Mohit Tater's Blog, page 594

How can you Draw Attention to your Business with a Help of Smart Application of Custom Stickers

So much of marketing these days is focused
on SEO, content, online advertising, digital insertion, CRM, the funnel… But
there’s still a place for good old fashioned marketing in the form of flyers,
custom stickers, calendars and other printed material.

One super affordable way to engage with
your customers physically is through custom stickers. These are exactly what
they sound like – a sticker that you create based on your brand identity and
which tells part of your story. A good sticker will be visually appealing –
remember, the goal is to have your customer use it in some way.

Custom stickers are a surprisingly
innovative way to create a touch point with your potential customer base. And
they can create opportunities to delight your customers, increase brand
awareness, and build long term visibility.

People
like free things

If your company is at an event, you
absolutely have to have stickers. Giving out free stuff is like candy to a
baby. Why? People love free stuff. It’s like a drug. It doesn’t matter what it
is or whether or not they need it. People will flock to your table just to see
what free stuff you have on offer.

Don’t be that table with nobody around it.
A big pile of custom stickers is an invitation for people to come over and take
one – and that’s your opportunity to talk to them and connect.

The same is true if you’re walking around
at an event or doing street marketing. Having something to hand out makes you
more approachable, particularly if it’s something more than just an information
flyer. Say loudly “you want a sticker?” with a big smile, and people
will come to you.

One thing to keep in mind is that stickers
are surprisingly human. That means that you might have less success if you just
leave a pile in a public place and hope for the best. You should take the
opportunity to tap into that human desire for free things. Handing out stickers
should be a human to human interaction. When people take a sticker, they make
contact with your brand, your company, and your people, and that will give them
a feeling of delight.

Often, people will take a whole bunch of
stickers. Don’t panic. Fortunately, stickers are relatively cheap, considering
the value they provide. Even highly customised stickers with interesting
shapes, colours or effects are relatively affordable.

They
connect your brand with your customer

When is a sticker more than a sticker? When
it’s your visual identity. By their very nature, stickers invite you to be
creative. You can take the opportunity to be punny by including a joke that
connects your brand to the idea of adhesiveness or the shape of the sticker.

If punning is not part of your brand identity, simply creating a beautiful, visually stunning or exciting design will encourage people to use the sticker. Depending on your design, they might stick it on their computer case, a notebook, office fridge or noticeboard. That usually equals at least a daily connection with your brand.

Even if a person has no need for your
product in the near term, you are still developing a relationship with them. By
the time they do have a need for your
services, you are already well established in their mind as someone they can
trust, simply by virtue of being in daily contact.

They
stick around

Part of that brand ‘stickiness’ (if we may
use a pun ourselves) comes from the most inherent property of a sticker – boy,
do they stick around. A calendar gets tossed in a year, a flyer in a day. But a
sticker will still be where it was placed weeks, months, or even years later. A
sticker is still working for your brand long after you have paid the invoice
for the printing.

For that reason, also be careful that your
stickers don’t wind up anywhere they could be considered a nuisance. If you are
at an event, check the walls and furnishings to make sure that nobody has stuck
one of your stickers somewhere it’s not wanted. The goal is to be visually
appealing but never a nuisance.

More
than your brand

Finally, your custom stickers don’t have to
just be about your brand. You can create something useful for your customer.
For example, funky labels for their schoolbooks or reusable coffee cups will
mean they definitely use your sticker, and you can let your branding be unobtrusive.
If it’s placed on something they use every day, your sticker does not have to
be loud – simply proud.

The post How can you Draw Attention to your Business with a Help of Smart Application of Custom Stickers appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

How to Become a Self-starter While Earning an Online Degree

There are countless advantages to earning a
degree online. Being able to set your own class schedule, complete coursework
at your leisure and receive a higher education from the comfort of home are
just a few of the perks students enjoy when pursuing degrees through the web.

