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We’re all aware of the major security breaches that have taken place in some of the world’s biggest companies. Hacking attacks on the likes of SONY and Ashley Madison have made headline news in recent years. However, the media tend to paint a picture that it is only big corporations and firms that are targets. The truth is somewhat different.

Startups and small businesses are attractive propositions for hackers and online thieves. And, there are several reasons why this is the case. In today’s guide, we’re going to go through some of the most important points. We’ll also reveal how your startup can benefit more from more online security.

flickr/ksyz

flickr/ksyz

You are a target

First of all, it’s important to extinguish any thought that you are safe because you are small. Hackers don’t work like that. In many cases, it will be an automatic program or bot that visits your site and looks for vulnerabilities. They will notify the hacker, who will take a look and see if it’s worth their while investigating further. Any customer information you have, such as payment terms or names and addresses are all valuable. And, that makes your site as vulnerable as anyone else’s.

You don’t have the resources

Almost three out of every four startups and small companies have inadequate online security. And, for the most part, it’s down to budget constraints. Startups don’t have a lot of money available, of course – and they are always trying to cut costs. One of those areas is security, and it’s because they don’t believe they will be a target. The trouble is, all it takes is some malicious malware to end up at your site, and you will lose everything you have been working on. Still think online security is not worth the investment?

You don’t understand online security

Unless you are a security startup, there’s a good chance you don’t know online security as well as you should. It’s no surprise – you have other things on your mind when you run a business. The trouble is, they tend to put their faith into third parties, such as email clients, content systems, and web hosts. But, they rarely understand the terms in hosting or the software they use. How can you expect to know if your website is secure otherwise? Your website is your responsibility, and it’s vital you get up to speed on the security basics of any platform you use.

You will suffer

Finally, it’s worth pointing out that the impact of hacking and malware can be extreme. You could lose all of your work, and your business might disappear. You could lose customer details – or even their money – which will lead to serious questions being asked. At best, a data breach will be a stain on your company name. At worst, you could face financial ruin. So, the next time you see an online security course at your local college, perhaps it’s worthwhile checking it out.

As a final thought, make sure you are protecting the integrity of your website, and your company name. The consequences for any small business can be catastrophic.

Student @ Advanced Digital Sciences Center, Singapore. Travelled to 30+ countries, passion for basketball.

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Business

Turn Your Passion into a Career: How to Make Money Doing What You Love

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Many dreams of turning their hobby, passion, or creative outlet into a career. It’s a beautiful idea, but it can take time to figure out where to start. Here’s a guide on successfully turning your hobby into a career. 

Do Your Research 

Before you turn your hobby into a business, please research and find out what the industry looks like, your potential customers and their needs. Next, consider your strengths, skills, and knowledge and decide how to use them in this new venture. Finally, consider what makes you unique in the industry and how you can market yourself. 

Take A Strong Career Test

A Strong Career Test can help you identify your ideal job and the type of environment you would flourish in. In addition, knowing this information can give you an idea of what kind of business to start and whether it’s something you’d be passionate about.

Think About Finances and Legalities 

Once you have an idea of what you want to do, consider the financial aspect – are there any costs associated with getting started? What sort of budget will you need? Will there be any tax implications? It’s also essential to think about the legal side of things – if necessary, consult with a lawyer specializing in business law so that you understand all the regulations associated with starting up and protecting your intellectual property rights. 

Create a Business Plan 

Now that you have researched and considered the legalities and finances involved, create a business plan that outlines all this information. Make sure it includes short-term and long-term objectives to keep track of your progress over time. Be realistic when setting targets for yourself – don’t aim too high at first because this could set you up for failure if it doesn’t pan out. Also, consider whether or not there is potential for growth or expansion once your business gets off the ground. This may include marketing strategies such as social media campaigns or investing in advertising materials such as brochures or flyers. 

Start Networking 

Networking is essential when launching any new business; it’s about building relationships with people who may be interested in your offer. Start by reaching out to family, friends, and acquaintances who may already know about your business or service offering; they may even be willing to share it with others! Additionally, join online groups related to your area of expertise – these are great places for exchanging ideas with like-minded people and potentially finding potential customers/collaborators/mentors/partners, etc. Finally, attend events such as trade shows or conferences where relevant topics are discussed – these are ideal opportunities for making connections within the industry that could prove beneficial down the line! 

