Training Employees to Spot Social Engineering

Social engineering is one of the newest methods hackers use to access sensitive information. Rather than attacking a system directly, this technique relies on human psychology to gain information. This method is brilliant when you think about it because it does not have to deal with going past ironclad network security. If hackers can manipulate even a single employee, they might hand over sensitive information on a silver platter, and the hackers can take control of the organization’s entire system. This is why its important for your employees to learn how to spot social engineering.

Companies must understand that if you can’t spot social engineering it can compromise business security. Reports show that over 90% of data breaches happen because of social engineering. Phishing scams account for 54% of these cases. The good news is that there is a way to prevent social engineering threats, and that is by training employees.

Popular Social Engineering Techniques

There is a lot to cover in training employees to spot social engineering. A logical start would be to discuss the most popular techniques so employees can recognize and avoid them.

Phishing is the most common method because it is easy to execute. It also yields positive results, at least for the hackers. This method entails sending emails that deceive victims into clicking a malicious link or divulging sensitive information without realizing it.

Pretexting is when a hacker gains the victim’s trust through a pretext or a created scenario, which is part of a larger, more convoluted social engineering attack plan. There is also the quid pro quo attack, where the hacker lures the victim into divulging information in exchange for something in return. Tailgating, or piggybacking, is a popular social engineering technique where the victim unknowingly gives the hacker access to a secure location.

Importance of Employee Training To Spot Social Engineering

These social engineering strategies would be much easier to execute if employees were untrained and unaware of the risks involved. The damage could be monumental, as the $100 million phishing scam on Google and Facebook illustrates. From 2013 to 2015, a team of hackers sent numerous phishing emails to specific employees of Google and Facebook, telling them to deposit money into fraudulent accounts. They could collect more than $100 million from this scheme.

Now, even if your business does not have that kind of revenue, you can still be a victim. These days, hackers are targeting small businesses on a massive scale. Every employee can also be a target, from customer service personnel to top executives, so you must conduct training across the board.

Best Ways to Train Employees to Spot Social Engineering

There are several methods of training your employees to spot social engineering. Traditional classroom workshops, either personal or online, are excellent for an in-depth training session. A one-time seminar is hardly enough, though, and that is why we also recommend regular refreshers.

Unannounced phishing simulations are effective in evaluating employees based on how much they have learned. It would surprise you how so many people do well in theory but still won’t be able to tell the real deal when it is staring at them from the inbox. Being bitten once in a simulated attack will teach your employees to be more vigilant.

Final Thoughts

Organizations can achieve a high level of protection against social engineering if everyone is sufficiently aware of the risks and knows what to do in case an attack goes through. Besides the various training methods, you will implement, we strongly advise you to download our infographic, “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked.” Print it out and post it on every department’s bulletin board. Be sure all your employees also get their own copy.

For more information about social engineering and how to avoid becoming a victim, call us. We can get you up to speed on the latest preventive measures and keep your company safe from the prying eyes of cybercriminals.

Top 8 Phishing Scam Tactics and How to Identify Them

Phishing has been a common hacking method for over two decades now. You would think that everyone would already know how it works and how to avoid becoming a victim, right? Sadly, that is not the case for these Phishing Scam Tactics. There are more victims now than ever. In 2022, there were more than 300,000 victims in the US alone, with damages amounting to over $52 million!

The thing is that phishing scams have evolved over the years. Hackers are now more adept at hoodwinking unsuspecting victims, and they also have easy access to modern technology that helps elevate their phishing tactics.

Top 8 Phishing Scam Tactics

To protect your data and your business, you must build awareness of these scams at all levels of your organization. Here are the top 8 indicators of phishing scam tactics and what to do when you encounter them.

Spoofed Emails

Upon getting an email from a trusted source, many people would open the email without a second thought. Hackers know this and use it for their Phishing Scam Tactics. They make the email look like it came from a reputable source by indicating a trusted sender name, although the email address is not correct. Before opening an email, check that the sender and the address are the same.

Sense of Urgency

Receiving a message that threatens to close your account or bring you legal action can easily cause you to freak out. Because of your panic, you could rashly click on the links as instructed in the email. Of course you would…you don’t want to be sued or go to jail! Stay calm when you receive such emails. Verify the information before taking action.

Malicious Links as a Phishing Scam Tactics

Malicious links are among the oldest phishing methods, but they are still very effective. Sometimes, these links appeal to a person’s natural curiosity, and at other times, they come with the promise of a reward. Either way, it led the unwitting victim to click the link or open the attachment. Again, always check before clicking.

Password Requests

Have you ever received an email from your bank or credit card provider asking for your password or other sensitive data about your account? Never! Legitimate companies do not ask for these kinds of data from clients. In case you get such a request, this is a phishing scam tactics so make sure to block and ignore it. They are almost certainly hackers trying to get into your account.

Misspellings and Poor Grammar

Although many hackers have sharpened their grammar skills by now, many phishing emails are still easily identifiable by wrongly spelled words and typographical errors. Yes, they make you cringe, but these emails can wreak serious havoc on your business. Therefore, you must not even reply or make grammatical corrections.

Personalized Content

It sounds like a legit email if they address you by the correct name and position, right? Hackers are very resourceful. They can get their hands on publicly known information with little effort. They can also access so much more if you engage in their attempts. So before you take any action, make sure to verify the source of the message.

Fake URLs are used in Phishing Scam Tactics

Using fake website URLs is another phishing scam tactic with a very high success rate. Hackers send out emails that look like they came from a trusted source, like a service provider, containing a link to what looks like the actual page of the provider, and they will ask you to log in. Of course, thinking that you are at a legit site, you enter your login details, unknowingly giving them full access to your account.

Unexpected Emails

If you suddenly receive an email out of nowhere that raises an alarm, be immediately wary because this is likely to be a scam. Do nothing they are asking you to do. Don’t even reply. Verify the source of the email to see if it is legit.

Final Thoughts

If anyone in your organization receives any form of these phishing scam tactics, encourage them to speak out so others will be doubly vigilant. If someone thinks someone has already hacked them, it’s not necessarily too late. There are things you can do to minimize the damage. We have outlined the steps in an infographic called “The Top 10 Steps to Take If You Think You Have Been Hacked”. You can download it by clicking right here.

To learn more about protecting your business from phishing scams and improving your company’s cybersecurity, call us. We will be happy to set you up for a free consultation!

The Top 7 Mobile Security Threats to Address in Your BYOD Policy

BYOD or Bring Your Own Device is a modern practice where employees use their personally owned gadgets – smartphones, laptops, tablets, or whatnot – for work. This is opposed to the traditional method of using company-issued equipment exclusively for work stuff which can have mobile security threats.

The BYOD policy has several perks, such as more flexibility in remote work, a healthier balance between work and personal life, and reduced equipment expenses. However, some challenges arise from this practice, particularly in terms of business mobile security threats.

When employees use the same device for all their dealings, this could create several mobile security threats that the company must address in the BYOD policy. Here are seven of the top threats and our recommended solutions.

Mobile Security Threats – Device Theft

In the event of stolen or lost devices, unknown entities could have unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the device. To guard against these mobile security threats, there must be a way to delete data from the device remotely.

Malware Infection

Malware can quickly lead to a data breach and security problems. Your company can avoid this if all personally owned devices have reliable, updated antivirus software to guard against malware infection.

Unsecured Wi-Fi

Encryption is necessary for maintaining the confidentiality and security of data, so most work and home networks have this. However, public hotspots are common for mobile security threats. If you need to connect to an uncertain network, use a VPN to guarantee data security.

Mobile Security Threats – Phishing

People are more relaxed when using their mobile phones than when they use a company computer. Because of this, many are prone to becoming victims of phishing attacks. Constant reminders would help instill a natural sense of caution in employees.

Outdated Device

Not all employees are gadget fanatics who would immediately fall in line when the newest iPhone is released. Many would stick to their old gadgets until they fell apart. While we might applaud their frugality, outdated devices can put corporate and personal data at high risk with mobile security threats. You can state in your BYOD policy that there must be a mandatory regular upgrade of all devices employees wish to use for work.

Risky Apps

Personal phones and laptops often contain games or other apps that might not be completely secure. These apps sometimes request permissions that could put your device’s contents at risk. To avoid these risks, the BYOD policy must prohibit the installation and use of these unverified apps.

Encrypted Data

When sending digital correspondence from a work computer, all data is automatically encrypted to keep it confidential. Public hotspots and some home networks might not have sufficiently secure levels of encryption, which will compromise your data. Mandatory use of proper encryption before sending out any business data will help prevent such compromises.

Creating Your BYOD Policy to Prevent Mobile Security Threats

If it is your first time drafting a BYOD policy for your company, it can get intimidating, considering all the issues that need to be addressed. For instance, the mobile threats we have listed above are just some of the potential problems you would have to deal with, and we are sure you would think of more as you go along.

To ensure you do not forget any crucial aspect, we strongly recommend you use the BYOD policy template we have created specifically for this purpose. It is a comprehensive but concise document, including everything from permitted devices and security specifications to restrictions and sanctions. Of course, you can customize it as you see fit by adding or removing items to make it appropriate for your organization’s security goals. Call us now if you need additional help!

Why Cybersecurity Insurance Matters

As businesses move forward into a digital environment, cybersecurity insurance becomes even more crucial as online threats grow more advanced. Before, hackers only targeted large, high-revenue corporations since they had the money and the valuable information. But statistics show that over 40% of recent cyberattacks target small businesses. But what’s even more alarming is that only 14% of these small businesses are prepared for such an attack.

Cybersecurity Insurance is a Wise and Necessary Investment

Organizations are already taking more stringent measures to protect their businesses against online threats. Despite these efforts, malware and ransomware can still make their way into your system, and data breaches can still happen. To protect your business from the many ramifications of these attacks, you must invest in a good cybersecurity insurance plan.

While cybersecurity insurance cannot prevent or undo cybercrime, there are many ways that it can help your business recover in case an online attack takes place.

Reduce Financial Setbacks

Dealing with the consequences of a cyberattack can be expensive. Depending on the severity of the attack, it can set your business back by millions of dollars! You will pay for legal services, IT support, damage control, and more. A comprehensive plan can cover all these expenses and much more.

Cover Downtime Losses

Getting your business back on its feet can take a long time, again depending on the gravity of the situation. During rebuilding or while operations are on hold, insurance can tide you over until your business is fully recovered.

Fill the Gap Liability Insurance

When purchasing a general liability insurance plan, many business owners assume that this covers cyberattacks, which is typically not the case. Standard policies might offer coverage to some extent, but it is rarely enough. A separate cybersecurity insurance policy will give you the widest possible coverage to protect your business.

Recovery Assistance

Many cybersecurity insurance plans today offer so much more than just financial help. Many providers offer a complete recovery package that includes legal services, PR damage control, and IT forensics. You can get all these services from separate providers, but why stress yourself when you can get them all in one place?

Competitive Rates for Robust Security

Insurance carriers usually offer very competitive rates to clients with a robust cybersecurity system in place. This is to encourage companies to prioritize cybersecurity and implement better strategies. If you wish to avail discounted rates, it would be a good idea to level up your protection as early as now.

Best Practices for Improving Cybersecurity Insurance

There are many ways to boost cybersecurity in the workplace, as many of us know by now. For starters, you must train your employees regularly, as lack of awareness still ranks at the top of how hackers break into systems. You must also secure your networks, constantly update your anti-malware tools, and implement multi-factor authentication.

Bring Your Own Device Policy

Another excellent way to improve your company’s cybersecurity is to implement a sound Bring Your Own Device or BYOD policy in the workplace. The policy should clearly define the responsibilities of the company and the employee when using their personally owned devices to access company data and other uses of the device within the workplace.

To guarantee that you include all the vital elements in your company’s BYOD policy, you can use our BYOD Policy template, which you can download by clicking right here. You can customize it any way you need to make it align with your organization’s operations and goals.

Final Thoughts on Cybersecurity Insurance

A business needs to do everything necessary to boost cybersecurity. But no matter how strong your defenses might be, one must never be complacent. Investing in a good cybersecurity insurance plan is one of the best things you can do to protect your business. Call us now so we can help you with any questions you may have about cybersecurity insurance.

10 Reasons Why Businesses Need Password Management

Password security is one of the most basic yet valuable aspects of protecting your business. Your company’s security relies heavily on the quality of your passwords and how you manage them. Therefore, people must choose strong, unique passwords and regularly change them to minimize the risk of hacking. That is why businesses need to choose a great Password Management tool.

Password Management is risky and tedious with the increasing number of accounts we have. Businesses need a strong password solution for data security. If you don’t have one, here are 10 compelling reasons to get a password manager soon.

We Need Password Management to Enhanced Data Security

A password manager comes with many features that can dramatically increase the security of your business. It can generate passwords that are virtually impossible to decipher. They can store these passwords in secure locations in the cloud. Password Management tools also come with multifactor authentication.

Regulatory Compliance

No matter what industry, businesses need to comply with data security regulations. There is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, or PCI DSS, for instance, and the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. A password manager ensures compliance with these and other relevant laws.

Fewer Passwords to Remember

The stress that employees experience can increase because they have to remember dozens of passwords for the various accounts they use at work. With the Password Management tool, there is no need to remember all these passwords because the program can auto-fill them for you.

Improved Work Productivity

With fewer things on their mind and fewer worries about forgotten passwords, employees can focus more on their actual job responsibilities. Overall work productivity will improve, ultimately leading to better business performance.

Authorized Password Sharing

For accounts where multiple individuals have access, password managers allow these entities to share passwords without compromising security.

Security in Remote Work

With most businesses now using a remote or hybrid work setup, there is much security concern when accessing business accounts from home or public networks. Through tools like high-level encryption, a password manager can guarantee the security of your business network, even with a remote workforce.

We Need Password Management For Better Digital Estate Planning

When the owner dies, the inheritors can refer to the digital estate plan to determine what to do with the digital assets. However, they have a hard time gaining access to the accounts because they do not know the passwords. But if you use a password manager now, this can be incorporated with digital estate planning, making for a hassle-free transition of the business in the owner’s event’s passing.

Centralized Control

The larger the business is, the more complicated password management can get. A password manager program gives IT control over password generation and employee access.

Financial Savings

It’s not the first thing you would think of, but password managers can save you extra expenses. They help save businesses by reducing the time employees spend retrieving forgotten passwords.

We Need Password Management for Business Continuity

In case the business suffers a disaster, like a data breach or a natural calamity, a password manager helps ensure business continuity amidst the recovery process by giving you secure access to all your login credentials.

Final Thoughts on Why Businesses Need Password Management

If these reasons still don’t convince you to get a password management system right away, we encourage you to Download our Free Password Management Cheat-Sheet. You will discover more about password management and other cloud-based solutions that apply to businesses.

If you are ready to take the next step, call us—our team is always here to help!

Why Are Managing Passwords So Hard?

We do most of our business online—emailing, shopping, banking, and much more. But before you take any action, you must log in with a name and password. It’s pretty routine, but with the rapidly growing number of online services that require passwords, it can get increasingly difficult when we are managing these passwords.

Managing Passwords Can Be Difficult

We all know that passwords are necessary to ensure that only you will access your accounts. But managing passwords can become somewhat hard, especially when you already have so many that you need to remember, and we can all relate to this, right? Here are some reasons why password management is a challenge.

Too Many Passwords to Remember

Many people write their passwords in a notebook or digital file. Others have high confidence in their memory and choose to memorize them. This would work well for passwords you use frequently, but for those you seldom use, you will probably forget it when you need it next.

Constant Password Changes

Changing passwords every so often will help ensure the security of your accounts. With all the changes, it is easy to become confused, especially if you forget that you have already changed the password and the one you remember was the old one.

Need for Unique and Complex Passwords

Because of the frustration of remembering so many passwords, most people use the same password across different accounts. We can’t emphasize enough just how dangerous this practice can be! The moment one of your accounts gets infiltrated, the hacker will have a field day because they can access all your other data! Thus, there is an absolute need for different passwords for each of your accounts. This is crucial for security but does make managing passwords a bit more of a challenge.

How Managing Password Applications Can Help

There is something that you can do to manage your passwords better while enhancing their security at the same time. It is done by using a reliable password management application.

Password managers are commonplace these days, but you have to choose carefully. Consider the level of security they offer, the ease of use, and their suitability for the needs of your business. We have listed five of the top password managers in last week’s blog, which you can read here.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of modern technology that enhances data security and user experiences, like biometric login and multi-factor authentication.

Biometric Login

Biometrics is a modern way of logging into an account where you no longer need to enter a password. Instead, a physical trait that is particular to you serves as proof of your identity. Fingerprints are the most commonly used, but some applications also use other biometrics like facial recognition, voice recognition, and iris matching.

Multifactor Authentication

Along with a traditional password, this login method requires additional proof of identity before allowing access to an account, thus multiplying your protection from unwanted access.

Importance of Managing Passwords in Digital Estate Planning

Biometric login and multi-factor authentication are valuable for improving security for businesses, but they can also spell new problems, especially regarding gaining access to your business passwords after the owner’s death.

Let’s say the successor or inheritor of the business gets possession of the computers, gadgets, and so on. If all accounts are set up for biometric login using the owner’s attributes, getting access to the business accounts can prove very difficult. Hence, despite these modern tools, efficient password management should still be implemented.

We invite you to Watch our Cloud Webinar and discover some new insights on the topic. You can also learn about managing passwords, which can add to protecting your business information.

Best Password Management for Businesses

The best password management is important for businesses. If your passwords are weak or not stored in a safe location, hackers can easily penetrate your system, causing a myriad of damage to the company, your clients, your customers, and who knows what else. You don’t want that to happen!

Fortunately, there are now a lot of reliable password management solutions that are ideal for business use. Some are browser-based, while others are applications you can download onto your computer or smartphone. But if you want the best password management solutions, go with those based in the cloud.

Advantages of Cloud-Based Password Managers

Cloud-based password managers offer more in terms of both safety and convenience, as compared to all the other kinds.

Many people are still hesitant about using cloud technology because of safety concerns. They think cloud solutions are more susceptible to cyberattacks since they are “out there” instead of being in your office. But with the highly advanced encryption methods most cloud providers use, your passwords will be safer on the cloud than on your own servers.

As for convenience, a password manager company that uses cloud technology gives you easier access to your passwords. You can get into it on any device, no matter where you are, as long as there is an internet connection.

Top Best Password Management Solutions for Businesses Today

As mentioned earlier, there are many business password manager programs that are available these days. But we want you to experience only the safest and most reliable programs for your business. That is why we focused only on cloud-based password managers as we scoured the web for the five best solutions you can choose from.

LastPass is one of The Best Password Management

As an all-inclusive password management tool, LastPass offers many features and services that boost the security and overall management of your business login information. Some of their most popular features are password generation, auto-fill, and on-cloud storage. They use multi-factor authentication for added security.

Dashlane

Second on our list is Dashlane which, besides the same password generation, auto-fill, and storage features, also provides dark web monitoring. This service will immediately notify you if your login information becomes compromised. It also has a secure VPN service that makes for a fast and secure connection no matter where you are.

1Password

If you are looking for a business password company that will do much more than generate strong passwords for you and store them in a secure cloud location, 1Password is a great solution to try. They take password management to the next level by using AES-256-bit encryption to protect your data, and their vigilant monitoring will alert you as soon as they detect a breach or even the existence of a weak or duplicate password in your system.

Keeper

One of Keeper’s features is the many security layers it offers. Ideal for both business and personal use, Keeper uses end-to-end encryption to protect your credentials. They combine AES-256 with PBKDF2 encryption,   an advanced technique used only in top-security networks, making your data virtually untouchable by hackers.

RoboForm

RoboForm proves you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to enjoy top-quality security for your passwords. With one of the most affordable subscription rates available today, RoboForm does not offer as many features as some of the more expensive options. However, they provide solid password auditing, auto-fill, and multi-factor authentication, which will more than keep your login credentials adequately protected.

Final Thoughts For Choosing The Best Password Management

Choose a password manager that fits your business needs. When considering software, it is important to prioritize security, compatibility, ease of use, and compliance. Make sure the rules are followed with regulations that apply to your industry, like the GDPR or the PCI DSS.

For password tips and tricks, Download our Free Password Management Cheatsheet. If you’re not already using it, passwords are safer in the Cloud! Also, watch our cloud webinar about password safety and management. We are just a call away if you need any advice or help with password management!

Why Businesses Need Password Management

As digital technology becomes more advanced, so do the risks of online security breaches. Cyberattacks continue to be a problem, so businesses need to implement reliable security measures now more than ever. There are many security solutions available. One of the simplest yet most effective is a first-rate password management solution.

What Is Password Management?

Password management is a general term that refers to the steps a business uses to keep passwords secure. It includes everything about passwords, from knowing how to pick a good one all the way to using advanced software to store and regularly update all the passwords.

We all know how important it is to choose passwords that are hard to decipher and to make sure no one knows your passwords. But this is easier said than done. It happens very often that people forget passwords. For this reason, you might have a digital file where you keep all your passwords, or you might write them in an actual notebook. However, these kinds of password storage solutions are not very secure. This is where password managers come in.

Why Using a Password Manager Is Necessary for Businesses

Every business would benefit from a password manager, especially if the operations and transactions happen online. There are a few different managers in use today: browser-based, portable, desktop-based, or cloud-based. Of these, the latter is the most highly advisable and necessary for business use with password management. Why so? Here are some excellent reasons.

You don’t need to remember every password you have

Practically everything we do online requires us to log in for security reasons. This means the average person today would have at least a dozen different passwords to remember. Perhaps you can use the same password for all accounts so you will have fewer to remember, but that is not secure.

With password management, you don’t have to remember so much because the software will remember it all for you. This allows for less clutter in your mind and, ultimately, higher work productivity. One password you have to remember is the one to log into the password manager.

You can access your passwords from anywhere

Since we store the password manager in the cloud, you can access it from anywhere that you have internet access. It’s not just you, either. Any individual with permission will also be able to get access to the passwords.

Password management gives you more security

As with many cloud services, a cloud-based password manager comes with dependable security features that you can trust. Also, if you use the password manager to generate passwords, it will give you something more secure than your birthday for a password. It will generate complex combinations that are virtually impossible to crack.

An Extra Boost of Security

A password manager is of great help in terms of convenience and security. But there are other modern solutions that you can take advantage of as a business owner to ensure your data is secure. One solution today is using biometrics as an alternative login method.

Biometrics uses physical attributes, like fingerprints, facial recognition, or voice recognition, that are unique to the individual, making it impossible for anyone else to access their account.

Another way to elevate password security is via multi-factor authentication. The added layers of verification will reduce the chances that unauthorized individuals might get in.

Protect Your Business by Protecting Your Passwords

To help you understand further the importance of password management in business, we invite you to Watch our Webinar on Digital Estate Planning and why Password Management is a must. It seems like such a minor thing, but keeping your passwords protected is essential to the overall security of your business. Call us today so we can get started!

10 Reasons Why Businesses Need a Digital Estate Plan

In the last two weeks, we have talked about digital estate plans and why it is crucial for businesses today to have one. Since most business data is now stored digitally, it makes sense to protect these digital assets in the event the business owner passes away.

If you still don’t have one and are still on the fence about whether creating one is worth your time and effort, we have listed 10 excellent reasons to encourage you to get started soon.

1. Protection of Digital Assets with a Digital Estate Plan

This step is the primary purpose of planning—it ensures that your business and all its digital assets are adequately protected after the owner dies, especially if they are the only ones with access to the business accounts and other online information. Instead of being lost in cyberspace, they will pass the digital assets on to the owner’s chosen successor.

2. Business Continuity with a Digital Estate Plan

The death of the owner doesn’t mean the end of the business. With a well-prepared digital estate plan, you can show your long-term goals for your business and assign individuals to carry on these goals. Hence, your business can continue to prosper years after you are gone.

3. Better Control of the Business

Sometimes a business may carry on after the owner’s passage, but in a direction that differs from what the owner had originally intended. You can prevent this so your business follows your intended path by specifying how you want your digital assets managed in the digital estate plan.

4. Legal Compliance

The law requires businesses to follow specific regulations regarding data protection and privacy. Compliance with these legal requirements is one of the high-priority items in a digital estate planning checklist. When creating your plan, check for local regulations that might apply to your business.

5. Intellectual Property Protection

Most businesses own several digital assets that are intellectual property. These include company logos, brand names, trademarks, and patents. Digital estate planning ensures the protection of all these intellectual properties by enabling the business owner to decide on the manner of their eventual management or distribution.

6. Identity Theft Prevention through Digital Estate Plan

When a business owner dies, the company’s digital assets might become susceptible to data breaches or identity theft unless there is a proper delegation of management roles, which a digital estate plan can help ensure.

7. Dispute Prevention

Just like in a regular will, those left out sometimes fight over the inheritance. The same can happen in a business when the owner passes. As a business owner, you can prevent these kinds of disputes by creating a digital estate plan that shows the roles you want your business partners, stakeholders, and family members to play in the business after you have gone.

8. Tax Liability Reduction

Turning over the ownership of a business can come with hefty taxes, but a plan can significantly help reduce these taxes.

9. Legacy Preservation

Even if you completely trust your successor to do well in your business, it is still something else to preserve your legacy after your death. A plan lets you specify the direction you want to go with your business and gives your successor a guide on managing the business how you would have wanted them to.

10. Smooth and Seamless Transition

With everything laid out in the plan, transferring ownership can go on without hiccups. There will be no wasting of time, money, and other resources. All that has to happen is the execution of the estate plan.

Create Your Digital Estate Plan with Our Help Today

There they are – 10 compelling reasons to prepare a digital estate plan for your business. If you are ready to take the next step, we are always here to assist in any way we can.

For more information, download our free Digital Estate Planning Checklist and Password Cheat Sheet right here. Contact us if you have questions! We will help you ensure that your business stays protected, now and after your passing.

A Step-by-Step Guide to an Effective Digital Estate Planning

In our previous blog, we began talking about the digital assets of a business—what they are, why they are vital to the business, and how to protect them. We have also mentioned how important it is to protect them even after you, the business owner, have passed away, through effective digital estate planning.

A digital estate plan will give authorized people access to business accounts, and all other restricted aspects of the business when you are no longer around or have become incapacitated. But how does one create an effective digital estate plan? It’s not something that you do every day. What are the things to include? How can you guarantee that the business you have worked so hard to build can go on properly? Here are the important steps that you need to take.

Take an Inventory of All Your Digital Assets

First, you need to create a list of all the digital assets of your business, which might encompass a wider range than you think. These are all the digital files that have value for your business, from photos and videos of your products to transaction records and everything in between. It also includes all accounts you maintain for your business. Taking inventory of your assets is an effective digital estate plan.

Decide How to Manage Your Digital Assets

For each item you have listed, you must specify how to proceed with it after you pass. Who will have access? What should be done with them? How do you want them managed? It is important to be clear and concise in leaving these instructions because they will be followed when you are no longer around to make clarifications.

In selecting your designated backup person, the one who will have control over the digital assets of your business when you cannot do so, pick one who is both capable and trustworthy. In addition, they should also be well-versed in the operations of your business.

Keep an Updated List of Passwords for an Effective Digital Estate Planning

Practically everything now is online and requires a login name and password. It is crucial to keep all of this login information in a place that is not only completely safe but also accessible to authorized entities when the time comes.

A great way to store your passwords as an effective digital estate plan is by using a password manager. Here, you can safely store any online credentials. It also conveniently allows any authorized entity to access the login information. With a password manager, you can also easily update the saved passwords whenever you change them.

Strengthen Your Digital Security

When a business owner passes away, there will be quite a few entities with a vested interest in the business. This people will try to get their hands on it. They might think that since the owner has died, no one would watch the gates, and getting in would be easier. This would not be true if you increased your data security as early as now.

Multi-factor authentication is one of the most popular methods people are using today as a login procedure. This is because it can add a robust layer of security to any account. Besides traditional passwords, you should also activate the use of one-time passcodes. This is to ensure that only authorized individuals will gain access to your digital assets.

Final Thoughts for an Effective Digital Estate Planning

Preparing in the event of death is no different with a company’s digital estate. To help you prepare for the inevitable, we have created a Digital Estate Planning Checklist and Password Cheat Sheet that you can download for free.

This guide contains a lot of useful information that you would need to organize a complete digital estate plan. This is one of many things you can do to protect your digital assets. If you have questions or need further assistance, our team is just a call away!