James Caan offers SMEs security advice
By Chris Taylor
23/08/2011
Successful entrepreneur James Caan has teamed up with security firm Symantec to offer IT advice to fledgling small and medium businesses (SMEs).
In a Computing.co.uk report, Caan, a former star of Dragon's Den, says that once a company has mastered its domestic market, "the best way to reach a wider international audience is through online business."
However, it is paramount that a business fully protects itself before venturing online. Caan states that the European market for what he calls 'e-tailing' is expected to rise another 13 per cent this year to reach €92bn (£80bn); meaning that there is a lot at stake for SMEs.
Many of his suggestions are easily implemented using IT systems management software, which could remove the need for a lot of micro-management for new SMEs.
Firstly he says that viruses and malware are a big risk to a young business as there is the potential to become blacklisted by search engines should a rogue host take control the company site.
Equally as important is to protect the customer-base as much as possible. It is recommended that customer details are encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technologies when communicating data to the website and back. Security certificates and trust marks are also a good idea from the consumer viewpoint to demonstrate that their data is safe.
Customer accounts should also be protected under several other layers of security: "Usernames and passwords help keep user accounts safe, but add a second layer of authentication, such as asking a security question before a customer enters sensitive information," Caan adds on BusinessComputingWorld.co.uk.
Finally, consumer confidence can be boosted by publishing security certificates and displaying contact details to build trust between the business and customer he says.
