In a world where technology is an integral part of everyday life, the threat of cyber-attacks is more prevalent than ever. Phishing emails and ransomware attacks pose a real risk, but staying cyber-safe doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few ways you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to these attacks, keeping your business safe.
1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Weak passwords are the easiest way for hackers to gain access to your accounts. Using a unique password for every account which includes a combination of letters, numbers and symbols will go a long way to keeping your accounts secure.
If you’re worried about how you’re going to remember all these different passwords, a password manager can relieve this worry. Most password managers can also generate strong passwords for you.
2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor Authentication adds another layer of protection to your accounts by sending a unique code to the telephone number associated with the account. This can be a phone call, text message, or code on an authenticator app and is valid for a limited period. This means that if an unauthorised person retrieved your password, they’d be unable to access your accounts.
3. Think Before You Click
Phishing emails are designed to trick you into clicking on malicious links or giving up personal information. These can appear they’ve been received from people like your bank, phone provider, or in some cases, people you know.
Before clicking on links, it’s important to double check email addresses, hover over the link and never download attachments from senders you don’t recognise or trust.
If something looks suspicious, it probably is.
4. Keep Your Devices and Software Updated
You may not think it, but some software, including your operating system, does have a “shelf-life”.
This means is that the developers stop providing fixes for problems, which hackers can then exploit. It’s important to keep your software up to date to keep your data, and ultimately, your business safe.
Keep your software up to date by setting up automatic updates and keeping an eye out for information regarding “expiry” of your software. After the expiry date, the developers will no longer offer updates.
5. Backup Your Data Regularly
Backups should be a vital part of your rescue plan in the event of a ransomware attack or hardware failure. Making sure you have data backed up to a secure cloud service as well as an external hard drive will limit the damage of a data loss disaster.
6. Secure Your Wi-Fi Network
Changing the default username and password on your router can be one way to help secure your Wi-Fi network, as well as using a WPA3 encryption (if available) to further enhance security. It’s also important to be aware of the network you’re connected to when inputting sensitive information.
For example, if you’re on a public Wi-Fi inputting bank details, there is a risk that someone can steal this information. We strongly using a VPN (virtual private network) when you’re using a public Wi-Fi to keep your information safe.
7. Educate Your Team
Keeping your business safe from cyber-attacks is a shared responsibility. It’s vital that all members of your team are trained to follow safe online practices, recognise threats and report any suspicious activity. Scheduling regular awareness training can keep staff vigilant and help to reduce the risk of security breaches.
Final thoughts
Cyber security doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a few proactive steps and a little awareness, you can greatly improve your protection against cyber threats. As an IT company, we’re here to help – whether it’s implementing secure systems, training your team or responding to incidents.
Need help securing your business? Contact us today for a cyber security assessment.
