The 3-Step Checklist to Protect Your Business

We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of a proposal, or maybe you’re finally clearing out that mountain of unread emails, and a little notification slides into the corner of your screen. Updates are available for your computer.

You look at it, you look at your to-do list, and you click Remind Me Later. Then you do it again the next day. And the day after that. That Remind Me Later button is essentially a Leave the Front Door Unlocked button.

Understanding the Boring Stuff: Software vs. Firmware

I know, I know. Your eyes are already starting to glaze over. You don't care about the technical specs of a patch, and honestly, you shouldn't have to. But to get the most out of your technology, you need to know what’s actually happening when you click Install.

• Software updates - These are for the programs you interact with. Think Microsoft Word, your web browser, or your accounting software. These updates usually fix bugs (like why the printer won't talk to Excel) or add new features.
• Firmware updates - This is the hidden software that lives on your hardware—your router, your printer, or even your laptop’s motherboard.

Why This Is Critical To Your Business

Every day, your business generates data. That data is the lifeblood of your operations. When developers release an update, it’s rarely just for performance improvements. Most of the time, they are patching a hole that a hacker has already figured out how to crawl through.

If you are running outdated software, you are essentially using a map from 1995 to navigate a city that has changed entirely. The bad guys know where the old roads are, and they know which bridges are broken.

By the numbers, here is why you can't wait:

• Over 60 percent of data breaches involve a vulnerability where a patch was available but not applied.
• Hackers can often write exploit code (the digital crowbar they use to get in) within 48 hours of a security flaw being announced.
• The average cost of a small business data breach is now well over $100,000 when you factor in downtime, lost trust, and recovery.

Applying This To Your Company

I’m not going to tell you that being more mindful of these pop-ups would have prevented every IT headache you've ever had. I will say that keeping things updated is the single cheapest insurance policy you can have.

It isn't about throwing money at a new flashy tool; it’s about using the technology you already have in a more effective, secure way.

Here is your three-step checklist for Tuesday morning:

Stop the Snoozing

Encourage your staff to run updates before they leave for the day. If they start the update at 5 p.m., it doesn’t matter if it takes ten minutes or an hour, they’ll be gone anyway.

Don't Forget the Quiet Devices

Your office router, switches, servers, and your network-attached storage (NAS) probably won't give you a pop-up on your desktop. These need a professional to log in and check the firmware manually.

Audit Your End of Life Gear

If you have a laptop running Windows 8 or an old router from 2014, there are no more updates coming. No one is fixing the holes anymore. It’s time to retire those assets.

Believe me, it can be a nightmare to manage 50 different devices all asking for updates at different times. That’s why we handle it for small businesses like yours. We’ll push these updates out automatically during off-hours, so your people can just focus on their work.

If you’re worried that your network is a few versions behind, or you just want someone to take the “Remind Me Later” burden off your plate, give us a call at (954) 573-1300.