Cyber security is without doubt, something we need to think about. The latest statistics can be unsettling reading, with 96% of organisations targeted with email-related phishing attempts, according to the latest Mimecast survey and the NCSC called for businesses to be extra vigilant in light of the Ukraine invasion.
But as a business owner or manager, what should you prioritise? What are the best and most productive steps to put in place?
Phil Abrie, Technical Director at ILUX shares his five top tips:
Your people
The most vulnerable aspect of your business is your staff. Unless you communicate the importance of cyber safety, they are your weakest line of defence. You need to make them “think before they click” on everything – websites, links in emails, pdfs, everything that has a link COULD be a threat. The people behind cyber threats become more inventive with every passing day, keeping your staff vigilant should be your most important strategy.
Passwords
Sounds obvious, but do you have a policy in place, and do your workforce follow it? Using a strong password protects you, but varying those passwords is equally important. Six-character passwords are fine, it doesn’t have to be complicated, but ensure they are a combination of upper and lower case letters, special characters and numbers. Remember, PASSWORD is not a password.
Multi-factor authentication
Two-Factor Authentication or Multi-Factor Authentication (TFA and MFA respectively) is an extra layer of protection to ensure the security of online accounts beyond a standard password. It ensures that the person accessing the system is who they claim to be, and therefore stops password guessing or use of stolen passwords, reducing risk. Always use these for Cloud or internet-based services, particularly when you are handling sensitive data, including personal customer or staff details.
Updates – don’t put them off!
We know it’s a pain, but keep your devices updated. And have policies in place to ensure your staff update too. We all groan at the “software update” message but they do more good than harm and are designed to keep your systems safe.
Anti-virus
Make sure that your anti-virus software is fit for purpose. Is it robust enough to protect you? Is it checking daily weekly, or monthly and detecting issues before they cause a real risk? ILUX anti-virus runs regular scans and will proactively report findings, logging any potential threats with the ILUX service desk automatically. If your system isn’t doing that, please get in touch. We can run a free health check and offer advice.
Can we help? Cyber threats come in all shapes and sizes and research shows that more and more small and medium-sized businesses are under threat. ILUX offers a variety of solutions that will give you peace of mind and ensure that you are doing everything you can to avoid risk.
Ali Gamble
Marketing Manager
alison.gamble@ilux.co.uk
Tel: 01480 501500
Mobile: 07872 565882
For Alison’s other articles, blogs and insights, click here.
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