Even if your employees are predominantly back in the office, you can expect that there will be a desire amongst future workers that remote working is offered as an option.

Why is remote working a security risk?

Remote working presents a challenge for business security because remote work environments don’t often have the same safeguards that an office environment would. Your employees will not be protected by those layers of preventative security controls that you may have put in place previously. When computers are taken away from the office, new risks arise; data encryption, unsecured wireless connections and the potential loss or theft of devices and data.

The good news is that evidence shows that many businesses are aware of this. In fact, UK Google searches for ‘cyber defense’ went up by 126% between January and March 2020. That’s up 116% from March 2019. Additionally, searches for other cybersecurity-related terms such as ‘cybersecurity services’ also increased by 44%.

So, what can business owners enforce to ensure that remote working is as safe as possible – now and in the future?

Avoid public wifi

This is perhaps one to flag with your workforce when the cafes reopen, but this also applies to those who may do a little work on the train whilst commuting, for example. Public wifi introduces a significant security risk and should be avoided where possible. Public wifi is just that – public. Other people can access it and therefore, the risk increases of them being able to also access your computer.

If you or your employees are out and about and need an internet connection, then encourage them to use personal hotspots from their phones instead. Although web traffic will be unencrypted between the hotspot and its destination, using a hotspot does eliminate the risk of getting hacked by those using public wifi.

Stick to using work computers

Where possible, encourage your team to stick to using work computers to complete their work. Accessing work data on personal laptops is a risk unless these personal laptops have a secure wifi connection, a VPN, encrypted drives and anti-virus software. If not, a personal laptop may not be safe for work information, as it could be compromised by a third party much easier.

Even just checking and answering a few work emails on your personal laptop one evening once you’ve returned from work can be a risk – let alone if your team began working on a personal laptop 9-5 once they made the work-from-home switch.

Make use of encryption

When minimising the risk of remote working, encryption will be your business’s best friend. Think about all those emails you send that may contain sensitive data. What happens if that is intercepted by a third party? By encrypting the data attached to an email, it prevents anyone unintended from viewing the information.

You could also ask that your employees encrypt their home wifi network. For example, their wifi router may not have a very strong password to protect the settings and configuration. The default passwords tend to be weak. Could they change this to something stronger?

Password management

And speaking of passwords, if you and your team use simple or identical passwords across different accounts, this also puts your business at risk. Although it makes passwords easier to remember, it also makes passwords easier to guess. Perhaps now is the time to run a password audit?

Alphanumeric codes and the use of two-factor authentication should become mandatory to make passwords as complex as possible and to add an extra layer of protection. It’s also a good idea to use a password manager platform, such as LastPass. LastPass stores your passwords securely and also generates complex and strong new passwords for you. If team members need to share passwords with each other, LastPass allows a way to do this safely as opposed to through an email or instant messaging platform.

Educate your team to be security savvy

It’s no use one or two people on your team being passionate about keeping the business secure – it only takes one person to make a mistake or two and security can become compromised. Your team may have no idea of the risks they face when working outside of the office, so it is up to you as a business owner to educate them.

This should include simple policies around keeping personal use and work use as separate as possible, avoiding letting their friends, family and children use their work system, and educating them on security risks such as phishing scams.

Unfortunately, online scams have dramatically increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Action Fraud reveals that there have been over 200 reports of coronavirus-related phishing scams. Perhaps you could create a quiz for your team and present them with real and scam emails, and see if they can correctly spot the difference. It’s vital that they understand what legitimate communication looks like, and false communication.

Use secure cloud-based services

Instead of storing confidential and sensitive data locally, use secure cloud-based services where possible. Not only do cloud-based services allow you to run your business more efficiently (particularly when your team is working remotely), but they also offer much better security. A cloud host’s full-time job is to carefully monitor security, making it much safer to keep critical business data offsite.

A staggering 94% of businesses saw an improvement in security after switching to cloud-based services, and 91% said that the cloud makes it easier to meet government compliance requirements. Cloud-based services are hot on encryption, making it as difficult as possible for hackers or anyone unauthorised to view your data.

