Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

 

Hey Everyone !!! and welcome to my final blog post. This week I will be discussing cybersecurity for small businesses. So, let’s start off the way we usually do, one last time. What is cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users through ransomware or interrupting normal business processes.

Small businesses may assume that their size makes them unlikely cyberattack targets, yet they are among the most frequently attacked. In fact, over 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, primarily because they often lack the extensive cybersecurity infrastructure found in larger corporations. A successful cyberattack can inflict substantial financial harm, lead to a loss of customer trust, and cause lasting damage to a company’s reputation that can be difficult to rebuild. 

 

Types of cybersecurity threats

1.     Ransomware – Ransomware is a type of malware that holds an individual’s personal information/ sensitive data hostage until the victim pays a ransom to the attacker. There are two types of ransom. The common type is the encryption ransomware. This is when a persons data is held hostage by an encrypting it. The second type, non-encrypting ransomware, is not as common. This locks the victims device by blocking the access to the operating system.

 

2.     Cloud Security- Cloud security is a technology to address internal and external threats to a businesses security. Businesses need cloud security as we move into the digital era and incorporate cloud-based tools and services into their infrastructure. This is important for the safety of applications, data, and users in both hybrid and remote work settings.

 

3.     Phishing - Phishing is when fraudulent emails, texts or fraudulent emails, texts or calls with intent to steal sensitive data such as credit cards, passwords, banking details and login information. If you want to find out more tips about cybersecurity for small businesses, see the video below:

 

Small businesses need cybersecurity strategy to protect their business, customers information and data.  There are many ways a small business could improve their security such as: 

 1. Secure your Wi-Fi networks.

2.       2. Make backup copies of business documents and data.

3.       3. Train employees in security principals

4.       4. Provide firewall security for your internet connection

5.       5. Passwords and authentication

6.       6.   Limit employee access to data and information, limit authority to install software

 

During 2023 in Ireland, a €2 million SME cybersecurity improvement grant was launched. Minister Smyth said “Irish businesses, especially SMEs, are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. This grant will empower them to take meaningful steps towards securing their operations, which is critical in today’s digital economy. By partnering with the National Cybersecurity Centre and Enterprise Ireland, we are giving companies the tools and resources they need to build stronger defences and stay ahead of evolving cyber risks."

 

And that is it for this blog. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!! Leave your opinions and thoughts below. 

-       Caoimhe

SEO for Small Business: How to compete with Big Brands Online

 

Hello everyone !! and welcome back to week seven. This week I will be writing about SEO’s for small businesses. So, let us ask the first question, what is SEO?

SEO stands for search engine optimisation. This is a process that can drive traffic from google and other search engines to your website. This can bring more people to your website such as potential customers and clients. The better visibility your website has on search engines, the probability of your company being found and discovered are significantly high.

Small Business SEO:

SEO for small businesses is a sub section of general/local SEO, which we will discuss later, but with a more targeted approach. This can help small businesses to achieve more recognition, offers a competitive advantage and is cost effective marketing strategy. Small business SEO is free unlike traditional marketing strategies that require a payment, which is helpful for a small business.

Local SEO:

Local SEO is about optimising your website in your local area. An example of this would be using google maps to see restaurants nearby. The businesses that use local SEO will be higher on the list of restaurants in the local area. This is a fantastic way to generate interest in your business as Google delivers billions of local search results every month. Appearing high on the results list will be beneficial to your business. The video attached below outlines some of the benefits:

 

How Small Businesses Can Compete with Bigger Brands Online:

Small businesses can avail of the two kinds of SEO mentioned above. If they have a physical store, then local SEO and small business SEO can be used. If the business does not have a physical store, then the small business SEO if beneficial. So, to compete with bigger brands, small businesses must:

   
1. Develop a long-tail keyword strategy. Big companies rank the highest for two-word keywords relating to their business due to a bigger web presence. Small businesses should use long-tail words like “how to install a washing machine” as there is less competition to be found with that sentence, in comparison with big brands two-word strategy being “washing machine.”  

2. Set up google analytics for your website. Google Analytics can significantly impact your business because your website is the hub for most of your digital traffic. Google analytics provides helpful information about your customers so you can enhance the user experience, increase website engagement and encourage return visits. Tailoring your website based on what you learn from Google Analytics can also significantly impact your search engine optimization. The more you improve SEO strategy, the more leads and conversions you will get.

·      3. Use social media to your advantage. Try gain traction by following current trends, collaborate with influencers and is a cost-effective way to generate awareness. This will drive traffic to your website.

 

So that is all for this week, I hope you enjoyed. See you next week!!

Evolution of Internet Technologies from Web 1.0 to Web 3.0

 

Hello everyone !! and welcome back to week six. This week I will be writing about the evolution of internet technologies from web1.0 to Web 3.0.  So, what is Web 1.0 – Web 3.0?

