tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83031647560121617252024-02-20T01:42:28.617-08:00DMariesM's Personal Business blogJimmy Chavchanidzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421923732497706358noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303164756012161725.post-10534412467396831562017-04-16T09:02:00.000-07:002017-04-16T09:02:10.206-07:0010 Ways to Protect and Secure Important Business Data<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />It’s one of those things that you may think won’t happen to you, but it could – almost overnight. If your business is feeling a bit barebones in terms of data security and protection, you need to act as soon as possible. Traditional storage solutions, like hard drives, are fine, but they’re prone to failure. They can be easily destroyed, or lost. In fact, every single week no less than 140,000 hard drives crash in the United States alone.<br /><br /><br /><br />So, it’s time to modernise, and fast. Your businesses’ data is arguably the most important factor in your survival, and if you lose it, your company could crumble. Natural disasters, theft, fraud, property damage… there are so many ways your business could be hit. Future proofing and updating your security methods means you’ll stand a better chance at survival if the worst should happen. So, why wait.<br /><br />This post will be your all-encompassing guide to protecting and securing your important business data. Of course, you may already be doing some of these, and that’s great. But for the ones you aren’t, or if you aren’t doing any at all, you should think about changing that soon.<br /><h2>
Data encryption</h2>
<br />Data encryption may seem hard, but it’s not. At least, not at a basic level. There are many software programs or even basic OS features that can do it for you. You can encrypt just your computer hard drive, and even smaller storage spaces like flash drives and USB sticks.<br /><br />Additionally, if you like to run the business when you’re out and about, be careful. If you’re using a public wi-fi network, you could be at risk of attack. Hackers can intercept any data that’s going to or from your laptop, so take steps to protect yourself.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You can do this by setting up a web tunnel, or VPN. A VPN creates a secure connection between you and the server, meaning you can browse a lot more securely in public. You may have to pay for this service, but there are ways to get it for free too. So, whether you’re at the airport, pub or restaurant, you can check your sensitive data in peace of mind.<br /><h2>
Data backup</h2>
<br />It’s a sad figure, but seven out of ten small firms that suffer data loss go out of business within a year. So, to make sure this isn’t you, you need to take steps to protect and secure your data to make it harder to lose. Don’t just rely on physical storage, broaden your scope a bit! Neglecting to give your business a strong foundation is a severe mistake.<br /><br />For starters, you should have multiple backups of everything. Whether you keep four hard drives or a couple of USB sticks, make sure you have copies of stuff. Using the cloud is also a great way to keep that data out of harm’s way, away from floods and other natural disasters.<br /><br />You could also store your data off-site, so it’s out of the way of anyone who may want to steal it. Only you should know this location, to make it extra safe.<br /><h2>
Outsource your IT services</h2>
<br />Outsourcing has a slight stigma around it, for some reason. Many businesses will choose to complete their most arduous tasks in house, but this removes focus from their most important jobs. Heck, even tech-giant Apple outsources some of the most difficult work.<br /><br />So what can we learn from this? Well, outsourcing frees up some of your time and resources and takes a worry off your mind. In terms of securing data, that worry is huge. If you keep all your sensitive documentation and information in one place, you risk losing it all.<br /><br />Outsourcing your data backup and using the cloud will ensure that if one place becomes compromised, you’ll have another ready to go. Many IT consultants will offer this and more, so it’s worth investigating. Whether you look at CMITSolutions.com or remain blissfully unaware of the benefits, outsourcing is a fix. And it’s a fix that could secure your company in the long-term.<br /><h2>
Change your passwords frequently</h2>
<br />Yes, your personal email password may be abc123, but that’s alright. You’re not alone. In fact, most people will have predictable passwords for a lot of their sites and accounts, and they’re so easy to guess. Under no circumstances should your business data be protected by one of these ‘easy’ passwords.<br /><br />Whatever software you use or wherever your data is kept, use every security measure available to you. If you are asked for a secure question and answer, take that option. When designing a password, mix it up between uppercase, lowercase, and numbers and special characters. It should be so hard to guess that not even your partner will have an inkling. Additionally, you should make your password a minimum of ten characters. Though 12 and above is better.<br /><br />And when you’ve designed this killer password, your work isn’t done. You should be changing them frequently, and each should be as complex as the last. This way, you give your sensitive data the best chance of being protected for the longest time. The longer you keep the same password, the longer you leave it open to being discovered or hacked.<br /><h3>