However, in
the absence of the pre-set class times and rock-solid structure found at
traditional schools, students who aren’t natural self-starters often have a
hard time adjusting to online degree programs. Of course, this isn’t to say
that non-self-starters should give up on the idea of online education. If your
self-motivational skills could use some fine tuning, there are a numbers of
simple measures you can take to whip yourself into shape and succeed in any
online degree program.

Stick to a
Schedule

Adhering to
a self-made schedule can be difficult for people who aren’t natural
self-starters. Since many of us have grown accustomed to having external forces
dictate our daily schedules, suddenly being in control of our own time can seem
overwhelming. As is the case with most things in life, practice and consistency
are crucial when it comes to sticking to a schedule of one’s own creation. In
other words, the longer you adhere to your new schedule, the easier it will
become, and eventually, you’ll be able to do it effortlessly.

Unsurprisingly, getting started is often the hardest part. To kick things off, sit down and create a workable daily schedule. Take care to carve out designated times for studying and coursework while also leaving certain portions of your day flexible. After all, being booked solid for every minute of every day is liable to overwhelm you and potentially lead to the abandonment of your new schedule. Additionally, the first draft of your schedule doesn’t have to be regarded as sacrosanct. If certain elements of the schedule simply aren’t working for you, don’t be afraid to change things up and disrupt the routine as needed. Once you develop a solid understanding of what works and what doesn’t, you’ll be able to iron out any wrinkles and create a daily schedule that’s uniquely suited to your life.

Provide Yourself With
Incentive

For some people, the promise of a door-opening degree, like an AACSB-accredited online MBA, is sufficient incentive to buckle down and work hard. For others, however, daily life gets in the way and makes earning one’s degree feel like an impossibly far-off goalpost. In cases like this, more immediate incentive is needed to keep individuals motivated. With this in mind, consider giving yourself little rewards for reaching short-term goals. For example, finishing up an end-of-term assignment or consistently meeting your study quotas can mean treating yourself to a nice meal or personal item you’ve had your eye on. This will ensure that you remain motivated to work hard, even when your ultimate goal is a ways off.

Actively Cut Back on Distractions

In the
digital age, it’s almost impossible to focus your attention on a single thing.
Between phones, televisions and computers, most of us spend our days staring at
a series of screens. Suffice it to say, this can make studying an absolute
nightmare. Concentration is crucial to a successful study sessions, and phones
and TVs are often the enemies of focused attention. As such, it’s recommended
that you actively cut back on distractions during designated study periods. This
means placing your phone out of easy reach, if not turning it off altogether,
and powering down any televisions or nearby noisemaking devices. For people who
are used to be surrounded by flashing screens, this will take some adjustment,
but heightened concentration skills will prove well worth your efforts. 

Accept Your
Failures

Part of being a self-starter is recognizing that not every goal is going to be met. People consistently overexert themselves and/or take on more than they can handle, inevitably leading to missed goalposts. In the quest to earn an online degree, some things simply are not going to go your way. Instead of getting discouraged and shying away from future goals, a self-starter will learn from their failures and apply the lessons to future endeavors.

Online degree programs offer far more freedom than brick-and-mortar schools. There are no set-in-stone class times, meaning that students can listen to lectures and process lessons at their leisure. Unfortunately, not all students are equally equipped to handle the level of freedom online schools provide. As such, students who don’t identify as self-starters should implement the tips discussed above. Honing your self-motivational skills is guaranteed to serve you well in your academic pursuits and nearly every other area of life.   

  

The post How to Become a Self-starter While Earning an Online Degree appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

Networking Tips from Top CEOs

We’re often led to believe that success is the outcome of hard work, planning, strategy, positive attitude and all the other pop culture notions. In the real world however, your success largely depends on your relationships with people and your business networking skills. Sounds surprising? Not if you see from the perspective of top CEOs who have always valued the relationship they have with external (and internal) stakeholders. If you’re an entrepreneur or someone who wants to take the first step of entrepreneurship, you will need to learn the art of professional networking.
 
