At a recent innkeeping conference I did a session for innkeepers on protecting themselves and their businesses in terms of computer related things, both online and offline.

Several people asked me if I could share the checklist I had made up and I thought it might make a helpful blog post.

Online Security Checklist Immediate Action: (estimated time to review all-under 2 hours)

• Switch Browser to Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox if using Internet Explorer. (1 minute to find, 10 minutes or less to install).
• Login to all social media accounts and enable two factor authentications. (10 minutes or less).
• Review Important Passwords, change if simple or using things commonly known or easily guessed. (10 minutes or less).
• Who is your domain name through? Do you have access? When does it expire? Is the credit card up to date? (10 minutes or less).
• Who hosts your website? Is there emergency contact information for it? Is there a website backup, where is it stored and how can it be restored? (10 minutes or less).
• Do you have an antivirus program? Is it up to date? (10 minutes or less).
• Do you have a malware program? Is it up to date? (10 minutes or less).
• Enable program(s) or check to see last time updated, file backups (10 minutes or less).
• Check router to see if it needs to be updated/patched, call your cable company if in doubt (10 minutes or less).
• Purchase a safe (ETL Verified fire at least 2 hour rated) and other external digital backups (external hard drive and thumb/zip drives) keep offsite with a copy in the safe.
• Review and initiate all weekly and monthly To-Dos .

Weekly Security To-Dos: (Under 10 minutes)

• Check to make sure antivirus and malware programs are running and up to date.
• Make sure computer/tablet/mobile phone operating systems are up to date and patched.
• Check to make sure files are being backed-up.

Monthly Security To-Dos: (Under 20 minutes)

• Check/Review Installed Browser Plugins (Called Extensions in Safari), disable and delete any you are not 100% sure of. You can always reinstall them later if needed.
• Make Sure Internet Browser Is Up to Date.
• Check/Review Social Media Channels to see which applications have access to the accounts, disable and delete any you are not 100% sure of. You can always reenable them later if needed.
• Review passwords to primary accounts, change and/or rotate.
• Make sure computer/tablet/mobile phone operating systems are up to date and patched.