Only let people who need it access certain sensitive information</h3>
<br />The more people who know something, the less safe that something is. Just think back to high-school, when you told your best friend who your girlfriend was. Suddenly, the whole school knows and you’re embarrassed.<b> Just me? Ok.</b><br /><br />However, the same principal applies. Keeping tight-lipped about everything to do with your data is the best way to secure it. Don’t reveal its location, or how many backups you have. Don’t reveal what’s on that hard drive or USB stick. Don’t reveal passwords to anyone. Don’t even tell your family or children. Why would they need to know? This also extends to your employees. If Dennis in accounts doesn’t need to be aware of your customer’s date of birth, then restrict his access.<br /><h3>
Install anti-virus software</h3>
<br />It’s such a basic step to take, but so many people don’t bother. Don’t be one of them. Anti-virus software will do many things for the computers in your company, and they’re all beneficial. For starters, you’ll have a basic shield against trojans, worms, viruses and spyware. Your PC will also become a bit more speedy as a result.<br /><br />If price is putting you off, don’t let it. There are many places to get anti-virus software for free. And these freebies are just as effective as their full-priced counterparts. If you must buy it, then you can mark it down as a business expense anyway.<br /><h4>
Securely lock all rooms and cabinets that contain data, and have one keyholder</h4>
<br />Every company will have an office with that one secure room. Wherever that is for you, keep it locked at all times and only have one keyholder; you. Handing out spare keys is a good way to lose them, and you never know the intentions of someone who has access to data. If you have the only key, you know for certain that the data is not at risk.Jimmy Chavchanidzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421923732497706358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303164756012161725.post-10910491809832218802017-03-31T09:03:00.000-07:002017-04-16T09:03:13.778-07:007 Tips to Run Successful Online Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />Making any business successful involves marketing it efficiently and if you have an online business, same goes for that as well. It is important to market your online business in today’s world where online trading is getting more and more competitive. It is necessary to use unique marketing strategies so that your business stands out from the competitors and for this, you should follow some tips so that your dream to effectively market your business online becomes true. Read the tips below.<br /><br /><br /><ol>
<li>Have an online marketing plan. Define your marketing goals and strategies and work according to it. Include your budget, target, products or services to be marketed, details about the marketing campaign and all other important things in your marketing plan so that there is nothing left out.</li>
<li>Choose the target audience and make an online marketing plan according to it. To know more about online marketing you can study sites like. Choose the target audience according to your product. For example, if you are marketing toys, your target audience would be kids as well as parents of those kids who are going to ultimately buy the toys.</li>
<li>Create an attractive website. Make sure that you have a website which is appealing to the target audience and makes them buy your product or service. Make sure that the website is easy to understand and you specify all the product details as well as the benefits of the product for the target audience.<a name='more'></a></li>
<li>Have an efficient team to look after the online marketing of your business. You can either hire professionals or outsource it to someone else. Include people who will look after Search Engine Optimization, Promotional content creation, Public Relations and Branding, Email Marketing, Website developing, Interacting with clients, Social media marketing, Campaign management as well as social media management, as all these are very important aspects of marketing your business in order to have a successful trading online.</li>
<li>Plan a budget. It is important to have a specific budget in mind in order to do anything related to business. Hence, plan how much you want to spend in order to promote your business online and do not exceed it as you might incur loss.</li>
<li>Know what your target audience is expecting from your business. You can do this by conducting an online or physical survey. Once you derive conclusions from the survey, work them out and decide the content of your website according to what the consumers are expecting and what are their needs and expectations in daily life.</li>
