The discovery of the internet brought a new revolution to the world of business. As a matter of fact, the internet has become the backbone of many businesses. This has led to numerous benefits to both entrepreneurs as well as their customers.
For instance, Internet marketing has made it easy to reach out to the customer. It has also become more convenient to interact with the customer through online resources such as social media, e-mail, Skype among other avenues.
However, the Internet also brought new risks that threaten the very existence of a business. These include risk of losing personal and credit information, identity theft, misrepresentation, and much more. In order to stay safe while trading online, it is important to stick to the following guidelines:
Use of Strong Passwords
The use of strong passwords can never be over emphasized. This is one of the cardinal rules of using the Internet that is usually ignored. A strong password should consist of at least 8 characters. The password should not be too long that it becomes hard to memorize. It is always recommended to mix letters, numbers, and caps in the password. As a businessperson, you should also avoid using the same password in all your businesses or Internet accounts. This minimizes the chances of losing everything in case the password is discovered.
Embracing Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is one of the newest technologies. It is basically a virtual server that is hosted by a third party. A businessperson is able to store and retrieve data, and also access programs and software at a fee. This minimizes the need of having a physical dedicated server at the business premises. Unfortunately, many people are yet to embrace the “cloud” technology. Unlike a physical server that can easily be hacked into or manipulated by unauthorized people, the Cloud is quite safe. It is usually hosted by top firms, which also employ the latest technologies especially in regard to Internet security.
Carrying Out Businesses through Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
A common rule of thumb always discourages people from using public networks when dealing with private and sensitive matters. This is because the nature of security in terms of firewalls or SSL encryption is usually very low in public networks. Fortunately, a person may still do business via a public network in a safe manner. This is only possible through Virtual Private Network (VPN). This technology allows the creating of private and secure remote networks in a public network. A user is therefore able to transact as if in a private network.
The above tips will go along way with dealing with the ever-increasing cases of cyber crime. Unscrupulous people as well as malicious software are causing havoc to many businesses. One of the biggest risks is coming from use of free Wi-Fi which is readily available. A person only needs to get the password and access free Internet. This is making it easy for snooping or phishing software to infiltrate a person’s account hence accessing sensitive information. Luckily, USA VPN also provides services for smart phones and laptops that are usually used to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots. This enable a businessperson use the free Internet yet receiving adequate Internet security.