systems, fuse cut offs, kill switches, and starter and fuel disabler switches all can be vulnerable to hacks. Luckily, some equipment movement can be tracked or prevented with GPS tracking systems, geofencing systems, motion-sensor lighting and surveillance cameras. Defend your data In 2023, only one in four businesses in Canada had written policies to deal with cybersecurity. Staff and employees should be trained in cybersecurity best practices. Policies should be in place to deal with lost hardware like USB/thumb drives, laptops and mobile devices. Someone trained in cybercrime should be given the authority to coordinate a response to the incident and a company should also have cyber-insurance to deal with legal fees, forensic services, reputation loss/restoration and credit monitoring. Schmidt advises small- and medium-sized businesses to take preventative action. He says working with ethical hackers can help identify
vulnerabilities. Schmidt suggests finding these specialists through a local Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau, and notes these companies charge by the hour and flat rates. Be proactive and keep your software updated. Ensure your devices have antivirus software and up-to-date security applications. Data should be encrypted when sent and stored. Passwords must be changed regularly. Additionally, multi- factor identification should be used for logins. Important information for banking, supplier and client information should be backed up and tested regularly. Hard copies should be made as well. Whether onsite or at the office, employees should be restricted as to what computers and files they can access in addition to who is allowed to install software. Ensure that you are not using default passwords or settings and that passwords are strong. When selling, disposing of, or refurbishing technology like mobile devices, all sensitive data need to be cleaned out. continued >
28 | LANDSCAPE TRADES
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