However, it’s important not to wholeheartedly rely on your cloud-based services. What happens if they become compromised? They are not immune from cyberattacks or going into administration. You rely on their consistent connection and if that is lost, how would you continue to operate? Your data will still exist, but you may not have a contractual right to access it.

That’s where SaaS Escrow comes into play. SaaS Escrow protects your critical cloud-based and off-premise software in the event of your hosting provider going out of business. It allows you to access your data for at least three months of business continuity, so you can continue with business as usual.

Don’t be without this extra layer of protection for your business. Contact us to learn more about SaaS Escrow by calling 0800 456 1115.

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During lockdown number one, the government helped to protect businesses with various grants and the furlough scheme. Whilst the government has announced a number of protections for businesses during this second wave, whether it will be at the same level this time around is not clear. So, how can you protect your business the best you can in the event of a second lockdown?

Remote working

Most businesses experienced remote working in some capacity during the first lockdown, and this is expected to continue with the latest government advice stating to ‘work from home if you can’. With that in mind, ensure that you have sufficient support networks in place for any employees who will be working from home. Even though remote working may not be anything new at this point, mental health risks are still present. Just when many employees thought their office-based working lives were continuing to normal, this may have been taken away again.

Your business is bound to run more smoothly when you have happy and comfortable employees, so never underestimate the importance of prioritising their wellbeing. This could involve ensuring that all IT equipment and systems available to your team are as efficient as possible to make remote working easier, providing extra support and understanding to those who aren’t able to obtain childcare whilst working from home, or simply putting processes in place to keep everyone as connected as possible.

If you do need to keep employees in the office, it is your responsibility to implement all the necessary health and safety procedures to keep them as protected as possible whilst at work. You can find lots of resources on exactly how to do this online, and particularly on the Gov UK website. Be aware, however, that you can take all safety precautions in your office, but under section 44 of the 1996 Employment Rights Act, employees do have the right not to attend work if they reasonably believe that doing so would pose a ‘serious and imminent’ risk to their health and safety.

Be frugal now

If your business struggled during the first lockdown, you need to be thinking about how to maximise profit margins and how to best control your spending. Put the work in now to ensure you’re in the best financial position possible, given the circumstances.

Squirrel away any extra cash and seek deferrals from landlords, banks, and suppliers where possible. Research and make use of any extra funding that might be available to you, or any temporary loans that you can apply for. Now is the time to cut back where possible and give yourself some breathing space if a second wave begins to have a negative impact on your business.

Plan for every eventuality

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that we just don’t know what is around the corner. To best protect your business’s future, plan for anything and everything. Be aware of your financial position and what effect a second wave could have on this. Model as many scenarios that could affect your business as possible and try and make a plan in advance to buffer the financial impact. When thinking up these scenarios, don’t forget to factor in any third parties that you rely on to keep your business running and providing a service to your customers.

For example, if you rely on a third-party software provider, what would happen if they went into administration? You might be feeling fairly confident about your business’s chances of making it through the second wave, but businesses that you work with and rely on might not be so lucky. It’s something that you can easily miss when simply focusing on your business’s financial health.

With SaaS Escrow, you can be protected against any possible financial fallout should your software provider go into administration. AccessAssure independently monitors your software provider’s financial position, triggering a series of events should anomalies arise to protect and maintain your software’s accessibility for at least three months. If you’d like to know more, give us a call today on 0800 456 1115.

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Don’t be put off by Brexit

Britain is currently 8th in the world when it comes to the ease of starting a business according to the World Bank. That is good news for entrepreneurs however so many are distracted by the small matter of Brexit. Leaving the European Union will undoubtedly bring uncertainty for business owners, however there is also a lot to be excited about. Don’t let Brexit put you off launching your business.

Create a digital marketing plan

Customers want to move their money, make their purchases and manage their business online, which means that you need to do the same. Digital marketing has gone way deeper than simply having a website and a Facebook page. You need an informative, interactive web space and a strong social media presence with relevant content. Most new business owners don’t have the time to develop their own marketing strategy, let alone a digital one, so invest in an agency that knows your industry and let the experts handle it.

