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Don't let cyberscams catch your business out this Christmas

15 December 2014

Businesses of all shapes and sizes are likely to receive a boost from the hype that the Christmas period brings with it. Protecting the physical aspect of your business is key, but online fortification can prove to be crucial in efforts to not get caught out by scams and cybercrime.

Whilst complex security systems which identify and destroy threats may be the reserve of huge corporations, there are several simple steps that small businesses can take in their efforts to stay safe online.

Don't bury your head in the sand

If you are the owner of a small business, it can become easy to rely on physical sales and retain solace in the fact that these are keeping the company successful. However, even if you believe your digital fingerprint is relatively small, you could still be the victim of cybercrime.

As threats have become more complex, it would be safe to assume that only big corporations are the ones which are targeted as they are perceived to have the most valuable information. However, cyberthieves will attack businesses of any size.

Research by security giant McAfee found that a staggering 87 per cent of their sample of small businesses had experienced some form of cyberattack in the previous 12 months. Even if your business only has a small amount of data in its systems - such as personal details of staff members - it is likely to be coveted by cyberthieves.

Putting a secure system in place is absolutely critical no matter how discreet you think your businesses online presence is. Cleaning up the mess that any breach may present will be a lot more difficult than installing thorough security solutions before the fact.

Remember the basics

Whilst your business could be targeted on a bigger scale if you're not prepared, the tried and tested online scams tend to be increasingly prevalent at this time of the year, and keeping an eye out for them can also prove to be important.

  • Emails. Be sure to triple check anything that comes through to your business email that claims to be from your bank or other financial service. It is by no mean a hard and fast rule, but genuine emails will more often address you with your actual name or that of the business. If something drops into your inbox and it opens with 'Dear user,' chances are that if you follow any of the links you could well inflict a virus upon your system.
  • Adverts. As is there want over the holidays, advertising companies will most likely be seeking ways to tap into increased chances of business, too. However, dishonest online adds will likely lead you to corners of the internet that could compromise your online safety. If you see a product advertised and you want to find out more, try going directly to its website rather than clicking through any suspicious looking pop-ups or banners.
  • E-cards. Sending cards over Christmas can be one of the staples of the festive period. However, if you wish to do so online only choose the most reputable sources. If you see an offer that will allow you to send out thousands of e-cards to your customers for little to no cost, it could well be a scam. Furthermore, dealing with the fallout of being responsible for sending something which contains a virus could hugely hurt your business's reputation.

The online space is just one area of your business that should be fortified over the Christmas period. If you're worried about protecting any aspect of your enterprise, Elders Insurance can offer business insurance policies which cover you in the event of a whole host of eventualities.

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