According to the Office for National Statistics, a “high street” is “a cluster of 15 or more retail addresses within 150 metres”. In other words, the presence of retail outlets is literally what makes a high street and the media often uses the phrase “high street” as a synonym for the retail sector.
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It’s very easy for businesses to fall into the “just-in-case” trap. They keep paperwork (or its digital counterpart) to the extent that they are legally permitted “just in case” and as a result, bit by bit, they become overwhelmed by (digital) “stuff”, which is not really needed and certainly not wanted.
Has your business, or a business you know, suffered from a cybercrime? As 43% of cyber-attacks are targeted at small businesses, you need to take action to protect your business now and on an on-going basis.
GDPR has now been in place for a year and, while the ICO has previously claimed it doesn’t intend to come down too hard on businesses still getting their privacy plans straight, the heavy fines are about to hit.
Whether you own a retail store, a restaurant, or an e-commerce site, EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) systems are beneficial for you because they present a more efficient way of running your business. They can be programmed to perform any process. Plus, they run on handy peripherals such as tablets or iPads for maximum mobility.
Readers Questions: I’m buying a business with customers, can I contact them or not because of GDPR?
Did someone tell you not to open sketchy emails yet? Phishing emails are the most common trick used by hackers to access personal and business accounts secretly. In fact, even the savviest techies still fall for some phishing scams online. The best way to avoid fraudsters is to be extra careful when using your computer in transacting online. Businesses and individuals must always be vigilant to every email they receive.
BT has announced it will be switching off its PSTN and ISDN networks in 2025 in favour of IP voice services, with a gradual phase-out of the older systems starting in 2020. At this point, BT will cease taking ISDN orders, and all businesses will be forced to find other IP-based options for their business telephone systems.
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GDPR has stirred a frenzy of preparation in the business community on a scale unseen since the millennium bug. With the spotlight thrust so firmly on GDPR, another cyber security legislation from the EU has slipped quietly under the radar. It’s called the NIS Directive, and it came into effect on May 9, 2018.
Opening a restaurant may be a dream – but far too many of them don’t survive long enough to make the dream a reality. According to The Guardian, the number of restaurants closing is up by 20% in 2017. The news is full of ‘restaurant chains in trouble’ stories. However, alongside the demise of the chain, we are seeing the rise of the independent; and the success of Stem + Glory is certainly a testament to that.
Small businesses still have a lot of catching up do with regards to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). With just under a month left until the new legislation goes into effect, the small business community is hoping that the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) will be lenient. Small businesses have struggled with GDPR from the beginning because of the lack of resources that are easily attainable for bigger businesses.
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GDPR is approaching, prowling behind us, waiting. On May 25, 2018, it’ll pounce. Despite this looming deadline, 52% of companies still don’t feel ready, expecting to be fined for non-compliance.
In the second Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report, conducted by Forrester Consulting, it was found that nearly three quarters of the 4,103 organisations surveyed, lack strategy when it comes to cyber security. 73% of organisations are deemed cyber novices, with the three categories being ‘cyber novice’, ‘cyber intermediate’ and ‘cyber expert’, and only 11% of organisations that participated in the study were deemed cyber experts.
New research has shown that 46% of UK businesses identified at least one cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. May is fast approaching and with it the implementation date for the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), so it’s time to start thinking about whether you are up to date with your data management.
Data breaches and the protection of data has never been more prominent in the business world. Data breaches can be in the form of data theft or the loss of data through other means, whatever form they take, they can be detrimental to businesses. With GDPR going into effect May 2018, businesses need to do all they can in order to comply with the regulation. One of the major parts of the regulation is to ensure the protection of data or facing dire consequences.
Small businesses can really benefit from having accounting software to handle all the accounting of their business. It can make your business accounting secure, organised and hassle-free, allowing you to work on growing your business. When compared to manual accounting, accounting software provides clear advantages.
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Would you rather have one Lamborghini or three Ford Fiestas? It’s all about quality over quantity; a well known concept that can often be overlooked in sales and marketing. Here, Howard Williams from Parker Software explains why it is better to have a database of 100 high-quality leads, rather than thousands of dead ends, and how imminent changes to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) will help you achieve this clarity.
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If you are the owner of an SME or are responsible for the cyber security of one, you might never have heard of Managed Detection and Response services (MDR). However, that is something that needs to change quickly. MDR services can be extremely valuable to SMEs and overlooking them will likely not only cost you money but will also make you more vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
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GDPR is the new regulation that all business owners need to be aware of. So what exactly is GDPR and how will it effect business owners, from small businesses to bigger organisations? This introductory article on GDPR will prepare you for the upcoming regulation.
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