Keep your head in the Cloud

Software and Software as a Service (SaaS) is often the way forward for entrepreneurs because they can get a bespoke service without purchasing software. This can be especially useful if your business is likely to grow and develop over the coming years, as you will be able to continually tweak your provision and tailor it to your needs.

Protect your business investments

As a new SME, you may well have investors lined up, and they are going to want to know how you intend to protect their investment. Even if you don’t have investors, knowing what to do in a business emergency is vital in order to survive. Ringfencing fund and insurance policies is a must, but in addition you should draw up a robust Disaster Recovery Programme. This will protect online elements of your operation so that should your technology fail you can still function day to day. We recommend that you go one step further and invest in SaaS escrow to protect your software access should your host or provider go in to administration.

The post What you need to know to start a business in 2020 appeared first on LE&AS.

Digital Details

If you aren’t already using a digital marketing agency, then now is the time to find one. Experts in their field, digital agencies can offer you valuable insight as to how best to market your services to your target audience. They will also be able to implement SEO strategies to help your website rank up.

Superior SaaS

Off-the-shelf packages are fine to launch a fledgling business, however tailoring your software means that you will really stand out from the crowd. Trends predict that businesses will further adapt to the modern customer, so speak to developers to see how they can take your software as a service (SaaS) up a gear.

Customer Confidence

You need to provide a seamless service from start to finish, so ironing out the kinks in software development now means that you will protect client satisfaction further down the road. Regular reviews and surveys help you to discover exactly what is it is that the customer needs and how you can meet it. Once established, you can then discuss your software needs in depth with your developers / providers to make sure it does everything you need it too.

Investors Interest

To take your business further, you may require investors, who in turn will require protection on their investment. For investor and client peace of mind, use SaaS escrow. This proactive, three-way agreement guarantees continuous access to your cloud-based software in the event that your vendors servers go out of business. AccessAssure is designed for businesses dependent on SaaS, and offers up to three months continuity of service until a new host/provider can be found. For more information on protecting your software access should your providers cease trading, call 0800 456 1115.

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Why choose SaaS?

This year IBM announced that cloud revenue is up by 20% and now represents almost a quarter of the company’s total revenue. That is not a figure to be sniffed at. In fact, such is the popularity of Software as a Service in recent years that big players such as Microsoft, SAP, Oracle and IBM have all moved into the market. More and more consumers choose to search and access their software via their smartphone. This means that SaaS is key when trying to reach a wide audience for commercial purposes. Web-based software allows entrepreneurs to operate their business from anywhere in the world. In addition, the majority of existing software provided by the likes of Microsoft et al, is now available in The Cloud too. With software giants seeing the benefits of SaaS for their business, it is time to get on board and see how it can work for you.

What will SaaS do?

Software as a Service has come a long way and is now a reliable choice for entrepreneurs. Like any software, you can experience unforeseen hitches and glitches, such as system errors, however SaaS continues to be the go-to option to minimise overheads while maximising access. Data access means productivity, and productivity means profit. By accessing your business-critical software via the web, you can manage your organisation from the comfort of your armchair.

Is SaaS Safe?

No software is fool proof. Even bespoke software that you own and host on site is vulnerable to cyberattack from external sources. That said, with cloud-based technology there is perhaps more of a responsibility held by the providers in that they are continuing to provide a service rather than selling a product. With the big players jumping on to the SaaS train, it is clear that these services hold some weight with the masses. The likes of Microsoft, Google and IBM have their reputation on the line and will therefore look to provide as robust an SaaS service as they possibly can. However, as with any technology investment, you need to protect it.

Protecting SaaS

To protect your SaaS in a perfect world, you would need your supplier to create a copy of a virtual server, including the SaaS application and your company data. This is an option provided by some, so it is worth checking with your providers. This can be very costly as with most applications, the software is constantly being updated as is your data. You will all already be paying for disaster recovery services and running mirrored systems on the off chance your provider goes out of business whilst robust can be expensive.  You may instead consider a SaaS escrow agreement, such as AccessAssure.