Turning your hobby into a career is no small task, but it can be approached thoughtfully and strategically! Please research the industry thoroughly before beginning to understand its nuances; familiarize yourself with the legalities of running a business; create a viable yet ambitious business plan; network extensively (both online & offline). And never give up! With dedication & hard work, anything is possible.

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Business

5 Things To Keep In Mind When Changing Careers

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Your dream job may be much closer than you think – and it might not even be in your current industry.

Many people aren’t aware that hundreds of jobs out there offer a higher salary than their own and career growth and stability. These jobs often require skills not used in their routine work but can provide an easier transition to a new job within the same company or industry and more career opportunities down the line.

To get started on finding the right opportunity for you,

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Figure Out What Exactly You Want From Your Career

Sometimes, figuring out what we want from our lives is the most difficult part of getting somewhere. So What do you want? If you could have any kind of job in the world, what would it be?

If you don’t know where to start, think about the things that make you happy. Do you enjoy helping people? Do you like making money? Do you like staying at home and never going outside of your house? All of these are possible career paths, but knowing what’s right for you will go a long way towards helping you choose the best opportunities from which to choose.

Don’t Overlook Smaller Opportunities

Don’t limit yourself by thinking that only Google and Facebook can give you fulfilling work! There are many jobs out there suited to almost every kind of person, so if those big names don’t sound appealing to you, keep searching until something does.

Make Sure the Opportunity Fits Your Lifestyle

Do you have anything keeping you from pursuing the career path of your dreams? Maybe you have children or elderly parents who rely on you. Maybe you have bills to pay online casino real money every month. Don’t let any limitations keep your dreams from being realized!

If you can’t give up everything in your life to pursue a new career, don’t worry! There are many jobs that allow you to work from home or just work part-time while still earning a steady income, make sure to learn more about these opportunities. They might not pay as well as traditional jobs, but they will reduce some of your living expenses and provide you with more time to do what’s important to you.

Don’t Limit Yourself By Your Current Skill Set

A lot of people think that if they aren’t proficient at using Microsoft Excel, they can’t get a data science job. This isn’t true at all! In fact, the majority of data science jobs don’t require you to be fluent in Excel! So even if you’re not good at using it now, don’t think that it will stop you from getting a new and better job.

Ask Your Friends for Help

If you’re unsure about what career path might be right for you, ask your friends for help. If they know of something that sounds interesting or fulfilling to them, there’s a good chance they’ll know someone who works in that field or can put you forward for an interview with one of their contacts. But beware: asking your coworkers is probably the number-one way to find out how boring your current job really is!

Good luck!

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Young Entrepreneurs

How To Make Your Small Business Global

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So, your small business is doing well, you’ve conquered your market and everything is running along smoothly. So what’s next? Do you cruise along just enjoying your success? Or do you push yourself and your business to see how far you can take it? That’s right, keep going and see where you can take it. Thanks to this increasingly connected world you can grow your small business and make it global, but how?

Do your homework

DOn’t do anything without doing proper research first. Find out what the market is like in other countries, if there is a need or demand for your product. Are there competitors there? What are they doing and how are they doing it differently to you? Look at everything from the cost efficiency, to the legal regulations and know everything there is to know.

Know the culture

You need to be aware of other cultures and how they may perceive your business and your content. You also need to know how to do business in other countries and what cultural practices are. For example, is shaking hands okay, or is there another way of greeting people? Is it okay to hand out business cards? Find out all of these small details because they could make or break your opportunity to do business in a particular country. 

Make friends with local experts

It’s a good idea to get to know as many local experts as you can and get as much advice from them as possible. You should also listen to what they say and not think you know better. Accept their help and let them tell you about best practices and how things like social media work in that country

Learn the language

Don’t let language barriers slow down your success. Put in the effort and learn the language for the country you wish to do business in. Not only does it make things easier for you but it shows that you respect the country and want to be a part of it.  

Visit each country 

If you’re thinking of going into more than one country or you’re undecided where to start, then you should visit each country. Even though everything can be done online now, it doesn’t mean it has to be and you can make better decisions when you’re in the country. It might be easier when it comes to how to choose China freight forwarder online but if you’re choosing material for your manufacturing process and a person who you’re going to be working closely with, then it’s better to be in the country. Once you know how things work and have established a few things, then it will be easier to do the rest online. 

Although it can be a lot of hard work to take your company global, you can do it and many others have done it before you so take their advice. There are so many tools and strategies now available to help you expand your business globally, so make the most of them. Just remember to take it slowly, take it one country at a time, and don’t set your heart on world domination just yet.

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