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Business Security Threats: Avoid These Common Mistakes to Protect Critical Data and Maintain Business Continuity

It's not a matter of if, but when. You might think that as a small business owner, your company is not a target for malicious hackers or attacks, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. Size doesn't matter when it comes to maintaining business continuity in light of security threats - both natural and manmade - anyone and everyone is susceptible. Think about what kind of information you could lose from various business security threats - years worth of tax records, confidential employee information including Social Security numbers, signed customer contracts and customer contact records, just to start.

When an eight person law firm in Miami was hit by Hurricane Ike in 2008, it was forced to close its doors after a decade of being in business. Everything they had was destroyed and irretrievable. Although this was a natural disaster, the business owner could have taken some relatively easy and cost effective precautions to ensure his business was safe from common small business security threats. Fortunately, for today's small business owners, there are many software applications available that are adept at maintaining business continuity. These applications are easily accessible and simple to implement, making your business safer in case the unthinkable should occur.

The Keys to Maintaining Business Continuity

I see many small businesses make the same common mistakes when it comes to securing their data and maintaining business continuity; I've listed them (below) in an effort to help companies protect themselves from business security threats. Most companies I talk to believe they are secure, when in fact, they are unmistakably vulnerable.

Mistake #1: "My data is secure; I've got it backed up on-premise."

Let's say you are fortunate enough to have a security system, a fire detection system and are part of a secured office park with security personnel roaming the grounds 24/7. Just because your premises are secured doesn't mean your records are safe from business security threats. In fact, it's the opposite. Many businesses commonly make the mistake of backing up files only on-premise or back-up on premise and remove discs or tapes manually on a regularly scheduled interval (ex. once per month). The smartest solution to combating business security threats is to have all your data saved and stored in an off-premise data center. By having your data backed up off-site, you ensure the safety of all your important files and you get the added benefit of being able to access important files from any Internet connected computer (with the right security authentication of course!)

Like in the earlier example of the law firm affected by Hurricane Ike, if it had stored all of its files off-premise in a hosted data center, the employees would have been able to save all of the files, retrieve and reinstate them and gotten the business back up with minimal interruption. Backing up to an external hard drive or NAS (Network Attached Storage) device is critical to maintaining business continuity and preventing data loss due to hardware failures. However, small businesses commonly face fires, floods, thefts, and other business security threats that require backups to be offsite. Make sure your business has a secure backup solution in place to allow data to be stored offsite. These solutions are relatively inexpensive in terms of maintaining business continuity, especially considering the alternative.

Mistake #2:"I just bought a new PC, so I've already got the latest and greatest security software loaded."

You may be thinking to yourself "I already have all the security I need." Yes, Microsoft Windows does have a firewall feature guarding against common business security threats, but these off-the-shelf components aren't nearly enough to support the needs of a company. Ideally, small businesses should employ the same "defense in depth" strategy large enterprises use to secure their internal networks. PCs should have their software firewalls enabled and properly configured, and have a firewall router on the network's edge to provide a second layer of defense against business security threats. This way, if a PC's firewall is not configured properly, there is still a layer of protection between the computer and Internet threats. By selecting a managed firewall application, small businesses will shield themselves from critical network threats, block unnecessary Internet traffic, and restrict applications used on your network. This type of security product is a necessity for protecting small business networks from malicious Internet threats and maintaining business continuity.

Mistake #3:"I installed new security protection software in the past couple years or so."

As you may know, many laptops and desktops come with pre-installed free trials of a brand name security offering, although this will keep your desktop secure for a brief time, many small businesses commonly make the mistake of letting this software expire and forgetting to update it. In order to protect your desktops and laptops from online business security threats, you must install a secure desktop solution to protect PCs from viruses, spyware, and other Internet-borne attacks. Sold as a bundle as part of many communications and IT services, secure desktop applications have no expiration dates to keep track of. The best part of this software application is that updates are automatic, which means there are no more software upgrades to install--reducing the cost of IT management. Maintaining business continuity is easy--just secure your desktop as soon as you can!