So how to network and build a trustworthy relationship? Here are some tips from top CEOs

1. Find a Meaningful Way to Connect with the Right People

Professional networking doesn’t happen by adding random people on LinkedIn nor by attending conferences where you would have a hard time struggling to form lasting relationships. If you want to connect with the right people, you have to be a part of their daily routine and try to find a meaningful way to connect with them. Initiate a social activity like a marathon or an early morning cycling routine, join places as the gym or a sports club where you can get the opportunity to connect and talk with the people you would like to be associated with. Remember, CEOs, investors, businessmen etc are aware of the desire people have to build a network with them, therefore, they will be wary of usual networking tricks. If you want to build a solid connection, you have to find a way to work hard at it.

2. Attract the Right People by Creating a Noise in Your Domain

Hustling, picking random chats with strangers and networking by being in an alienated group doesn’t come easy to most people; especially for introverts. Young entrepreneurs often force themselves into networking only to eventually come off as being clingy and annoying. To avoid such uncomfortable situations and to also connect the right people – attract them with your work and your reputation. One of the best startup networking methods is to create a noise in your industry and let people come to you, and learn more about your work. In fact, people love to connect with those who are excellent at what they do, thereby, already earning the respect and trust of their audience.

3. Build Your Personal Brand

In today’s modern world, building your personal brand is crucial to professional networking. People who want to connect with you want to know more about you, your thoughts and your overall reputation in the industry. Your social media profiles are crucial to help you build a strong brand reputation which will be instrumental in attracting the right people. Top CEOs therefore, advise to be very careful about what you put out there on social media – avoid badmouthing your workplace or your colleagues; avoid using foul language; avoid displaying private life pictures on professional networks and avoid mindless debates. Treat your social and public life as a brand and you’ll start to pique people’s interest.

4. Share Knowledge and Be Helpful

Networking is only possible when you have a human connection with someone. The connection can be developed in a number of ways, such as sharing knowledge, lending a helping hand, working together for a cause, or even doing someone a favour. When you share knowledge and help people, you automatically set a reputation for yourself as someone who is kind, empathetic, wise and a reliable person – all of which are qualities that can set you apart from the rest and help you develop quality relationships with people.

5. Go the Extra Mile

It’s quite easy these days to connect with influencers and industry leaders, but a few Twitter mentions or a random comment is not going to cut it. Maintain the relationship by initiating a conversation or a chat on topics they are passionate about. Get to know them, talk to them in person. Build a connection with them and offer them value. Tell them who you are and what you bring to the table. Show them your work and ask for their advice or insight. Go the extra mile to build the relationship you want to have.

Although we have all kinds of digital communication platforms at our disposal, networking still doesn’t come easy. It requires you to go out there and build long-lasting connections with people who will assist you in achieving your professional and business goals. A move as this requires strategy, effort and a dedication to maintaining relationships over time. So ready to start networking?

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How to Start Your Own At-Home Business: A Guide

An at-home business is
perfect no matter what point you are in your life, so long as you can
successfully manage your time and don’t take on too much responsibility before
you are ready. You can do anything at home. Sell vintage clothes online, or
open up a consulting service on the side. Whether you work or are a full-time
stay at home caretaker doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you follow this
guide to improve your chances of success:

“Good things happen to those who
hustle.”

– Anais Nin

Have a Great Idea

It all starts with a great idea. Work on this idea, ponder it, love it. You have to have passion in order to start and commit to an at-home business, especially if you are taking this on part-time on top of a career job.

Research That Idea

Learn all you can from the
start, so that you won’t be surprised by the challenges you face and can
instead get a head start:

1.   
Know Your Market

Knowing your market is the first step. You need to know who is important, what the biggest companies are, trends, rules and regulations, and so much more.

2.   
Know Your Demographic

Know who your customers are, what they value, how they speak, and what networks they use.

3.   
Know Your Competition

Know your biggest competition, what they do right,
what they do wrong, and most importantly how you can be better.

