Gareth Shares A Cybersecurity List To Assist Your team
Our Saskatoon IT Tips are from the Trusted professionals at Burnt Orange Solutions. We promise to have a one-hour response time for all your Saskatoon IT support needs. Honesty and respect are important to us. In our latest IT Expert tip Article, we discuss cybersecurity!
To help out IT security and/or office managers, we’ve compiled a list of things your users should be thinking about whenever they’re using the Internet. They’ve probably heard many or all of these tips before, but repetition doesn’t spoil the prayer. If you take security seriously, you know that there’s no substitute for educating your users.
Share this cybersecurity list with your users, this month—and every month.
1. You Are A Target.
Realize that you are an attractive target to hackers. Don’t ever say “It won’t happen to me.”
2. Eight Characters Is Not Enough.
Practice good password management. Use a strong mix of characters, and don’t use the same password for multiple sites. Don’t share your password with others, don’t write it down, and definitely don’t write it on a post-it note attached to your monitor.
3. Lock It Up.
Never leave your devices unattended. If you need to leave your computer, phone, or tablet for any length of time—no matter how short—lock it up so no one can use it while you’re gone. If you keep sensitive information on a flash drive or external hard drive, make sure to lock it up as well.
4. Practice Safe Clicking.
Always be careful when clicking on attachments or links in an email. If it’s unexpected or suspicious for any reason, don’t click on it. Double check the URL of the website the link takes you to- hackers and cyber villains will often take advantage of spelling mistakes to direct you to a harmful domain.
5. Beware Of Browsing.
Sensitive browsing, such as banking or shopping, should only be done on a device that belongs to you, on a network that you trust. Whether it’s a friend’s phone, a public computer, or a cafe’s free WiFi—your data could be copied or stolen.
6. Back It Up.
Back up your data regularly, and make sure your anti-virus software is always up to date.
7. Physical Cyber Safety.
Be conscientious of what you plug into your computer. Malware can be spread through infected flash drives, external hard drives, and even smartphones.
8. Share Less Sensitive Information.
Watch what you’re sharing on social networks. Criminals can befriend you and easily gain access to a shocking amount of information—where you go to school, where you work when you’re on vacation—that could help them gain access to more valuable data.
9. Cut Out The “Middle Man”.
Offline, be wary of social engineering, where someone attempts to gain information from you through manipulation. If someone calls or emails you asking for sensitive information, it’s okay to say no. You can always call the company directly to verify credentials before giving out any information.
10. Stay On Top Of Your Accounts.
Be sure to monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you see something unfamiliar, it could be a sign that you’ve been compromised.
We hope this article gave you some insight. If you want to ensure your business’s IT security, contact the Trusted Saskatoon IT professionals at Burnt Orange Solutions and we can take IT worries off your plate.
Burnt Orange IT Solutions Products & Services:
- Managed Networks
- Backup and Recovery
- Data and Network Security
- Hosted Services
- Telephone Systems
- Secure WiFi Networks
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