By Jon Gatrell
Jon Gatrell
ATLANTA – Small business owners are challenged to focus on revenue, growth and improved ability to compete; so one thing that continues to be elusive for many is an IT infrastructure.
Many think that if they have email, a Web site and a Twitter account they are doing OK.
However, security and compliance to government laws and industry standards, such as PCI or HIPAA, is a challenge.
Here are five questions to determine if you need more secure communications:
• Does your organization exchange personal information with external parties such Date of Birth, Social Security Numbers or employment information?
• Do you send personal healthcare information?
• Do you send information that if compromised would strain your customer relationships?
• How do you backup and send credit card information for your business?
• Do you use couriers to send designs, blueprints, etc.?
Email not secure
Email is one of the most insecure methods of communication, mainly because it wasn’t designed to be secure – only to move messages around the Internet.
Since email content is not encrypted, there’s opportunity for a hacker to review your messages and attachments.
Compliance to industry requirements cannot be accomplished with an email account.
Other risky options
Other options, like mailing thumb drives, sending CDs via FedEx, risk being lost in transit, becoming damaged and delaying critical business processes.
Technical requirements, system challenges and large file sizes entice small businesses to use methods that put customer data at risk.
But moving data to other employees, customers or business partners can be easy. The ability to be compliant and secure in business communication can be done in a matter of minutes and only with the use of a browser.
For that, companies should consider having a secure, real-time communications solution.
Jon Gatrell is vice president of product management for Atlanta-based Stonebranch/Scribbos, a provider of Managed File Transfer and secure business communications solutions.
Southeast Venture Conference, February 29 – March 1, 2012 at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, VA – Where Smart Money Meets Smart People.
www.seventure.org
© 2010, TechJournal South. All rights reserved.
Tags: Atlanta, Business advice, communications security, email security, Stonebranch/Scribbos
