Letter from the Editor
Is Your ‘ A ’ Game Ready ?
Recently , I had the pleasure of hearing former pro football player Emmitt Smith speak at a conference . I ’ ll be honest — I wasn ’ t expecting the athlete to have exceptional insight into the world of technology , but he said something that struck a chord with me . He said , “ For me , winning isn ’ t something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar . Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream .” That got me thinking . Success doesn ’ t happen overnight , whether it ’ s in sports or running a business . Similarly , effective cybersecurity doesn ’ t happen quickly . It requires time and practice from your entire team of employees .
Your opposing team — opportunistic cybercriminals — is very large , incredibly skilled and has a lot of resources . As a small or medium business , you don ’ t need to “ win the game ,” so to speak . There will always be a looming cyberthreat . However , you don ’ t want to get sacked by them , so you must do two things to protect yourself : use the right gear and train your team regularly . Protection from cyberthreats is not convenient . Emmitt showed up daily , worked hard , and taught his body and mind to execute the right moves . Your employees must receive training on how to notice phishing emails and practice every day until it becomes second nature . We often host webinars on how to look for email scams or harmful links , and we connect clients with tips for utilizing software like Outlook , reducing downtime , and increasing productivity .
To avoid getting injured , you also need to invest in the right protective gear . Football players wear helmets that have been redesigned over the decades , from a thick leather strap to an elite polycarbonate shell stuffed with thick padding . That ’ s because we know more about how head injuries impact a player ’ s body and mind . Emmitt Smith never showed up to the field without a helmet . It ’ s dangerous , and the entire team would have suffered if he went down . Likewise , we know much more about cyber-attacks and technology than we did two decades ago . If you ’ re still using hardware from 2001 and won ’ t invest in new hardware , you are your company ’ s weakest link .
On another occasion , I heard Peyton Manning talk about his athletic career , and he said , “ I ’ ve never left the field saying , ‘ I could ’ ve done more to get ready ,’ and that gives me peace of mind .” You don ’ t need to have the most expensive technology , but you must be as prepared as you can be to have peace of mind that you won ’ t get sacked by cyberthreats . It ’ s challenging work , but with the proper technology support and well-trained staff , you ’ ll get consistent , winning results every time .
If you ’ re ready to get your players the training they need , or your gear isn ’ t cutting it , give me a call so my team can help you be on your “ A ” game every day .
Sincerely ,
Cathy Coloff Managing Member of IT Radix and
Editor of Momentum NJ Magazine
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