SaaS escrow agreements protect end users in the event that their provider fails to perform software maintenance/updates that are critical to the software function, or in the event of the provider going into administration. LE&AS have created a proactive escrow plan, Access Assure, that monitors your host and software providers allowing early detection of changes to your provision. If your provider goes into administration and your provision fails, AccessAssure upholds your software access for up to three months. Access Assure maintains your access to business-critical software so that your business remains operational. Protect your business-critical software at a fraction of the cost, only paying for additional services when you genuinely need it. To find out more about protecting your cloud-based technology call us today on 0800 456 1115.

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Get going

So how do you create a company that gets attention? Well first and foremost you need to determine the needs of your clients and how you are going to meet them. Market research is vital so that you know what they need and you also know how to provide a solution that is superior to your competitors. A start up needs to consider the costs of comparable product/service analysis, consultancy fees, prototype manufacturing and testing and other expenses.

Get digital

The world operates on devices, so like it or not, it is vital that you offer digital services. To stand head and shoulders above the rest in the marketplace, companies are developing bulletproof branding and bespoke software. Bespoke software can be a big outlay for new start ups, so look for Software as a Service (SaaS) providers. This enables you to provide the same digital service at a fraction of the cost as you will not need to develop or host the software yourself.

Get noticed

Once you have found the software to meet your client’s needs, you need to market your solution. Investing in Digital Marketing is the fastest way to reach a growing audience. Agencies work with you to develop your brand and deliver a consistent digital marketing strategy from the start. Agency fees vary wildly depending on their experience and the level of services you require, so shop around to find one that is the best fit for your business and your budget.

Get protected

Business and software insurance is essential for all start ups. Most banks will not entertain the idea of supporting your venture without it, therefore you need to factor these costs in to your budget. SaaS escrow offers peace of mind when it comes to protecting access to business-critical software in the cloud. LE&AS have created Access Assure, a unique SaaS escrow plan that monitors your host and software providers allowing early detection of changes to your provision. Should your provider cease to trade, AccessAssure upholds your SaaS access for up to three months while you review your providers. This way your business-critical software remains in place and your business remains operational.

Want to know more about protecting your start up investments?

Simply call LE&AS today on 0800 456 1115.

The post What are the start up costs for a new business? appeared first on LE&AS.

Investors pull out

Companies often rely upon the capital of others to get themselves out of the starting blocks. However, regardless of how good your business plan is or how keen the investors were, investments are subject to change. In a turbulent climate where businesses rise and fall at a rate of knots, you may find the plug is pulled before you even get off the ground. This is why it is advisable to have sizeable savings ring-fenced for such an event in advance. If your investor pulls out, the ring fence allows you to rest easy knowing that you can still continue with a soft launch and buy some time while you find new investors.

SaaS Fails

SaaS businesses are heavily dependent on business-critical software for their daily operations. Unless you are a programmer or developer who has the ability to adapt to software situations, the chances are if your technology failed you would be high and dry. Unlike traditional downloaded software, SaaS relies upon the software developer and/or host to provide access to the cloud-based software. This dependence can leave cloud-based businesses in an unenviable position should either party cease trading or the provision disappears overnight. Although little can be done to stop a provider from going out of business, you can stop it from adversely affecting yours. By implementing SaaS Escrow in your start up plan, you can maintain software access continuity in the event that your provider fails to uphold the provision or goes into administration.

Partnerships break down

When entering into a business partnership, it is vital to discuss your vision and goals from the outset. This should include the agreed financial investment on both sides. Regardless of how many years history you have with an individual, this can all change when you go into business together. By setting out clear boundaries from the get go, you will both be clear on the path forwards. However, should your visions become misaligned or your personalities clash, ensure that you have watertight procedures in place to protect both your investments and your business.

Want to know more about protecting SaaS businesses? Contact LEAAS today on 0800 4561115

The post How to manage the top three risks for SaaS businesses appeared first on LE&AS.

Scale-up success

Scaling up your business requires a great deal of time and planning, not to mention investment. If you are looking to scale-up then you need to know your business software plans inside out. Combing through the finer details may not seem as pressing as the very real business of taking your company to the next level, but these steps are vital.

