Like many business owners, you probably get frustrated when the pop-up on your computer reminds you that a software update is overdue. It never appears at the appropriate time, and knowing that your computer will be offline for half an hour or so, it is incredibly tempting to press the ‘restart later’ option. However, this leaves your IT systems vulnerable and open to targeting from hackers.
Software updates are released for a reason, and usually include newly released security patches, modern encryption updates and new software protocols. Without these, you could be putting your business at risk from a cyberattack – which can not only ruin a business financially (due to fines for data breaches), but also can tarnish the reputation of a business.
Luckily, there are some easy best practices to ensure your software is updated, protecting your IT systems from security risks. Here are our top tips:
We would advise that you create an audit of all the software used within your business, as this will allow you to track which software needs to be updated. You can also use this list to prioritise the most time-sensitive updates, depending on both potential security risks and how out-of-date the software is.
One of the best ways to avoid cyber attacks is to stay informed about potential threats by regularly visiting the website of the software companies you use. Their latest news articles and blogs will include all the information you need to know about software updates they have deployed.
It is essential that employees are educated about the importance of software updates, and the risks associated with outdated software. You should also encourage them to report any issues they have with the software they are using so that these can be fixed immediately.
Once you have an idea of exactly what software your business uses on a regular basis, you should put together a software update schedule at regular intervals. This will help ensure you stay on top of important updates, in a timely manner. By scheduling automatic updates you won’t have to worry about waiting for the updates to pop up when you are busy, you can set them to run overnight when they won’t affect your day-to-day work.
If you are struggling to manage your software, it might be time that you enlisted the help of an experienced IT team. They will ensure updates are installed correctly, and that your software is always up to date, reducing the risk of cyber attacks. This can help you not only save time, but valuable resources too, allowing you to focus on other important tasks within the business. With Remote Managing & Monitoring services like we provide here at Reality Solutions, you will have access to a comprehensive set of tools to manage and improve your IT software within a single dashboard. Taking care of your software updates without you even having to think about it!
We hope these tips have given you some help when it comes to ensuring the software within your business is updated regularly. With the right IT team behind you, you can greatly reduce the risk of a data breach, protecting your company’s data. For more information on how the team at Reality Solutions can help with IT support, get in touch today.
*This article contains general information in order to assist all of our customers and is meant for guidance only – there are no guarantees that the information we provide will be suitable for your particular needs. If you require specific assistance, we recommend that you seek professional guidance on your individual circumstances. Reality Solutions are in no way responsible for any loss or damage arising from any information contained within our articles.