Do you think your data is safe from malware just because you’ve installed the latest cybersecurity software? If so, think again. According to industry and government reports, one of the culprits for successful cyberattacks was employee error. This was the case for the Pentagon breach in 2015 where 4,000 military and civilian personnel credentials were compromised due to a spear phishing attack.
Spear phishing is a type of cyberattack that aims to trick a specific recipient into giving the sender sensitive information like login details and bank account numbers. To do this, recipients will receive a legitimate-looking email that contains a link from a supposedly-trustable sender. This link will then bring recipients to a fraudulent website where users will be asked to fill out personal details.
Your employees can also fall prey to hackers when they click on an infected link. Luckily, you can prevent this by devising and implementing proper IT protocols, which we’ve listed below.
#1. Conduct Network Security Training
One of the main reasons for employee negligence is lack of awareness. Without knowing what a certain malware looks like or what it does, it’s easy for them to mistakenly identify a scam as genuine. Having security training programs can improve your employees’ ability to spot signs of phishing or malware intrusions. Several topics you should cover during the sessions include common attacks like phishing scams, ransomware, and spyware.
Post-training simulation tests are also crucial as it allows you to see how the employees will react after certain scenarios and help you devise a better action plan.
#2. Enforce IT Best Practices
On top of training, making sure your employees adhere to safe IT habits is critical to boosting security. For instance, having them devise strong, unique passwords for each site lowers the risk of having sensitive data compromised or stolen.
Creating the right password can be time-consuming, which is why we advise you to get an easy-to-use password management app for your entire company. Depending on your choice of app, it can help you generate hard-to-crack passwords, manage them, and even change them as soon as the app discovers your account has been compromised. Take your time researching and testing out different apps or enlist a managed service provider (MSP) to do this for you.
#3. Build Internet Usage Policies
The increased cloud adoption has led to 43% of US employees working remotely. And with remote working bringing great benefits like higher productivity and lower cost, it’s no surprise if more employers hop on the bandwagon. Just keep in mind that personal devices also rely on robust internet usage policies to minimize the chance of malware infections. These policies should specify safe remote-work IT habits and enforce the use of secure WiFi networks and VPNs.
#4. Perform Backups and Security Upgrades
There is no failsafe method of safeguarding your business from cyberattacks, which is why reliable MSPs like Zentech I.T Solutions will always recommend a holistic approach to cybersecurity. This involves regularly backing up files and apps and installing the latest antivirus software and security patches to detect and mitigate any and all incoming cyberthreats.
Prevention is always better than cure, so make sure to teach your employees how to perform backups. Doing so will allow your IT technicians and employees to work hand-in-hand to thwart cyberattack attempts and minimize the impact of successful attacks.
Installing the latest firewall or antivirus software won’t do you much good if your employees are not on the same page. Zentech I.T Solutions offer cybersecurity training, mobile security solutions, cloud security services, and other dynamic solutions that can strengthen your existing IT environment. If improving your network security is a concern, contact us or sign up for a free network audit assessment today.
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