Big cybersecurity attacks make big news. You may have read about the Russian breach of SolarWinds in 2020 or the Chinese hacking of Microsoft Exchange servers in 2021. After the attack on Colonial Pipeline later that year, the company had to pay millions to restore systems supporting critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n
It can be easy to assume that bad actors target large organizations because they have their eyes on big payouts. But hackers are equal-opportunity criminals. They\u2019re looking for vulnerability wherever they can find it. Municipalities and the businesses that serve them may not be the ones in the news, but they\u2019re being targeted more often than you might think.<\/p>\n
According to a Forbes report, 43 percent of all data breaches involve small and medium-sized businesses, and 42 percent of small businesses were affected by cyberattacks in the last year. There are a few reasons for these grim statistics: These organizations often have fewer resources to hire top cybersecurity experts. Resource constraints can also make it difficult to keep up with security updates.<\/p>\n
When it comes to hauling and waste management operations, which are part of critical infrastructure, there\u2019s pressure to settle ransomware attacks with immediate payouts. It can\u2019t be overstated how critical it is to deploy secure back-office systems, especially when it comes to customer billing.<\/p>\n
Security needs to be a top consideration when choosing a billing system for waste management and hauling services. There are several criteria to look for, and you can begin by asking these questions:<\/p>\n
A system that\u2019s built for a specific industry will include only the features you need to make it work for your organization. That also means less time-consuming customization that has the potential for introducing vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n
System implementation can be hampered when a vendor doesn\u2019t have the right people to support your conversion. This impacts the overall project, and it can be a security issue if onboarding doesn\u2019t ensure that your internal team is fully knowledgeable of the system.<\/p>\n
Securing your data isn\u2019t a point-in-time activity. As data flows in and out of your waste management billing system<\/a>, it needs to be protected. As valuable as your data is to your business, keep in mind that it\u2019s also extremely attractive to nefarious actors who will always be looking for vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n Look for a system that provides comprehensive fleet and equipment reporting<\/a> and data analysis so you can track operational efficiency and key performance metrics (KPIs). Clear system reporting will give you information to track the system\u2019s health and keep an eye out for unusual activity.<\/p>\n Key security elements you should look for in your waste management billing system include a strong password policy, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and secure sockets layer (SSL) communications. Your vendor should support best practices like no login sharing and the ability to perform audits.<\/p>\n Hacks, breaches, ransomware, and other nefarious activity can happen to any organization, regardless of size. Customers depend on you to protect their personal information and maintain consistent levels of service. It\u2019s not just an embarrassment to find that your systems are vulnerable. It can mean lasting reputational damage. And the aftermath can be a serious mess to clean up.<\/p>\nWhat kind of waste billing software reports are available to monitor the system?<\/h3>\n
Does your vendor provide layers of waste management billing security and support for best practices?<\/b><\/h3>\n