Go digital

To scale-up your business, you need to go digital. Savvy businesses are hugely reliant on Software as a Service (SaaS) for their everyday operations. Many entrepreneurs will be developing bespoke cloud-based business technology so it makes sense to protect this investment. With this in mind, if you are about to scale-up your SaaS business, a key consideration must be how to maintain business continuity at all times.

Protecting investments

We have all been at the receiving end of a computer malfunction. Whether it is a system crashing or a virus rendering it inoperable, software errors are inconvenient at best. But when said software is responsible for your day to day functions and data access it is another matter entirely.  If you lose access to your business-critical software, you lose continuity of service and your clients trust. Lost clients mean lost profits, and it is for this reason that entrepreneurs need to protect their SaaS access with SaaS Escrow.

Access Assure

SaaS escrow is a specific agreement that protects the users of SaaS when there is loss of service, or if the provider and/or host of their cloud-based critical software goes into administration. In SaaS emergencies where services are interrupted or suspended, a client with SaaS escrow would still maintain continued access to their business-critical software. As well as holding software source code as in a traditional escrow agreement, AccessAssure will also temporarily provide/host your services until a new host/provider can be found.

AccessAssure is designed to incorporate all parties involved in the SaaS service; the software vendor (licensor), the software user (licensee) and the hosting provider. If you are investing in next level software for your scale-up, make sure you invest in next level protection. Contact LEAAS for more information today on 0800 456 1115.

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Software Services

More and more companies are choosing to access and store their business-critical software and data in the cloud. Using Software as a Service (SaaS) allows businesses to access their information 24 hours a day without the need to host software on their own servers. Instead, a third-party company will act as the software provider, and another as the host provider, with the end user accessing the software via the Cloud.

Software Access

The most obvious risks to cloud-based software are of course cyberattacks, however, the biggest threat to your SaaS is actually the financial demise of your software or host provider. If they cease trading, your software access stops, and with it access to all your business-critical data too. This is where SaaS escrow from LE&AS come in.

Software Protection

Protecting your virtual services in the cloud starts with a robust Disaster Recovery Plan but this alone is not enough to protect your software access. LE&AS have designed Access Assure, a SaaS escrow plan that protects your access and maintains continuity within your business.

AccessAssure monitors the financial status of your hosting and software provider to alert you to any changes in their circumstances. By detecting potential risks to SaaS provision early on, businesses are given the heads up that their providers may need reviewing. Meanwhile, LE&AS will work to uphold access to your SaaS and data for up to three months to maintain business continuity. Want to protect your business software access? Contact LE&AS today on 0800 456 1115.

The post Data vs Software Access: Why Protect Both appeared first on LE&AS.

Over 650,000 new companies were established in 2016, a marked increase on the 608,000 launched in 2015, and 2017 figures look set to follow suit. Many startups begin with an online presence, meaning that you will be hugely reliant upon business-critical software right from the get-go.

Software to succeed

Business technology is vital in order to get ahead. You need software that is both responsive and reliable, and robust enough to cope with the demands of a busy eCommerce enterprise. Unless you are technology whizz kid, this will usually mean that you are equally as reliant upon a software provider to deliver the goods on a daily basis. To keep business overheads low and profits high, most startups invest in Software as a Service (SaaS). This means that you are not only reliant upon the software functionality, but also the software provision.

Plan to succeed

When writing business plans, savvy entrepreneurs recognise that not only do they need contingency plans to protect their software investments, but also their software access. SaaS access can become compromised for a number of reasons, but the main cause is usually the software provider or host provider going out of business. In this event, the software may be rendered unusable or inaccessible, meaning that your business functionality ceases and your client data disappears overnight. Having SaaS escrow in place is the best way to protect your software access should your software provider, host provider or both, go into administration.

Protect to succeed

LE&AS offer businesses a solution to maintaining SaaS access with our proactive escrow agreement. Designed with SaaS users in mind, Access Assure can help maintain your business continuity by monitoring maintaining your software access. By monitoring your software provider, we can identify potential disruptions to your service in advance so that you can take the necessary steps to protect your business-critical software. Get your business off to a great start by making sure that Access Assure is part of your business plan.

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