Protecting Your Business in a Digital-Driven World
A Guide for Plain Community Businesses
Your business faces new types of threats as you and your customers and suppliers use information technology . Even if your business primarily uses basic technology , you may still need to interact with more advanced digital systems for orders , banking , or customer communications . We ' ve gathered practical guidance to help protect your business when working with information technology .
Understanding Today ' s Business Threats
Small- and medium-sized businesses are increasingly encountering new types of threats that combine old and new methods . While some businesses may use basic technology , others are more advanced services . Regardless , both must deal with the threats , for example :
Fraudulent paper or electronic orders , payment requests , or invoices Phone calls claiming to be from banks or suppliers requesting immediate digital payments Requests to change long-standing payment methods or accounts Messages claiming to be from business partners asking to verify or update account information
These examples only scratch the surface of the threats facing businesses . As your technology usage grows and evolves , staying on top of the threats is important to ensure your technology continues to work for you and not against you . These deceptive practices specifically target businesses like yours that operate with both traditional and modern methods . Let ' s explore how to protect your business while maintaining your preferred way of working .
Securing Your Customer and Supplier Information
The foundation of any strong business is the trust between you and your customers and suppliers . This trust extends to how you handle their information , whether it ' s stored on paper or in digital form . When it comes to paper records , consider your filing cabinet as important as your safe . It holds valuable information that needs to be protected . Store customer payment information , bank documents , and supplier details in a secure location , preferably under lock and key . It ' s also wise to keep a backup copy of crucial business records in a separate secure location , just as you might keep important family documents in more than one place . For those times when you need to work with digital information , think of your digital devices like you would think of your paper records . They need to be kept secure . When you ' re not using digital devices , store them securely , just as you would lock up your office at night . This is especially important when the devices contain business information or are used for important business activities .
Protecting Payment Processes
The way we handle payments has become more complex as traditional and modern methods overlap . Bad actors are always looking for ways to make a quick buck and often take advantage of weak payment processing practices . When someone asks to change established payment methods , treat it with the same caution you would use when considering a major equipment purchase for your business . It ' s particularly important to take time with verification when dealing with payment changes . Just as you would carefully inspect materials before using them in your work , take time to verify any unusual payment requests or changes to payment information . A legitimate business partner will understand and respect your need to be thorough .
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