“In communications, familiarity breeds apathy” – William Bernbach
Sometimes, we become so familiar with a situation that we no longer consider it worthy of caution. And while it is a good thing for businesses to have computer and tech-savvy employees in today’s day and age, it does open up more possibility for multiple points of access into your network.
Email is one of the most utilized and familiar applications within a business environment, and is also one of the most easily attacked by hackers and criminals.
Why? Because employees of all skill levels and backgrounds are using your company’s email system, and not everyone does so with the same level of care. That is why web email security is so critical for any size business in 2018.
You may think that scammers, phishers, and hackers don’t care about your business because it is small. But according to the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, 61% of cyber criminals now target small business for less profitable – but far more frequent – paydays.
So how can you protect your business, your employees, and your clients? Here are a few small but powerful ideas for you to implement today.
Insist on Stronger Passwords
We’ve all been there. A site asks us to create a password and instead of allowing us to use our standard, easy to remember go-to password, it insists on a random selection of numbers, letters or symbols. Our first reaction is often frustration.
However, that organization probably deserves your thanks. Unbelievably, a full 80% of cyber attacks are attributed to default, weak or easily guessed passwords – things like your pet’s name, or the name of your alma mater. The cyber-criminals are well-versed in the types of things people reference in their passwords.
As a business owner, requiring employees to set strong passwords for web email accounts with a random array of characters could go a long way to protecting your business.
Take One More Step
Two factor authentication is another easy way for employers to keep out the criminals looking for low hanging fruit. If an attempt to log onto the email system is made from a device that the system does not recognize, it will require an additional code to be entered.
This code is most often send via text message to the employee’s cell phone, meaning that a hacker using a stolen password will not receive the code, and therefore will not be able to gain access.
Don’t Click That Link!
Let’s face it, the bad guys are quite good at looking innocent. And while employees who are tech-savvy may understand that clicking links from unknown sources is taboo, many just think of their email as being a safe, familiar place.
Educating employees against clicking unknown links will cut down on malware and virus attacks, but doesn’t go far enough.
If your employee is not expecting a link from the person who sent the email – even if the sender is known to the recipient – it should be standard practice to call the sender before opening the link.
Cyber-criminals know how to mimic the emails of friends and family to lull recipients into a false sense of safety.
In personal life as well as a business environment, users should always be aware of their surroundings. Don’t leave your phone on your desk when you go to lunch, and take care not to leave your applications open when you are at the coffee shop.
No one likes to think of the nefarious elements that may be lurking, but by simply being cautious, you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming their target.
If you are ready to strategize on how to build a secure business network for your company, Alliance IT is ready to help.
