According to the most recent statistics, hackers have been busy. You do not have to explore the news headlines far before you can easily understand the impact of cybersecurity and data breaches. Although no system is completely foolproof, many breaches can be prevented. Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and as an employee, you need to be aware of some things you can do to help keep your company’s system safe.
1. Do Not Reuse Passwords
One of the most common ways hackers gain access to a company's computer system is when an employee becomes careless with password safety. Reusing passwords between home systems and company systems is one of the biggest causes for concern. You want your passwords to be unique and easy to remember, but that is also difficult for a hacker’s software to guess. If you use the same password across multiple systems, if a hacker breaches one system, then they have access to others for which you used the same password. If you use the same password for your bank, social media accounts, and to log onto work, then if one of them is compromised, your other accounts are also accessible.
2. Do Not Share Passwords
Do not share your password to your home or company system with anyone, including co-workers. Even though they may be trustworthy, you can never be sure of how aware they are of password security. They may inadvertently allow someone to access the password you provided, but the result is still the same if the account is hacked. Sharing passwords also makes it more difficult for the IT team to monitor password security.
3. Enable MFA and Authentication Measures
Whether it is your personal or company computer, it is a good idea to enable multifactor authentication (MFA). Many companies require employees to do this. Multifactor authentication is like having a double lock on your door. Even if a would-be hacker gets through one level of security, it is more difficult to get through this second layer. Even though MFA creates a little more hassle to access your accounts, the added security is worth it in the end.
4. Don’t Use Shadow IT
Shadow IT might sound like something mysterious, but all it means is using unauthorized software on your company's computer. This includes software as a service (SaaS) products that are not under the control of your IT department. You can never be certain of the protocols that are in place to protect the other services you access.
5. Social Media and Personal Email
It is a bad idea to surf social media or log in to your personal email accounts from the company computer. Personal email is often more vulnerable than that under the control of your IT department. Social media accounts are hacked too many times a day to count. When you access these services using your company's computer, you expose the system to vulnerabilities.
6. Phishing and Scams
According to the FBI, nearly 6.95 million phishing and scam pages were created in 2020. This makes it one of the most common sources of data breaches and threats to company systems. These scams can make you vulnerable to ransomware, malware, and destructive software that can cause damage to the system.
One example of how a data breach can happen is if you accidentally click on a phishing email at home and then log into your home system from work. It is possible for the hacker to not only compromise your home system but also the one at your company. Statistics vary on how many data breaches are caused by personal actions by employees falling victim to phishing scams, but the low estimates are that nearly half of all data breaches fall into this category.
7. Cybersecurity Never Stops
The most important tip is that you must be aware of cybersecurity whether you are at home or the office. Good cybersecurity practices do not end at the end of the day. A data breach on your personal computer system could compromise the company system.
One of the most common scenarios is simply caused by complacency or a lack of awareness. The best thing you can do is to educate yourself on good cybersecurity practices, follow any company protocols, and remember to keep cybersecurity at the top of your list.
As an employee, the worst possible scenario to find yourself in would be if you were the one to cause a data breach. It is easier to find yourself in that position than you might realize. Following these tips is a good start.
We at Perspective Omni Media have a team of experts that can analyze your threat risk and help implement compliance protocols to develop a culture that places cybersecurity at the top of the priorities. Contact us and see what we can do to help you keep your systems safe.