Mistake #4: "I have to update my browser and operating system (OS) security patches myself, and I just don't have the time."

Small businesses can easily be taken advantage of due to low security on their browsers and operating systems, but these types of business security threats can be easily avoided with automatic security patch updates. Many small businesses take the burden of updating their PCs with the latest software versions on themselves, but OS security can be easily automated, which makes maintaining business continuity a breeze. Yes, small businesses should ensure the updates take place and check in on them regularly, but today's technology helps alleviate some of the time it takes to manage the situation.

By avoiding these common culprits of business security threats, companies can protect one of their most precious assets - data and files. Most businesses will face many threats in their lifecycle. Learn from the mistakes others have made and take these steps towards maintaining your business continuity.

About the Author

Tom Collins is the Product Manager for Security and IT Services at Cbeyond, which provides internet, phone service, and a variety of other communication packages to more than 48,000 small businesses across the U.S. Collins heads up the financial performance, product adoption, market penetration and research for all of Cbeyond's security applications. Prior to joining Cbeyond in May 2005, Collins was responsible for EarthLink's security and anti-spyware application development, initiating new development projects while managing a cross-functional team in software development, interface design, technical writing and marketing. He earned his bachelor's of science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Science, Technology, and Culture in 2001. For details on Cbeyond's small business voice and data services, call 877-441-9783 or visit www.cbeyond.net/smb.

How to remove these virus threats, worm:win32/rimecud!inf?

Microsoft Security Essentials keeps telling me that my PC is at risk, even though I clean the threats and I get a notification that threat is over, after I use my PC the other day I keep getting the same messages and what makes me wonder is that I have the latest version of Kaspersky but it has not detected anything. Please help me, how to deal with this situation? Could my computer be infected?

1. you have MSE & Kaspersky both of which are Av's, you can only run one antivirus program, delete one.
2.win32/rimecud!inf - a form of autorun.inf worm, Kaspersky calls it Trojan.Win32.AutoRun.gm, I think you getting a false positive from running two AV.
3. after you have deleted one AV do a free online scan:

http://www.eset.com/online-scanner

If this scan does not find it then its a FP.

If its not a FP, try free flash disinfector by sUBs.

http://experi3nc3.wordpress.com/2007/05/10/flash-disinfector-by-subs/

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Microsoft Help Desk –Creating Benchmark Of Satisfaction

In addition to operating system, it has also introduced Microsoft Office Suite, Internet Explorer, e-mail client and so on.

To support the global customer it has tied up with major, IT player to organize Microsoft help desk. It has concentrated on both home user and business user. Scope of Microsoft help desk:

• Installation and up gradation

• Troubleshooting

• Security maintenance

• Customization

• Patch management and updates which includes:

o Latest Security Updates

o Windows Vista Service Pack 2

o Office 2007 Service Pack 2

o Windows XP Service Pack 3

Note: Introduction of latest updates keep your system safe from vulnerable viruses, spyware, malware, adware so on, because they make use of the loop hole of your program to execute themselves.

Key feature of Microsoft help desk support

• Remote support

• 24/7/365 availability

• Use of plain English

• Supports for earlier version of Windows

Hurry up! Regarding security maintenance, Microsoft Help agencies are running several hotline campaigns which are absolutely free. User can equip their system with latest anti-virus and anti-spyware, to get enhanced protection from on line threat.

Microsoft help desk service can be subscribed easily from an authentic website. You can get registered to suitable plan according to your usability. Apart from the scope of services mentioned, users will be getting regular PC health check up program. With the online virus scanning techniques you will find instant solution to your sluggish PC. You simply need to click on the green button of the website or give a call on toll-free number. You sit and relax and Microsoft certified technician will take care of everything. Hence, enjoy complete peace of mind.

About the Author

Jas is a technical expert at iYogi, which is an online technical service provider. The firm’s Microsoft Certified Technicians perform complete PC checkup, computer repair, virus removal & system optimization that are essential for keeping your desktop or laptop in good condition, enhancing its life and increasing your productivity.

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