It seems like every day you hear about a new cybersecurity breach. When companies shifted their operations to remote, the attacks increased, according to Security Boulevard, who states there was a 273% increase in cyberattacks in 2020 when compared to the same time in 2019. If that doesn’t worry you, it should. Companies of all sizes are targets, from Twitter, Marriott, and Zoom, to much smaller companies that don’t even make headlines. Here are five ways your employees can help keep your organization safer, no matter the size of your business.
1. Change User Passwords
This is an easy fix, but something that most of us don’t even consider. Passwords are a hassle, and many times we just select one that is easy to remember and then use it across all of our devices and applications. Wrong answer! Microsoft says 44 million of us reuse our passwords in this way, increasing the risk that a bad actor will figure it out. Changing passwords every 90-days should be standard operating procedure at your organization.
2. Delete Old Accounts
How many accounts have your employees left by the wayside as you’ve upgraded systems? Having old account logins could open the door to a hacker who can access that data. While the information may be out-of-date, addresses, emails, social security numbers, or other data may still be out there and potentially up for grabs.
3. Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is easy to install and is an added layer of protection between you and a cyber villain. These apps allow you to sign in from one trusted device, then send a log-in code to another trusted device. You take that code from device two, go back to device one, and enter the code. That allows you access to the software. Once you’re signed in, you won’t be asked for a verification code again until you sign out and log in again.
4. Update Your Devices and Software
We know this sounds simple, but it’s incredibly easy to forget to run software updates. They may pop up at a bad time, so you click the “remind me later.” But do not forget to go back and run the update. One of the biggest data breaches (Equifax) occurred because software at the company wasn’t upgraded regularly, leaving the door wide open for a security breach.
5. Train Your Staff
One of the trickiest potential threats these days come from simple emails that can look just like correspondence from a trusted company. But if you’re not careful to look at the return address, which is often the only indicator that the email contains malicious software, and click on the link provided, you will unleash a virus into your network. This happens all the time. Phishing attacks are one of the most popular techniques, in part, because they are very effective. Training employees to understand the threat is critical to eliminating this risk.
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Cybersecurity is everyone’s problem. Talk to your team today about the risks and how to prevent a data breach. Talk to ADD STAFF about adding IT and cybersecurity staff to make sure your company stays safe.