There are five main digital assets a business should be accessing and controlling. They are domain names, hosting, SSL certificates, social media accounts and the website itself. This article discusses the importance of these assets.
Domain Names
Your domain name is the internet site address that enables people to access your website. Each domain name is unique. It’s this uniqueness that gives your business its online identity and consequently your brand. Domain names registered in Australia are governed by the Australian body AuDA and domain name detail searches can be performed on AusRegistry. For any domain name you own, make sure you safely retain the following details; a list of domain names, the registrar account logins and the EEP codes. Make sure your details are correct as the registrant.
Hosting
Do you know who hosts your site(s) and how to contact them if your site goes down? The WhoIs online tool can tell you. Once you know, ensure you have all required logons, like your account login.
SSL Certificates
When a business has an e-Commerce site this means they are paid by customers through the website. An SSL certificate is required to encrypt sensitive information like credit card or account numbers, to ensure the information stays unreadable during the transaction process. If you are not sure if you have one, an online SSL examination tool will tell you. Ensure you know the company name and details of your issuer and most importantly, the certificate expiration date. If the SSL certificate is not renewed after expiration, your payment facilities may be suspended which could be catastrophic for your business financially.
Social Media Accounts
Nowadays social media is not a ‘nice to have’, it is a ‘must have’ in order to stay competitive in the market place. It is crucial for finding, engaging and forming relationships with new customers, retaining existing customers, creating a business buzz and building your brand. Never be afraid of social media, it is just a re-invention of old fashioned networking. If you aren’t embracing social media, now is the time to start.
Website
Consider taking copies of your website files and databases and storing them in remote locations. If you are not tech savvy, spend the money to hire someone to do this for you.
The backup cost is small compared to the potential cost of recovery should you lose them.
If your digital assets are the lifeblood of your business, ensure you maintain and protect them. Neglect could cost you your business.
Katherine Hawes is principal at www.digitalagelawyers.com
