MAGNOLIA

CLIPPING SERVICE

(601) 856-0911 I (205) 758-8610

YAZOO DAILY HERALD

YAZOO CITY, MS

Circulation 3657
BI·WEEKLY
03/20/2010
II
1111111 11111111III!III i 1III111ilili

Five steps to protect your

business in online banking

The Yazoo HeraJp , security experts to as for Web browsing or

show small business social networking.
RIDGELAND '):''(- ­ owners that imple­ 3. Use robust
Online banking has menting a strong data authentication meth­
made it more easy and security strategy does­ ods and vendors. Make
convenient to manage n't have to take a lot of sure your financial
business finances, but time or resources." service providers allow
it also provides an The BBB offers the for "multi-factor
opportunity for hack­ following advice for authentication." This
ers to gain access to small business owners means that you need
business accounts with to make online bank­ more than just a user
the goal of making ing transactions name and password to
41nauthorized money secure: access your account.
transfers. The Ji~tter 1. Initiate a dual con­ 4.Update virus pro­
Business Bureau trol payment process. tection and security
(BBB) serving Ensure that all pay­ software. Ensure that
Mississippi recom­ ments are initiated all anti-spyware, anti­
mends small business from your bank malware, and security
owners implement a accounts only after the software and mecha­
few simple steps to authorization of two nisms are robust and
keep their financial employees. One up-to-date on comput­
information and trans­ employee can author­ ers used for online
actions secure when ize the creation of the banking and pay­
banking online. payment file and ments. Implement a
According to Visa another will be respon­ process to periodically
Inc., 85 percent of data sible for authorizing confirm they remain
breaches occur at the the release of the file. up-to-date.
small business level. This process should be 5.Reconcile accounts
Symantec Corp. in place regardless of daily. Monitor and rec­
reports that 33 percent the type of payment oncile accounts daily
of small businesses being initiated (includ­ against expected cred­
lack even simple ing checks, wire trans­ its and withdrawals. If
antivirus protection. fers, fund transfers, you see any kind of
"Small business own­ payroll files, ACH pay­ unexpected activity on
,ers might feel that they ments). your account, notify
are flying under the 2. Have dedicated your financial institu­
radar of data thieves workstations. Restrict tion immediately.
and hackers, but they the use of certain work­ Small business own­
are actually in the stations and laptops ers can get additional
crosshairs," said Bill solely for online bank­ advice and tips on
Moak, President and ing and payments, if improving data securi­
CEO of the Mississippi possible. Try to avoid ty at
BBB. "That's why we using a computer for www.bbb.org/data­
partnered with leading online banking as well security.