RTO IT experts & cyberagents say it’s everyone’s job to fight cybercrime – because opening up your company’s virtual doors to cybercrooks is as easy as point and CLICK
COVID-19 has changed our world in ways none of us expected – many of them for the worse, but some with silver linings. For example, working from home has become de rigueur, thanks to the pandemic and its pal, the internet. The upsides of the compulsory WFH lifestyle include no traffic and all sweatpants; the downsides include cabin fever and Zoom fatigue … as well as some perhaps less-apparent risk.
“The ‘new normal’ has forced many organizations to move toward a remote working environment,” explained Mark Kirby, a Cybersecurity Advisor for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), during an October APRO webinar. “We’ve all added new technology to accommodate that. And we’re continually adding ‘smart’ devices and apps to our technology repertoire, even as the amount of information and data we store electronically continues to grow. The more we add to our lives digitally and the more we depend upon it to function, the more vulnerable we are to cybercrime.”
October was, in fact, Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global effort to help everyone stay safe when using technology. This year’s theme for the event was Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart – a catchphrase/hashtag intended to emphasize that cybersecurity isn’t only a shared responsibility; it’s an individual responsibility.
In other words, this means you. Your everyday use of your tech networks, devices, and programs can cause serious damage to your company; not to be melodramatic, but all it truly takes is one wrong click to open up access to your business data for some random – and potentially dangerous – hacker.
“APRO is proud to champion this online protection and education initiative,” says APRO Executive Director Jill McClure. “
The more we add to our lives digitally and the more we depend upon it to function, the more vulnerable we are to cybercrime.
“The pandemic has proven to be a prime opportunity for cyber criminals to find new and different ways to attack organizations and individuals. We want to help RTO companies stay informed on this critical issue, because the cybersecurity and digital privacy of APRO, its members, and their clients are essential to the continued success of the rent-to-own industry.”
Our biggest IT challenge today is cyber threats,” attests Lori McGovern, Vice President of Information Systems for St. Louis-based SKC Enterprises Inc., dba Rent One. “Keeping our networks and data secure as customers have more access than ever to their accounts and our merchandise becomes ‘smarter’ is challenging. We now maintain two networks within every store – one for our data, one for customer demos.”
Data drives decisions. Data challenges our preconceived notions, draws our attention to calculable key performance indicators, and paves the way for innovative strategies to grow our business.
“While tackling challenges – from cyber threats to the growing requirement for recorded compliance – we have to balance protection with profitability,” concurs Jammy Williams, Director of IT Services for Tampa-based Buddy’s Home Furnishings. “The core of rent-to-own IT is to provide tools that let our business rent and collect safely and profitably.”
“Data is the main vein of our company – it’s everything,” asserts Raouf Bishay, CTO/CIO of Indiana-based Full-O-Pep Appliances Inc., dba American Rental. “There’s a growing need for data mining and data availability.”
Both Williams and McGovern agree good data is critical for good decision-making for their companies.
“We believe reporting must be actionable, adaptable, and fluid,” McGovern notes. “Powerful reporting lets us make informed and intelligent business decisions.”
“Data drives decisions,” Williams adds. “It’s key to under-standing our business, customers, and performance. Data challenges our preconceived notions, draws our attention to calculable key performance indicators, and paves the way for innovative strategies to grow our business.”
This trio of professionals – Bishay, McGovern, and Williams – have almost a century of collective experience between them specifically in RTO IT. Each has evolved their company from the days of paper records to tech-savvy business operations, including a full-fledged online presence, cloud computing, multifaceted point-of-sale systems, and automation.
“The most important role we play,” Bishay says, “is aligning our technology vision with our business strategy, by integrating company processes with the appropriate technologies.”
In today’s world, where connective technology is inextricably intertwined with almost everything we do – both professionally and personally – it’s absolutely crucial to have cybersecurity measures in place to protect against cyber criminals and other adversaries determined to use tech destructively. So, what sort of safeguards are these experts employing at their companies to defend against cyberattacks?
“We’ve instituted a good companywide motto: Think before you click,” begins American Rental’s Bishay. “We’ve separated our Windows PC network from our core business point-of-sale PC system. We frequently conduct audits of all of our PCs exposed to the outside world. None of our employees or vendors can access our system from outside our organization. And we have a third-party company performing scans for Dark Web access, email breaches, and security gaps.”
McGovern likewise cites a preventive methodology to cybersecurity at Rent One, including continual monitoring, regular testing, and locking down networks both within stores and throughout the company’s infrastructure. At Buddy’s, Williams uses a single sign-on for virtual private networks and other information access points, requires multi-factor authentication, and even stages cyberattack simulations.
Never think there isn’t more you can do. Be proactive in your approach to cybersecurity. Only you can stop hackers.
Kristen Card has been a contributing writer for RTOHQ: The Magazine for more than 15 years.