Find Funding

If you have difficulty finding funding to buy your first set of stock or perhaps equipment to start your business, then don’t worry. You always have options. What option that might work best when you are just starting up your own at-home business is a personal loan. Personal loans by Peerform are ideal for those little businesses who have a great idea. You can take out up to $25,000 and won’t be penalized if you wanted to pay it back faster.

Set Up Your Digital Presence

Every business needs a website. You cannot exist offline or online without one. These websites, however, are very easy to set up even for a beginner in web development. There are many different tools and themes out there to help you customize your presence and start bringing online users to you.

Start Making Connections

Businesses are not sole
entities. You need to work with others in order to succeed. Partner with
influencers, with other brands, and even with your customers. When people see
that you are genuine, authentic, and really care about them they will respond. If
you are lucky, they will respond in a way that means enough income to take on
your company full time.

Never Give Up

Managing a business is difficult. Even if you have it so much easier working from home (no extra rent costs, for example). You need to adapt yourself and what you know in order to succeed. Master the art of time management, and keep striving to improve yourself. You won’t get it right the first time. Maybe not even the second time, but with the passion and drive you can keep evolving until you find the sweet spot of success.

The post How to Start Your Own At-Home Business: A Guide appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

How to Get Your Business Off the Ground in 2019

Turning your ideas into actionable plans is
key to becoming a successful entrepreneur. While opening any type of business
comes with its risks, one needs to take these risks in order to move forward.
No matter how limited your budget, there is a feasible starting point from
which you can kick things off.

There will be challenges along the way, but
with adequate preparation and sheer determination, there will be nothing
stopping you from making 2019 the year you open your own business. Here are
some tips that will help you make your dream a reality.

Taking Out A Business Loan

Not everyone has the luxury of turning to a
wealthy investor in order to get the funding required to start a business.
However, taking out a business loan is always a viable option. Whether you need
money for opening an office, purchasing equipment, marketing or ordering your
first batch of stock, a loan will help you progress much faster.

Lending Express offers business owners a modern and affordable solution to acquire the funding you need. From the error-free online application system to the custom step-by-step funding plan, the entire process is efficient and transparent. Unique algorithms match your business with the right lenders and your money will be sent within hours.

Go Digital

These days, almost every task an entrepreneur has to complete can be done more efficiently with the help of business software. Everything from accounting to marketing can be done from the comfort of your own desk without having to hire large teams of employees or rent out office spaces.

Depending on your business, you may also be
able to work entirely from home in the beginning, eliminating the need to
acquire costly premises.

Save Money and Time by
Outsourcing

Getting your business off the ground can be
daunting. There’s paperwork to go through, orders to handle, advertisements to
design, and so much more. Hiring staff to lower the workload is often
unaffordable and you don’t want to risk being unable to pay them at month end.

This is where the internet once again saves the day. You can hire professional freelancers from a variety of places on the web to handle certain tasks for a significantly lower price. This will help reduce your overheads without affecting customer experience or going under your quality standards.

Stay on Top of Your Finances

In the same way,
you may budget and track expenses in your personal life, applying this to your
business will help you maintain a steady grip on where your money is going.
With the help of accounting software or even a simple spreadsheet, you can keep
track of your cash flow and use that data to make more informed financial
decisions.

Conclusion

You don’t need to watch a playlist of inspirational videos or hire a mentor to obtain the drive you need to get started. Set out your goals and make it your mission to achieve them as soon as possible. Keep going and you’ll be running a successful business in no time.

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Businesses Suitable for Owners of Sublimation Printers

Sublimation printing is a process of applying excessive heat to a dye which allows it to stick into a surface. This is the same process used to apply color and design to plastic, paper, and fabric. In recent times, using a sublimation printer has become a common sight to small-sized and medium-sized printing businesses. It has a high profitability rate, because the items printed under the sublimation process can be sold for a higher price. If you wanted to start a business using a sublimation printer, you would need to invest in one and shell out around $100 for a brand new unit. You also need to get supplies that will be needed to maintain your printing shop. The supplies can be ordered online, or through third-party firms like the Coastal Business Supplies. Once you are good to go, you can decide which type of business you would like to operate.

