We know, you’re tired of hearing about cybersecurity. But with the massive spike in ransomware attacks since the start of the pandemic, simply hoping for the best is no longer an option. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s the right time to address this important issue.
You have a business to run and you might have higher priorities. According to one estimate, though, more than half of all small and midsize businesses fail to survive a year following a ransomware attack. So taking appropriate measures is not a luxury but a necessity.
Here are three things you can – and should – do immediately to be more cyber safe:
Train your team: Phishing emails remain a primary means of gaining access to your systems, and hackers are getting better and better at making them appear legitimate. A widespread recent example appeared to be a subscription renewal from McAfee. Arrange today for a qualified trainer to show your team how to spot phishing attempts so they stop and think before clicking on a link or attachment.
Change your passwords: Still using the same password with your dog’s name or the year you were born in it? Bad idea. A good rule of thumb is that if any part of your password can be found in the dictionary, you should change it. And for heaven’s sake, don’t write passwords on a sticky note attached to your monitor … not all hackers are online. For more about safer passwords, see our recent post.
2FA/MFA: When you log in to check your credit card statement, chances are you’ll get a text with a code to be entered before you can proceed. This is called two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA). It’s kind of a pain and it slows you down. But it’s also one of the most effective ways to keep a hacker from gaining access to your systems. If your business software platforms include an option for 2FA, enable it. Your employees might not be happy about it, but the inconvenience beats the alternative.
Make it a goal for your organization to end Cybersecurity Awareness Month with a stronger posture than you have now. There’s much more to be done, of course, but these three things are a great starting point.
Want to know more about protecting your business from cyber threats, or interested in a free dark web scan? Contact Hill Tech Solutions.