 

Web 1.0: Commemorates the beginning of the internet era also known as the “static web” emerging in the years of 1990’s to the 2000’s. During this period, websites were mostly static pages with content that users could read but not interact with. This period used the following characteristics such as:

·       Centralised Content Creation- no user generated content but content published by companies.

·      

Basic designs – design was minimal, focusing on delivering information and not aesthetics.

·       Read Only – users could only view and read information.

Examples of this would be digital brochures, Yahoo, MSN and Google.

Web 2.0: Emerging in the early 2000’s, there was a shift from static to dynamic content with a focus on user cooperation and involvement. This is also known as the “social web.” This period had defining features such as:

·       User-Generated Content – users can create and share content leading to blogs and social media.

·       Rich User Experience – websites are more friendly and interactive for users.

·       Collaborative Platforms – users can create and collaborate on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.

Examples of web 2.0 are Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Airbnb etc.

Web 3.0: The latest phase, Web 3.0 also known as the “decentralised web,” intends to build a more decentralized and intelligent web. The features used are:

     AI and Machine Learning – these are particularly important to web 3.0, creating more personalised and intelligent interactions.

      Decentralisation - Moving away from centralised servers to a distributed network using blockchain technology.

Examples of this would be Bitcoin, cryptocurrency and Apple’s Siri. 

Impact of Evolution

Each phase has built upon the previous one, leading to a more dynamic, interactive, and intelligent internet. With this evolution, it has brought significant changes to the way we communicate, conducts businesses and connect. Businesses now have a global reach, real-time customer interaction and advanced tools for data driven decision-making. But marketing has been impacted the most. With Web 2.0, social media revolutionised marketing as businesses could target specific demographics using influencer marketing to promote brands and leverage their online followings.

 This evolution has not only made businesses more dynamic and customer-focused but has also opened up new possibilities for innovation and growth in the digital age.

Which phase excites you the most about the future of the internet? 🌐

Cloud-Based Analytics for small Businesses

 Hello everyone !! and welcome back to week five. This week I will be writing about cloud-based analytics for small businesses.  So, what is cloud-based analytics? 

Cloud analytics refers to the manipulation and analysis of data that happens in the cloud instead of locally, in and on-premises business system. Analytics systems enable users to access, gather, analyse and utilise data. These systems allow businesses to deal with big data volumes, discover trends and pinpoint development opportunities across the organisation.

In cloud-based analytics, there are various types of clouds that serve various needs. Here are three clouds:

Public Cloud: Services offered via the public internet and shared among organisations. It is low cost and scalable, making it beneficial for processing non-sensitive data in large volumes.

Private Cloud: Dedicated to just one organisation. This provides increased security and control for sensitive data and regulatory needs. Think of it as having your own private server but hosted by a third party.

Hybrid Cloud: This combines the two clouds previously mentioned above, private and public. This enables data and applications to be shred between them and provides increased flexibility and optimisation of existing infrastructure while maintaining privacy and cost-efficiency. However, this is hosted by a third party. 

So how does cloud-based analytics work for a small business? 

Although increasing profitability is typically the ultimate goal of cloud analytics, firms may have more specific needs, such as boosting foreign sales or maximising income from current clients. Reports and visualisation tools can shed light on areas where a company is underperforming or overperforming to shape larger strategies. Cloud-based analytics may be used by both small and large businesses to search through vast amounts of customer and corporate data for important insights. 

That concludes this weeks blog. If you have any thoughts and opinions, feel free to leave them below and I will see you all next week !!!

SaaS ERP For SME'S

 

Hi Everyone and welcome back to week four !! This week I will be writing about SaaS ERP systems for SME's. I hope you enjoy. 

SaaS ERP (Software as a Service Enterprise Resource Planning) systems have transformed SME’s (small and medium-sized enterprises). Traditionally, ERP systems were expensive and advanced, making them primarily available to large enterprises. However, the rise of SaaS ERP has levelled the playing field. These cloud-based tools provide SMEs with the opportunity to connect and streamline company operations, from HR and finance to supply chain management without incurring significant upfront expenses or requiring a considerable amount of IT support. Because of their flexibility and scalability, SMEs can respond swiftly to market changes, increase efficiency, and focus on growth and innovation rather than operational issues.

There are many benefits to SaaS ERP systems to SME’s such as data security, compliance and scalability and many more. Data security is critical to aiding the best possible decisions and ERP can protect this. Instead of having all this data in one place, having it spread across multiple systems with varying levels if protection. Compliance is important as having up to date records that are easy to find and searchable reduces the work required to comply with any regulations. Some ERP systems can even support financial standards like GAAP. For scalability, SaaS ERP systems will help down the road as the company grows and evolves. The company can add new members as the business grows without needing to change system.

