Archive for the ‘Security’ Category

Can you be too secure online?

Tuesday, April 11th, 2017

No of course not. Online security extends to your website, emails, social media and so much more. At Online Practice, when we are developing software and systems such as docSAFE (our established client portal), security is our number one priority, surpassing functionality and appearance every time. Why create something that is amazing if it’s not secure?

Our layers of security include the inclusion of QR codes, 2 factor authentication, encryption and, of course, the https certification that is currently being pushed hard by Google (see our other blogs for more about this). We believe that a secure site, layered with several other security measures is the most powerful deterrent against hackers. And we can’t stress enough that hackers don’t just target the big boys – they have strong motivation to hack into any site.

We offer unique QR codes alongside online signatures to strengthen security at every level. QR codes are not new but in the fight against online fraud and hackers, they are a being used increasingly as a way of increasing the ‘uniqueness’ of an online signature. We encode the security data within our QR codes, not the signature or date so it is tamper-proof.

Ask us for more information, we are happy to share our knowledge!

Here’s why email is not secure…

Tuesday, April 11th, 2017

We all know of instances where emails are sent to the wrong person. In most cases, this can be simply excused by human error and we move on. However, occasionally, and of course to journalists’ delight, it creates headline news as vast numbers of personal details are exposed or documents are leaked to huge detriment.

But have you ever considered why email is not secure? Well, when an email leaves your inbox to wing its way – in an instant – to its intended recipient, it travels through an unknown number of servers. The point being, you don’t know who has access to those servers.

It is possible, to a degree, to encrypt email contents before they leave you, with the encryption remaining in place until the email hits the recipient. This is a good solution but there are still some issues around the security levels of your recipient. This is why we advocate the use of one or more security levels – we provide QR code security, dual factor authentication and a number of encryption solutions.

Above all, we recommend avoiding email for sensitive information and, instead, using a secure client portal – a sort of ‘pigeon hole in the sky’ where you can safely deposit documents that can only be collected by the intended recipient.

Talk to us, together we can make sure you are as communicating as securely as possible.

Cyber crime is the new PPI say insurers

Wednesday, December 28th, 2016

screen-shot-2016-12-28-at-09-43-25A recent report from the BBC suggests that smaller businesses are under increasing threat from cyber attacks. It states that the hackers are aiming at ‘low hanging fruit’ and aiming at the more easy pickings of smaller businesses.

“Insurance claims for data breaches are being made at a rate of more than one a day, figures from CFC Underwriting suggest. The firm said that in 2016 it had handled more than 400 claims on cyber-breach policies it had issued. The main types of attack being claimed for were privacy breaches and the theft of cash, it said.”

Read the full report here

How to run your office more efficiently

Tuesday, September 27th, 2016

Running an efficient office includes a number of elements – staff, equipment, processes and a healthy order book. However there are some functions that you are probably happily living without but that can really make a difference to your productivity, customer care and bottom line. We’ve worked extensively within the professions and developed a client portal that provides solutions you didn’t even know you needed!

Meetings are vital of course. But unnecessary meetings, just to sign things off, are not the best way for you to manage client time. When you are in front of a client you should be showcasing your knowledge, skills and cementing the relationship. Asking for a signature is just a waste. Imagine being able to do that legally, with a full audit report, online? It’s something we’ve been asked for – so we added it in to our portal. Some of our clients use it to send a batch of documents to many clients at once and they get a daily report to show who has read it, opened it and signed it. That way, they can spend their time chasing the few that haven’t.

Some of our clients handle extremely sensitive data – accountants, solicitors, IFAs for example. Recent news stories throw up the horrors of professionals who have emailed information to the wrong people, emails that have been hacked and data protection guidelines not being followed. Our answer is to build a secure client portal that allows for data exchange – you upload information to the client’s portal and the client collects it safely. It’s the perfect solution to both hacking issues and plain old human error.

We love the fact that clients can collaborate via docSAFE. One document, being held centrally, can be accessed by all authorised parties. No need for confusing email trails, lots of versions of the same thing and, if you are working internationally, you don’t even need to all be awake at the same time!

Other things – automatic back ups, 24/7 access, creating dynamic forms, collating multiple documents into one neat pdf, a branded, good-looking portal – are all part of the docSAFE offering, designed to make your office practices more streamlined and efficient.

Just How Safe are Compact Drives for Storing Confidential and Sensitive Information?

Wednesday, September 7th, 2016

 

Just How Safe are Compact Drives for Storing Confidential and Sensitive Information?

The first quarter reliability report of hard drives for 2016 reveals the lowest quarterly failure rate of 1.84%. This number resulted from over 5 million drive days–or spinning the hard drive.

Of the four hard drive manufacturers tested, HGST proved to be the most reliable with only 1.03% failure rate, while Western Digital has the highest failure rate of 6.55% .

There are three reasons a drive can be considered to have failed. First, it can’t connect to the Operating System. Second, it can’t sync or remain synced; and last, the smart stat they use shows values above the threshold.

Albeit, this first quarter record proves to be the lowest considering the 5.84% failure rate recorded last year, the aggregate result for 2016 is yet to be known.

Cloud Storage Still the Best for Back-up

Sure, consumers wouldn’t spin thousands of hard drives for personal use, but the report shows the risk of storing confidential and important files on compact drives. Specifically, users do not have smart stats to monitor the health of drives and would not handle hard drives with care when carried in schools or in the office.

Hence, storing data in the cloud is one of the safest ways possible to take care of your files. Cloud storage is perfect for back-up storage in case of emergency or disaster.

Doc Safe can help you secure important and confidential files in the cloud. You can send and share them with clients and colleagues in the most secure way possible. With Doc Safe you can be sure of the convenience, security and efficiency of cloud-based collaboration for just a few pounds a month.

Have you ever had troubles sending large confidential files through the internet safely? Or have you had the problem of how you can collaborate on a project with partners miles away?

DocSAFE can help you with its secure and reliable file sharing online!
To learn more visit our site.

Take the next step, call us today
0121 794 0685