Automation and cyber security are hot topics these days. Whether it’s about automation increasing lead generation for businesses or businesses losing millions of dollars to cyber criminals, they are topics you can’t ignore.
While automation and cyber security may not readily cross your mind when considering small business tools, they can significantly protect your business and make it more efficient, effective, and profitable.
Cyber security software helps your business protect itself from outside threats and data leaks. At the same time, automation software gives you more time to focus on important areas like growing your business! Wondering if your business needs automation and cyber security? This article gives insight into what automation and cyber security are and how they can benefit your business.
What is automation
Automation is creating and applying technology to control and monitor the production of goods and services. With automation, human input is minimal. Every industry over the past decades has felt the impact of automation in more ways than one. From the financial sector to eCommerce and even healthcare, automation has increased business efficiency while generating revenue.
What is HS code automation?
For organizations in the importation and exportation of products, HS code automation aids in tracking, updating and optimizing controlled products. You can automate custom classification with HS code automation by pinpointing your product catalogs’ HS codes. Check out Levity’s guide to HS code automation for a better understanding of how to use automation in HS codes.
What is business automation?
There’s no doubt that machine learning and artificial intelligence are bringing about a change in automation, and that change is here to stay. But what is automation in business? Business automation involves using software or applications to accomplish repetitive tasks to increase employee efficiency.
For example, automation streamlines business processes by automating tasks regarding onboarding recruits. That way, you have time to carry out other vital business tasks. Also, businesses thrive through marketing automation.
Types of business automation
There are four types of business automation. They are listed below.
Basic automation
As the name implies, basic automation automates simple tasks, eliminating errors and increasing efficiency. Often, basic automation software may not use codes; rather, it digitizes repetitive tasks. Some examples of basic automation software include RPA and BPM.
Advanced automation
Unlike basic automation, advanced automation causes machines and humans to work together to carry out tasks. It provides support for specific tasks and aids knowledge management. Also, advanced automation depends on machine learning, analysis, unstructured data, and natural language processing.
Intelligent automation
Artificial Intelligence drives intelligent automation. In intelligent automation, machines can make decisions according to their past encounters. This is common in customer service as bots interact with clients to resolve complaints.
Process automation
What process automation does is make business processes transparent and uniform. Usually, dedicated software handles process automation enabling it to increase efficiency in the workplace. One example of process automation is workflow automation.
Importance of Automation for Your Business
Have you ever considered whether or not you’re wasting time on repetitive tasks that machines could perform? The importance of automation is numerous, and they go far beyond freeing up time to do other tasks in your day-to-day life. Let’s look at how automation can benefit businesses, from saving money to improving productivity.
Increased productivity
Businesses that automate their processes enjoy increased productivity. The reason is that machines are more enabled to handle more than one task at the same time, thus, making the process faster. Also, while machines handle tasks, employees focus on other tasks, making the department more productive.
Minimized errors
Making mistakes as humans is inevitable, as it happens to the best of us. Forgetfulness, multitasking, and fatigue are some of the causes of errors as they hinder employee performance. Interestingly, if the task is performed routinely, there is an increased risk of making mistakes. Automating your business helps reduce the risk of human errors, as computers are less prone to mistakes. They don’t get fatigued, lose focus or forget.
Better customer experience
Any business serious about its growth knows the importance of keeping customers satisfied. When customers patronize a brand, swift access to services and convenience are top of the list. Thanks to business automation, you can ensure consistency in all your social media platforms and offer personalized services. Business automation gives you an edge over your competitors while improving customer experience.
Reduced operational cost
Manually performing processes in your organization require human input and financial resources. However, using automated software reduces the time and money it takes to carry out a tedious task. Also, when your business processes are automated, the wastage of the company’s resources due to human error is drastically reduced. In the long run, it leads to organizational profitability.
Improved transparency
Another benefit of automation for your business is transparency. Typically, processes involve the execution of several tasks. Automation offers clear logs of every task, showing who did what and when it was done.
What is cyber security?
Cyber security is no longer strange to most businesses with the advancements of the technology era. Business owners now know it’s essential to the survival of their businesses in this digital age. Cybercriminals inflict significant damage without regard for the impact on their targets. Cyber attacks could cost your company money, resources, valuable data and even reputation if you don’t act to prevent them.
Contrary to the belief of some, cyber security is meant for more than just large industries. All industries are susceptible to data breaches and cyber threats and can suffer significant damages if care isn’t taken.
Cyber security protects devices, networks, computer programs, and systems from cyber threats and attacks. Organizations’ cyber security practice is to prevent unauthorized access to their computerized systems and data centers.
The intent of malicious attacks by hackers is to delete, alter, extort or destroy an organization’s sensitive data. Thankfully, an efficient cyber security strategy prevents all these and more. There are also ways to manage cyber security threats caused by employees.
Cyber security is in five different categories depending on your organization’s needs. They are:
- Application security
- Cloud security
- Critical infrastructure security
- Internet of Things (IoT) security
- Network security
What is an account takeover
An account takeover is a cyber attack involving hackers taking over unsuspecting people’s online accounts. This attack is carried out via stolen usernames and passwords. These cybercriminals buy credentials on the dark web and use them to send bots that gain access to different sites like eCommerce, finance, retail and social media.
These bots test the usernames and passwords on all these sites in an attempt to log into people’s accounts. With many trials, some of these combinations click and hackers take over the victims’ accounts.
Importance of cyber security for your business
To get the most out of your cyber protection, you need to identify your needs and ensure your system is up to date on the latest technological trends. Here are some benefits of cyber security for businesses.
Reduced risk of data breaches
Data breaches are too common today, but implementing cyber security measures reduce the risk of your business becoming a victim. Begin by installing antivirus software on all devices, keeping them up-to-date with the latest patches and updates.
Improved customer confidence
One of the benefits of cyber security is that it helps to improve customer confidence. When customers feel confident in the security measures put in place by a company, they are more likely to stay with the business and continue to purchase goods or services from them. It also helps potential customers make decisions, as most people research companies before patronizing them.
Reduced costs
As cyber-attacks targeting businesses continue to grow in frequency and severity, it is more important than ever to have a defense plan in place. The price tag for cyber security can be daunting, but there are plenty of ways your company can save on cost and get the protection you need at an affordable price. One way is by partnering with a cybersecurity insurance company that covers costs associated with liability, data recovery, and even reputational damage caused by the attack.
Ways to Protect your Business from Cyber Crimes
As long as your business has an online presence, you’re more at risk of cyber attacks. Hence, taking actionable steps is crucial to ensure you’re adequately protected. For instance, you can encrypt your data so it’s unreadable if it falls into the wrong hands or creates strong passwords that can’t be easily guessed, and change them regularly.
Here are some ways to prevent cyber attacks.
- Use two-step verification to prevent unauthorized access to your accounts
- Use passphrases instead of passwords
- Educate employees on how to avoid, identify, and deal with cyber attacks
- Install hardware and software firewalls
- Properly dispose of media and computers that are no longer in use
- Regularly patch software and operating systems
Take advantage of automation and cyber security for business growth
In today’s digital world, cyber security and automation should be a part of every business strategy. Even if you run a small business from your home, there are plenty of benefits to protecting yourself against hackers and malicious intruders.
Likewise, you can save money, increase efficiency and generate more leads by automating your business. With this article as your guide, you’re more knowledgeable about the importance and benefits of cyber security and automation for your business, and you can begin to take actionable steps.
Moyofade Ipadeola is a Content Strategist, UX Writer and Editor. Witty, she loves personal development and helping people grow. Mo, as she’s fondly called, is fascinated by all things tech.
