Geek Squad Data Security Survey Finds San Antonio Small Business Owners Insufficiently Protected

SAN ANTONIO - February 20,2008 - While most San Antonio-based small business owners consider their digital assets invaluable and would pay “whatever it costs” to recover their data if lost, the majority (63%) fail to utilize virus and malware protection to ensure information security.

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According to a data security survey commissioned by national tech support task force Geek Squad, many local small businesses recognize the necessity for some level of data protection. In fact, when queried, more than 70% of respondents said they backup their business-related data to a separate drive or computer, and of those, more than 65% do it on a daily or weekly basis. Nevertheless, only about one-third use virus and malware protection, which makes them vulnerable to both computer performance issues and data loss.

“Many small business owners deserve praise for the steps they’ve already taken to avoid data loss,” according to San Antonio-based Geek Squad Double Agent Derek Scheider. “However, there’s always more that can be done to protect a business from data loss, as well as having systems go off-line.”

Based on their experiences in the field with small business clients, Double Agent Scheider and fellow Geek Squad Double Agent Robert Friedman offer three steps to help avoid potential tech emergencies:

1. Make sure your system is protected with updated antivirus/antispyware protection, as well as encryption for your wireless access points. “Virus/spyware and unsecured networks not only slow down systems performance, but also compromise the security of your company, and customer or client information,” says Agent Scheider.
2. Your technology should receive regular check-ups like you do… or should do. “Whether it’s making sure you have with the latest virus and security updates, to making sure all your hardware is running smoothly and not about to fail, it’s important to regularly run diagnostics on all your systems,” says Agent Friedman.
3. Implement a data backup solution. “Today, data is critical to the success of any business. How would your business be impacted if your data was lost or how much time would be lost trying to recover/redo that data? Multiple methods of securing your data are possible (network drives, tape backups, mirrored/raided hard drives, etc.) which can make it easier to get back to business in no time,” says Agent Scheider.

“Every small business has different needs, but one thing that is generally consistent across the board is timeliness in resolving an issue when it occurs,” says Agent Schneider. “After all, owners depend on the uptime of their computer systems for the success of their businesses.”

Nearly 70% of the survey respondents agree, stating “responsiveness/immediate availability” is very important to them when thinking about their tech support needs. Geek Squad currently offers expedited services catered specifically to small businesses in the San Antonio market including:

Base: Agent there within 2 days during regular business hours; no additional charge
Premium: Agent there within 1 day during regular business hours; additional charge
Emergency: Agent there within 3 hours any time day or night; additional charge
In addition to responding to tech emergencies, Geek Squad can also help small businesses set-up automatic/manual backup via external devices or online, spyware/virus removal, WiFi network install or help with a software/hardware installation.

Geek Squad helps civilians and small businesses with their technology, whether it’s a PC, wireless network or server. Call 1.800 GEEK SQUAD to set up an onsite consultation, find a location near you at www.geeksquad.com, or visit the Geek Squad Precinct at Best Buy and other locations to speak with an Agent directly. We provide our services wherever and whenever you need them – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

About the Geek Squad Data Security Survey:

Conducted by Braun Research, the data security survey was done by phone Jan. 27-30, 2008, with 200 San Antonio-based owners and managers of small businesses employing 10 or fewer people.

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For more information contact:

Geek Squad:
Alan Danzis, 646-935-4275
Email: alan.danzis@ketchum.com

Source: Geek Squad

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