You might assume that all employees in your workplace understand the ins and outs of cybersecurity and the protective measures needed to keep your business safe. However, not everyone has the same level of computer knowledge, which means you can’t expect everyone to know a cyber threat when they see one.
Fortunately, just because not everyone is up-to-date with cybersecurity essentials, that doesn’t mean things have to stay that way. Here are the most important things your team should know:
IT Support Contact Information
You’re not always going to be available to contact your business IT support team for any computer-related problems. Therefore, it’s vital to ensure all staff members with computer access know who to call when they strike any difficulties.
Time can be of the essence with technology-related issues, so keeping a list of phone numbers in an easy-to-find place makes sense. The sooner your employees can contact an expert, the quicker they can solve the problem and get back to work.
How to Spot a Phishing Email
Most of us know that no Nigerian Prince wants to share his wealth with us, but that doesn’t mean all phishing emails are that obvious. Employees who don’t spend much time on computers may not think twice about opening email links from senders they don’t know.
Educate your employees on how to spot a phishing email. Failure to do so might mean your business is at risk of a costly data breach. Some helpful tips include double-checking the originating email address to ensure its legitimacy, hovering over links to see where they go, and getting a second opinion when you’re unsure.
Which WiFi Networks to Use
Accessing free WiFi in a public place can be a life-saver sometimes. You might need to send an important email or check your bank account when you’re out and about but have no data left on your phone.
If your team uses company property in a public place, talk to them about WiFi best practices. Public WiFi is not always secure, which means some of your important data might be at risk. Teach your team about the importance of using virtual private networks for a secure connection.
What to Use as Passwords
Gaining access to your data storage or network may not be all that challenging for a hacker if some of your employees don’t have strong passwords. Bob123456 is infinitely easier to hack than xB0B12E!sv4S6q$v89.
Talk to your employees about ways to set the strongest passwords. Ensure they have at least seven characters and contain letters, numbers, and even symbols. Refrain from using the same password for several important logins.
If you and your employees struggle to remember several passwords, consider using a password management system.
How to Protect Sensitive Information
Talk to your business IT provider about policies you can put in place to protect sensitive information, particularly that of your customers. All workplaces should have ways to make sure all data is stored and disposed of safely. This might include immediately shredding credit card numbers you’ve written down or ensuring customer information is adequately protected in your system. A data breach can come via the most unexpected attack vector, but if you have good practices in place to protect sensitive information, you’ll be better positioned to minimize the damage.
Cybersecurity is a constant work in process, but there are some basics that all workplaces should be aware of to keep their precious data safe. Now might be the right time to start looking at your processes and ensuring everyone knows what is expected of them.
