The rule “safety first” extends to all branches of life. Because of that, many businesses put their security at the top of their priority list. If you are a business owner, you should think about doing the same thing!

Thanks to the growth of the Internet, every security system can be breached in many ways. Consequently, protecting yourself from cyber-threats and being one step ahead of criminals has become incredibly important.

If you are not careful, all of the legal documents and other personal information of both your clients and your employees that your company may possess can become an easy target for hackers and thieves.

Fortunately, we are here to help you! This article will provide you with useful information related to upgrading the security of your business. Check it out!

Secure Your Telephone System

You do not need to know what a PBX is to understand that phone hacking is a common practice. Both smartphones and office phone systems are at the risk of being hacked. A hacker simply has to call your office phone system while spoofing the caller ID.

If you are unaware of this, all the hacker needs to do is call your switchboard and press some buttons on the keypad to trick the answering machine into thinking that this is actually you calling in. Believe it or not, it is really that simple!

Make Security a Habit

One of the first steps you should consider doing is changing your way of thinking. Nothing is too small to protect, ranging from security cameras to office computers. On top of that, set a good password to your personal computer, update your operating system on a regular basis, and keep your devices safe while you are at the office.

Remember that if you are higher up in the company, you have access to more data than most other employees. As a result, you are most likely to get targeted. But implementing all of these changes should protect you from malicious software.

Keep Everything Clean

In addition to upgrading your security system, you should think about ways in which you can keep it clean. The first thing that comes to mind is patching. Simply put, this refers to repairing old flaws and mistakes in software updates.

You should make sure that you download all the updates from the developer’s official website. For example, if there is an update for Microsoft Word installed, you should download it directly from a website that belongs to Microsoft. Forget about shady websites with many pop-ups and questionable ads.

You may also want to install anti-virus programs on all devices used by your employees. Do it right after purchasing a new laptop or a desktop computer instead of waiting until problems occur. The same applies to mobile phones that you provide your employees with.

Anti-malware programs are cheap nowadays and worth every penny spent on them! It will definitely pay off in the long run!

Keep an Eye Out for Suspicious Activity

Of course, all existing tools are useless if they are not used the way they were meant to be used! Make sure that every employee knows how important it is so that they can effectively protect their devices. Additionally, security protocols must be set up for each device. With more people having access to the valuable data that your business is in possession of, it is more important than ever!

Video Surveillance

Never forget that hackers can easily get into your closed-circuit video surveillance. The truth is that those video surveillance cameras are just like any other electronic device. Since most of them are not complicated, they can be hacked into with relative ease. You might not be aware of this, but it is one of the most common ways how hackers can steal information from your office.

So, it is important to have some sort of CCTV monitoring system installed on your premises. Just be sure to implement additional security measures and have responsible personnel handle these devices so that they actually perform their function. Otherwise, they might end up serving as yet another access point that can be used by malicious actors.

The Bottom Line

Securing your business activities should be on the top of your priority list for 2021. Why is that the case? With the economic despair brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial crisis that ensued, many people resort to crime just to make ends meet.

The era of halfwitted criminals is long gone — modern thieves and hackers are often highly skilled, intelligent individuals, pushed to the limit by their financial situation. You must not underestimate their ability to wreak havoc upon you and your business.

Hopefully, this article provided you with useful information on how you can make your business as secure as possible. Remember, do not hesitate to make much-needed changes, as it will help protect your people and assets!

Remote Virtual Interpreting is a technology that allows you to provide your event’s translation in real-time through an offsite interpreter. Even before the pandemic, VRI was becoming an increasingly common practice, but now the need for these kinds of remote services went through the roof. Remote interpreting can benefit your business vastly, but what exactly does it do?

Virtual interpreting is the on-demand practice of translating meetings and events by a third party simultaneously. The interpreter works from a different location, and there is no need for him to be present in the same room; the only thing that he needs is a computer. It offers a lot in terms of quality and cost-efficiency, and because of that, more and more business owners decide to use it. Here are the five reasons why you should switch and start using remote interpreting services instead of traditional ones.

Flexibility

Everything is done remotely, so there is a lot of flexibility involved. No one needs to be present in the same room; hence the meeting can be set up everywhere, from the train or airplane to a beach in the Bahamas. The time that is saved on going from one place to another can be used in a lot more effective ways.

Working hours are also better, as you can hire interpreters from all over the world. You can always find services that will cover every time zone you need and provide constant support. It’s the ideal choice, especially for urgent, unpredictable business meetings and conferences. You can also add some additional language requirements with minimal effort.

Cost

When it comes to costs, remote interpreting is very cost-efficient compared to other translation and localization services. When setting up a potential business meeting, you have to count the costs of renting a place, travel, equipment, and other necessary fees. Then, you have to hire a translator for a longer time, as he has to be in the same place you are and he has to cover the expenses of getting to the right place. It always takes longer than a remote meeting, meaning that the hourly payments will be higher, and on-site interpreters mostly require a two-hourly payment minimum charge, whereas virtual ones often charge by the minute.

A simultaneous translator has to have his own space and expensive equipment on louder events, like a soundproof booth, and everyone present has to be given a headset. With remote interpreting, all your audience needs is a laptop or a smartphone.

