When it comes to cybersecurity, employee training is a step that many employers neglect or undervalue. Too many companies think that installing a suite of antivirus and anti-malware software is enough to protect them from malicious attackers but in the world of phishing scams and social engineering attacks that just isn’t enough. Uneducated and untrained employees can be the largest security loophole in your business.
Utilize A Layered Security Approach
Because there are security threats that come at you from all angles, it is important to layer multiple security precautions, ensuring you are fortifying every vulnerability. A good cybersecurity approach is not a single solution, but a strategic coordination of security software, policy, planning, and training. Once trained, your employees can become another vigilant layer of defense against hackers—and an adaptable one at that. Consistently training your team on good cybersecurity hygiene is the first step towards making security an integral part of your company culture.
5 Cybersecurity Tips to Share
1. Be careful where you click.
Fake or malicious websites and apps (or legitimate ones that have been hacked by criminals) can jeopardize your device and its data. These sites can install malicious software onto your device if you visit them or perhaps click on the sites’ links. Malicious apps can also steal your information. They often look legitimate, offer something too good to be true, or contain some promotional content such as free devices, movies or music. Rogue apps can look like and have similar names as legitimate ones they imitate. Then there’s “clickjacking” – bogus links on social media pages that have been hacked. They appear to link to something tantalizing but instead redirect you to a site that contains spam advertising, plants malware on your device, or posts terrible links on your profile.
2. Don’t get caught by phishers.
Phishing is when you get an email or a social media message that looks like it’s coming from a legitimate place such as a bank or a social networking site. If you click on a link in the message, you’re taken to a website that looks legitimate but could be run by criminals trying to trick you into signing in with your username and password so they can capture that information. Your best bet is not to click on the link but instead type the Web address (such as mybank.com) into your browser window and go the site that way.
3. Have Good Passwords & MFA.
Having strong passwords and changing them periodically is fundamental to your security. Don’t use the same password on all sites. If you need help remembering lots of passwords changed often, you can use password management software to remember and enter your passwords for you. Additionally, enabling two factor authentication exponentially increases your accounts security.
4. Do NOT skip system updates.
Regardless of whether you’re using a computer or a mobile device, it’s essential to keep your operating systems and software current. It’s not uncommon for companies to discover security flaws and vulnerabilities that they fix with updates. This is especially important for operating systems and web browsers that can be more vulnerable to attack if not up to date (check to see if they update automatically). And if you update an app or program, recheck the privacy settings to ensure they haven’t gone back to the default settings.
5. Use secure Wi-Fi.
Be sure that your home network uses encryption and a password to prevent others from accessing it and be careful when using Wi-Fi at coffee shops, airports, and other public places. Only sign into known networks (like those operated by the establishment) and, because public networks are often less secure than private ones, avoid banking or shopping or doing anything highly confidential when using public Wi-Fi.
We hope these tips help educate and safeguard your employees. However, employee education is just the first step. The most efficient way for a business to implement a robust and reliable cybersecurity initiative is to talk with an IT professional. Our job is to help you analyze your risks, identify what information might be targeted, and continually educate your team on safety. If you are ready to take the next step to becoming more secure, book a meeting with us via the link below.
