Disclaimer: Please note this article is not financial advice. The purpose of our blog is purely educational, so please consult a professional accountant or financial advisor before making any financial decision.
Using accounting software in your small business is a game changer. It makes bookkeeping, invoicing, and other financial tasks quick and easy to manage. However, as with any tool, there is always the risk of a security breach.
So you examine the security features of various accounting tools and find Sage 50 accounting software appealing. Sage offers a feature you don't see from its competitors called the Sage Security Shield.
Now, you want to know how far it can help safeguard your financial data. In this article, let's discuss the Sage Security Shield, how it helps protect your small business, and add some alternative options.
A Closer Look Inside Sage 50cloud's Security Shield
Cybercrime is a billion-dollar industry, and it only keeps growing. Small businesses are an especially juicy target because of the lack of security measures compared to larger companies.
For this reason, each accounting software incorporates security features to protect your business data. The Sage Security Shield is one of these, and here's a review of what they claim to be an industry-first and award-winning cyber threat and fraud protection.
Security Features
Here's what you can protect using Sage 50's Security Shield Feature.
Business Credit Monitoring
This feature keeps an eye on your business's credit status and notifies you of any changes so you can act quickly and prevent fraud. These changes include company information, credit inquiry trending, credit limit, DBT updates, credit reports, and public legal or negative data.
Business Dark Web Monitoring
Sage lets you track and alerts you when any confidential business data is on the dark web. You can monitor business names, phone numbers, bank accounts, credit and debit cards, passports, domains, EIN, state registration numbers, and more. This feature prevents you from falling victim to hackers and illegal activities.
Fully Managed Business Restoration
If there's a high risk of a cyberattack or data breach, you can still secure your business and ensure it's up and running again in no time. This is possible with Sage's white-glove services that can help fix your problems ASAP.
Some of these services include one-on-one access to certified resolution specialists, an internal fraud hotline, an online business vault for safe storage, and an hour of legal support.
As you can see, Sage 50cloud's Security Shield is a granular accounting tool. It offers detailed solutions for each security problem. The best part is that this feature doesn't come at an additional cost! It's already included in your Sage 50 premium accounting subscription.
Sage Software Limitations
It's safe to say that your small business is good with Sage 50's security feature. However, if you're seeking a solution that could help you in other aspects of financial management, that's where Sage might fall short.
#1 in Security, #2 in Data Management
Sage lacks efficiency and easy operation. Most users encounter customization, reporting, analytics, inventory management, and configurable accounting issues. There are other programs that excel better in these areas, such as Quickbooks and Xero.
A Good But Beatable Security
Sage is undoubtedly a top candidate for accounting tools with excellent security, but other tools like Quickbooks can still beat it. This is highly evident in single sign-on capabilities and role-based user access.
Unhelpful Help Desk
Most users frequently complain about the lack of good customer service. Unfortunately, Sage 50 accounting's help desk often takes some time before they can provide answers to your problems.
Not Very Beginner-Friendly
This may depend on the individual, but Sage's interface can be challenging if you have little to zero accounting knowledge. Some users can't easily figure out where to input or modify information. Other programs like Quickbooks, Freshbooks, or Wave might do better in this area.
10 Best Practices to Secure Your Small Business Financial Data
Don't rely on the software alone. Instead, combine it with best security practices to block cyberattacks from getting in your way. Here are ten tips you can start with.
- Perform regular and thorough checks with your data collection and management systems. Ensure they're being processed securely.
- Ask your service provider to explain how certain security systems and practices work. That way, you'll know how to protect your data in the best ways possible.
- Set strong, complex passwords and don't give access to anyone easily to avoid theft and hacking.
- Always prepare a data recovery plan in case of an emergency.
- Don't shoulder many responsibilities alone or designate them to one person. Get as much help as needed and outsource if you must.
- Screen your employees' backgrounds carefully during the recruitment process. Ensure they're trustworthy enough to get access to confidential business data.
- Never skip double-checking. Even the smallest data error can result in costly consequences.
- Consider having ongoing management training within your team to keep everyone on the same page with the latest security systems.
- If you have physical documents that contain confidential information, store them properly and securely to prevent employee theft.
- Run a test before investing in a security solution. Even the best tools and practices aren't foolproof, so you must inspect them carefully.
A Final Note on Sage Security Shield
Sage Security Shield is undoubtedly a significant advantage of the Sage 50 accounting software. It has detailed features that address most accounting cybersecurity concerns, so you can relax knowing your business data is well taken care of.
That being said, it has flaws in data customization and support areas. So if you're unhappy with Sage 50cloud, don't hesitate to explore and move to better options. The best alternatives we'd recommend are Quickbooks, Xero, Wave, and Freshbooks.
Safe and Easy Financial Small Business Management With Unloop
Sage 50 has a great security feature, but if you need more help with financial data management, switching to other software like Xero or Quickbooks is better. Moreover, you have the Unloop team on your side if you need further assistance!
If you're ready to upgrade to any of these secure and efficient tools, Unloop can help you move and set things up. Our service generally integrates with Quickbooks and Xero, but we can also work with your custom stack. Book a call with us today!