Many small businesses and non-profit organizations do not take part in any kind of IT audits. This is often because they have a DIY approach to their technology, and don't feel the need to look any closer than simply having the tools they need to do the work. In today's world, that doesn't fly. So much of what we do is digital, and data security is not the only issue. Business continuity is also a big concern. Liability intersects both of them. So, what are some things an IT security assessment can do? It can identify your risks, with recommendations on how to fix them. There are compliance requirements and vulnerabilities you may not be aware of, and there are scenarios that can play out that you perhaps have not pondered. Also, for the love of all that is holy, USING CLOUD / SASS SERVICES DOES NOT MEAN YOUR DATA IS SECURE OR YOU'VE MANAGED YOUR RISKS. YOU'VE SIMPLY CHANGED THE NATURE OF THE RISKS. Here are some things I look for in a security assessment: Asset Landscape: What is yours? This means hardware, software, data, cloud space, mobile devices, network assets, etc. Without getting the full birds eye view of your assets, there is no way to conduct a proper assessment. Inevitably, this discovery process yields risks you probably did not know you had. Vulnerability Discovery: Vulnerabilities are EVERYWHERE. They are in your software. They are in your hardware. They are in your employees, They are in your businesses processes. We take a dive into all of these areas, identify current mitigation efforts, and figure out what still exists in a prioritized manner. Compliance: Depending on your industry and the types of data you have, there are regulated compliance requirements that you are responsible for. This is NOT an area where you want to mess up. Policy: Your business/organization should have policies dictating the use of technology assets. Your employee handbook should intersect with these policies so that employees understand their responsibility in protecting the organization. When conducting these types of assessments, I insist on providing solutions to any problems discovered. There is no purpose in simply identifying problems. That would just cause them to persist. IT problems typically have very clear solutions, whether they are quick fixes or cultural changes within the organization. Lewiston Digital LLC has the experience to navigate these security solutions with great diligence and experience. IT security assessments should not be scary. They should be celebrated. At the end of the day, successfully identifying risks before they become disasters could mean the difference between your business thriving and your business closing. Let's get to work! Schedule an IT Security Assessment .

Many business owners often wonder what kind of content they should be posting on social media. Full disclosure: I offer full social media management services and can do all of this for you. However, if you are going to try to handle your social scene on your own, here are some tips on the kind of content to post on different platforms. Facebook On Facebook, you want the kind of content that would create an action, like a click to your website or a share. A successful Facebook post leads to shares, likes, or traffic to your site. Instagram This is your time to shine. You have to bring the polish for Instagram. Not only do you want to create engagement, but follower growth is huge. The standards for visuals that you post on Instagram should exceed those on other networks. Creating a stir is the name of the game. Instagram Stories This is where you can get personal feedback and rack up views. Instagram Stories should be a bit more real, raw, and authentic than your standard Insta feed. Think of these as little snacks. Twitter Wit. Wit is it. You have just a few words to engage someone, so you need to make them matter. What you want here is retweets, and best case scenario, you engage a larger influencer. I have strategies for all platforms including Facebook Live, Facebook Groups, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. Doing social right is very difficult, and is not a part-time gig. Many people pick one or two networks and just roll with it, which is fine, but it doesn't maximize the power of social for your business. If you're interested in learning more about social strategies, or managed social for your business, drop us a line . If not, hopefully these quick tips help you chart you way.