<li>Analyze your progress: When you start an online business, make detailed reports about the progress which you are making with it. After you derive conclusions from these reports, work on the flaws if the results are negative. You can try to change your marketing strategy or focus on a different target audience or if needed, revive your complete website so that the target audience have a new perspective towards the products as well as services which you are offering through your business.</li>
</ol>
Jimmy Chavchanidzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421923732497706358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303164756012161725.post-66206653882621814762017-02-28T09:04:00.000-08:002017-04-16T09:04:30.113-07:00How to Run a Successful Steel Fabrication Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />Starting a steel fabrication business is a fantastic move if you want to make a healthy living. You’ll need a lot of investment to get the company off the ground. However, it’s one of the few industries that’s still thriving in both the US and across the pond. Most people working in that field will complete custom jobs for their clients. So, the products are not suitable for mass production. That is the primary element that has stopped countries like China from taking the helm. You might spend one day creating a steel fence for business premises, and the next building supports for the construction world.<br /><br />The possibilities are endless, and so is your potential for making a profit. You just need to ensure you research the market ahead of time. Take a look at some of the biggest players, and work out which elements led to their success.<br /><br /><br /><h2>
<br />Research your niche</h2>
<br />Like it or not, steel fabrication is still considered a niche business option on a small scale. That’s great news for you because it means there isn’t too much competition within the industry. If you can network with the right people, sourcing a constant stream of work isn’t complicated. So, you need to find out which companies would be most interested in your services. As we have already highlighted, it’s wise to make connections within the construction world if possible.<br /><br />Steel beams are used when creating home extensions and such. The builders will outsource that task because it makes their lives easier. You simply have to pick up some measurements and cut the beams to size. It’s one of the simplest parts of your new company, but it could help you to build your profits. When you feel you have completed enough research, you can move onto the next step.<br /><br /><h2>
Develop your business plan</h2>
<br />Many people will struggle when it comes to developing their first plan. However, the document doesn’t have to be as complicated as you think. It just has to include some basic information about how you plan to structure your operation. For example, your plan should outline:<br /><ul>
<li>How much cash you need from investors</li>
<li>How you plan to spend that money</li>
<li>Details of your initial outgoings</li>
<li>Details of your growth strategy</li>
<li>Expected equipment costs</li>
</ul>
<a name='more'></a><br />You can write a five-hundred-page document if you feel the need, but it’s not necessary. Experts at say it’s best to keep it short. Business managers and investors won’t have weeks to assess the paperwork. So, it’s much better to provide them with a streamlined version they can read in less than half an hour. Don’t stress too much if you aren’t confident with things like that. There are professionals you can pay to create the file on your behalf. The service can cost anywhere from $500 to $5000, and that’s why you need to shop around.<br /><h2>
<br />Select suitable premises</h2>
<br />Steel fabrication firms are going to need a medium to a large-sized building. While you probably won’t require a huge office, your workers will benefit from a reasonable working space. At the end of the day, you might have to cut beams that are more than a couple of meters long. So, it’s sensible to find somewhere that’s fit for purpose. Depending on where you live in the world, rental fees will vary. Just remember that you often get better deals if you look outside of the major cities. Also, some landlords will offer introductory programs that could help you to save a lot of money. If you can get the first three months for free, that would give you some much-needed breathing space.<br /><br />It’s also important that you consider the nature of the premises you hire. For instance, it’s not wise to place your fabrication business near to homes or schools. Your workers will make a lot of noise, and it’s possible your processes could upset residents. Ideally, you need to find somewhere outside of a town or village with no residential properties for at least a few hundred meters. However, you are the only one who can make the final decision. Just don’t rush into anything until you’ve assessed all the options on the table.Jimmy Chavchanidzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05421923732497706358noreply@blogger.com0