Industry Fitted

In some settings, like legal or medical, the information has to be interpreted correctly. Many problems occur with written and phone communication methods, and they can be easily fixed using the VRI method. You can see the translator on the screen, including visual clues like the movement of the lips or hands. There is a smaller chance of gaps and missed beats that can happen when using the phone.

Since remote interpreters can work worldwide, you can choose from the best ones in their field, and be sure that you have a person with the right knowledge. Remote work can also decrease the risk of something going wrong when dealing with more sensitive situations like translating to a sick patient.

Availability

As mentioned before, due to remote work, there are more options about the interpreter’s choice, but that is not all – with VRI, you no longer need to worry about finding the translator who speaks the language you need right now. Interpreters cover all possible languages and dialects, so there is no need to worry that you won’t find anyone speaking the same regional language as your client or partner.

Owing to the video chat, you can now hire a remote translator who uses sign language. As every country has its own sign language, it’s sometimes almost impossible to find the right interpreter, for example, a German sign language translator in France.

Safety

Given that we have been locked in our homes for over a year now due to COVID-19, remote services are becoming more and more reasonable, as they limit the chances of spreading the disease. With remote interpreting services, you can organize conferences, meetings, and events without risking people’s lives and health. It may also prove to be more inclusive — it’s all done over the internet, so no one needs to cover travel and accommodation costs.

The Bottom Line

The last few years have shown us that remote services are the future. They are faster, more flexible, cheaper, and more inclusive. The benefits greatly outweigh all the disadvantages. If you are interested in interpreting services, try to find a reliable company that can guarantee you professional service and utmost care. You rarely need to worry about any equipment or time zone. It’s all easily accessible and can be done from anywhere. Remember to look for interpreters suited for your needs and with good, professional reviews.

Good communication among employees is one of the most important parts of operating a business. Ultimately, a good relationship within the organization makes the company grow, allowing a manager to build a strong, motivated team. In the long run, a committed and loyal team helps the company achieve grand success in the field.

Therefore, the importance of good communication in your organization should become the ultimate goal of your everyday work as a company leader. The tricky part? Not every manager is naturally born with amazing communication skills. For those who might be struggling with establishing good communication with their workers, we’ve got a solution. Follow the article to find out more:

Choose Modern Solutions

To ensure better communication with your workers, think about the means of communication that will help you achieve your goal. For fast and effective communication, you should choose modern solutions, such as digital communication software and specific apps that can help you exchange information. For example, websites such as www.faxburner.com will also allow you to finally get rid of old machines lying around the office and conduct your business faster.

Get Rid of Unnecessary Information

To communicate with workers in a simple, clear, and effective way, you should go through all your communication channels. In offices, especially in the corporate world, teams use email as a primary channel of communication. Many employees share the same email address to make work faster and easier. But it’s not always a good idea. This approach can significantly increase the workload of your employees because they will be flooded with the information they don’t need to know.

The solution is to create individual profiles for workers and assign each one to a mailbox. The process will help you stay on top of who needs what and when. Besides, it’ll help you make sure that your account doesn’t have numerous messages from different clients.

Bond with Your Team

Remember that leadership is a conversation. Foster a positive work environment where members can freely express their opinion and are not afraid to ask questions if they don’t understand something. You should learn how to communicate with an employee, especially if he disagrees with you. Do it without raising your voice or threatening them with punishment. If you believe that an employee doesn’t fit into the company culture or his performance doesn’t match expectations, be honest and straightforward about it without blaming him or her for everything that happened in the office since last Thursday.

Team events and contests will help you build emotional bonds among coworkers and ensure better communication within the company. You can organize team vacations or neighborhood parties to keep communication with your employees fresh and stimulating. 

That’s why planning those activities that promote collaboration inside the team is highly recommended. Everybody should be identified as an important member of the company.

Be a True Leader

One of the most important tips for better communication with your workers is to allow them to speak openly about their ideas, opinions, and problems. You should build your team on the values of trust and respect towards the voice of others. Try to think about yourself not as the dominant, authoritative figure but as a supporting and motivating leader that employees can respect and ask for help.

Stay aware of all the facts that can affect your team’s productivity and happiness. An important aspect of successful leadership is to make your employees feel valued. Therefore you must always keep them updated.

Moreover, it is important that you analyze if the decisions that you are making are in the best interest of the whole team, or if they benefit only a few people. You should always look for solutions in which your workers feel included and compensated. Make sure that their interests are protected from possible failure points.

Be Flexible

Successful companies are always flexible. No matter what’s happening around, they have a plan B (and even C if needed!). Modern companies take a turn, allowing the overall company strategy to be constantly evolving, changing, and improving. As a leader, you should be flexible with your ideas. If you want to see some changes or take a different direction, inform your team about it as soon as you can. Your employees won’t read your mind, but they would totally appreciate more transparency in the company. 

The Bottom Line

When creating new working strategies or applying changes to existing ones, there’s always some sort of confusion within your team members. They may not understand whether a certain practice is completely forbidden or if they should follow it under certain circumstances. If you want to build trust with your employees, then you must establish clear, detailed rules for them to follow. 

If they know how exactly they are supposed to behave or produce results, then they will respect both your requests and themselves. They will also work better in a culture where failure is considered something normal and even expected sometimes. Reward those who try harder or come up with creative ways to solve problems instead of blaming them for not being prepared enough before attempting something new that might have been unsuccessful in advance.