TelePacific Monthly

Conventional wisdom (or at least the recommendation of public safety officials) dictates we check the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with each time change. That is an easy step to enhance the safety of your home, but is there anything we should be chcking on for the continued safety of our business?

It is probably a good idea to check the detectors in your office, or ask your landlord to check them. Beyond that, perhaps the time change is a good reminder to do a comprehensive, overall security check. Do you (or your office manager) have a list showing each person who has a key to the office? Is it time to change the alarm code? Are there any safety issues you have been meaning to address but can not find the time? That time is now.

And since so much business is now conducted virtually, via email and web sites, it is good to do a check on the data side as well. Are there any passwords that have not been changed for a while? Is your firewall operating at top efficiency? Do you need to add or upgrade any security services to ensure you are fully protected? You may not be able to answer all of these questions immediately.

There are checklists out there to help you figure out exactly what should be evaluated. If you do not have the time or the bandwidth to do a security evaluation yourself, and do not have anyone on your staff to do it, you might want to think about hiring a vendor to conduct a security evaluation. There are a variety of companies and independent consultants who conduct IT security audits; just do a web search.

All of this security and safety stuff is a lot to think about and may be a bit overwhelming with everything else going on right now. But the security of your business data is important (we know you know that - it is part of your job, after all!) and it is a sensitive issue. No one wants to be part of the next company whose name is plastered across news headlines for a security breach and compromised customer information.

Once you are confident in your knowledge of your IT security situation, it is time to answer the question about your existing security products and services. Are they all updated and current? Has anything in the business changed that would necessitate new services, or services from a different vendor? If not, pat yourself on the back - not only are your smoke detector batteries fresh and ready to go, your IT security is just as it needs to be...quite an accomplishment!

But if you find there is room for improvement and you need help, you may want to consider TelePacific's OneSecure managed security service. OneSecure allows you to layer your network with security services that are managed, constantly updated and maintained 24/7/365 by a national leader in security services. All of that is designed to thwart malicious attacks before they cause any harm - a breach of proprietary data, a loss of customer information or even a virus.

It is not fun to think about the security of your data, but it is essential. And if it can be rolled into other safety/security tasks so it becomes as simple as another checklist item twice a year...why not? Happy battery changing and security evaluating!