Attention Business Editors:
HOW SECURE IS YOUR BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT?
A Few Simple Precautions Will Help Protect Your Business

TORONTO/PR/ – Is your company data safe from the outside world? That is the question that Canadian businesses should ask themselves in light of a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing for Grand & Toy, a leading officer supplier.

According to the Omnibus poll, 59 per cent of Canadians are believed to be using easily-hacked computer passwords in the workplace, such as names or birthdates. The survey, which focused on office security and protection issues, was conducted in March 2006.

With the increasing reliance on technology hardware and software, businesses need better data protection. “Many businesses are unknowingly vulnerable to security and protection issues,” said Claudiu Popa, president and chief security officer at Informatica Security. “If your data is confidential in any way, or even simply important to the running of your business, you need to update your security policies regularly and make sure employees are aware of them.” According to the survey 58 per cent of Canadian companies claim to have a security policy.

There are many simple and practical precautions that will secure and protect any business. Something as simple as compelling staff to change passwords regularly, or insisting that they be alphanumeric, can save days of lost production time or important client information. Laptops can now have firewall protection by using economically-priced USB keys by Kensington that protect against unwanted intruders.

Or put technology in place. Password-hacking can be stopped in its tracks with new products such as keyboards and computer mice that contain optical readers. These devices include “fingertip reader” technology that allows users to log on without ever entering a password. Microsoft provides both of these products, found at Grand & Toy, at affordable prices.

Perhaps not surprisingly given our fondness for obvious passwords, the Grand & Toy office security survey also found that businesses are concerned about hackers/crackers (26%), the security of e-commerce sites (24%) and email security (20%).

Grand & Toy recommends the following simple solutions to secure or protect your business:

• On-screen privacy –There is always a chance that someone is “shoulder surfing” while you are developing a confidential budget or competitive marketing report. However, privacy filters are available to keep on-screen data visible only to the person directly in front of the monitor. Computer monitor screens are great to reduce glare and radiation, while keeping data private from passers-by.
  
• Network Security –Without the right protection, hackers and crackers can easily invade a company’s network, leading to the loss of confidential and valuable data. By using a secure web-based firewall system, businesses can securely connect internal systems, files and resources without the threat of external theft.
  
• Power surges can damage a computer’s components, which may require costly repairs and loss of important business information. Performing regular back-ups and equipping every computer with a surge protector will help to ensure your business won’t suffer any major interruptions.
  
• Security you can see – Introducing an ID badge is an affordable and simple way to ensure your business environment feels safe to you and your fellow workers. ID badges in the workplace not only promote security, but offer many other benefits, including professionalism and a sense of community.
  
• Fire proofing – In North America, up to 90 per cent of all businesses whose records were destroyed by fire are no longer in business one year later. Keep important files such as contracts, operational records and client files filed safely in a fire-proof filing cabinet.
  Realizing that security and protection is a concern for every business – large or small, Grand & Toy offers a full range of products that address these concerns. Businesses can fire-proof files with FireKing filing systems or destroy files no longer required with Fellowes Powershred shredders – great products to protect any business environment.

About Grand & Toy:
Founded in 1882, Grand & Toy is a leading single-source supplier of office products, office furniture, paper and technology products in Canada. For more than 120 years, the company has been dedicated to providing time- and money-saving solutions to retail customers, small businesses and leading corporations. Grand & Toy offers more than 7,300 products and access to thousands of others through seven distribution centres, an award-winning Web-based ordering system and more than 50 conveniently located retail stores. Its Custom Business Interiors division provides customized office space and furniture design solutions to a wide variety of commercial customers.
To find out more about the latest products for security and protection, visit www.grandandtoy.com/officeinsider (see all security products from Grand & Toy)

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Media Contacts:
Samantha Kemp-Jackson
APEX Public Relations
416-924-4442 ext. 248
sjackson@apexpr.com

• Canadians consider three security concerns almost equally important: hackers/crackers (26%), secure e-commerce (24%), and e-mail security (20%).
  
• Men were more likely to be concerned with e-commerce security (27%) than were women (21%).
  
• Over one third of respondents (40%) say that over half of Canadians work in companies that have a security policy (50% or more of companies). The mean score overall is rated at 58 per cent of Canadian companies having a security policy.
  
• More women agreed that a higher percentage of Canadians work in companies that have a security policy (60%) than did men (55%).
  
• Nearly half of respondents (47%) agreed that 51 per cent or more of Canadians use easily hacked information as their computer passwords, such as names or birthdates. The mean score overall was 59 per cent.
  
• Compared to other regions, only 33 per cent of Quebec residents say that over half of Canadians work in companies that have a security policy (50% or more of companies).