Photobooth Business

Having a photobooth business would allow you to earn per event appearance.
In the past few years, most events would require a photobooth which would
capture photos of the visitors, and it would also serve as their remembrance
from the event. Many people have seen the photobooth as a fun way to enjoy an
event, and in most birthday parties and corporate events, the photobooth is
present. The sublimation printer is used in photobooth business to quickly
print photos, and it is useful especially if there are hundreds of people
waiting for their photos to be printed. According to business owners, they only
had to shell out a few thousand dollars to maintain their photobooth business,
and the returns are big. If you wanted to do this kind of business, you would
need to invest in a good camera, or you can hire a photographer who would be
capturing the shots for you. After you managed to secure the photographer and a
good camera, you would need to start marketing your business to events or
create a business card that can be contacted by the clients. Most photo booth
businesses are promoting their businesses on social media, and it is also
important that your clients would have a positive experience using the
photobooth. You would notice that the business will be hired by more events if
you have a positive reputation among your clients.

Mug Printing Business

Sublimation printing can be used for mug printing, and this type of business also generates a
high amount of profit. Plain mugs can be purchased anywhere for as low as $1 a
piece, and when it undergoes sublimation printing, the mug can be sold for $3
to $5. This is also a good way to create souvenirs, and you can also connect
with people who would like to request mugs that will be given away to guests.
If you are living in a tourist destination, like Hawaii, printing mugs could
become a great source of income. Tourists are willing to purchase souvenirs, so
make sure that you will only create the best designs for the mugs that you
would like to sell.

T-shirt Printing Business

If you own a sublimation printer, a T-shirt printing business can also be a great source of income. People who have invested in sublimation printers are using their machines to print complex designs on shirts. Like the mugs, t-shirts can also be a great souvenir item, and people who are living in areas with a lot of tourists are selling T-shirts that have a sublimation print on it. You can also try to create your own design and establish an online or physical store. T-shirt design is also a fun way to show your creativity, and you would love to create more designs once you noticed that a lot of people are actually buying the product.

Paper Printing Business

Sublimation prints on paper perfectly, and one would notice the sheer difference
between a sublimation printer and a normal printer. Try to use the sublimation
printer that you own to print cards, magazines, and other similar products.
Paper printing business can also become a great source of income, especially if
you build your business near schools. Establishing this business would also
require you to become more knowledgeable about the craft, and it is recommended
that you watch tutorials online or read instructions on how to manage this type
of business successfully.

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3 Reasons Why Private Campground Owners Should Join A Network

Camping is becoming one of the most favorite weekend activity in the US. This outdoor activity is even more popular among millennials because it is an affordable option and it will bring you closer to nature. According to Forbes, camping is also a great way to reduce stress, which then contributes to better mental and emotional health. With the rise of campers in recent years, a rise in the number of campground owners is not surprising.

There are two types of campgrounds, a private campground, and a public
campground. Campers might not necessarily care about the classification, but
this divide might actually affect the experiences that they will have in their
future camping endeavors. Simply put, private campgrounds are campgrounds being
maintained by private entities and usually requires memberships. These
campgrounds have facilities such as full hookup services for RV campers.
Meanwhile, public campgrounds are campgrounds that are being run by the
government. These are usually campgrounds found in the state parks and forests.

Private campground owners are often running their own businesses on their
own. This kind of variety can affect the experience of campers. If the camper
is unlucky enough, he might find a campground that is not hospitable at all: no
full or partial hookups, traditional camping not allowed, faulty facilities,
and other nasty things. However, things might be different when the private
campground is a member of a network. With regulations and other things
governing the network, a certain standard is expected when visiting a
campground with membership. In addition, there are a handful of benefits that
private campground owners can utilize if they decided to join a network. Here
are the three benefits of joining a nationwide camping network.

