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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 33 A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 A ccording to a recent CNN Money article, there are an estimated 1 mil- lion malware threats released every day. Many businesses, however, fail to implement appropriate security for their network and still suff er cata- strophic losses. Consider that: ¡ 60% of companies lose their data within six months of a breach; ¡ 31% of PC users have lost all of their fi les due to events beyond their control; ¡ 140,000 hard drives crash nation- wide every week. An organization aff ected by mal- ware, breach, natural disaster or other unexpected downtime may experience lost credibility, falling sales and even low morale. It may force a shut down. ere is no substitute for technology expertise when designing or restruc- turing business technology, regardless of whether it's an in-house team, a single technician or a fully outsourced partner. ere are, however, a number of things that an organization and its leadership can do to prepare for and protect the business. How to prepare First, understand the business's mission- critical technology. A company's most important technology may include email, inventory management, manu- facturing automation systems and electronic medical records. It doesn't matter what the technology is; it mat- ters that it's identifi ed as critical and is aligned with the company's objectives. Understanding what the hardware or software does and how it impacts a busi- ness allows leadership to make informed decisions, which can reduce hardware costs and streamline workfl ows. is serves two purposes: to foster a risk management mindset and to identify systems that need additional safeguarding or backup. For instance, in recent years, appli- cation developers have ended support for beloved but out-of-date software, such as Windows XP, leaving many businesses vulnerable to attack or sys- tem failure. Streamlining technology reduces the points of entry or failure in a network. It also makes it easier to keep systems current, updating operating system updates or adding security patches. It also helps the bottom line by reducing unnecessary hardware and software and improving effi ciency. It helps to create a disaster recov- ery plan. Get creative and imagine the absolute worst that could happen: Fire, fl ood, data corruption, hardware malfunction, human error or theft. Create contingency plans for each scenario, with a view to realistic solutions. How to protect Education is paramount to keeping a company's network secure. As social engineering attacks like phishing and baiting continue to rise and devices increasingly connect to the Internet of ings, employees are the front-line defense. It is important to ensure that every person in the organization under- stands the risks of technology to the business and maintains an alert attitude. Use the 3-2-1 rule. In the case of a true disaster, networks, hardware and of course buildings can be destroyed. Backing up data allows a company to resume operations without having to rebuild everything. Find a backup protocol that creates three copies of the data, stored on two diff erent types of media, with one copy stored off site. Adopt a layered security model that incorporates fi rewalls, web and email fi ltering as supplements to anti- virus and anti-malware. Train staff on social engineering and keep systems current with security patches. Perhaps the single best protection a company can invest in is the time to fi nd the right IT partner. Every company has a diff erent budget, situa- tion and challenge. Access to the right expertise at the right time, whether in-house or outsourced, can make all the diff erence. Taking some basic precautions and en visioning the future can provide a way for organizations of all sizes to thrive, even when faced with techno- logical catastrophe. N K , v i r t u a l c h i e f i n f o r m a t i o n o f f i c e r a t S y m Q u e s t G r o u p I n c . i n L e w i s to n , c a n be r e a ch e d a t @ . 1-800-221-2542 KatahdinTrust.com At Malone Auto Racks, we manufacture car rack accessories for bicycles, kayaks, canoes – anything you want to put on top of the car. We bank with Katahdin Trust because they are a smaller bank but they have a lot of big bank products to offer. Our slogan at Malone is "changing the way you get there" and Katahdin Trust has helped us get where we are now. Jim Goodrich Co-owner, Malone Auto Racks | Westbrook, Maine "They've been willing to work with us as we grow." Thursday, May 5 Bayside Bowl, Portland SILENT AUCTION SPONSOR BOWL-A-THON SPONSOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY MEREDA is proud to sponsor its 4th Annual "Strikes for Scholars" Bowl-a-Thon and Silent Auction. This fundraising event supports scholarships for Maine students pursuing studies in building trades, architecture, construction, engineering or a business program at a Maine Community College (MCCS), or at the University of Southern Maine. With your help, we hope to surpass last year's numbers! The Silent Auction will consist of assorted sports, entertainment, overnight getaways, and dining items, to name a few. MEREDA is now collecting donations for the auction. If you are interested in supporting the event and have items to donate, please contact the MEREDA office. Donations are welcome! Contact the MEREDA office at ( 207 ) 874-0801 ALL proceeds benefit the MEREDA scholarship fund! Join MEREDA at its "Strikes for Scholars" Bowl-A-Thon & Silent Auction "Strikes "Strikes for Scholars" Bowl-A-Thon "Strikes for Scholars" Bowl-A-Thon Mark your calendar to attend, support our bowlers, and bid on May 5th! Protect a small business from computer disaster B Y N I C K K N O W L T O N H OW TO

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