  Below, some of these areas are explored in more depth detailing the risks that your business could be facing.  

ICT Maintenance

Many small business operations setup networked computer systems so that their employees have access to capabilities such as email, Office tools, Internet etc.  It is usual at the time the system is initially deployed to the business that it is well defined, secure and upto date.  However over time, unless you have a regular ICT maintenance program in place, various things happen
  • Systems Slow Down due to lack of ongoing maintenance
  • Operating System Updates are not installed, leading to security holes
  • Spyware, Malware, Viruses etc can get into the systems due to lack of scheduled checks
  • Daily products in use failed to get updated, leading to incompatibilities with others
  • Better value for money solutions become available, but you are unaware of them

As you can see, unless you have in place a regular IT system maintenance policy it is possible to get your business data compromised due to not being upto date with latest security updates to both your Operating Systems and the programs that run on them.

Business Continuity

Does your business have in place a Business Continuity Plan? (Often referred to as a Disaster Recovery Plan).  Do you utilise off site backups, do you backup your data at all?  Do you perform scheduled checks of you backups? Could your business continue if there was a flood and all of your computer systems were damaged beyond repair?

Security Threats


On the left pane is listed some of the numerous threats that could apply to your computer systems.  Do you have them all covered?  Could you risk the loss of your proprietry data through a threat?  Are there competitors that would gain be having access to your data?

Having worked for the UK MoD for the past 10 years (See About Me  page), I have a full understanding of ICT Security Policy, Threats and other issues that could affect the integrity of the data on your systems.

For further details or an informal chat, please contact Mike Read on (01985) 216351 or email Mike@Talk-pc.co.uk.