| so much of today’s business being transacted | | | | on your selected provider or choose a reputable one. |
| online, computer security is a major issue affecting | | | | Check on your technology vendor – |
| businesses and consumers. For online businesses, | | | | It is important to ensure that your technology vendor |
| there can be problems in the form of stolen credit card | | | | has taken steps to protect the server and the |
| information, mailing or personal information. If you are | | | | software in your system appropriately with firewalls |
| selling information, your content may be hacked into | | | | etc. If it is possible and affordable, look into getting a |
| and copied. This affects the business and customer | | | | third party security audit of the system from both ends |
| adversely, since the customer is likely to blame the | | | | – the server provider & the software at |
| online business. This erodes the image of your | | | | your end since leaks may be from either end. Pages |
| business and discourages other customers from | | | | that contain sensitive data should be appropriately |
| trusting you with their information. No one likes their | | | | protected with software security locks. |
| email inbox to be bombarded with viruses and spam. If | | | | Newsletter email lists – |
| they feel that your site has something to do with it, | | | | If you have a newsletter, make sure that your online |
| your business and reputation will suffer long term | | | | business keeps its mailing list secure and that no |
| damage. To avoid problems with your | | | | recipient can tamper with it or gain access to the list. |
| business’s computer security, follow the | | | | This is essential in protecting the privacy of your |
| guidelines listed below. | | | | customer information. |
| Never allow external storage devices – | | | | Affiliations with reputable associations – Form |
| Do not permit anyone to take data out of your system | | | | affiliations with trusted business and computer security |
| in any form of external storage device, such as floppy | | | | organizations, such as BBBOnline, to ensure that |
| disks, CDs etc. for any reason. Obviously, this | | | | customers feel safe coming to your site. The additional |
| compromises your safety and that of your customers. | | | | benefit of this is the identification of any flaws in the |
| Limit employee access – | | | | security through a check up. |
| Restrict employee access to files, folders and areas | | | | Educate customers – |
| within the system that they require in their day to day | | | | It is imperative to educate your customers about |
| work. Do not allow anyone to gain access to any | | | | computer safety. Ensure that they know your online |
| information that they do not require. Make sure that | | | | business will not send them emails soliciting information |
| you install systems that lock out employees who do | | | | and that if they receive any such mail, they should |
| not have authorization. | | | | report it to you at once. |
| Third party outsourcing – | | | | Content – |
| Outsource your payment system to a third party such | | | | Protect your content by ensuring that it is safe behind |
| as PayPal, so that your liability is reduced in case of | | | | firewalls and other applications that prohibit |
| any computer security problems. This third party will | | | | unauthorized entry. As for public content, simply |
| have the necessary technological support to ensure | | | | provide your visitors with updated and informative |
| that the customer and your business are safe. But to | | | | content regularly since good quality cannot be copied. |
| be sure of this, you will need to do a thorough check | | | | |