One of the best SaaS ERP systems of 2024 is the ‘Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central’. ‘Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central’ provides support for every department regardless of if you choose to purchase the essentials or premium plan. With this software, you will get real time views on your data with its dashboards, charts and automated workflows, available to access on phone, tablet or PC. With 3500 apps to extend functionality of your system, all for €64.05 ($70) monthly with €10 extra for add-ons. ‘SAP Business one Professional’ is also a great SaaS ERP system. For as low as €51.24 ($56 per month) for the limited license or € 98.82 ($108) for the professional license, it is an all-in-one solution for business management with tools to aid with financials, manufacturing and CM. The differences between the two software’s are SAP business one Professional is more costly to upgrade and is missing the supply management tools that Microsoft Dynamics 365 has. I have linked an article discussing the best SaaS ERP systems for SME’s here: Best Cloud ERP Software Of 2024 – Forbes Advisor

In conclusion, SaaS ERP systems have opened up a world of possibilities for SMEs. They offer affordable, scalable, and flexible solutions that can revolutionize how businesses operate. By embracing these innovative technologies, small and medium sized enterprises can not only streamline their processes but also gain a competitive edge in an ever evolving market. AS always I will leave links to videos below for more information. 

The rise of digital payment systems

 

Hey everyone!! Welcome back to week three. This week I will be writing about the rise of digital payment systems💰 In recent years, we have seen an incredible increase in the use of digital payment systems. This transition, fuelled by technological advances and changing customer behaviour, has completely altered the way we conduct trade. The rise of e-commerce platforms, particularly during the covid-19 pandemic, has fuelled demand for protected, secure and contactless payment options. Companies are spending extensive amounts of money in digital infrastructure to cater to this ever-growing market, improving the user experience with effortless checkout processes and several payment options to choose from.

Smartphones are at the heart of this transformation. We now utilise mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay on a daily basis. These enable customers to make purchases with just a tap, completely removing the need for wallets and purses. Mobile payments are becoming increasingly popular due to their simple and improved security features such as biometric authentication.

Due to this transformation, banking has been improved. Say goodbye to traditional banking ways and hello to online banking. No need to que up at the bank to pay rent, paying bills, transferring money with ease, and splitting expenses with your friends has never been easier. This is all down to apps such as Revolut, PayPal, Venmo, BOI (bank of Ireland) and AIB.

Despite its volatility, cryptocurrency is a significant participant in the digital payment ecosystem. Bitcoin, Ethereum and other forms of cryptocurrencies offer a secure, alternative solution to traditional money. The blockchain technology that powers these digital assets ensures transparency and reduces the risk of fraud. This makes cryptocurrencies and encouraging option for both tech-savvy people as well as businesses. I have inserted two videos below with more information about blockchains and cryptocurrency:

As we look into the future it is clear that digital payment systems are not just a trend but the new norm. So, lets embrace the change and tap into the future of payments and transactions.

 

South-East of Ireland, a good place to invest for a tech firm?

Hey everyone!! Welcome back to week two. Pack your bags and set your GPS to the sunny Southeast of Ireland ☀️ The Southeast is more than beautiful scenery and welcoming residents; it is a thriving tech hub, ready to take the world by storm. Here’s why tech firms should consider investing in this gem of a region.

 The Quality of life is a major factor. Imagine a destination where you can relax on the beach or go for a hike in the vast countryside after a hard days work. The Southeast provides an unrivalled quality of life that your staff will enjoy living and working there. The cost-effective operations also contribute hugely to investing in the Southeast. Yes, Dublin may be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of tech in Ireland, but the Southeast offers a more cost-effective alternative. The living costs are lower which directly leads to lower salaries. This is great for the business side as this translates to significant savings in line with affordable office spaces and lower operational costs.

The Southeast is overflowing with skilled professionals with the new highly regarded SETU (Southeast Technological University), producing tech savvy graduates eager to produce and innovate. The talent is not only restricted to university students but also the local talent pool. With prominent levels of Government backing, talent is supported through state-funded training centres. These helps develop skills in AI, data analytics and learning to blockchain. You can read more about the tech talent in Ireland using this link: Tapping Irish Talent to Drive Tech Companies | IDA Ireland

 The Southeast is brimming with tech companies. You can see them all on the map below:

 

Tech companies such as Waterford-based virtual reality company ‘Engage XR’ and ‘Scurri.’ Engage XR says it expects its revenue for 2022 to b in the region of €2.4 million, up 68% from the previous year. ‘Scurri’ develops software for companies in the e-commerce game to manage and optimise their packaging, dispatch and delivery of goods. Silicon Republic highlighted ‘Scurri’ as one of their 20 success stories. You can read the Silicon Republic article here: 20 success stories from a decade of Irish start-ups in the spotlight (siliconrepublic.com)

 

There you have it!! The sunny Southeast is a tech firm heaven waiting to be discovered. With its cost-effective operations, quality of life, the huge talent pool and the tech firms that have invested here previously, you do not want to miss out. Ready to make the move?

Please see below video for more information: