Qtr 3 | 2024
In this Issue:
-
The Buzz: Digital Estate Plans
-
Service Highlight: Email Security Suite
-
Business Stats: Small Business Security Statistics
-
Tech Tips and TrickS: gOOGLE SEARCH CHEAT SHEETS
THE BUZZ – Do You Have a Digital Estate Plan??
Ensure your digital legacy is secure. A digital estate plan provides a comprehensive account of your online assets, ensuring your loved ones can effectively manage and access them after you’re gone. Consider appointing a digital executor to guarantee your digital assets are handled according to your wishes.
Step 1: Inventory Your Digital Assets
The first step in creating a digital estate plan is identifying and inventorying your digital assets. This includes social media accounts, email addresses, online banking and investment accounts, and digital files stored on your computer and other devices. It’s essential to list all online accounts, including login credentials, passwords, and security questions, and categorize them into financial, personal, and professional assets. This helps in understanding the different types of digital assets and their importance. Each category might have various levels of access and security, which should be noted in your digital estate plan.
Step 2: Choose a Digital Executor
The role of a digital executor is crucial in managing your digital estate after you pass away. This person is responsible for accessing your digital accounts, managing online assets, and ensuring your digital wishes are carried out. When choosing a digital executor, look for someone tech-savvy, trustworthy, and familiar with legal processes related to digital assets. Appointing a digital executor involves legal considerations and formal documentation. You need to legally designate this person in your will or through a separate legal document to ensure they have the authority to manage your digital estate. Clearly outline the responsibilities of your digital executor in your digital estate plan and provide them with access to your inventory of digital assets and necessary login credentials. Discussing your digital wishes with them in advance is also advisable to ensure they understand your preferences and instructions.
Step 3: Document Your Wishes
Document your wishes to outline how you want your digital assets managed after death. Specify who gets access to what, including instructions for social media accounts, file transfers, and online subscriptions. Be comprehensive and easy to understand. Secure the document safely and share it with your digital executor and relevant parties. Update the document periodically and consider legal authentication if needed.
Step 4: Update Regularly
Regularly updating your digital estate plan to keep it accurate and relevant as your digital life evolves is essential. Failing to do so can lead to complications for your digital executor. Set a yearly review schedule to update your plan, check digital assets, and ensure your digital executor is still willing and able to perform their duties.
Although the digital estate planning process may still be developing, these steps will help your loved ones protect your memories and better manage your estate. Below is a checklist to help you get started.
Digital Estate Checklist
Service Highlight – Email Security Suite
As remote work becomes more common, cyber crime is on the rise. Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks have increased by 150% year-over-year, posing a significant threat to businesses. Staying well-informed and vigilant is crucial to protect your company from these attacks. Explore the primary risks associated with business email accounts and access ten essential tips for enhancing business email security.
What is email security for business?
Email security is essential for businesses to protect valuable data and ensure smooth communication. With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, companies must proactively avoid potential risks. Enterprise email security requires robust and scalable solutions to safeguard against cyber threats. Promoting secure online practices among employees is crucial for a safer work environment regardless of a company’s size.
What is Business Email Compromise (BEC)?
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a severe cyber crime in which scammers impersonate trusted business contacts to deceive employees into transferring money or sensitive information. Since 2016, BEC fraud has cost companies over $26 billion globally, and the threat continues to escalate. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to these attacks and may struggle to detect or prevent them. For example, the director of Puerto Rico’s Industrial Development Company fell victim to a BEC scam, resulting in a loss of $2.6 million. Similarly, Ubiquiti Networks Inc., a San Jose-based technology company, lost $46.7 million in a BEC attack. Since email is integral to business communication, companies of all sizes must remain vigilant and take proactive measures to defend against BEC threats.
Why is email security important?
Email has become essential in our digital lives, containing sensitive information and serving as a crucial communication method. Unauthorized email access can lead to control of our other online accounts, data theft, and significant financial and reputational risks. Cyber criminals often target emails; 94% of malware is distributed through email. Given the frequency and severity of email-based malware attacks, it’s crucial to prioritize email security, especially in business settings.
Phishing is the top email security threat
Phishing involves hackers deceiving employees into clicking on malicious links or divulging sensitive company data. Cyber criminals use creative techniques to improve the conversion rates of their scams, which is why phishing emails can be so hard to identify. This highlights the importance of email security for businesses.
Examples of phishing emails include: Account verification scam, Fake invoice scam, & Spear phishing
Best practices for business email security:
– Conduct phishing awareness training
– Enable multi-factor authentication
– Avoid using email on public Wi-Fi
– Encrypt company email
– Set up email security protocols
– Improve endpoint security
– Use strong passwords for email accounts
Business email security protects valuable company data from cyber threats, including phishing scams. Taking appropriate measures to ensure email security is vital for safeguarding your business.
Cybersecurity is 20 percent technology and 80 percent process. -Ginni Rometty
Business Stats: SMall business Statistics
There are 31.7 million small businesses in the US—that’s 99.9% of all US businesses.
- 60.6 million Americans are small business employees—47.1% of all U.S employees.
- It takes an average of four days to open a business in the US.
- Approximately 543,000 businesses are launched every month.
- Only 64% of SMBs have a functioning website, with 94% of these websites being mobile-friendly.
- Small business owners have an average annual income of $65,000.
- Nearly 70% of entrepreneurs start their business at home.
- A low 17% of SMBs invest in SEO (search engine optimization).
- Only 40% of small businesses are profitable, 30% are perpetually losing money, and just 30% manage to break even.
- Most state laws require that every new LLC designate a registered agent within that state that will be available during regular business hours at a physical address.
- The US ranks 15th in the 2020 list of best countries to start a business.
- 60% of customers check Google My Business for information on local businesses.
- 42% of small businesses fail due to lack of demand for their products or services, while a staggering 82% fail due to cash flow issues.
- According to a survey, 93% of small businesses use Facebook as a marketing platform, followed closely by Twitter at 79%.
- As of February 2021, the single most important downfall for small businesses is poor sales.
- The cost of launching a start-up is between $2000 and $50,000.
- Americans are three times more likely to express confidence in a small business than they are in a larger business.
Your DCR Team – Behind the Scenes
Birthdays
Denase Harris – July 11TH
wORK Anniversaries
|
 |
 |
| Denase – 8/20 – 26 Yrs | Terry – 8/21 – 18 Yrs | LaDonna – 9/26 – 8 Yrs |
TECH TIPS: Google search cheat sheets
Unleash the power of Google Search with this Cheat Sheet & Quick Reference. Learn to search using URLs, dates, and keywords effortlessly. Find specific files and search within page content with ease. Explore useful search operators to refine your searches, including the ability to search within emails.
Click the link to get started!