1. More chances of customer exposure (both online and on printed directories). Chances are if you want to make things easier for advertisement, you either make your marketing efforts or let other people do that for you. Being a member of a nationwide network of campground owners will have a lot of benefits in the marketing strategy. This is because the campground will be listed on the online repositories. With a lot of people checking these sights every month, campgrounds can have a good exposure just by being a member. There are services that offer online reservations via a campground management software to service both the campers and the camp owners.

In addition to this, when a campground is a member of an online
nationwide network, it will also be listed on directories. This grants the
exposure needed for people who don’t like to use online technology.

2. Lessons on how to improve campground business

Another good thing in being a campground network member is the chance to
learn a thing or two in running your campground more efficiently. A lot of
networks offer conventions a teaches campground owners techniques and things
that will help them improve their facilities.

These conventions and seminars are also a great chance to know what to avoid
when running your campground. It is also a good opportunity to reach out to
other campground owners and brainstorm good tactics to attract more customers.

3. The camping network regulations

When it comes to the quality of utilities and services, no camping sites are
equal. There are camping sites that are worst or better than others. There are
campground unions regulated to maintain a certain acceptable standard of services
offered. These things will add up when it comes to credibility,
trustworthiness, and the quality of service, which leads to campers preferring
to stay at your campground. If you’re a member of a well-known union with good
reviews, then the name of your union would also serve as an advertising tool to
attract customers.

In addition to the three listed above, there are also other benefits that
members can get in a campground network. There are networks who offer events
for their members for networking. This usually includes the sharing of
information, contacts, products, and services, buying and selling of
campgrounds, and other matters related to camping. Some unions also offer
discounts for ASCAP License or the MPLC Umbrella License. And there are also the
trade show benefits, which are provided by some networks. This will be
beneficial for members who want to attend the NCA Trade Shows because of member
discounts.

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Interesting Facts about Import and Export

Import and export affect the economy as well as consumer and
also the domestic currency which further decides the nation’s economic growth. The
exchange of goods between nations is what constitutes the global market and
thus is very important in finance. A steady growth of both imports and exports
leads to a healthy economy.

While on one hand export brings in capital, on the other imports bring in choice to consumers which is reflective of a healthy demand in the national market. The growth of import and export though steady must not in be in favor of a growing trade deficit (higher imports than exports) as a continuous increase in trade deficit leads to lower exchange rates (value of the domestic currency as against foreign currency) which may lead to price hikes in the market. The constant degradation of currency exchange rate affects the economy as well as consumers who will now get the imported goods at a higher price in the market. A trade surplus (higher exports than imports) points in favor of the domestic economy. the trade balance (surplus or deficit) is an economic indicator. An unmanageable deficit usually points to a devaluation of the domestic currency.

Apart from this, the import of some products that act as raw materials in production of others reduces the manufacturing cost that a firm incurs and thus brightens prospects for profits and minimizes investment in a full set up manufacturing plant. When importing a product, the exchange rate plays a vital role. The exchange rate determines the competitiveness of a product in the market, for example a currency having an exchange rate of INR 40 is preferable to one having an exchange rate of INR 50 if both sell their products at the same value in their local currencies.

Too high or low value of exchange may affect the import and export adversely. Both stronger and weaker domestic currencies have their pros and cons, while one affects the competitiveness in exports, other affects the domestic economy in terms of labor and manufacturing costs. Thus, it is important to maintain the exchange rates so as to maintain a trade balance and a steady growth of economy.

These international trades affect our day-to-day life even if
we are not directly involved in these trading practices. The price hikes that
consumers often complain about are not just due to low production, but also due
to some of the factors mentioned above. Thus, it is important to keep an eye
out for investment options to safeguard our assets in this fickle economy and
to be ready for all kinds of situations.

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How to secure your Business in the Cloud

As a business, migrating your IT infrastructure and data to the cloud is probably the best move you’ve made to guarantee the utmost security of your records. You see, cloud computing offers many advantages – from data security and protection against DDoS, to regulatory compliance and flexibility, and much more.

