Protecting your organization against cyberthreats can seem like a challenge that involves extremely high-tech wizardry, sophisticated knowledge etc. – Much of this is true. Protecting your data and your company against cyberthreats requires skilled professionals. But that isn’t all that is needed. The first line of defence in data security is everyday common sense, and diligence on the part of everyone who works in your organization

The Task at Hand

The first challenge in beefing up your data security is creating awareness among all of your employees that they really do have a serious role to play in data security. Many of the ways they can protect your data are simple, but until they are aware that they may represent a threat to data integrity, they won’t take their role in protecting your company seriously. Provide training that both explains how their actions may unknowingly create problems, and then review what they can do to avoid trouble.

Training should not end. It should be an ongoing focus in your organization. Key points to impress upon your employees are:

  • Remind everyone that simple passwords are unwise. Does your company mandate a certain level of complexity in password creation? Maybe you should.
  • No password sharing – We tend to trust most of our colleagues, so when logging in and out is a nuisance, we are often willing to let a peer use a database we’ve already logged into so they can do some simple, quick task. Not a good idea.
  • Email and phishing scams – These are really easy to fall victim to. Emails can look like they are from a legit source, so we open them up and then click on a link inside. Explain that emails can be made to look like what they aren’t. Always be suspicious. Look at the email address to see if the domain matches the legitimate site.
  • Odd links – If someone you know sent you a link to a site, unless you absolutely know the email is legit and the link is safe, let it go. Email them back to verify.
  • Lonely hardware – Remind everyone: Never, ever, put a thumb drive into their computer unless they know where it came from. No matter how much one knows better, if you find a thumb drive sitting on a desk, it can be extremely tempting to plug it in to see what’s on it
Contact Us

Similar Posts

Smart Tips to Stop Stolen Money in Online Banking

It feels like the internet changed everything these days. A prime example is how we bank and access our accounts. Gone…

“Secure by Design” Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity has become a critical foundation upon which many aspects of business rely. Whether you’re a large enterprise or small business,…

New Major Ransomware Attack Coming

There is a new major ransomware attack that has already hit countries across the pond, including England, Ukraine, India, Spain, Denmark…

Every Company is a Tech Company Now

Whether you sell shoes or run an accounting firm, you need some type of technology to operate. Today’s companies aren’t just…