When we talk about technology, the US is a known to be one of the world leaders. However it was alarming to read from the London Metro news paper today about how a HACKER group breached internet security to the gain access to the usernames and passwords of certain individuals who have subscribed to a porn site. Amazingly, the US government and military staff were also victims of the scam. Making the stolen data available to the vast users of Facebook and Twitter makes this the latest high-profile breach of internet security. Other big game companies such as Epic games and Nintendo have also had their systems hacked into of recent while Code-masters had to shut down its online presence when the data of its users were stolen.
Apart from such hacker groups as LulzSec who claim to expose website security flaws, there are others who target business information such as bank details of customers, confidential e-mails, business bank access codes or general profile of business clients. This news calls should reawaken business owners to the issue of internet security.
The Business Importance of Internet Security
With the increasing awareness of the potential to increase business profitability through e-commerce, websites have assumed the position of the face of the business. With this high level of dependence on the internet it is essential that businesses protect their e-commerce systems from the threats posed by viruses and hackers. It is very important to consider the impact of a breach of internet security on a business;

• It can lead to direct loss of finances as a result of litigation
• Unwelcome publicity can also lead to further financial loss
• Customers can sue the business owner for a breach in the regulations on e-commerce such as Data Protection Acts
• All these would subsequently lead to loss of market share to competition.

...For Small & Medium sized Businesses
For smaller businesses it is very important to work with third-party specialists to implement some of the more sophisticated security controls. Competitors could use information gained from your website to analyse your business activities and undercut your prices.

This brings us to the issue of regular HOUSEKEEPING especially file back-ups and frequent change of passwords. The loss or misuse of business data can put a business at a competitive disadvantage. The importance of businesses connecting to and using the internet in achieving social networking and marketing is very crucial to strategic business sustainability and e-commerce. The image of your business and the brands under which you trade, are valuable assets. It is therefore important to recognise that the use of e-commerce creates new ways for attacking both your image and brands. Every business should invariably take deliberate steps to secure their e-commerce systems.

Furthermore, when seeking any type of professional guidance, you should find out whether the adviser is familiar with businesses of your size or in your sector, or follow personal recommendations. For business startups and SMEs it is important to consult website design and hosting companies that have key interest in small businesses.

For advice on how to keep your wesite secure, click here to speak with a consultant.