But let’s be honest. Every
technology comes with benefits and downsides, and cloud computing isn’t an
exception. The nature of the cloud operation makes it attractive to
cybercriminals. If you are planning to make this major move, it’s important
that you take several steps to ensure that potential vulnerabilities and leaks
are plugged to maintain the integrity and sanctity of your data.

Here’s what to do:

Understand how your cloud service storage operates

First things first! If you are not
familiar with cloud storage and how it works, the best thing to do is try to
understand the concept and how your cloud service storage operates. Cloud
storage is generally a service model whereby data is maintained, backed up, and
managed remotely, only letting you access it over the internet. Providers
offering this service usually have a user agreement, which entails what they do
and how they expect to collaborate with you. Go through this document no matter
how boring it may seem to ensure you grasp every essential piece of information
before you get started.

Ensure your cloud service provider utilizes strong
security features

Cloud service providers usually have
different security features to suit their clients. The security of your data is
paramount, so don’t risk it with a provider that doesn’t offer strong security
features such as encryption controls, antivirus programs, firewall, and other
crucial features.

Store only what you need

Seriously, before going ahead to
store all your data on the cloud, first conduct a comprehensive review in order
to determine whether you really do need to store every single data there. If
you have really sensitive customer information, say credit card data, you don’t
have to store it in the cloud.  Cybersecurity experts know this principle
as “data minimization.”

Use strong and secure passwords and connections

This cannot be stressed enough.
Using a weak password makes you vulnerable to hacking as cybercriminals can
easily generate or acquire your password and access your data. To be on the
safe side, ensure that your password comprises of a combination of letters
(both upper and lower case), characters, and numbers. Likewise, using poor
connections that are susceptible to malware attacks won’t help the situation.
You can choose a good virtual private network service to make it hard for
cybercriminals to hijack your data as it is being transmitted.

Encrypt, Encrypt

Cloud storage provides a secure way
to store your data, but it doesn’t hurt having additional security to ensure no
one gets their hands on it once you move it. The best way to achieve this is
encrypting every file before you can move it. There are many software out there
that allows you to encrypt your files, meaning that they can only be accessed
by decrypting them or entering a password.

Test the cloud system occasionally

Moving your data to the cloud is one
thing.  Performance of the system is another altogether. See, some cloud
systems may offer the basic security options, whereas others may go to the
extent of hiring an ethical hacker to help identify any loopholes their systems
may have. Keep on testing your system occasionally, understanding how the
antivirus system works, password encryption and other crucial features.

Data privacy is perhaps the most
important aspect of any business. If you are planning to leverage cloud storage
solution, you have to evaluate and analyze the risks involved and determine how
you can best address them. Consider implementing the said tips as part of your
data security strategy. And as a general rule of thumb, ensure that your
service provider has SOC 2 Certification.

Author Bio

Ken Lynch is an enterprise software startup veteran, who has always been fascinated about what drives workers to work and how to make work more engaging. Ken founded Reciprocity to pursue just that. He has propelled Reciprocity’s success with this mission-based goal of engaging employees with the governance, risk, and compliance goals of their company in order to create more socially minded corporate citizens. Ken earned his BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT.  Learn more at ReciprocityLabs.com.

The post How to secure your Business in the Cloud appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

Traditional vs Cloud Security

Traditional servers and systems cannot
provide profitable scalability of your organization’s annual data collection.
Mostly, you could be storing data with a cloud environment, making it essential
for you to differentiate between traditional and cloud security.

The
Meaning of Traditional IT

On creating your IT infrastructure, you
store your information by connecting the hardware devices to the servers
available. Increasing users means increasing your physical hardware on-site,
which is expensive. Though costly, you can enjoy controlling your data in a
more significant way, enhancing your cybersecurity.

Who
is a Cloud Services Provider?

