CONNECTED
in Every Direction
Whether your business is an early adopter of leadingedge technology or not, these essential tech trends aren’t
going away. Consider how you can better connect with
customers, run operations more smoothly, and protect
your information with these emerging innovations.
Connected in the cloud.
Cloud technology enables businesses to move all or a portion of their
processes to the digital space. Utilizing online storage for warehousing
and accessing data keeps information on demand but out of the business’ physical location. Some estimates show that as many as 93%
of businesses are using cloud-hosted services, probably because of
its enticing benefits: connectivity with other systems, mobility, and
low-hassle maintenance.
Business intelligence.
Connected customers equates to trackability—with analytics and
business data even more accessible thanks to cloud-based apps and
services. Evaluate your customer and sales analytics with the latest
wave of cloud-based tools that can track real-time user data. Thanks
to connected devices, you can both improve workflow and embed
greater efficiencies.
Customer interactions.
Customers and clients increasingly use mobile devices to access the
web—which is where they’re connecting with businesses. Embedded
communications and connected devices put people directly in touch
with each other—through programs like Skype and WhatsApp—but
also with businesses. Customer service is going to the next level
because of this connectivity, with users able to immediately connect
with a company through a mobile device or app. Ensure your company’s storefront is easily navigable for customers and communications.
Sterling National Bank can help your business finance crucial tech
upgrades. Contact your relationship manager or Client Services today
at 855.274.2800.
Safety and Security 101
More and more, the cloud is the go-to
platform for storing enterprise data.
But how can you ensure your information is safe?
In essence, cloud storage—or
online data storage—is no more risky
than storing information locally,
unless your business doesn’t have an
internet connection. Manage risks by
practicing due diligence in selecting a
cloud provider.
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Confirm safety practices, including
application-level security, firewalls,
antivirus detection, multifactor user
authentication and data encryption,
and routine security audits. Your
provider should make security a
priority. Also ask about their practices
in the event a data breach occurs.
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Be specific about your industry’s
regulations. Any cloud provider
should give in-depth consideration
to compliance issues your industry
faces—such as data and patient
privacy in healthcare.
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Learn about the physical space
where the cloud is hosted. Ask if
the vendor has SSAE 16 certification, which ensures compliance
with industry security standards in
regards to customer privacy, as well
as data center security.
CONNECT TECHNOLOGY FALL 2016 // SNB.COM | 9