Many people might be living in a state of cybersecurity denial, but in this case what you don’t know, definitely CAN hurt you, and here’s why: data breaches and hacks are common. How common? The truth may surprise you!
Your company isn’t too small, your data IS interesting and worth stealing, and yes it CAN (and WILL) happen to you eventually. So how do you help protect your organization from cyber-attacks and all the costs and liability associated with a data breach?
1. Stay informed
Educate your staff and clients about cybersecurity trends, scams, and schemes on a regular basis so that they can recognize threats when they arise and practice good data hygiene. Schedule trainings at least every 6 months, and humanize the impact (explain the damage in terms that your end-users will appreciate).
2. Keep everything up-to-date
One of the easiest ways to protect your organization is often overlooked or avoided, and that’s making sure that all of your operating systems, apps, software, and firmware are regularly updated. Make it a priority to check for security patches and updates.
3. Antivirus programs
Update or renew your antivirus programs. Many antivirus programs require regular updates (make sure this happens automatically) and remember when your subscription ends, so does the protection. Just because you see the icon or you received messages doesn’t necessarily mean that your antivirus is up to date or operational.
4. Unpredictable passwords
Strong passwords and requiring that they are updated or changed regularly can be the bane of office life, but they are a very powerful way to combat cyberattacks on your company or organization. Consider two-factor authentication for sensitive data, and make sure your default passwords aren’t easy things to guess, like some of our favorites listed here; LetMeIn, Password123, P@ssw0rd, Password1, 123456, abc123, etc.
5. Prevent lost data
Back your data up. If you have ever had a hard drive crash and lost all your personal photos or a term paper, you know the feelings of regret can be overwhelming. Now imagine losing the photos or data of hundreds of thousands of people. Make sure you backup your data to an off-site, encrypted, secure location to avoid this horror.
6. Mobile device protection
Protect your mobile devices. This means making sure they can be managed, located, and wiped if necessary, remotely. Also, it’s imperative that you establish and employ practical policies and procedures around mobile devices, such as encryption, screen locks, two-factor authentication, and more.
There are many other action steps that you can take to help protect your employees and customers from cyberattacks, but these 6 steps are essential starting points for most organizations and some of the most powerful steps that you can take when it comes to managing your risk. Mobility Help Desk specializes in managing devices and data for companies and organizations both big and small and when partnered with the power of AT&T’s 5G network, we can help take the stress and uncertainty out of cybersecurity!