To enable a cost-effective scaling, a
cloud provider assists you in incorporating the internet as your storage location.
But you need to get keen on the security controls your service provider is
applying. Cloud computing has three formats as follows:

1.   
Public Cloud

It’s popular with many people. It includes IaaS (Microsoft Azure all offer Infrastructure-as-as-Service), AWS (Amazon Web Services), AND Google Cloud platforms to enhance scalability. But malicious actors target the public cloud environments due to a lot of data that they store. According to the 2018 report by McAfee, 25% of businesses using SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) or IaaS have been victims of data theft.

2.   
Private Cloud

If you want to avoid data security issues experienced with public clouds, it’s advisable to create your cloud. A private cloud will allow you to enjoy controlling and managing all your cybersecurity concerns and data centers, but it’s expensive. As stated by SearchCIO, a private cloud costs an estimate of $1.5, a budget that strains many companies.

3.   
Hybrid Cloud

It is the use of both the public and
private cloud, making it the best. For companies with a plan to scale, hybrid
cloud is their best option. You can use the private cloud to store sensitive
data like payment information and the public cloud such as PaaS
(Platform-as-a-Service) for storing other data like those that don’t require
personal information, and you enjoy low costs.

Why
Cloud Security Stands Out

Cloud environments is a game changer in the way we store and access data. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) tools get used to allowing communication between your servers and devices to cloud servers. It is essential because the information doesn’t stay on your servers. But controlling who goes in and out is difficult as you do not control the locks. It then becomes a security risk as you work with all applications that connect to your devices, software, networks, and services to the cloud.

Ways
of Mitigating Threats Associated with Hybrid Security

Cloud infrastructures are prone to cyber
insecurities. It is made easier by the fact that you get limited to controlling
who gets the right of access to your data. To prevent such security threats,
use the following tips:

I.   
Continuous Review of Cloud Stored Data

Data gets transmitted frequently between
your cloud and on-premises infrastructure. Therefore, it is necessary to
continually review the information stored there to know what gets saved and at
the exact place of storage. Although constant sharing of data eases workloads,
your cloud may end up with outdated information. Always do a review to ensure
the data stored is what you require. Ensure your cloud software is updated
frequently.

II.   
Create a Vendor Management Program

Cloud service providers qualify as
vendors, and to protect yourself from insecurities like data breaches, ensure
you verify all their security controls. Ensure you sign agreements about
controls with any APIs or cloud service provider you use.

III.   
Understand the Controls Your Cloud Service Provider Uses

In all types of clouds, the service
provider will store and transmit data. It is, therefore, advisable that you
apply for appropriate data protection. Since you get to experience the damages,
you need to understand how data gets encrypted by your service data,
authentication, incident response plans, and controls access.

IV.   
Get Familiar with Your Compliance Requirements

To get compliant with the General Data
Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensure that your provider of cloud services
provides local data centers. Always get information from your cloud services
provider to maintain compliance.

V.   
Monitor Threats Constantly

Just like you monitor data environment,
you should watch your cloud infrastructures’ threats as they evolve frequently.
Remember that even though others maintain the controls, you get to own the
risks.

VI.   
How Cloud Security Enhances Better Control

Though it’s difficult to be everywhere at
the same time, it’s possible to maintain documentation regarding your due
diligence. Cloud security offers a platform that is risk-free, GRC (governance)
SaaS, and compliant. Within the cloud platform, management of various tasks
gets streamlined to ensure mitigation of any insecurity. All your documentation
gets presented as initially received, creating a one-stop source of truth. You
also get in touch with all the internal stakeholders responsible for your cloud
security monitoring.

Author Bio Ken Lynch is an enterprise software startup veteran, who has always been fascinated about what drives workers to work and how to make work more engaging. Ken founded Reciprocity to pursue just that. He has propelled Reciprocity’s success with this mission-based goal of engaging employees with the governance, risk, and compliance goals of their company in order to create more socially minded corporate citizens. Ken earned his BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT.  Learn more about compliance and cloud security at ReciprocityLabs.com.

The post Traditional vs Cloud Security appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.