The Only Cybersecurity Cheat Sheet You’ll Need

Cybersecurity is a topic near and dear to most business owners’ hearts. You might not specialize in securing your infrastructure, but it’s still a vital factor that cannot be ignored. Today, we want to cover how you can make cybersecurity as easy as possible for your team so they don’t accidentally put your business at risk.

Your employees can favorite this cybersecurity cheat sheet or print it out for use as needed. Now, let’s get to it.

The Top 3 Considerations for Your Network Security

Never Reuse or Share Passwords

It sounds simple, and that’s because it is. You should never reuse your passwords or share them with others.

Sometimes businesses will share the same password for certain work-related accounts, like social media, which puts data at risk. Hackers could crack your accounts, leading to a data breach or a data leak. You should always use the approved password manager to ensure optimal, easy network security.

Again, remember that each password should be unique; don’t reuse them under any circumstances.

Practice the STOP Protocol

The biggest and most important advantage you have against hackers is that you have the power to stop and think before taking action.

Cybercriminals take advantage of “clickers,” or people who just click on links or download attachments without a second thought. They’ll exploit this behavior by sending out emails that appear legitimate, including messages you might be accustomed to receiving, such as invoices, shipping notifications, and so on. Before clicking and downloading, use the STOP framework to halt their efforts before they even begin:

The most powerful security tool at your disposal is simply to stop and think.

• S - Scrutinize the Sender - Does the email address match the name? Look for tiny typos or inconsistencies (for example, micr0soft.com instead of microsoft.com).
• T - Think about the Ask - Is the person asking for passwords, money, or sensitive data? Chances are any legitimate sender will not do this.
• O - Observe the Link - Before clicking on any link from any sender, you can hover over it with the mouse to “preview” the URL. Check the link to make sure it’s legitimate.
• P - Phone a Friend - If the email feels off, or if there is a lot of urgency associated with the request, call the person or send them a message to verify their identity. In situations where you’re just not sure, send it to your IT resource for verification.

It only takes 2 minutes to stop a hacking attack, so practice caution whenever possible.

Avoid Using Unapproved Company Devices

It’s imperative that you only use the devices and applications provided by the company. If you don’t, this seriously increases the risk of data exposure and misuse.

While we know you want to get work done in an effective and timely way, moving company data to off-network devices can create complications. For example, data backups and encryption could be affected, and cybersecurity could become an issue. If you think operations can be improved through the use of different devices or software, we urge you to start a conversation with IT. Please understand that we’re open to replacing older and slower tools with those that are better suited for the task at hand; we just don’t want to put data at risk in the process.

Aniar IT Services can support your cybersecurity efforts. Learn more today by calling us at 094 90 48200 .